The Green Bay Packers offence scored 30 points against a strong defence for just the second time this year. Unfortunately, the Packers’ defence was unable to halt the Eagles’ running attack or even come close.
If the Packers had any chance of making a postseason run before going 4-8, those chances are now all but gone.
Here are my first conclusions from the Packers’ performance, as I always do after a Packers game.
All of us, I suppose, have been curious about if the Packers will switch to Jordan Love at any time this year once they are out of the postseason picture. Although Aaron Rodgers had been managing a thumb issue, Green Bay may not have much of a choice with his most recent setback.
Love seemed assured despite the tiny sample size; he was letting loose as he ran through his progressions, prolonged plays, and had a few nice tosses. A positive performance.
My my, the Packers looked absolutely unprepared. Granted, the Eagles’ offence makes a lot of defenders look poor. Did they realise the Eagles are a club that emphasises running? Miles Sanders and Jalen Hurts had little resistance from Green Bay. Sanders had wide rushing lanes in between the tackles, and Hurts profited from the edge rushers’ persistent shoddy edge setting. There were occasions when Quay Walker was employed as a spy, but either it wasn’t enough or he wasn’t successful.
Additionally, Green Bay didn’t appear to have slowed down the passing game either. Rasul Douglas in particular and the Packers’ safeties put up poor performances, as did the cornerbacks.
- Green Bay continues to miss tackles. Several missed tackles, sort of.
- Third downs were terrible on both sides of the ball. The defence played great to create numerous third and long situations, but it didn’t really matter because they couldn’t get off the field as the offence couldn’t convert any of them.
- Joe Barry was awful, but so were the other guys.
- Before suffering a foot injury, Darnell Savage did not make the starting lineup. Rudy Ford and Adrian Amos were deep in the Packers’ nickel formation, with Keisean Nixon in the slot.
- Only Savage and Tariq Carpenter are under contract with the Packers through 2023, but you can add Ford after he made another play with a forced fumble. He was hired to play on special teams, but he has also proven to be a capable defender.
- The Packers’ offence, defence, and special teams all appeared absolutely lost throughout the opening six minutes of the game. Green Bay deserves praise for maintaining its fight and keeping this game close. It may have been quite simple to give in.
- On Wednesday, Justin Hollins, who had been claimed off waivers, made a strong first impression with a run stop, sack, and pressure. He has already outperformed Jonathan Garvin and La’Darius Hamilton in terms of effectiveness.
- The run game was the Packers’ greatest chance of offensive success, as I predicted before the game, and we witnessed that. Without Jordan Davis, the Eagles’ run defence has recently been weak, and the Packers were able to open up some wide running lanes for Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. This, at least initially, helped pave the door for some passing game success.
- Two running back setups were more prevalent than they have been lately, and Green Bay was far more productive this season while using such settings. Additionally, Jones and Dillon saw greater action in the passing game.
- AJ Dillon has easily his greatest game of the year. Compared to what we’ve seen all year, he appeared far more explosive.
- According to Rob Demovsky’s statistics, the Packers’ defence has given up 60 points in the last two minutes of halftime this year. in the NFL, the most.
- Aaron Rodgers was intercepted twice by the Eagles, who entered the game as the NFL’s best team at forcing turnovers.
- Despite a few blips here and there, playmaker Christian Watson is still developing rapidly in front of our own eyes. His speed changes the dynamic.