3 Keys to a Philadelphia Eagles win versus Green Bay in Week 13

3. The Philadelphia Eagles must run the ball.

This one is pretty simple and obvious. Will it actually happen? That’s another story. We say it every week, but it’s especially true for this matchup. It’s no secret that defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is not a fan favorite in Green Bay. Pettine’s philosophy is built upon controlling the line of scrimmage. It’s a 3-4 defensive scheme so each defender is going to have two-gap responsibilities. The defenders are going to read and react based upon what they see from the offense.

The problem is that the Packers defenders never seem to be on the same page in the run game. It’s been a combination of poor coaching and execution. They’re either too aggressive trying to stuff the run game or too conservative and sitting back and waiting. At times, Pettine has had edge rushers line up t the cornerback position which is just mind-boggling.

Last week, there was a massive hole in the B-gap that led to a 57-yard run from David Montgomery. It’s Week 12 and mistakes like that are still happening (but shouldn’t be). We’re outsiders so we don’t know the full story but Adrian Amos came down into the box on the other side of the formation and it appeared that Kamal Martin didn’t recognize that he had done so. Christian Kirksey looked a bit lost as well. Regardless of who was at fault, huge running lanes by this Packers run defense have been exploited all season. They rank 25th against the rush in terms of yards per carry.

Miles Sanders can break off big runs and will have some opportunities to do so in Lambeau with his burst. The Packers also allow the most receiving yards to opposing running backs, so maybe Miles gets more involved in the passing game. Expect a monster game from him if head coach Doug Pederson actually decides to give him the ball.

Jordan Howard has been activated as well. he’s very familiar with the Packers. Last year, he helped the Birds to a win at Lambeau Field with 115 total yards and three touchdowns. In seven career games versus Green Bay, he’s tallied 448 yards on 106 carries (4.23 yards per rush). He’s also hauled in 15 receptions for 101 yards and six total touchdowns. Don’t expect anything crazy from Howard. The Birds don’t need him to be a superstar. Hopefully, he can be useful in short-yardage situations.