Andy Reid knows every minute of every hour is immensely valuable at this time of year, so that’s why he and his coaches had already taken a look at video footage of the Green Bay Packers in their most recent games. He knows how formidable a team the Birds face but he also likes their chances.
“I feel good about our team,” Reid said.
These two teams played during the first week of the season but a number of injuries have changed them to the point where they don’t even resemble what they were then.
Reid isn’t phased by that loss earlier in the year because it means nothing now. “I’m not worried about the last one, I have all my energy going to this one,” Reid said.
When the season began, the Packers were considered one of the teams favored to go to the Super Bowl. Their offense was considered unstoppable with quarterback Aaron Rodgers leading an explosive passing game and running back Ryan Grant being the cornerstone of the rushing attack.
During the second quarter of the Packers 27-20 win over the Birds that day, Grant suffered a season-ending ankle injury. It’s left Green Bay without much of a running game. They’ve still got Rodgers to throw the football, but they haven’t been able to replace Grant, so it’s made them one-dimensional.
From an offensive standpoint, they are totally reliant upon Rodgers who missed a game a few weeks ago because of a concussion he suffered against the Detroit Lions. Packers fans have to be holding their breath every time he leaves the pocket because they know that their season is over if Rodgers were to go down.
The Packers offensive tackles aren’t anything to write home about, so defenses have been able to put pressure on Rodgers and make him throw the ball earlier than he would like.
The Packers defense has been more consistent than their offense. Outside linebacker Clay Matthews has joined cornerback Charles Woodson as one of the dominant defensive players in the league. He’s become a dominant pass rusher and the defense has been up amongst the best in the league, all year long.
Of course you know the story with the Eagles. They started the season with Kevin Kolb behind center but Matthews changed all of that when he sacked Kolb and subsequently slammed his head into the Lincoln Financial Field turf. Michael Vick entered the game, eventually became the team’s starting quarterback and the Eagles haven’t looked back.
The Eagles abandoned the short passing game which the west coast offense is supposed to embody and have developed into the quick strike big play attack which they were a year ago. They can strike from anywhere on the field, but they can also get out of sync and struggle for extended periods of time.
Vick, who will likely finish second in the league’s MVP voting, became just the second player in NFL history to finish a season with at least 3,000 passing yards, 500 rushing yards and a 100 quarterback rating. Steve Young also did so in 1992 when he threw for 3,465 yards and rushed for 537 with a passer rating of 107.0 … Vick finished with the second-best single-season marks in team history in terms of completion percentage (62.6), quarterback rating (100.2), interceptions (6) and interception percentage (1.6).
Vick has had trouble of late reading the blitz and getting the football out of his hands. We’re sure to see some blitzing from the Packers, but they also know that Vick can kill them by making big plays with this arm or with his legs.
The talented quarterback suffered a thigh contusion in the loss to the Vikings but Reid says he’ll be ready to go next week.
“He feels good. He had some swelling in the thigh … He had a nice workout today … He went in and rehabbed and I think he’ll be fine.”
It could easily be a high-scoring game if both offenses play the way they’re capable.
The bye will propel us to a 20-point win.
Very bold prediction there. I say we win ONLY if Vick can rely on his head to read blitzes and get rid off the ball, instead of his feet. He hasn’t shown this year he can do that.
Reidsucks
Everyone and their momma has admitted that Vick has become a pocket passer who ran only when he had to. The problem is that he HAD TO too often.
With Reid passing the ball as much as 93% in the 2nd and 3rd quarter of each game, the defense has tee’d off on Vick with blitzes. He’s taken hit after hit after hit, which will change anyone’s game. His body is wracked with pain and it has obviously affected his throwing mechanics.
If Vick is able to see the hot reads and simply dump the ball off to the slot it changes the defenses approach immensely. Drummer you are correct his mechanics have changed due to getting hit but he missed (along with the WRs not shortening their routes) some very easy throws and getting some play makers in space. I think that is a huge key to this game is Vick being able to recognize where the pressure is coming form and throwing into it. We have to remember Vick has never truly been ‘coached’ to be the QB we all want to see. he has made tremendous strides and will only get better moving forward.
3-4 things to keep an eye on and epsecially early in the game..
#1) Special Teams play will be very important from the Kicking game to the Coverage teams.
#2) Which team established the line of scrimmage and is able to run the ball more effectively
#3) Which team better pass-protects, can Eagles neutralize OLB Matthews JR and can the Packers netralize DE T Cole
#4) Can the Eagles Secondary be physical enough to handle the PAckers WR which are probably the best unit as a team and play 4 deep who can all make plays and can the PAckers handle the Speed of the Eagles WR (D-Jax/Macln)
With a late kick-off 430pm start time in Philadelphia, expect it to be cold and windy
The more windy, the less advantage the Eagles Speed will have for it will be difficult to complete some deep throws and if it’s blustery out..
Vick has to play the way he’s capable but LeSean McCoy will also play a very important role. McCoy can help keep the pass rush pressure off of Vick.
I agree G,
But that’s only if the Coach AR/MM call enough plays for McCoy in the 1st half to establish a running game,rhythm and an attempt to control the Line of Scrimmage..
