Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 13 vs. Eagles

5. Matt LaFleur

He’s not a player, I know. But this is his chance to avenge his first ever loss as a head coach.

It was Week 4 of 2019 when the Eagles came to Lambeau in primetime on a Thursday night and handed Matt LaFleur his first loss as a head coach.

The Eagles prevailed 34-27 in a game that went down to the wire. The Packers finished that game without Davante Adams as he injured his toe and would go on to miss the next four games.

LaFleur showed what he can do as a coach after that, using Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to offset the loss of Adams and used his play-calling to keep defenses guessing. He has also shown what bad decisions can do to a team as the loss in Indy falls just as much on his shoulders as it does the players.

Now, with the team getting weapons back and adding a new one into the fold, we might see just how creative he can be.

The Packers have been hindered a bit with Tyler Ervin injured. Now he has a player with the same skillset to help when Ervin’s out or to add fuel to the offensive fire.

He can also get creative on special teams and put Tavon Austin as a returner with Ervin for the threat of a trick play adding on the responsibilities to opposing teams.

The Packers have hardly had their full complement of weapons this season. They do now. I am very excited to see what LaFleur and this offense can do moving forward.

The stretch run starts now. The weather is getting colder but the races are heating up. This game could have major playoff implications for both teams. If Green Bay wins, they are still firmly in the driver’s seat in the NFC North and right there for the number one seed. For the Eagles, that would put them another game back in the race for the East and all but completely eliminate them from one of the three wild-card spots.

A win for the Eagles keeps them with a chance for the East though still a long shot for a wild-card. A loss for the Packers wouldn’t be as detrimental but would make it harder to gain the one seed and a first-round bye.