PACKERS (4-6) VS. EAGLES (5-5)
MONDAY, 8:30 P.M. ET, LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD, PHILADELPHIA uTV: ESPN
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
About the Packers: Can you say “free fall?” Panic has begun to set in in Green Bay after the Packers lost their fourth in a row and fifth in their last six games when the Washington Redskins soared past them. Injuries have devastated the Packers, especially on defense, which is one reason they’ve allowed more than 30 points in each of their past four games and more than 40 in their past two.
Expecting Philadelphia and rookie QB to come away from the wind and rain of Seattle with a victory against the surging Seahawks was too much to ask. But now the Eagles return home, where they have allowed a total of 38 points in four wins. But injuries are beginning to catch up to the Eagles, too, particularly on the offensive line and at running back.
Matchup to watch: Packers Gs Don Barclay and Lane Taylor and C Corey Linsley vs. Eagles DTs Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan. The strength of Philadelphia’s defense is its front seven, particularly Cox, a Pro Bowl playmaker, and Logan, a stout run stopper. Unfortunately for the Packers, that’s where their offense is its weakest because of injuries to starting C and G T.J.
forcing often-overmatched Barclay into the lineup at right guard. The situation got worse when Barclay left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, throwing rookie T Jason
into an unfamiliar position.
He has long been the centerpiece of his team but never has so much been asked of Rodgers. With the running game sagging in the absence of injured RB Eddie Lacy, the blocking faltering and the defense crumbling, the weight of the team is on Rodgers’ shoulders. His numbers have been fabulous. He has averaged 318 yards and thrown 15 TD passes in his past five games, and he has been Green Bay’s leading rusher the past four weeks. But one man can only do so much. The Eagles are unbeaten at home and 1-5 away. They’ve al-
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
lowed 15 points or fewer in home games while giving up 24 or more in four of five on the road. Offensively, Philadelphia is averaging 374.3 yards a game at home and has surpassed 400 yards three times. On the road? An average of 317.8 with three games of fewer than 300 yards.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Let Rodgers relax: The likely Hall of Famer is doing everything he can, firing the ball all over the field, scrambling and making backyard plays in the mold of predecessor Brett Favre, but he needs help. Someone, preferably on defense, needs to be a consistent playmaker.
2. Take some shots: Green Bay’s bangedup secondary has been a disaster lately, giving up seven passes of more than 30 yards in the past two weeks, but Philadelphia’s Wentz might not be the quarterback to take advantage of it. The rookie has been reined in by the coaching staff and rarely looked at for the long ball. His average of 6.57 yards per pass attempt is among the league’s lowest.
3. Stepping up: Depth is a big issue for both teams. Green Bay is in big trouble at inside linebacker, where injury leaves as the only healthy body at that position, and cornerback, where
and are trying to hold down the fort for injured
and Eagles Ts and both left with injuries, as did RBs
and Andy Friedlander