My Take of Vick is this, will be be as great as he was 5-8 weeks ago when he was almost perfect… probably not… Will he look as bad as he’s looked recently with missing open receivers, not reading coverages quickly enough, fumbling the ball and throwing INt’s ..hopefully not
I expect Vick to be somewhere in between, where he’ll make some great plays and then he’ll make some head scratchers…But he needs to do a much better job in protecting the ball than he has done in recent games.. If the Packers get 1-2-3 more Possesions than the Eagles due to turnovers, then it will be very difficult for the Eagles to overcome..
How will the defense play is the number one concern I have…Will they be able to get off the field on critical 3rd downs? thus keeping the Packers out of the redzone? Will we be able to get pressure/hits on Rodgers? All year long the defense has struggled to get to the QB…
Whats getting lost in all of the blitz talk, is that our QB’s have taken hits even when teams only rush 4 at times,,..Can the O Line, protect the QB? The O line, plays an important role in the running game..Can they open up the wholes so that McCoy (or Harrison) have running lanes…Will the coaches stay with running the ball if it is effective?
I think running the ball is going to be the most vital. We clearly have the guys to do it. I was impressed with the way we ran the ball yesterday. Like I’ve said all along, Reid has to be patient with the the run. Just because McCoy isn’t breaking 10-15 yard runs, doesn’t mean he should resort to his pass-happy ways.
@btc- I hope Andy & Marty are reading your post, because establishing a running game will make a difference in so many areas on this team…it will slow the pass rush, it will bring the safety’s up and help open the shots over the top to DJax, it will give us more time of possession and keep our defense off of the field….too many reasons to make McCoy the centerpeice of the attack….but as we all know, you have a better chance winning the mega-millions this week
I agree with what G Cobb and Paulman have stated. Vick really needs to show that he can pick up where the blitz is coming from and hit the hot route reciever on a qick pass; if Vick does that 2 or 3 times early then they will be less likely to blitz. McCoy needs to have a huge game in all 3 phases….blocking, catching and running that will be huge. Also Desean and Macklin need to focus on not aloowing the DB’s to push them around, if they can get clean relesaes then we are going to put up a minmum of 27 points as long as Vick has a decent game.
Defense is what scare me…… We need pressure when we bring the blitz. If we blitz 1 or 2 guys we need to make sure wwe get to Rodgers or else our DB’s are toast. Dont be suprised if Asante has a pick six. Rodgers loves to throw the ball before the Wr’s come out of their breaks and Asante usually has his pick six on that type of pass.
I think Coach MM is making moving plans and putting his house up for sale and having his wife
look at new homes,checking out school districts, up the in the Clevleand area so he may be a little distracted this week.. I don’t care what type of Professional you are, have a opportunity to become a HC
or reach the Pinnacle in your porfession and all the possibilties that go along with it become a distraction
ajnd Coach MM will be dealing with this, all week long, maybe Coach AR can get Childress in here to help with game plan since not too many are interested in him..
Yes the Packers are good but I think the hype is a little exaggerated. I know this is the post season so it doesn’t matter now but last time we played them it was pretty close even with Vick out. I think as long as AR prepares the team to go, is balanced with his playcalling including incorporating more running plays, and Vick doesn’t turn over the ball, this team can win. The Eagles have been known to play well especially when they are the underdogs. Yes, It will be close, but I think the Eagles can win it. The Defense is a slight concern but in the end the prize will goe to the higher scoring team.
Go Eagles!!!
Reid said: “I feel good about our team,”
Chevron says: “I agree”
I wonder if the Eagles be aggressive about getting some hits on Aaron Rodgers. Remember that Rodgers isn’t that far away from suffering a concussion.
I think we all can agree that both offenses should put up a lot of points. I think the game will come down to which defense causes the most mistakes or gets that crucial turnover. Even though our defense is sketchy against the pass, we are very opportunistic so they will have to offset allowing points and yards by getting sacks and turnovers. I don’t expect it to be turnover city out there but at some point the defense will need to make a play. Rodgers is like any QB and when getting pressure he is susceptible to throwing INTs as well. In opener against us, he wasn’t that sharp so our defense will have to keep him off balanced and they aren’t running the ball well. Grant and Jackson started to kill us that game. So neither team is the same as earlier. It will be a great game.
On a side note, did anyone even look at the wildcard teams?
Saints, Packers, Ravens and Jets. Has there ever been 4 wildcards this good that could easily be considered Super Bowl bound?
drummer….agreed that we throw too much but I am not buying that Vick is getting clobbered too much because of that. Vick takes way too many hits when he runs because he doesn’t slide. Is he getting that much more beaten up than other QBs who work behind an average offensive line? I don’t think so. Granted McCoy & Harrison should run about 25-30 times against Packers since they are not good at defending the run and it will also give Vick some respite, but don’t hold your breath. You have a head coach who thinks he knows better than anyone. If Reid has any brains, he will run the ball against Packers. But I fully anticipate another post game speech where he will blather on “It is on me. I should have done better job. I goofed.”
Then look at the #3 & # 4 Seeds with the Eagles Seahawks and the Colts & Chiefs
has there been a weaker group at the #3rd & 4th Seeds in recent memory..
Watch for S Coleman and maybe OLB’s Sims & Clayton with some early blitzing to get a hit or 2 in on Rodgers