The Green Bay Packers could not have had a worse start to their much-ballyhooed playoff game against Jalen Hurts and a heavily favored Philadelphia Eagles team. Jordan Love didn't touch the field, and they were already down 7-0.
On the opening kickoff, ace returner Keisean Nixon was hit hard and coughed up the football. The Eagles recovered and scored despite replay assistance showing the referees may have royally botched this particular call.
Despite replay making it seem as though the Packers clearly recovered the ball upon replay, Green Bay was not allowed to retain possession of the ball. The Eagles may be in for a romp if the refs are missing clear and obvious decisions like this all game long.
New angle shows packers got royally screwed by refs after Keisean Nixon fumble
The Eagles wasted no time finding the end zone after this fumble. After a dazzling Saquon Barkley run got them inside the red zone, Hurts threw a touchdown pass after holding the ball for about seven seconds in one of the cleanest pockets in NFL history. Let's call this a poor start, to say the least.
Green Bay is used to pulling off the upset as the No. 7 seed. Not only did they beat the Cowboys last season, but they remain the only No. 7 seed to win in this newly expanded format. Starting off in a 7-0 hole against an Eagles team that loves to run the ball and kill the clock is not ideal.
The Packers have now had major special teams errors for the second week in a row. After being fooled by the Bears on what became a punt return touchdown, Nixon's fumble is not shining the best light on Rich Bisaccia at the moment. Following that up with a 3-and-out is not a good look for Green Bay, either.
Regardless of how bad the referees were in the moment, Nixon could have avoided all of this by not fumbling in the first place. Philadelphia may be in line for a stomping if things don't change quickly.