Eagles-Packers playoff preview: 14 issues to ogle in Sunday’s Wild Card game

Is Sunday here yet?

As of this customary submit time, no, sadly, it’s miles rarely any longer. Damn!

That’s a shame because we’re all very mad to ogle the Philadelphia Eagles host the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Monetary Field. Desires to be a reasonably factual game.

Let’s speed through among the more crucial issues to ogle out for this in Wild Card playoff matchup.

1 – Will Jalen Hurts be rusty?

As of me typing this sentence, Hurts has yet to officially optimistic the concussion protocol. Nonetheless all indicators for the time being enlighten him starting on Sunday.

Hurts shall be taking the self-discipline for the first time since suffering a head injury on December 22. The natural are anticipating is: will the 21-day layoff trigger Hurts to be rusty?

I primarily assume that’s an overblown downside for a couple reasons.

1. The more time to collect higher from a concussion, the upper.
2. Hurts (and the total Eagles offense, in actuality) has made a behavior of starting gradual even when he’s been fully healthy and no longer coming off any roughly prolonged layoff.

Hurts does on the total retract up the inch as the game goes along, on the different hand. That’s a testament to him no longer letting any early struggles snowball real into a huge catastrophe.

For what it’s worth, Jordan Mailata stated Hurts seemed “interesting” in Wednesday’s discover preparation for the Packers game.

Assuming that assessment is lawful, it suits what we noticed from Hurts earlier than his concussion. He turned in his easiest passing efficiency of the season in Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hurts also seemed factual early on against the Washington Commanders in Week 16 earlier than getting injured.

It’d be in actuality encouraging for the Eagles’ outlook if Hurts picks up where he left off. It’s pretty possible that occurs.

As it pertains to this explicit matchup, the sensation here is that Hurts might maybe presumably well be easiest served to fetch like a flash choices and no longer drift out of the pocket. In accordance to NFL Pro, the Packers’ defense has completed a terribly factual job of limiting scrambling passers:

Opposing passers carried out real 12 of 39 passes after scrambling from the pocket for 110 yards and an interception against the Packers defense this season, ensuing in a median of 2.8 yards per try, fewest within the NFL.

Hurts completely can’t be as reckless as he used to be in Week 1, when he threw two interceptions and misplaced a fumble. He also had two more possible picks collect dropped in that game.

Hurts has obviously been higher at preserving the football since the Eagles’ Week 5 bye, so, there’s motive to mediate he won’t fetch as many errors this time round.

2 – Correct how factual are the Packers?

I’ve viewed some project the Eagles to beat the Packers conveniently. Is Green Bay overrated?

In the foundation spy, I hang a no longer easy time taking the Packers frivolously. They imperfect third in DVOA and fifth in point differential. The Eagles imperfect fifth and 2d in those categories, respectively.

Nonetheless the Packers’ file against top quality competition real isn’t big. They’re 2-5 in seven games against teams that made the playoffs this season. A top level thought:

• Five-point loss against the Eagles in Brazil
• Two-point loss versus the Minnesota Vikings
• Five-point retract at the Los Angeles Rams
• Two-point retract versus the Houston Texans
• 10-point loss versus the Detroit Lions
• Three-point loss at the Detroit Lions
• Two-point loss at the Minnesota Vikings

The retract over the Rams significantly took teach when LA used to be missing both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Rather essential absences.

The Texans, meanwhile, are arguably the worst team within the playoffs this season. Houston won the league’s weakest division whereas ranked 16th in DVOA and 16th in point differential. Couldn’t be more mediocre.

Now, only one loss came by a couple of possession. It’s rarely worship the Packers continually bought waxed by factual teams. I ask them to be competitive in Philly … however I also ask them to be solely beatable.

3 – Will the Eagles also throw to Saquon Barkley?

We know the Eagles are going to speed the ball with Saquon Barkley early and usually. A minimum of, they want to quiet. He’s reasonably unstoppable.

Nonetheless the Packers’ speed defense is gigantic.

Green Bay is allowing the third-fewest yards per sprint try (4.0) this season. They imperfect seventh in speed defense DVOA, eighth in defensive sprint EPA, and ninth in defensive sprint success price. More context from Shane Haff:

It’s worth noting that Slaton didn’t discover on Wednesday. Something to computer screen.

The Eagles can hang to quiet rarely no longer speed the ball because the Packers are factual at stopping it. The Baltimore Ravens hang the NFL’s easiest speed defense and the Eagles were ready to hang Barkley log 23 carries for 107 yards (4.7 common) and one landing against them. The Eagles can hang to quiet stick with the identity that introduced them so some distance.

