2014 Green Bay Packers: Season prediction – Part II

Nov 10, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back

(34) is tackled by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The Eagles won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Week 11: Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles

Another week, another matchup with an explosive offense. Philadelphia beat Green Bay last year with that explosive ability — albeit without Rodgers lined up on the other side — so they know they can expect a scoreboard show. They questions here are simple: can they slow it down, and/or can they keep up?

Philly offers up one of the top RB weapons league-wide in LeSean McCoy, and it will be difficult to shut him down. Jeremy Maclin, Darren Sproles, Zach Ertz and many other players can all call themselves viable weapons and targets every play, so figuring where that ball will go can be an impossible task. The Packers corners and safeties have the talent to match up, but need be at their best to handle the onslaught for four quarters. It would help immensely to have the D-line and linebackers step up and slow the run game to give them some relief, but that would seem like a pipe dream at this point. Looks like the way Green Bay will have to win is in a shootout.

Fortunately for them, Rodgers and the offense should be able to do so. Not only is their offense strong, but the Eagles still have to be considered a suspect defense. They added a few players through the draft and free agency, but none project to have a profound positive impact, at least not immediately. They can be had, and I would bet they will be.

In a battle like this, where a shootout is expected, it usually ends up being decided on the final possession, and most likely by that team either scoring or making a very late turnover. Whichever type of play it ends on, I believe it is the Packers who will be on the positive end of the scoreboard when the clock strikes zero.

Green Bay 35
Philadelphia 34