{"id":823846,"date":"2025-02-02T10:13:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-02T16:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/02\/eagles-vs-packers-14-winners-1-loser-and-5-idks\/"},"modified":"2025-02-02T10:13:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-02T16:13:46","slug":"eagles-vs-packers-14-winners-1-loser-and-5-idks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/02\/eagles-vs-packers-14-winners-1-loser-and-5-idks\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagles vs. Packers: 14 winners, 1 loser, and 5 IDKs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> are through to the Divisional Round after beating the Green Bay Packers<\/a>! <\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t the prettiest win for the Birds. But, hey, that might not really matter. The Eagles won ugly against the Atlanta Falcons<\/a> in January 2018 en route to winning Super Bowl<\/a> LII. <\/p>\n

The Eagles didn\u2019t play their A-game in this one and yet they still won by two touchdowns. Perhaps the best is still yet to come?<\/p>\n

Time to hand out some winners, losers, and IDKs.<\/p>\n

VIC FANGIO <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Packers were held to 10 points and 302 yards. That\u2019s their lowest scoring output and fourth-lowest yardage output this season. <\/p>\n

Jordan Love was held to 20\/33, 212 yards (6.4 average), 0 TD, 3 INT, and a 41.5 passer rating. That\u2019s the second-lowest passer rating performance of Love\u2019s career. <\/p>\n

In the first half, the Packers gained just 76 yards on 31 plays. As has often been the case, the Eagles\u2019 defense did a really good job of buying time for the offense to finally get going. <\/p>\n

Fangio has more than earned the benefit of the doubt. His defense is so legit. And the Eagles might be able to ride it all the way to a Super Bowl win. <\/p>\n

NOLAN SMITH<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Smith\u2019s development over the course of this season has been so impressive. <\/p>\n

He went from playing a concerning amount in the third preseason game to being the team\u2019s top edge rusher in terms of playing time<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Smith stuffed the stat sheet with eight total tackles, four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. <\/p>\n

The two sacks are especially impressive considering 1) he was going up against Packers right tackle Zach Tom, who made Pro Football Focus\u2019s All-Pro team<\/a> and 2) Jordan Love is very hard to sack. <\/p>\n

Smith is up to 8.5 sacks over his last 13 games. There are just nine NFL players who have more than 8.5 sacks in their last 13 games. <\/p>\n

The energy and effort Smith plays with is admirable. He\u2019s becoming a real nuisance for other teams to deal with. <\/p>\n

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Nolan Smith is the youngest player in Eagles history to record multiple sacks in a playoff game.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

DARIUS SLAY<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Big Play Slay\u2019s interception was a really great rep by him …<\/p>\n

… if he does say so himself:<\/p>\n

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“My pick was smooth… that thing was nice. I was like, ‘Oh shit Slay, this motherfucker right here in front of you’ and then I just caught that motherfucker.”<\/p>\n

– Darius Slay, on his INT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2014 Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) January 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

That was Slay\u2019s first career playoff interception. <\/p>\n

ZACK BAUN<\/strong><\/h3>\n

First-team All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun makes big plays every week. His interception was aided by Love making a terrible decision … but there\u2019s something to be said for Baun always being in position to make an impact. <\/p>\n

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Zack Baun is the first Eagles linebacker with a playoff interception since DeMeco Ryans in January 2014.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

NAKOBE DEAN<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dean was having a pretty great game before going down with what seems like it might be a season-ending knee injury that might linger into next season<\/a>. Despite only playing 35% of the Eagles\u2019 defensive snaps, Dean logged two of the team\u2019s four TFLs.<\/p>\n

The Eagles will miss Dean. <\/p>\n

QUINYON MITCHELL <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Q finally got his first career interception! And the pick killed off any unlikely Packers comeback attempt. <\/p>\n

Outside of getting flagged for pass interference (on a ball that looked pretty uncatchable!), Mitchell was pretty good. Shocker! <\/p>\n

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Quinyon Mitchell is the first Eagles rookie with a playoff interception since Roynell Young in January 1981.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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The Eagles defense limited Jordan Love to 3-of-11 passing for 58 yards & 3 INTs on passes of 10+ air yards (-14.6% CPOE).<\/p>\n

Quinyon Mitchell was targeted 6 times as the nearest defender, allowing only 2 receptions for 10 yards & INT (1.6 yds avg separation).<\/p>\n

Powered by @awscloud<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2014 Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

JALEN CARTER <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Carter was responsible for two of the Eagles\u2019 five quarterback hits. One of them nearly created an interception for Zack Baun. Carter also had a pass deflection and he regularly drew extra attention, allowing his fellow defensive lineman to win one-on-one opportunities. <\/p>\n

