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If there is one thing Eagles fans can cling to heading into Sunday’s mismatch on the road against the Green Bay Packers, it’s their team’s record in December under coach Doug Pederson.
Regardless of how the Eagles have performed in any of the three previous months, they have had a tendency to respond positively in December, in which they are 11-4 since 2017, including 4-1 in each of the previous two seasons.
But now, with Pederson under fire to bench malfunctioning quarterback Carson Wentz and to give up play-calling, which is something he said on Friday to already doing in limited situations, there is no indication the Eagles are going to find the “On” switch for their offense, which is one of the worst in the league and deteriorating each week.
Here’s a closer look at the matchup.
About the Eagles
A free-fall from first place in the NFC East continued for the Eagles on Monday night with their third straight loss, which came at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks, 23-17. It also was their third straight game being held to 17 points.
Wentz’s season-long struggle through the worst stretch of his career also showed no sign of ending.
Wentz has a career-low completion percentage (58.1) to go with a careerhigh interception percentage (3.6). His 15 interceptions and 46 sacks absorbed are NFL highs.
Miles Sanders ranks second among the league’s RBs in rushing average (5.6).
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is coming off his fourth straight game with a sack, the longest active streak in the league.
About the Packers
At age 37, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is enjoying one of his finest seasons, completing 261 of 381 attempts (68.5%) for 3,100 yards and a league-high 33 TDs against just four interceptions.
Second-year head coach Matt LaFleur is 22-7, including playoffs. He is just four years older than Rodgers.
The Packers’ defensive coordinator is Mike Pettine, son of the legendary former Central Bucks West High School coach with the same name.
Bolstering their offense is the 1-2 punch of running backs Aaron Jones (624 yards, 4.8 yards per carry) and Jamaal Williams (409, 4.2).
Linebacker Za’Darius Smith leads the team with 9.0 sacks but might not be able to answer the bell because of an ankle injury that has him listed as questionable on the final injury report.
Storylines
Play-calling shift for Eagles? Pederson said on Friday that he’s been turning the play-calling in certain situations over to assistants Press Taylor and Rich Scangarello. Beyond that, he’s not sure if he’ll continue to carry on with that plan, give them more responsibilities or give them less.
“I’ve told you guys before that everything is on the table and it will be my
decision moving forward, if we continue down this path, if I divvy it up,” Pederson said. “Our process on offense is a very collaborative one as far as game-planning goes. All the coaches, all the position coaches have a lot of input into the scheme each week, and then it’s ultimately my decision as to calling the plays or if I give that up.”
New/old weaponry being reintroduced
Folding a tight end with the track record of Zach Ertz back into the mix after an extended injury absence normally would be a positive thing. But Ertz, who is expected to play for the first time since Week 6, had been struggling through an abysmal stretch before his ankle injury. And during his absence, Wentz built on already outstanding rapport with other tight ends Dallas Goedert and Richard Rodgers.
So could his return be detrimental to the offense the way wide receiver Alshon Jeffery’s recent return has?
It’s a dynamic worth watching, even if Ertz only is in for a handful of plays, which could be the case, according Pederson.
“If Zach is able to go, I think you’ve got to be smart with him just like we have with guys that have returned to play a little bit,” Pederson said, “especially guys that are in these skill spots that are running a ton and can become fatigued throughout the game. We’ve got to be smart with him, but I think he gives a boost to the passing game. He’s obviously a target of Carson’s and something that we have had success with that.
“... We’ll take it slow with him, but it will be a nice lift to get him back out there.”
Unless it isn’t.
Wentz-to-bench watch
At some point if Went zandt he offense keep struggling, rookie Jalen Hurts will be inserted for more than just one play. The Packers, who feature an atrocious, injury depleted defense, could be the best unit against which to make this move.
Stay tuned.
Milestones
DE Brandon Graham will be playing in his 155th career game, which ties Trent Cole (2005-14) for the most games played by any defensive lineman in franchise history. Graham leads the Eagles in both sacks (7.0) and tackles for losses (12) this season.
C Jason Kelce has started 100 consecutive regular-season games — the longest active streak among NFL centers as well as the longest by any Eagles center since the 1970 merger.
Playoff chances dwindling
The Eagles lost control of their playoff destiny with Monday night’s loss to Seattle and sit in third place in the NFC East. However, they can regain it with a winover Green Bay and New York Giants loss at Seattle.
According to a New York Times weekly calculator for each team, the Eagles enter this weekend with just a 23% chance to makes the playoffs.
Injuries
Eagles: S Rudy Ford (hamstring) is out. CB Darius Slay (calf ) is questionable.
Packers: C Corey Linsley (knee) is out. LB Krys Barnes (calf ), RBTyler Ervin (ribs) and LB Za’Darius Smith (ankle) are questionable.
Key matchups Eagles RB Miles Sanders vs. Packers LBs
The Packers’ run defense is vulnerable, allowing 4.6 yards per attempt. If the Eagles cannot establish a running game or abandon it too quickly if they fall behind, the Packers will score a runaway victory for sure.
“It could be a key, just establishing the run and being consistent with it throughout the game,” Sanders said. “I think that will definitely give us a chance to stay on the field and keep 12 [Rodgers] out of the game.
“But that’s not really our main thought.”
Sure it is.
Eagles QB Carson Wentz vs. Packers secondary
The Eagles have to feel that a turnover-free game from Wentz will give them an excellent chance to win.
The question is whether he’s capable of that kind of performance anymore. There’ s been no evidence this season, and Wentz is not battling through any injuries.
At this point, it’s also time to shoot down a theory once and for all that the concussion he suffered in last January’s playoff game has somehow carried over and is affecting his performance by clouding his mind and what not.
The concussion has zero to do with his play this season.
Zero.
Eagles LBs vs. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
Much like Russell Wilson the week before, Rodgers will almost always scramble first before throwing the ball away. Last week, the Eagles were able to seal off Wilson’s escape routes because they had cornerback Darius Slay covering the Seahawks most dangerous receiver, D.K. Metcalf, by himself all night, freeing up an extra defender to man the box.
But Slay has a calf injury and may not even be available for this game, much less be able to cover the Packers’ most dangerous receiver, Davante Adams, one-on-one.
Fierro’s pick
One of the few things the Eagles have done right this season is manage COVID-19. They’ve had a few players and coaches test positive here and there, but no full-blown outbreaks.
On the field, different story. Nothing works and there have been no signs of a turnaround.
Wentz appears unfixable, their offensive line is just as defective in the run game as in the pass and their receivers still aren’t on the same page with Wentz 13 weeks into the season.
Packers 34, Eagles 24. (Season pick record 7-3-1)
Next up
The Eagles host the New Orleans Saints next Sunday. The Saints enter Sunday’s game at Atlanta with a 9-2 record.