Nonetheless they shouldn’t real be the spend of Barkley as a runner. The Eagles might maybe presumably well be incandescent to construct an emphasis on him as a pass-catcher as neatly. The Packers hang allowed the third-most receptions and third-most receiving yards to working backs this season. Barkley had an 18-yard leaping landing grab against the Packers support in Week 1.

4 – Vic Fangio vs. Matt LaFleur

I be pleased it’s safe to enlighten Fangio has been a slight upgrade on Matt Patricia.

The Eagles completed the regular season allowing the fewest offensive parts per game (17.2) and fewest yards per game (278.4).

What’s in particular spectacular in regards to the yardage entire is that the Eagles allowed 32.8 fewer yards per game than the following easiest team. The distinction between them and 2d is the identical distance between 2d and 22nd!

Fangio’s defense has more than earned the most effective thing in regards to the doubt with how very perfect they’ve been.

Nonetheless if you happen to’re making an try for method more motive to in actuality feel factual in regards to the Eagles’ defense, mediate that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur beforehand extolled Fangio’s greatness. From an August 2019 ESPN interview:

LaFleur: There are such loads of fellows and each machine is varied, however I discover at Vic Fangio. Correct the fronts and the a couple of looks you collect from him. That’s extremely advanced. Shoot, Indianapolis remaining three hundred and sixty five days we knew exactly what they were going to fabricate to us and we didn’t hang pretty a couple of success because they were so sound. They stuffed the speed out of a two-safety defense and performed extremely expeditiously.

LaFleur oversaw a Packers offense that produced 29 parts and 414 yards against Fangio’s defense support in Week 1, so, it’s no longer worship he’s hopeless against the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. Nonetheless Fangio’s defense did retract in some key areas comparable to third down (3/11) and crimson zone efficiency (1/4).

You might maybe presumably wager LaFleur isn’t delighted about having to face Fangio this weekend.

5 – Will Jordan Love proceed to guard the football?

Jordan Love’s first eight games: 32.1 common pass makes an try, 17 TD (16 passing + 1 speeding), 11 giveaways, 90.6 passer ranking

Jordan Love’s remaining seven games: 24 common pass makes an try, 9 TD, 0 giveaways, 106.0 passer ranking

With their quarterback turning the ball over loads, the Packers transitioned to more of a speed-heavy offense coming out of their bye. Hmm … why does that sound acquainted?

Jalen Hurts’ first four games: 33 common pass makes an try, 6 TD (4 passing + 2 speeding), 7 giveaways (4 interceptions + 3 fumbles misplaced), 85.7 passer ranking

Jalen Hurts’ remaining 10 games (aside from for Week 16 when he bought hurt early): 22.5 common pass makes an try, 26 TD (14 passing + 12 speeding), 3 giveaways (1 interception + 2 fumbles misplaced), 115.5 passer ranking

Hurts and Love were significantly higher at preserving the football in speed-heavy offenses. Both defenses shall be in particular keyed in on stopping the speed in picture to fetch bigger the varied team’s passing volume.

The Eagles noticed firsthand how Love on the total is a shrimp bit reckless support in Week 1 when Reed Blankenship jumped one amongst his aggressive throws for a huge interception. Love ranks tied for the eighth-absolute most practical “negative throw percentage” as optimistic by Pro Football Reference. The Eagles might maybe presumably well furthermore collect a tipped pass interception or two with the Packers having the third-absolute most practical fall percentage within the NFL.

It’ll be magnificent if the Eagles are ready to strip-sack Love. He’s by some capability only misplaced four fumbles in his entire profession … and nil this season (regression alert?). And he real doesn’t in actuality prefer sacks. Love has the third-lowest percentage of pressures turned into sacks in 2024. Additionally, Love is the one quarterback who hasn’t been sacked attributable to his be pleased fault, per Pro Football Point of interest stress charting.

6 – Can the Eagles cease the Packers’ speeding assault?

If the Packers hang one big takeaway from their Week 1 loss to the Eagles, it’s doubtlessly that they didn’t speed the ball ample.

The Packers had 21 carries crawl for 163 yards (7.8 common) and one landing in that game.

As beforehand renowned, the Packers shifted to a speed-heavy identity in some unspecified time in the future of this season. They imperfect third in speeding play percentage (51.22%), only within the support of the league-leading Eagles (55.75%) and 2d-teach Ravens (52.51%).

