This game had the makings of an Eagles blowout victory early on after Philly jumped out to 13 to 0 lead. But the combination of special teams mistakes and a turnover on downs allowed the Packers to take the lead.
The Eagles then pulled ahead but the Packers matched their score after A.J. Brown’s second fumble in two weeks. Jalen Hurts’ first touchdown pass of the night, a back-shoulder dime to Quez Watkins, put the Birds ahead entering halftime.
Philly was in position to pull away and close out the game by going up 14 points with a touchdown on their first drive of the second half. But the Packers were nearly in position to cut it back down to seven before having to settle for a short field goal.
It was at that point that Aaron Rodgers left the game and did not return. He was replaced by Jordan Love, who was able to cut it back down to a seven-point game before the Birds extended their lead with a 54-yard field goal.
Another long kickoff return allowed by the Eagles’ struggling special teams unit allowed the Packers to kick a field goal to cut the lead to seven points. But they failed to recover an onside kick attempt and the offense closed it out.
The good news for the Eagles is that their offense was able to get back on track. They were able to capitalize on a vulnerable Packers run defense. It was a historic performance with 49 attempts for 363 yards (7.4 average) and three rushing touchdowns. Jalen Hurts led the team in rushing with 157 while Miles Sanders pitched in with 143. The Packers clearly had no answers for them on the ground. Hurts was also effective with his arm, boosting his MVP case.
The bad news is the Eagles’ defense allowed the Packers’ best scoring performance of the season. And in part with a backup quarterback playing. In fairness, they were not helped by Brown’s fumble that set up a long Packers return and awful special teams coverage. Not to mention C.J. Gardner-Johnson getting hurt. Still, not a strong showing from Jonathan Gannon’s unit.
Though it wasn’t a perfect performance, the Eagles still sit in a pretty good spot atop the NFC playoff picture with a 10-1 record. Next up is another home game against a Tennessee Titans team that lost to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier on Sunday.
The Eagles picked up another first down with two straight Miles Sanders runs. On 3rd-and-6, Hurts took off running again, this time for 28 yards. Two plays later, Kenneth Gainwell followed a great push from the offensive line for the game’s first touchdown. Packers with no answers for Philly’s rushing attack early on. Good opening drive by the Birds, an assertive statement. . EAGLES 7, PACKERS 0.
If my count is right, Green Bay didn’t play a five-man front at all that drive. The Packers matched the Eagles in nickel and dime the whole time. Very different than most of their season. Didn’t work!
Jalen Hurts’ 103 rushing yards are the most by any player in the first quarter of a game in the last two seasons.Wildly entertaining game so far: 5 combined touchdowns, 290 yards, 14 1st downs.
Reed Blankenship! Just picked off Aaron Rodgers. Great play by the UDFA safety, who is playing in place of an injured C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Blankenship consistently made plays in training camp and preseason games. Have been saying he should be in ahead of K’Von Wallace.
Big A.J. Brown fumble and chase down and this and that aside, the Eagles called ANOTHER 3rd and long screen.Enough. Defenses can clearly feel them coming. Send routes downfield and let Hurts pick up 6 yards with his legs to set up the 4th down call.
Before playing the Eagles, the Packers’ highest offensive point total on the road this year was 17.The Packers have 20 points against Philly so far with 7:41 remaining in the second quarter. Of course, two GB TD drives were set up by Birds turnovers (1 fumble, 1 on downs).
Nice job by Kyzir White on the Fletcher Cox sack. Rodgers wanted to go to Randall Cobb out of the backfield, but White had him locked up, so he pulled it down and ate the sack.
Quez Watkins hauls in a 30-yard TD pass from Jalen Hurts to make it a 27-20 score at the end of the second quarter. Watkins has caught passes for 20+ yards in each of his last 4 games. #FlyEaglesFly
A Gainwell carry to the outside got the Eagles to 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line. A false start on Landon Dickerson knocked the Birds back to the 6-yard line. But then Hurts hit Brown, who beat Suuuuul, on an out route for his second passing touchdown of the night. 86 yards in 11 plays for the score to take a two-possession lead. EAGLES 34, PACKERS 20.
The @Eagles have two 100+ yard rushers – Jalen Hurts (130) and Miles Sanders (116) – in a single game for the first time since 12/13/20 vs. New Orleans (also Sanders and Hurts). #FlyEaglesFly
Eagles special teams has now allowed kick returns of 38, 52, and 53 yards tonight.Pretty pathetic. Packers entered this game with the 10th worst kick return average in the NFL (20.8 yards).
The Packers moved into Eagles territory with one completion. Then they moved into the red zone. K’Von Wallace, in for an injured Blankenship who was in for an injured CJGJ, broke up a pass in the end zone. Nice of him to step up in a big moment. The Packers settled for a 33-yard field goal attempt to make it a one-score game. Crosby made it. EAGLES 40, PACKERS 33.
source: Bleeding Green Nation
