The Green Bay Packers begin this NFL post-season the same way that the 2024 regular-season started. Once again, the Packers travel to take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
When these teams met back in September, the Eagles flew out of Brazil with a win. While a loss for Green Bay, the 34-25 score demonstrated that the team could keep up against an elite squad.
Problem for the Packers is that five of their six losses came against NFC playoffs participants. Holding the score close won’t be good enough in the post-season. Green Bay has to beat the best teams if they want to advance. Starting with Philadelphia.
The Packers vs Eagles Wild Card contest will taker place on Sunday, January 12th. It will be the middle game on an NFL Sunday playoff triple-header.
Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Keys to the Game
Dominating the Line
Regardless of the approach against the Philadelphia defense, one thing is clear: offensive line play is paramount. If the Packers want to employ a run-heavy strategy, the offensive line will be key to creating rush lanes for Josh Jacobs.
However, if Green Bay relies of its aerial attack, pass-protection is of the utmost importance. Not just to maintain the quarterback’s health, but also to give Jordan Love enough time to throw downfield.
While the Eagles have an excellent front-seven, there are standouts on the Packers offensive line to counter that. Namely, left guard Elgton Jenkins, and right tackle Zac Tom.
Typically a zone blocking team, perhaps the Packers could employ some gap principals. For instance, using Jenkins a puller on plays towards the offense’s right side. That could give Jacobs an excellent duo of Jenkins and Tom to run behind, and away from the middle of the defense.
Jalen Carter can be a complete game-wrecker from his defensive tackle spot. As good as Jenkins is, it will take all five offensive linemen working in tandem to have success against the Carter-led Eagles defensive line.
Share the Love
There has been a noteworthy difference for the Packers offense pre- and post-bye week. To start the season, Love threw at least thirty pass attempts in five of his first seven starts. Since Green Bay’s bye week, he has only hit that number once, and that was exactly 30 attempts in a Week 17 loss.
This run-heavy approach may have worked on lesser teams, but that strategy will not likely lead to victory in Philadelphia. Love will have to throw his way to a win in the Wild Card round.
More than ever, Love will need to rely on Jayden Reed. The second-year wide receiver had two contests this season of over 130 receiving yards. One of those games was against the Eagles, and he produced that total on only four catches. Targeting Reed more often seems obvious heading into this must-win matchup.
The good news is that Love never needs to lean solely on one teammate. Green Bay will likely have five capable wide receivers that they can deploy. Also a couple of talented tight ends in the form of Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. Not to mention the dynamic abilities of the running backs in space.
For this Wild Card game, Green Bay needs to share the Love and not be afraid to throw the football.
Stay Mistake-Free
Perhaps one of the late-season hesitations of airing it out was Love’ tendency to throw interceptions. After all, he did start the season by committing picks in eight straight contests.
Turnovers can be detrimental, but also not the only mistakes found in football. Penalty flags and assignment issues can plague teams and lead to losses. The defense especially has to be certain in both alignment and assignment.
In our Week 1 Preview, one aspect was the Packers secondary against the Eagles wide receivers. Namely, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. And neither disappointed for Philadelphia. During that season-opening matchup, Brown led the Eagles with 119 receiving yards, while Smith paced the team with seven catches.
Over the course of the 2024 NFL season, Green Bay’s defensive backfield has improved. Rookie safeties have a full year of professional football under their belts. Meanwhile, the the outside cornerbacks have gained valuable experience through this campaign.
Specifically, Kiesean Nixon has become a full-time perimeter guy, and has played that position very well. But he can still cover from his natural nickel corner spot. For this game against Philadelphia, perhaps that makes Nixon the best option to cover Brown, who has a tendency to move around the field.
That would leave Carrington Valentine against Smith on the boundary. The young cornerback was unexpectedly trust into a starting role due to injuries. As of late, Valentine has played some of the best football of his career. Not only have his coverage skill improved, but Valentine is making impact plays, and forcing turnovers. He will have his hands full covering Smith, but there is confidence he can hold his own.
At the end of the day, many individual matchups will determine the outcome of this Wild Card game between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kyle Senra
Kyle Senra has been playing fantasy sports since the late 90's. He has transformed his passion for sports towards content creation, specifically for the NFL and Fantasy Football. With the League Winners, he covers the Green Bay Packers.