The Green Bay Packers are set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field.
The Packers faced the Eagles twice last season. They lost a back-and-forth affair in the season opener before being outclassed in a playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Packers are looking to assert themselves at the top of the NFC playoff picture. Last year, they lost all of the important games for tie-breaking scenarios, so this game is incredibly important as the Packers hope to make a playoff push.
That became even more true after a disappointing 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Here are our keys to Green Bay walking out of Lambeau Field with a victory.
1.) Own the moment
Last year, the Packers took a golden sombrero against the NFC’s elite teams.
They were down by at least two scores in all four games against the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings during the regular season.
They never had the ball with a chance to take the lead against the Eagles in the postseason and trailed most of that game by multiple scores.
That reeked of a young team that was not ready for the moment that was in front of them.
That cannot be the case this time around. Monday night’s game is a big one. It’s under the lights on national television.
More importantly, it’s a game that can have major implications on the NFC playoff picture.
The Packers lost all of those games last year, and it was a big reason they were the last team to make the NFC playoffs.
2.) Stop Saquon
For all the discussion around Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ passing game, this team still gets off the bus running the football.
Saquon Barkley is lightning in a bottle, and the Eagles’ offense responds when he is able to break big plays down the field.
The last time the Eagles were on the field, Barkley scored a 65-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game.
Moreover, the Packers entered play Sunday having not allowed an individual rusher to reach the century mark.
This week’s game will be their biggest test to date on that front.
3.) No big plays
The Eagles’ passing game is not incredibly efficient and can look downright ugly at times.
Hurts and his skill position players have had some points of tension throughout the year.
One thing remains true: The Eagles are going to take shots down the field.
When the Vikings’ defense had them bogged down, the Eagles took a shot for Devonta Smith. The result was an 80-yard touchdown that put them up two scores.
The Packers have been among the best in football at taking away explosive plays, especially through the air.
Last year when the two teams met in the season opener, Xavier McKinney had an interception on an attempted explosive play, but Jaire Alexander was also beaten for a long touchdown by AJ Brown.
The Eagles will have chances to make some big plays, but the Packers need to do what they’ve done all season and limit them.
