Eagles Look for Lightning Strike at Lambeau

The Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1) travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers (8-3). The Packers are red hot, Aaron Rodgers is the face of the MVP race, and they have their eyes set on another Super Bowl. Could this dismal Eagles team win at Lambeau back-to-back years? The circumstances this year aren’t much different than last year. The Eagles are still playing in a division without an identity. Their playoff chances are not yet gone despite their 3-7-1 record. With only five games left in the season, it’s now or never for this Eagles team. If hungry dogs really do run faster, it’s time to prove it.

Eagles Keys to Victory

If the Eagles are going to leave Lambeau with a win, there are a few critical things that have to happen. None of these things will matter unless Carson Wentz starts to play better football. Poor quarterback play leads nowhere in the NFL. We have seen that front and center this year with the Eagles. While other factors have certainly aided the Eagles’ decline, Wentz still has to perform better. Wentz is just the tip of the iceberg, though.

Eagles Defensive Gameplan

The Eagles played perhaps their best full game of the season. While Darius Slay was torched for 177 yards, he held D.K. Metcalf out of the end zone. To have any chance in this game, he’s going to have to do it again with Packers start WR Davante Adams. The defensive line is going to have to make noise early in this game. Rodgers is the best QB in the NFL right now, so any pressure they can get on Aaron is a plus.

Not only is this defensive line tasked with getting pressure, but they also have to attempt to shut down Aaron Jones. Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are a problem for any defense. While Rodgers is perfectly capable of winning the game himself, shutting down their run game would be a winning formula the Eagles should get behind.

Better Play-Calling

After every game, Doug Pederson is asked why he doesn’t roll Carson out of the pocket. He never really answers the question, and he never implements it in the next game. Could this be the game that the Birds finally open up the playbook? Carson is at his best when he’s on the move. If the Eagles are going to avoid throwing Jalen Hurts out there on Sunday afternoon, they need to cater to Carson’s strengths. Fingers crossed that this is the game plan, but don’t hold your breath.

Prediction

While the Eagles are in fight-or-flight mode, they don’t have what it takes to take down a juggernaut like Green Bay. The Eagles offense has shown nothing to prove that it can take down the Packers. Their defense also hasn’t demonstrated back-to-back solid performances this season. If the offense can’t get anything going, it’s hard to imagine the defense being able to stop Aaron Rodgers. Philly will fall to 3-8-1, with a 31-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.