Semi-coherent Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers preview

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off their Monday night destruction of the Carolina Panthers, the Eagles will face a more formidable opponent in a much more imposing environment. They’ll travel to Green Bay’s Lambeau Field to take on the Packers in a battle that could go a long way towards determining playoff seeding.

Green Bay Packers

Record: 6-3 (4-0 home)

Head coach: Mike McCarthy 88-48-1

Last week: Defeated Bears 55-14

The last time they met

Last season, the Eagles caught a huge break when they faced the Packers without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers who was sitting out with a shoulder injury. They caught another break when backup Seneca Wallace suffered an injury of his own in the first quarter.

Scott Tolzien. Image Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

You might think that facing a quarterback-centric team without their quarterback would give the Eagles an advantage. And you’d be right. While third-stringer Scott Tolzien played better than could be expected, that wasn’t enough to overcome three touchdowns from Nick Foles and 155 rushing yards from LeSean McCoy.

Perhaps most impressive about the Eagles’ win was the way they were able to run out the clock in the fourth quarter. Largely powered by the running of McCoy, the Eagles final drive took up the final 9:32 of the game and sealed a 27-13 win.

What’s the deal with the Packers

Looking at their roster, the Packers appear to be a mediocre team that happens to have one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Of course, in the modern NFL, that’s enough to make a team a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Aaron Rodgers. Image Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers – along with dynamic receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb – give the Packers one of the best passing attacks in the league; one that’s capable of putting up a lot of points.

Those points are often necessary because the Packers aren’t great defensively. They’ve been especially weak against the run. The 142.6 yards per game that they allow ranks 30th in the NFL.

The situation became so bad that the Packers were forced to move star outside linebacker Clay Matthews to middle linebacker in an attempt to stop opposing running games from gashing them for large gains.

Despite those weaknesses, the Packers still appear to be one of the favorites in the NFC. They’ve won five of their last six games, including last week’s 55-14 demolition of the Bears.

Reason to hate the Packers

There’s not all that much to hate about the Packers. I mean, how can you hate on a team that employs a guy (presumably) named after my grandfather? (More on him later.)

I suppose that Aaron Rodgers’ State Farm commercials are getting a bit grating. I used to like Hans and Franz (My friend and I actually went as Hans and Franz for Halloween in 1989!) but enough is enough.

Kevin Kolb. Image Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

They’ve also got Clay Matthews who pretty much ruined Kevin Kolb‘s career when he gave him a concussion in September 2010. (Poor Kevin. He never had a chance, did he?) So for anyone who ever held out hope that Kolb would be the next great Eagles’ quarterback, you would certainly be justified in your hatred of the Packers.

Featured Packers Player: Eddie Lacy

Despite his awesome name, running back Eddie Lacy hasn’t been able to duplicate the success he had as a rookie in 2013. He’s managed only 478 rushing yards through nine games, and has only topped the 100 yard mark in one contest.

That doesn’t mean that it will be a simple task to shut him down though. Lacy is a large man who is often difficult to take to the ground, and he’s also been more of a receiving threat this season, with 24 receptions out of the backfield.

If Lacy gets going, that could be deadly for an Eagles defense that will already have its hands full trying to stop the Packers’ passing game.

Key Eagles storyline: The pass rush

Rodgers has proven that if you give him ample time to throw, he can pick apart even the most talented secondary. (And no, the Eagles do not have the most talented secondary.)

He’s also been adept at handling the blitz, so the Eagles can’t rely on sending extra pass rushers to generate pressure. They’ll have to get the job done with a three- and four-man rush.

Nov 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Connor Barwin (98) reacts after sacking Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The good news is, the Eagles’ pass rush has looked downright ferocious lately. (Just ask Cam Newton.) Heading into the season, there were major questions if the Eagles had enough quality pass rushers on hand, but strong seasons from Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham have rendered those questions largely moot.

If the Eagles want any chance of slowing down the Packers, the pass rush may have to duplicate last week’s dominating performance.

Disney song that relates to this week’s game

Lambeau Field is famous for its “frozen tundra,” and the cold conditions in Green Bay often provide the Packers with an edge.

While the Eagles’ ability to run the ball should help limit how much the elements affect them, it’s still worth wondering if they’d fare better against the Packers “In Summer.”

Foles vs. Sanchez

Mark Sanchez played decently last week, but he certainly wasn’t “quarterback controversy” good.

As Chip Kelly mentioned, the Eagles left some points on the field, and part of that was due to Sanchez’s misfires. He seems to throw the ball with maximum velocity on every pass, even when the situation would call for better touch.

Elsewhere in the NFL

It looked like the Cardinals were the favorites in the NFC…and then Carson Palmer tore his ACL. This really shouldn’t take us by surprise. History has shown that making a serious commitment to Carson Palmer is an invitation for disaster.

Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer reacts as he is taken off the field on a cart after suffering an injury in the second half against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

But maybe this isn’t a death blow for the Cardinals’ chances. After all, Palmer was playing well, but he certainly wasn’t at “We’re screwed if he gets hurt” level.

Considering that they already won a couple of games with backup Drew Stanton at the helm, I suspect the Cardinals find a way to stick around for the rest of the season.

Prediction

I have a suspicion that Sanchez will take a step back this week. He’s played relatively mistake free up to this point, but I think he tosses at least one interception this week. That would be bad, because the Eagles will likely need every point they can muster.

The Eagles defense has improved lately, but counting on them to shut down the Packers’ offense at Lambeau Field may be too much to ask.

Packers 38 – Eagles 24