The Rodgers-Less Packers are a completely different football team with back-up Wallace taking the snaps this Sunday. You thought there was a big change in Philadelphia when Vick went down and Foles was inserted? Rodgers is an elite player at the most important position of the game. Wallace is a journey-man, has been adequate at best went asked to start, and is very limited with his arm strength and ability to win a football game by himself.
The Packers are essentially down Rodgers, Finley, Cobb and James Jones is battling injuries. Jordy Nelson is a heck of a wide-receiver, but with Wallace throwing to him, the deep-threat potential is marginal at best. Boykin and the rest of the receivers and tight-ends pose little “game-changing” skill-
sets, and without Rodgers their production is even less lethal.
What the Packers do have is a beast at the running back position. Eddie Lacy for those watching this past Monday Night; runs with determination and simply will run you over. He is a bigger back, running north-south and James Starks offers a change of back and receiver out of the backfield option.
On defense, Clay Mathews returns after missing several weeks with a hand injury. Whether he is at full-strength, he is one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL and must be accounted for at all times. B.J. Raji is a large man and a disruptive presence from the nose-tackle position. Don Capers does a nice job with his defense, although their secondary is very skeptic to bite at double moves made by opposing receivers.
How the Eagles Should Attack on the Offensive Side of the Football
Do not run the read-option, bur run the football. Keep the running plays simple, our offensive line has a job to do, and if they block their man, McCoy can make plays.
Involve Bryce Brown into the running-game; have him on the field the same time as McCoy. Use McCoy as a receiver. The Packers have several injuries to their line-backers and Kelly needs to take advantage of this.
Again, lack of depth of Packers at the line-backer position, also involve all three tight-ends. I would love to see Casey used out of the backfield, something I expected to see. Put Casey in motion even if he is not the primary target for the play that is called, spread the defenders out and improve the space between the throwing targets for Nick Foles.
Let DeSean run-wild, he could have a monster game with his speed.
How the Eagles Should Attack on the Defensive Side of the Football
Keep Wallace off-balanced and move him out of the pocket. Wallace is not great as a pocket-passer and even worse when flushed out of his comfortable passing lanes. I feel adding some additional 4-3 sets versus the Packers will allow Cole and Barwin to make an enormous impact on the game. I’d have Bradley Fletcher assigned to Nelson due to his size. Let Cary Williams run his mouth and get into the heads of the other young wide-receivers.
The game-plan should be aggressive and intended on minimizing the damage that Lacy/Starks do with the rushing game. The Eagles should be able to force two turnovers in this football game if they continue to play at the level demonstrated over the last month.
This was a game marked on the schedule as a loss by most fans, but all of a sudden an injury to the franchise quarterback and it’s certainly a winnable game. Which Nick Foles is going to show up? Will our defense continue to play better and stay aggressive?
This is a win for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Eagles 34 Packers 20
Would be a huge win on the road no doubt. Must load the box. IF their backs are getting 5-6 yards a pop, play action will hurt us. Our D is better than at the start of the season. Must make Wallace beat us. On the other side, our ground game has to work this week. O line has to be committed to the run. Foles will produce in the air.