Green Bay returns for another prime time game when the Packers host the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Packers’ offense vs. Eagles’ defense
Philadelphia’s defense has stars at all three levels and a legend coaching on that side of the ball.
Vic Fangio, a known Packers’ nemesis, coordinates the defense. He was largely responsible for the San Francisco ‘49ers’ defenses that tormented Aaron Rodgers in the early 2010s.
On the field, their defense is built around defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Carter is immensely talented and fell to the Eagles in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
He’s a force in the middle of their defense, equally impactful against the run as he is the pass. He made arguably the biggest play in the Eagles’ 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams in last year’s Divisional Round game when he sacked Matthew Stafford as the Rams had driven deep into Eagles’ territory.
Nolan Smith is on injured reserve, but he’s their best pass rusher. It’s unclear if he’ll be able to return for this game, but he is eligible to do so.
Outside of him, the Eagles have relied on a rush-by-committee approach on the edge.
Jalyx Hunt started to pay well prior to the team’s bye week. The second level of their defense has Zach Baun, the former Wisconsin Badger who was a first-team all-pro a season ago.
He’s flanked by Nakobe Dean and Jihaad Campbell.
Campbell is a rookie who has made an impact in his first season and moves around both to the middle and the edge.
Dean just returned from injury.
In the secondary, Cooper DeJean was a former Packers’ draft crush, and he’s an impactful player in the slot. Quinyon Mitchell is the team’s best boundary corner and has traveled with the opposing offense’s best receiver.
It’ll be interesting to see if Fangio has Mitchell follow anyone with the Packers’ preferred method of spreading the ball around in the pass game.
The Eagles’ secondary recently added an old friend in Jaire Alexander. Alexander was traded to Philadelphia for a late-round pick swap on Nov. 1. We’ll see if he can acclimate quickly enough to the defense to be on the field, but there’s little doubt he’ll be motivated if he is able to play.
Green Bay’s offense was not the well-oiled machine it showed to be against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half against the Carolina Panthers.
A turnover by Savion Williams snuffed out their first drive and took points off the board.
Their second drive was a mistake-filled mess after a 51-yard catch by Christian Watson resulted in a field goal.
Their third series followed a familiar script from the first two. Penalties and mistakes piled up, costing them points.
Ultimately, the offense scored six points and Green Bay trailed at halftime.
In the second half, tragedy struck with Tucker Kraft exiting the game with an injury. He was helped to the sideline with what looked like a knee injury.
If Kraft can play this week, it’d be a surprise. If he can’t, he’ll be replaced by committee with Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick likely attempting to pick up the slack.
The more likely approach is heavier use of their receiver corps, which is a deeper, more talented unit than what they have at tight end without Kraft.
To add to a frustrating day, Jordan Love threw a terrible interception in the third quarter with the Packers trailing 7-6.
The Panthers would turn that interception into a touchdown, which put the Packers in a 13-6 hole late in the third quarter.
Musgrave would step up late in the game with three catches on a touchdown drive that pulled the Packers even at 13-13.
The second half was not any better. Jordan Love was sloppy. His pass catchers were either injured or unable to create separation.
Green Bay’s first four red zone possessions resulted in six points thanks to a turnover and missed field goal.
Ultimately, the offense is not feeling good about itself going into a showdown with the defending champions.
Packers’ defense vs. Eagles’ offense
It’s the moment everyone has been waiting for.
Green Bay’s defense will be taking on the Philadelphia Eagles’ tush push after trying to get it banned during the offseason.
Jokes aside, that is part of the Eagles’ offense, and they are better at it than anyone, even when it is officiated properly.
When the Eagles are running a conventional offense, they are loaded.
Their pass catching trio of AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedart make one of the best groups in all of football.
Brown has had some drama surrounding him thanks to some cryptic posts on social media but remains in Philadelphia and is an impact player.
Smith is a great receiver in his own right, and Goedart bounced Carrington Valentine off the turf in Philadelphia the last time these two teams met.
The identity of their offense, however, surrounds their offensive line and Saquon Barkley.
Barkley was the best back in football a season ago but has taken a step back this year through the first eight games of the season.
Their offensive line has taken a step back with the loss of Mekhi Becton during the offseason, and the injuries to Landon Dickerson have lingered throughout the year as well.
At the controls of their offense, it’s Jalen Hurts.
The reigning Super Bowl MVP is inconsistent at times but a dynamic weapon both running and throwing the ball.
Xavier McKinney found his way back into the turnover column during Sunday’s game. He almost forced two turnovers on one possession.
Carolina’s second possession of the game saw him force a fumble from Bryce Young, but it was recovered by Carolina.
Two plays later, McKinney picked off a pass in the end zone, taking points off the board for the Panthers.
Apart from that, Green Bay’s defense struggled to get off the field against Carolina in the first half.
They only gave up seven points in the process, but their inability to get off the field allowed their offense only three possessions in the first half.
Against a team that is trying to shorten the game, that is a recipe for disaster.
As it turns out, it was a recipe for disaster.
The Packers defense was walked down the field by Bryce Young and Rico Dowdle to set up a game-winning field goal from rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald.
Special Teams
Philadelphia’s special teams is led by its elder statesman Jake Elliott.
Elliott struggled last year, especially on longer field goals. He’s 7-of-9 on the year this year and is taken out of the game to some degree with the Eagles’ ability to convert in short yardage situations on fourth down.
Their return game is led by Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby, both of whom have a return of more than 30 yards this season.
Green Bay’s special teams is in flux with one of its aces, Nick Niemann, being placed on injured reserve after suffering a pectoral injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brandon McManus has kicked two games in a row, but for now at least, the Packers have kept two kickers on the roster.
Is that trying to make sure McManus is healthy? Is it a built-in competition for McManus? Was it just posturing for a trade before the deadline?
Did McManus missing a kick force Green Bay’s hand?
Who knows at this point, but the instability on special teams is nothing new in Green Bay.
Their punt return game has been messy, but it looks like the answer to those questions for the time being is going to be Romeo Doubs.
This is a position the Packers should be looking to upgrade but have not since the season began.
Savion Williams had a nice kickoff return before the first half ended on Sunday. He is inconsistent in the return game, but there are some high-end flashes.
