From start to finish in yesterday afternoon’s Wild Card matchup in the NFC Playoffs, it looked like one team showed up to play, while another team didn’t get off the bus.
The Philadelphia Eagles handled the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon 22-10 advancing them into the Divisional round where they await the winner of Monday Night’s final Wild Card matchup of Minnesota and Los Angeles.
From the start Green Bay looked off, fumbling the opening kickoff which led to a score for Philly with less than 2 minutes off the clock in the first quarter. From there, it was all Philly, and mistakes, injuries, and turnovers piled up for Green Bay.
Jordan Love finished the game 20/33 with 0 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. The lone touchdown score was from a Josh Jacobs rush in the fourth quarter.
Green Bay was also dropping like flies from injuries including injuries to their best offensive lineman Guard Elgton Jenkins, as well as 2 of the remaining top receiving threats for the Packers. Romeo Doubs left with a head injury, and Jayden Reed exited with an arm/shoulder injury. Christian Watson was already out with a season ending knee injury, leaving the Packers to just Bo Melton, Malik Heath, and Dontayvion Wicks as last resorts in the receiving room.
Philadelphia didn’t play its best game but it was enough to win over the battered and bruised Packers.
Jaylen Hurts returned from a concussion/rest and finished the game 13/21 for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns while also rushing for 36 yards.
Saquon Barkley coming off rest, and nearly breaking the NFL’s Regular Season rushing record, finished with 25 carries for 119 yards, but was kept out of the endzone.
Philly’s offense didn’t do a lot more than listed above. Pass Catchers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith finished with combined 5 catches for 65 yards with no scores. While the scores were recorded by 2024 acquisition Jahan Dotson, and reliable tight end Dallas Goedert who rumbled into the endzone, shedding Packers defenders left and right.
Green Bay attempted to get things going in the fourth quarter trying to mount a comeback, but the Philadelphia defense was too much, constantly putting Love under pressure, and forcing turnovers that lead to extended Philly drives and scores. Green Bay may have to go back to drawing board if they want to become more of a contender during the tenure of Head Coach Matt Lafluer and Quarterback Jordan Love, this game may have been the eye opener for some more changes in the land of the Green and Gold.
Philly on the other hand will move on to the Divisional round as the NFC’s Number 2 seed, and will play the waiting game entering Monday Night. The Eagles will either play the Minnesota Vikings or the Los Angeles Rams. Philly has history with both these teams in the playoffs, recently squashing the Vikings in the NFC Championship in 2018 to go on and win the Super Bowl. Its been awhile since the Rams and Eagles have played in the playoffs, dating back to 2002, in the NFC Championship where the Eagles again would win, but lose in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.
Philadelphia will host that winner Saturday.
Photo Credit: ESPN, The Green Bay Packers, The Philadelphia Eagles, The NFL
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