THE EAGLES\u2019 OFFENSIVE LINE <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Eagles\u2019 offensive line often gave Hurts all day to throw. <\/p>\n

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Jalen Hurts dropped back for 6.75 seconds on his 11-yard TD pass to Jahan Dotson, the longest time to throw on a TD pass from a clean pocket this season.<\/p>\n

No Packers pass rusher got within 2.5 yards of Hurts at any point in the dropback. https:\/\/t.co\/rk1wn2Tku3<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2014 Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 12, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

The line also paved the way for 169 rushing yards on a Packers defense that was only allowing 99.4 rushing yards per game, seventh-fewest in the NFL. <\/p>\n

The only time the Packers allowed more rushing yards this season is when the Chicago Bears<\/a> had 179 against them. <\/p>\n

SAQUON BARKLEY <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Barkley\u2019s 25 carries resulted in 119 yards (4.8 average). He could\u2019ve easily had more production if he didn\u2019t slide late in the game. But while it\u2019s not the most fun option, it was indeed the smart move. No need to put the defense back on the field and risk further injury. Just run the clock out and get the game over with. <\/p>\n

Though his longest run only went for 17 yards, Barkley looked spry and well-rested after sitting in Week 18. <\/p>\n

DALLAS GOEDERT <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Two big Goedert plays in this one.<\/p>\n

1) The 24-yard catch-and-run touchdown where he bullied Carrington Valentine by stiff-arming the second-year cornerback multiples times en route to the end zone. Now that\u2019s<\/em> football. Imposing your will on another player to the point where they can\u2019t even do anything about it. <\/p>\n

2) The one-handed grab that went for 10 yards to begin a 13-play, 58-yard field goal drive that gave the Eagles a nine-point lead. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a relatively disappointing season for Goedert as he\u2019s struggled to stay healthy. But he\u2019s been looking good since returning from his knee injury. <\/p>\n

JAHAN DOTSON <\/strong><\/h3>\n

He lives!<\/p>\n

Dotson finally notched his first touchdown with the Eagles.<\/p>\n

It was his first score since November 19, 2023.<\/p>\n

OREN BURKS ON SPECIAL TEAMS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Burks put a huge hit on Packers kick returner Keisean Nixon to force a fumble on the opening kickoff. Talk about a tone-setting play. <\/p>\n

Burks\u2019 forced fumble set up an early Eagles lead that they maintained for the rest of the game.<\/p>\n

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The Packers trailed for 58:21 Sunday – their most time trailing since 2016 and their most in a playoff game this century. <\/p>\n

(via @ESPNStatsInfo<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2014 Jen Lada (@JenLada) January 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

NICK SIRIANNI<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Prior to Sunday\u2019s game, some questioned if Sirianni\u2019s job could be in jeopardy if the Eagles suffered their third blowout Wild Card loss in four years. That much was avoided. <\/p>\n

It\u2019d still be very disappointing if the Eagles don\u2019t at least advance to the NFC Championship<\/a> Game. But even if they don\u2019t make it there, Sirianni will likely be back in 2025.<\/p>\n

JIM MURPHY<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Murphy is the author of A.J. Brown\u2019s sideline reading material \u2014 Inner Excellence: Train your mind for extraordinary performance and live the best possible life<\/em><\/a>. <\/p>\n

Suddenly, his work has become very popular. <\/p>\n

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LOSERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

THE DALLAS COWBOYS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With the Eagles beating the Packers and the Buffalo Bills<\/a> beating the Denver Broncos<\/a>, teams entering the playoffs as the No. 7 seed are now 1-9.<\/p>\n

The only team to ever lose to a No. 7 seed? The Dallas Cowboys … when they got blown out at home by the Packers last year<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

And the Cowboys might soon sign the head coach who oversaw that defeat to a contract extension! <\/p>\n

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I DON\u2019T KNOWS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

JALEN HURTS <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The numbers: 13\/21, 131 yards (6.2 average), 2 TD, 0 INT, 111.4 passer rating … 6 rushes, 36 rushing yards. <\/p>\n

Hurts didn\u2019t turn the ball over. That\u2019s obviously important. <\/p>\n

But the passing attack should probably have been better than it was. An all too common refrain this season.<\/p>\n

In fairness, the Packers entered this game ranked ninth in pass defense DVOA and fourth in dropback EPA. They allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards per game (215.2).<\/p>\n