Utilizing Josh Jacobs has been efficient; he completed the regular season with 4.4 yards per elevate and 15 speeding touchdowns. Emanuel Wilson has been a high-quality No. 2 option with 4.9 yards per elevate and four speeding touchdowns of his be pleased.

The Eagles’ speed defense is factual. They imperfect tied for ninth in yards per opponent sprint try, 2d in speed defense DVOA, 2d in defensive sprint EPA, and seventh in defensive sprint success price. Nonetheless they’ll be examined.

The Packers might maybe presumably well discover to use the ball-have watch over offensive strategy that the Carolina Panthers utilized against the Eagles. Pound the rock, assemble manageable third downs, and repeat to crawl on long scoring drives that shorten the game. The Eagles’ defense ought as a method to disrupt the Packers’ speeding assault.

7 – How worthy will the loss of Christian Watson hurt?

I posed this are anticipating to Acme Packing Company’s Justis Mosqueda. His reply:

“It’s a reasonably big deal. Without Watson, the Packers’ offense didn’t in actuality hang an reply for man coverage against the Vikings. In most cases, the Vikings play zone defense within the support of their blitzes and the Packers were caught a shrimp bit off guard by their gameplan, ensuing within the hole Green Bay obligatory to dig themselves out of early. Watson had three touchdowns against the Cowboys a couple of years ago within the playoffs when they tried to man up these receivers. Bo Melton is the one varied “sprint” receiver on the roster, however it’s getting no longer easy to play him and Jayden Reed on the self-discipline at the identical time because neither are impactful as speed blockers on the speed-first team. Per chance the reply is to let Dontayvion Wicks beat man coverage with his route working, however losing Watson completely hurt the team.”

The numbers echo this sentiment:

Love on the total likes to push the ball downfield. He ranks fifth amongst NFL quarterbacks in intended air yards per pass try. He has the 2d-absolute most practical deep pass percentage at 14.4%, only within the support of Anthony Richardson (who has a recognition for chucking it).

The Packers’ receiving corps is an enticing unit since it lacks a correct alpha WR1 goal and is as an different built more worship a basketball team with avid gamers having their in actuality perfect roles. Shedding Watson doesn’t crawl away them hopeless; they quiet hang factual pass-catchers. Nonetheless, as Eagles fans know from the times of DeSean Jackson serving as a vertical dynamic, losing an explosive play threat is a big deal that might maybe presumably swap how offenses shield you.

8 – It can presumably well be factual to collect A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith concerned in regards to the center of the self-discipline?

Teams were having success attacking the Packers within the course of the self-discipline, as renowned by Acme Packing Company.

The object is … the Eagles aren’t recognized for focusing on that teach.

Unlike the divisional teams that the Packers hang struggled against, the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game is constant with throws to the perimeter to very huge name receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. Brown is practically exclusively split outside within the offense whereas Smith is more times than no longer lining up outside. That’s very varied than how the Lions and Vikings spend receivers worship Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, as they those teams are inclined to play their big name receivers either within the slot or spend them in condensed sets where the skin receiver is basically in a slot build.

It’s no longer that Hurts doesn’t hang any success when throwing over the center. Nonetheless it’s no longer easy to mediate he in actuality loves doing it when the frequency real isn’t there.

Per NFL Pro:

“Jalen Hurts threw real 9.7% of his entire passes to the teach between the numbers and no longer lower than 10 yards downfield, the 2nd-lowest price within the NFL before only Kyler Murray (9.4%).”

Hurts had success throwing to Brown (who missed Thursday’s discover however is reportedly build to play on Sunday) and Smith in Week 1.

Brown caught 5 of his 10 targets for 119 yards and one landing. Smith caught seven of his eight targets for 84 yards.

The Packers hang hang allowed the eighth-most yards to extensive receivers this season. And that used to be with Jaire Alexander taking half in in seven games. The Packers shall be with out their top CB in this game since he lately went on injured reserve. Alexander had a retract on Hurts in Week 1.

9 – Can Jalen Carter be a game-wrecker?

We know Carter has the flexibility to prefer over a game. The Eagles might maybe presumably well in actuality hang the serve of him doing so again on Sunday.

He might maybe presumably well be primed to fabricate it.

The Packers’ offensive line in all fairness factual; Pro Football Point of interest ranked it as the sixth-easiest blocking unit.

Nonetheless the energy of that unit is at left kind out, left guard, and lawful kind out. They’re more inclined at center and lawful guard.

Living proof: no quarterback has confronted an even bigger percentage of stress attributed to the center build than Love at 22.1%. Starter Josh Myers ranks 41st out of 44 centers graded by PFF.

