Eagles vs. Packers recap: Rodgers has his way with Philly defense

The Eagles are bad and Aaron Rodgers is good. You know how this movie ends.

First half review

Defense:

Good start to the defensive series. James Starks gets the handoff from Aaron Rodgers, but is taken down behind the line by Mychal Kendricks.
Rodgers hits Jordy Nelson just short of the sticks. Third down coming.
Rodgers uses his legs to pick up the first down. Eagles made it a little too easy.
Eagles are unable to stop Rodgers. After using his feet to pick up another first down, he finds Davante Adams for the score. Eagles are struggling to stop the two-time MVP.

Offense:

Darren Sproles is a tank. On 2nd and short, Sproles rams through the defensive line and picks up a first down and more.
Dorial Green-Beckham gets in on the action, picking up 13 yards and a first down.
End-around alert! Bryce Treggs picks up a small gain, but uses his impressive speed to turn the corner and pick up some yards. Speed is fun.
Gorgeous throw from Carson Wentz, who finds DGB downfield for a 24-yard gain. DGB is getting involved early and often.
Carson Wentz rushing touchdown! Defensive tackle Beau Allen lines up as a fullback and helps open up the field for Wentz, who gets to the outside and dives into the end zone for the touchdown. Exciting play from the rookie.

Defense:

Eagles defense continues making things easy for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. Once again, Rodgers finds Davante Adams for a score. Incredible catch from Adams in the back of the end zone. It appears Nolan Carroll didn’t see the ball coming in time.

Offense:

Another dart from Carson Wentz, who hits Jordan Matthews in the middle of the field for a gain of 17.
Wentz uses his feet again for a nice pickup under duress. Showing a lot of athleticism against a weak Packers defense.
Wentz throws a dart to Treggs on third down, but the pass falls incomplete. Looked like a pass interference by the Green Bay defender. Eagles forced to punt.

Defense:

Aaron Rodgers has the Eagles’ number. On third down, Rodgers rolls out and once again picks up a first down with his legs. Eagles defense is struggling.
Packers convert on 3rd and 7, making them 6 for 6 on the night. Eagles have no answer.
Eagles finally do the impossible and stop Green Bay on third down. Packers thought about going for it, but ultimately elected to punt.

Offense:

After a terrific punt from Green Bay, Eagles start the drive inside their own one-yard line.
What a throw and catch. Wentz floats one downfield to Jordan Matthews with pressure in his face. Matthews beautifully adjusts to the throw and brings it in for a 20-yard gain. Unfortunately, Matthews injured his ankle on the play and went to the locker room for X-rays. Also unfortunately, the 20-yard gain is immediately negated on the next play. Wentz tries escaping pressure, but is unable to get away from the Green Bay pass rush and gets sacked for a 14-yard loss.
Carson Wentz is unreal. On 3rd and 6, he rolls to his right, jukes a defender out of his shoes and picks up 17 yards. Wentz is playing like his life depends on it.
Eagles are stopped on third down, forcing them to go for the 48-yard field goal. Caleb Sturgis drills it down the middle, making the score 14-10, Green Bay. Eagles get the ball at half.

Not a bad half for the Eagles. Offensively, the Eagles are moving the ball and putting points on the board. Also, not one Eagles receiver dropped a pass in the first half!

Unfortunately, the defense hasn’t been nearly as good. For the Eagles to pull a win out of this, the defense will need to tighten up. Hard to imagine Jim Schwartz isn’t reaming into his players during halftime.

Second half review

Offense:

On 3rd and 1, Wendell Smallwood is given the handoff and bursts past the line for a first down and more. A lot of fight in the rookie out of West Virginia.
Wentz lets one get away from him and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix gets the interception. Bad start to the second half.

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Defense:

The first play of the defensive series, Aaron Rodgers hits Davante Adams for a 50-yard gain. Leodis McKelvin got beat on the play, which has become a regular habit.
Great play from the defense on third down. Rodgers buys time with his legs, but Jordan Hicks flies in and puts pressure on him, forcing him to throw the ball away. Big win for the Eagles defense.

Offense:

On a crucial 3rd and 9, Wentz finds Zach Ertz for a gain of 16. Eagles keeping the drive going.
Packers defense puts an end to the drive, forcing Philadelphia to go for the 50-yard field goal. Once again, Sturgis knocks it through. Eagles trail 17-13.

Defense:

Eagles stop Green Bay on third down, but Fletcher Cox is called for roughing the passer. Questionable call from the refs.
On another third down, Jalen Mills breaks up a pass intended for Jordy Nelson, but the ball lands right in Nelson’s hands as he falls to the ground. Wild play.
The same thing happens on the very next play for a gain of two. However, Doug Pederson really wanted those two yards back and chose to challenge the ruling on the field. He won the challenge, but used his last challenge of the game in the process. Very strange decision by Pederson. As it turns out, the Packers would convert for the first down anyway, making his challenge completely meaningless.
Davante Adams is a shapeshifter apparently and jukes out almost every member of the Eagles defense, putting the Packers in the red zone. Horrible effort all around from the Eagles.
Touchdown Green Bay. Aaron Ripkowski rips through (pun intended) the defensive line and falls into the end zone for six. Eagles trail 24-13.

Offense:

Huge gain for Darren Sproles. Only one problem; DGB was called for holding on the play. Does this mean he’ll be benched next week?
Carson Wentz does not give up. Wentz has Green Bay defenders draped all over him, fights them off and runs for a positive gain. Incredible effort from the rookie.
A bad snap from Jason Kelce leads to a Clay Matthews sack. After an incompletion on the next play, the Eagles are forced to punt. Ugly, ugly drive.

Defense:

More sloppy play from the defense. On third down, Brandon Graham jumps offsides, giving the Packers an easy first down. Bad mistakes during crunch time are killing the Eagles.
Rodgers finds Jordy Nelson wide open for a 22-yard gain.
Packers go for it on 4th and 5 and convert. Rodgers finds Nelson, who pushed off of Jalen Mills to make the play. Nelson gets away with one.
Eagles somehow stop the Packers on third down and they settle for a field goal. Green Bay leads 27-13, which would be the final score.

Overview

What started out as an exciting game, the Eagles found a way to make this an unwatchable television broadcast. The Eagles defense had its worst outing of the season against arguably the best quarterback in the game and, from start to finish, it was hard to watch. The Eagles’ odds of making the playoffs are very slim and it isn’t a bad idea to start thinking about next season.

Additional notes

Jordan Matthews is hurt. He left the game in the first half and returned in the third quarter, only to leave the game once again. Matthews is the Eagles’ only good receiver and losing him would be a major gut punch to an Eagles team already lacking weapons.

If you’re wondering how Paul Turner played, he failed to record a single reception. But hey, at least he didn’t drop any passes!

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