Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 2014 Game 10 (Packers 53, Eagles 20)
As always, this post it what it says it is, unfiltered initial reactions as the game progresses. I always find it entertaining to compare initial impressions from the heat of the moment with more measured thoughts with time to think about it. Everything is up for discussion.
GAME NOTES:
Will any defense be played in this game?
Lattimore is back to active for this game. Does that mean less Matthews at ILB?
Green Bay has scored more than 30 points in each of the first four home games (31, 42, 38, 55).
K Mason Crosby has made six field goals in a row from 50-plus yards, the longest streak in team history.
Today’s captains will be WR Jordy Nelson (offense), DT Mike Daniels (defense) and K Mason Crosby (special teams).
Inactives for today’s game:
Green Bay Packers
16 QB Scott Tolzien
39 CB Demetri Goodson
54 LB Carl Bradford
83 WR Jeff Janis
86 TE Brandon Bostick
91 LB Jayrone Elliott
97 DT Luther Robinson
Philadelphia Eagles
9 QB Nick Foles
28 S Earl Wolff
37 CB Jaylen Watkins
61 C Julian Vandervelde
67 T Dennis Kelly
88 WR Jeff Maehl
97 DE Taylor Hart
Mike McCarthy Pregame Show on 620 WTMJ:
Were Bears that bad or GB that good: We just worry about our team. That’s all we can focus on. We have no control over the other team. I thought we played with great energy. We wanted to jump on them and that’s what we did.
CM3 in middle: Dom and defensive staff did great job coming up with the packages. Clay was excited about it. He’s an impact player and you have to give guys like that a chance to make plays.
Rodgers: Aaron’s playing great, he’s in a great flow. OL protection has been very good. RBs are doing great in pass protection, checkdowns, etc.
Importance of this game: Definitely an important game. You really have to stay true to what’s on the video. We’ve been impressed with their football team.
Similar Offenses: Both teams are in no huddle, but they’re very different forms of no huddle. They’ll be moving faster thtn we are. You’ll see a lot of big plays in this game.
Sanchez: I think people tend to forget how much football Mark has played. He’s been in big games. It was no surprise watching him go into the Monday night game and play seamlessly.
Eagles O vs. Bears: Eagles have more speed, explosive. Tight end group is very impressive – they don’t get enough credit.
Rodgers best against the blitz: Definitely. Aaron’s excellent at it, his recognition of it is something he takes a lot of pride in and it’s something we practice alot. if they’re going to blitz, we’re definitely ready for it.
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Packers vs. Eagles- First Impressions – First Half:
Packers win the toss and elect to receive.
Eagles caught in a single high safety look (did they not learn anything from the bears tape). Rodgers finds nelson again down the sideline for a big play. Doesn’t score, though, and Eagles hold Packers to a field goal.
Protection for Rodgers has been sick. Has all the time in the world and converts a bunch of 3rd and longs on the way to a TD drive ending with a score by Davante Adams.
Letroy Guion with a big hit on Sanchez. A few more of those and this game will get very easy for the Packers defense.
Micah Hyde with a 75 yd punt return for a TD. And then, Packers are penalized for a “group celebration.” I thought only other teams were that stupid. Mike is not going to be happy.
Eagles use the great field position to get into the red zone. Packers hold them to three points.
Another big hit on Sanchez – this time Mike NEal. my plan is working…
Said it during the week, throwing to the running backs will be the most successful thing the Eagles offense does this game.
Score at end of 1st quarter: GB 17 PHI 3
Jordy Nelson. What else do I need to say?
Another Eddie Lacy screen. Only went for 7-8 yds this time, but still a back breaker for defenses.
Don’t know the stats, but Packers 3rd down conversion has got to be phenomenal so far. And they’ve had some long ones.
Eagles now resorting to trying to hold Jordy Nelson. In fairness, it’s all they can do. Get caught in the end zone, however. Lacy takes it in on the next play.
John Kuhn took two guys out on the TD run. The second guy (a LB), looked like he wanted no part of either Kuhn or Lacy.
If I’m the Eagles, I get the ball to Sproles every other play. Only thing working…
Matthews getting plenty of work at his usual position today too. Moving him around play to play is really the best way to use him. Give the offense something different to worry about every play.
Score at end of 1st half: GB 30 PHI 6
Packers vs. Eagles – First Impressions – Second Half:
Eagles have come back from big deficits several times this season. No falling asleep here, Packers.
ok, so Nelson IS human. He drops what would have been another long completion.
Packers have to punt for the first time – surprisingly they kick it right down the middle to Sproles, but the coverage guys keep him in check.