Starting lawful guard Sean Rhyan ranks 49th out of 82 guards. He used to be at the birth being utilized in a rotation with first-round retract Jordan Morgan earlier than the rookie suffered a season-ending injury.

Carter is inch to procedure further attention, as he most continuously does. Nonetheless … so what? He’s too factual to be solely shut down by double teams. Carter and the Eagles’ defensive inner must prefer perfect thing in regards to the Packers’ greatest weakness up front.

10 – Is Zack Baun the Packers stopper?

Baun had a grand game against the Packers in Week 1 with 15 entire tackles, two sacks, and one kind out for loss. PFF credited Baun with a team-high seven “stops,” that are tackles that picture a failure for the offense.

He used to be merely in every single place the teach.

And that used to be only Baun’s first regular season game taking half in off-ball linebacker!

He’s method more skilled now. Baun might maybe presumably well play a huge role in shutting the Packers’ offense down.

11 – Enormous upgrade: Cooper DeJean over Avonte Maddox

One of the splendid adjustments from Week 1 is that the Eagles hang a significantly higher nickel cornerback now.

Maddox allowed a 116.7 passer ranking when Love threw his method, which used to be most continuously. The Packers were clearly selecting on him.

The Eagles’ defense as a entire bought higher when DeJean took over for Maddox after the bye.

More context from NFL Pro insights:

“Jordan Love carried out 3 of 5 passes when focusing on Jayden Reed within the slot for 129 yards and a landing in Week 1 against the Eagles. He carried out real 14 of 29 varied passes for 131 yards, a landing, and an interception. The Eagles defense struggled to shield the slot in some unspecified time in the future of their first four games when Avonte Maddox used to be their most essential nickel, allowing the 2nd-most yards per goal (9.0) and 5 touchdowns (T-most). Cooper DeJean took over as the nickel after the Eagles Week 5 bye, and so that they allowed real 5.2 yards per slot goal in Weeks 6-18, 1.2 yards fewer than any varied defense.”

12 – Sport management: Slash Sirianni vs. Matt LaFleur

Sirianni deserves credit score for his role within the Eagles going 14-3. He now has the fifth-absolute most practical ALL-TIME head coach a success percentage, only within the support of Guy Chamberlin, John Madden, Vince Lombardi, and George Allen.

Nonetheless, constant with no shortage of miscues this season, I’d be lying if I stated I’m assured about Sirianni’s game management skill in this one. I be troubled about him no longer being aggressive as he wants to be.

One comforting conception is that LaFleur might maybe presumably well be worse.

Entering the playoffs, Sirianni ranks fifth out of 14 head coaches in real fourth down aggression. LaFleur ranks 10th.

We noticed LaFleur be conservative against the Eagles support in Week 1. He punted from the plus 38-yard line on the Packers’ first power. He settled for a self-discipline operate from 4th-and-operate at the 5-yard line. He settled for yet some other short self-discipline operate from 4th-and-5 at the 8-yard line to flip a 5-point game real into a two-point game.

It’s possible LaFleur will support the Eagles by being cowardly. Sirianni can hang to quiet no longer discover crawl neatly with.

13 – Can Jake Elliott be relied on?

Jake Elliott is struggling.

He’s missed nine kicks this three hundred and sixty five days after missing real 11 over the old three seasons mixed.

That’s merely no longer splendid.

Nonetheless it’s no longer worship Sirianni might maybe presumably well also be caught off guard by this reality. Elliott’s struggles might maybe presumably well doubtlessly be a blessing in hide if the Eagles’ head coach leans into being more aggressive on fourth down.

Whereas it’s surely no longer easy to trust Elliott lawful now, I will scream I quiet mediate in him making a huge kick if the game is on the road. He’s practically by no method no longer reach through in those snatch scenarios. I’m involving to mediate he’s making it unless I explore him crawl away out one in a station worship that.

Nonetheless presumably I’m delusional.

14 – Who shall be going through kickoff responsibility?

The Eagles struggled with kickoff coverage in Week 16, too most continuously giving the Washington Commanders big self-discipline build to work with.

The Eagles adjusted in Week 17 by having Jake Elliott prefer over for Braden Mann on kickoff responsibility.

Nonetheless then Mann and Elliott each and each handled some kickoffs in Week 18.

So, what’s the conception for the playoffs?

We’ll explore.

Elliott looks worship the upper wager since he’s been factual at getting the ball during the cease zone. No want to clutter round and threat a long return. Keisean Nixon is rarely any KaVontae Turpin however he’s sturdy; he has the sixth-most kick return yards this season.