Packers survive Eagles fightback to take big step towards playoffs

The Packers held on for an important win in Week 13.

The Green Bay Packers allowed the game to get a little closer than it should, but they held on for a crucial victory over the Philadelphia Eagles to improve to 9-3 on the year and move a step closer to the postseason.

A Mason Crosby field goal gave the Packers a 23-3 lead in the fourth quarter, but in a flash that score was cut to 23-16 and suddenly we had a game.

Aaron Jones had seen enough, taking the game into his own hands with a 77-yard touchdown run to seal the win for Green Bay.

Packers offense too much for Eagles

Before the Eagles’ fourth-quarter fightback, the Packers were in command of the game.

Like many other defenses they’ve come up against, they simply had no answers for the Aaron Rodgers-Davante Adams connection.

Rodgers finished the game with 295 passing yards and three touchdowns. Adams caught 10 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns to continue his All-Pro season.

Defense steps up

Green Bay’s defense played its part, too. The Packers finished with seven sacks and 11 quarterback hits. Darnell Savage came up with the only turnover of the game, his third interception in the past two games.

As expected, the Packers won with their pass rush. No team had allowed more sacks entering Week 13 than the Eagles, and Mike Pettine’s defense ensured that continued on Sunday.

Kingsley Keke led the way with two sacks. Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary each had 1.5 sacks. Dean Lowry had one. Preston Smith and Raven Greene each had half a sack. Keke, Gary, and Dean Lowry all had two quarterback hits.

Outside of giving up a touchdown on fourth-and-18 and then the special teams allowing a return touchdown to Jalen Reagor, this was a dominant performance by the Packers.

The win means Green Bay stays three games ahead of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North and now four games ahead of the Chicago Bears after they lost to the Detroit Lions.