Clay Matthews is definitely inside Sanchez’s head. Matthews goes up to try to block a pas, Sanchez holds the ball, then throws. Matthews is fast enough to get back up in the air and block it anyway.
Sanchez starting to look like Sanchez. Throwing to empty spots on the field…
And now he’s throwing to Packers – Julius Peppers with his second pick six of the season.
Jordan Matthews ran with Peppers for the last 25 yards and couldn’t take him down.
Eddie Lacy does his best Marshawn Lynch impression, runs over multiple Eagles on a 32yd catch and run and scores with a helpful push over the goal line from Andrew Quarless.
Score at end of 3rd quarter: GB 39 PHI 12
I predicted Sanchez would throw several INTs today, but then again. that’s like predicting the grass will be green at gametime.
Well, Casey Hayward just returned a fumble for a TD. Score is 53-13. Sitting myself down for the second week in a row.
Go Pack!
Final Score: GB 53 PHI 20
Final Thoughts:
Letroy Guion might be the surprise of the season for me (even more so than Linsley, as I was really high on him in the draft).
Guion has done little in his career, was hurt pretty much all of preseason, I expected nothing from him. He’s been a beast in short yardage and is even picking up sacks. What a find!
Two missed extra points? Fire Slocum! (remember when that was a thing?)
Richard Rodgers really needs to hit the weight room this offseason and convert some of that chubbiness to muscle. Probably needs some diet and nutrition changes as well.
Eddie Lacy is the nail in the coffin of a defense’s will when they’re on the verge of calling it a day…
Wonder how many “Sanchez is better than Foles” posts we’ll read tomorrow?
The Bears defense couldn’t use Julius Peppers. chuckle…
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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
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Since we absolutely destroyed the Eagles can we stop hearing that we can’t beat a good team now. The great Eagles offense could not score against our 2nd string defense from the 5 yard line after a blocked punt. Great Job by the Packers for the 2nd week in a row. We’re tied for first. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since ’61
Didn’t you read the article here that said a Packers win isn’t “a statement?” 🙂
Fair enough, Since ’61. 😉
Aaaaaaah, those scary birds. That “but fumble” guy. Were we afraid of them (Chris, Jay, Cory)? How little respect for the Packers ~~~
Second best thing that happened today: Lions lose, together with Seattle and New Orleans. If there were free beer somewhere, it would be a perfect day…
Oh yeah, just read a stat at CBSSports: According to Football Outsiders, Matt Stafford is 0-15 on the road against teams with a winning record. We look forward to your visit, Matt.
Let’s hope he’s 0 – 16 after next week in New England.
The question of the day: are there ANY elite teams in the NFL this season?
Nope. Although New England is pretty scary right now. Arizona’s on borrowed time.
I love those uniforms. They are imbued with Curly Lambeau’s, Don Hutson’s and Johnny Blood’s spirits and ghosts.
NFL commentators say those are the first back to back 50 point games in Packers history – not sure if ever or just at home.
Hate the uniforms. LOVE everything else about today. Clay’s move to ILB, Guion’s play inside and the secondary balling out is just the icing on the cake.
This team is a legitimate super bowl contender. Right now. Get a win at home in 2 weeks and home field advantage is a definite possibility. And NO ONE is coming into Lambeau this year and beating us.
I agree Bearmeat. No doubt now we are legit and the Matthews move to ILB was the “move of the year” as far as I am concerned. If they can get home field advantage they definitely have a great chance of making it to the super bowl.
For the past 4 years since the super bowl win, I always wondered what this team would be like if we didn’t suffer so many injuries. Felt bad for TT because he had a dynasty in the making but the injuries the past couple seasons killed us in the playoffs.
Now!! we are finally seeing what TT is capable of putting together when all/most of his key players are finally healthy. We’re talking total domination. TT deserves a lot of credit for what is going on at the moment. These are all TT’s guys all coming together including Peppers who is a home run free agent. Thank you Ted!!
I think the CMIII move to ILB has raised the energy of this defense, but let’s not get too hyped up just yet. They haven’t played a power running team for awhile, and these last couple games have played to the strength of this defense as the Packers have forced their opponents into being one-dimensional early.
Julius Peppers looks pretty good, for an old dude!
Matthews as ILB the last 2 games; shows what GB was missing the last 4 years; a fast-penetrating ILB, and the impact it would have on the entire Defense. IMO, weak ILB play was the most glaring weakness on past 3 years of the team.
My criticism of TT was mostly on his neglect to find or draft a premier ILB.
So much for the hubris that the ILB position in the NFL is diminished.
I can’t wait for Jays “Packers Xs and Os Film Session”. It will be celebrating one!
What a great ‘statement’ win!