Packers potential playoff opponent: A closer look at the Eagles
The Green Bay Packers could meet the seventh-seed Philadelphia Eagles a week from now.
With the wild-card round set to kick off on Saturday, the Packers won’t be waiting much longer to find out who they will play.
With that in mind, we’re going to take a closer look at all four potential playoff opponents, starting here with the Eagles.
How the Packers can meet the Eagles
This one is simple. If the Eagles eliminate the defending-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they will move on to Lambeau Field for the divisional round.
The Packers will play the lowest remaining seed in the NFC next week. The Eagles are the lowest seed. If they win, they will be heading to Green Bay.
How they got here
The Eagles looked a million miles away from the playoffs when they fell to a 2-5 start. But they rebuilt their season, winning seven of their next 10 games. A 9-8 record was good enough for the seventh seed, and they had even booked their ticket to the playoffs with a game to spare.
Player to worry about
Jalen Hurts.
Hurts led the Eagles — and all QBs — in rushing with 784 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season. The Eagles led the way in rushing offense, which created opportunities in the passing game. Hurts threw for 3,144 yards and 16 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
If Hurts has a big game, the Eagles can cause an upset.
How Packers can win
When the Packers win the coin toss, they often opt to defer. If I were Matt LaFleur in this game, I’d be taking the ball and looking to build an early lead.
We would see an old NFC North rivalry of Davante Adams and Darius Slay. Adams had his share of success against Slay in the past, but the former Detroit Lion has been outstanding this season, forcing three interceptions, including a pick-six, while also recovering two fumbles for touchdowns.
Still, I like the matchup of the Packers’ offense versus the Eagles’ defense.
According to Pro Football Reference, Eagles starting cornerback Steven Nelson has allowed a passer rating of 108.4 in his coverage, while Avonte Maddox has given up a completion percentage of over 75 percent.
To win, the Packers would need to take control of the game early and force the Eagles to abandon the run.