There was reason to believe the Packers were a bad matchup for Hurts<\/strong><\/a> since they\u2019ve been very zone-heavy and Hurts has had much more success against man coverage than zone coverage.<\/p>\n

Hurts can be better than he was in this game. I\u2019m not ruling out the possibility that he gets hot in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

This just wasn\u2019t a super encouraging performance in that regard. <\/p>\n

121 net passing yards is a very low number. It\u2019s easily the lowest net passing yardage total from any Wild Card team. The average from all other teams in this round is 218 net yards. <\/p>\n

And for as good as the Packers\u2019 defense has been, they were missing their top cornerback in Jaire Alexander. Green Bay also had Devonte Wyatt, who ranks second on their roster in sacks, go down early in the game. <\/p>\n

Hurts left some throws on the field that were there to be made. He missed an open Goedert at one point. He overthrew A.J. Brown on the fake Brotherly Shove attempt. He failed to lead the offense to points after they took over at the plus-45 yard late in the second quarter. He held onto the ball for an eternity. Hurts just wasn\u2019t super sharp.<\/p>\n

One could theorize Hurts\u2019 struggles were due to \u201crust\u201d in his first game back from a concussion. The problem with that is that these passing struggles aren\u2019t new. And it\u2019s not like Hurts started slow! He went 6\/6 to start but then hit a bad 0\/7 lull. To his credit, Hurts finished strong by going 7\/8. <\/p>\n

Hurts ultimately did enough to help the Eagles win this game. But he\u2019s probably going to need to play better for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl. And it\u2019s reasonable to expect that from him given his incredibly strong supporting cast. <\/p>\n

KELLEN MOORE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Moore shares blame for the passing offense being out of sync. The broadcast showed replays where Hurts didn\u2019t appear to have good answers. It\u2019s hard to say Moore is absolutely crushing it, though the fake Brotherly Shove was a really nice call that the QB just didn\u2019t execute.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know that I\u2019m willing to blame the Eagles\u2019 offensive coordinator as much as others when some of the issues with the passing offense predate Moore\u2019s time in Philly. <\/p>\n

Speaking of issues that predate Moore, I don\u2019t know how much the Eagles\u2019 conservative approach on third-and-long has to do with him. He\u2019s calling the plays, yeah, but I doubt Sirianni isn\u2019t involved in what the Eagles are aiming to accomplish in those situations.<\/p>\n

The Eagles called runs on 3rd-and-12, 3rd-and-19, and 3rd-and-13. They simply gave up on trying to get first downs. What is all of this offensive talent even for if that\u2019s going to be the mindset? <\/p>\n

A.J. BROWN <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Brown was targeted three times. He had one reception for 10 yards.<\/p>\n

How much did Brown\u2019s knee injury limit him, if at all? How much credit do the Packers deserve for taking him away? How much blame do Hurts and Moore deserve for the ball not finding him more often?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n

But I do know Brown needs more than three targets in a playoff game. <\/p>\n

OREN BURKS ON DEFENSE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Burks seemed to struggle as a tackler and get picked on in coverage while playing in place of an injured Dean. Teams could be looking to exploit him moving forward. <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if Burks should be playing all of the linebacker snaps next to Baun. Perhaps rotating Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in could be good. <\/p>\n

JAKE ELLIOTT <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Elliott made all three of his field goals attempts: 31, 30, and 32. <\/p>\n

Not exactly the most challenging kicks. But he didn\u2019t mess them up. <\/p>\n

Elliott also had a sneaky valuable kickoff that bounced in the landing zone and then into the end zone, prompting a 20-yard touchback instead of the typical 30-yard touchback for a kickoff that goes directly into the end zone. Those 10 yards of field position mattered with the Packers turning the ball over on downs and the Eagles taking over at the plus 41-yard line to drive 27 yards for a field goal that made it a 12-point game. <\/p>\n

While there was more good than bad, Elliott did miss an extra point. He\u2019s up to 10 misses this season after missing 11 kicks over the previous three years combined. I don\u2019t know if I feel more confident in him after this performance. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Brandon Lee Gowton
Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia Eagles are through to the Divisional Round after beating the Green Bay Packers! That wasn\u2019t the prettiest win for the Birds. But, hey, that might not really matter. The Eagles won ugly against the Atlanta Falcons in January 2018 en route to winning Super Bowl LII. The Eagles didn\u2019t play their A-game in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":823847,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3577,786],"tags":[7956,7957],"class_list":{"0":"post-823846","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eagles","8":"category-packers","9":"tag-eagles","10":"tag-packers"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=823846"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823846\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/823847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=823846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=823846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=823846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}