FLY LIKE AN EAGLE

Red Hot Packers Face Off with Red Hot Eagles

by: Michael Filipelli

It’s never too early for a good old fashioned playoff potential preview game. Fresh off blowout wins over Da Bears and Carolina the Green Bay Packers lock horns with the Philadelphia Eagles in a playoff potential game on Sunday. The NFC boasts the marquee matchups this week. Not only are the Packers (6-3) and Eagles (7-2) battling the NFL leading Arizona Cardinals have an equally compelling showdown with the NFC North leading  Detroit Lions. Forget New England and the Colts – the big boys of the NFC are making the noise this week.

Aaron Rodgers leads a red hot Packer offense after his lights out, 6 TD performance against Chicago in an embarrassing 55 - 14 blowout win. Mark Sanchez, the former whipping boy of the oh-so-friendly New York media has taken the helm for Chip Kelly’s high flying birds and he is also fresh off a thrashing of the Carolina Panthers that saw Sanchez post a 300 yard game coming on for the injured Nick Foles. Foles came from nowhere last season to startle almost everyone but started the year in pedestrian fashion and looked more like Nick Fails. His injury has opened the door for the former New York Jet franchise QB Sanchez to step in.

Chip Kelly’s high octane, fast paced offense has potentially rejuvenated Sanchez’ once promising career. Kelly has been known to do wonders with his quarterbacks and Foles is a great example. But with Foles now out Sanchez has stepped in and stepped up and not missed a beat. If anything he has looked more comfortable in Kelly’s presence than he ever did in Rex Ryan’s defense first scheme in the Big Apple. In the Carolina dismantling Sanchez tossed for 332 yards and 2 TD’s in his first start in over 2 years. Sanchez is playing for more than wins now; his predecessor in Foles was largely a flop until he went out with a broken collarbone.

Rodgers on the other hand is the hottest QB in the NFL. His eye popping numbers are off the chart. Rodgers leads the NFL with an 8.33 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 120.1 passer rating, including 140.1 at home. The league's 2011 MVP has thrown 15 TDs and zero interceptions at home. His interception ratio is an off the chain 1.8% For the record all 3 of his picks this year came as a direct result of balls bouncing off his receivers’’ hands. And making the Eagle’s task more imposing is the fact that Green Bay has outscored opponents by an average of 25.3 points. Want some more offensive numbers? The Eagles currently are 4^th in average points scored at 31.0 and are followed by the Packers at 30.8.

The Packers run defense has had one consecutive good game. The Pack held Chicago’s Matt Forte to but 55 yards on the ground last week. Granted, the game was such a blowout that running for the Bears wasn’t an option. As it turned out it was an even less viable option putting the ball in QB Jay Cutler’s hands as he found more creative ways to put the ball into the Packers’ pass defenses hands. The Packers are near the bottom against the run defensively.

Against the pass it is an altogether different story. The Packers have allowed four passing TDs while holding opposing quarterbacks to an NFL-low 64.2 rating. And with the Pack in the top 10 in turnover differentials, turnovers and points scored from those turnovers Sanchez and the Birds can ill afford to make the type of mistakes Aaron Rodgers typically does not.

All of which goes back to an interesting dilemma for Kelly. He wants his Eagles to go go go. So does Mike McCarthy of his packers offense. Kelly’s uptempo offense is designed to tire defenses, score quickly and often. But so is McCarthy’s offense. Turnovers will play a huge role in the game. The Birds love to catch defenses in late switches and force mismatches by keeping their foot on the gas pedal. Sound familiar? Rodgers loves doing the same thing. Neither team’s defenses will sleep well this week knowing what is looming ahead.

The issue then comes down to how each team’s defense will fare against the opponent’s offense. Lost is the fact that one of the NFL’s best backs, RB LeSean McCoy has been largely overlooked and underutilized in the Eagles’ attack. Given Green Bay’s struggles on the ground would Kelly actually prefer a ground n pound type of affair? The reasonable counterpoint to be made is although he loves uptempo offense can Sanchez match Rodgers? The obvious speaks for itself; no one can match Rodgers. Using McCoy is counter to Kelly’s fast paced desires but makes sense in trying to keep the game’s most dangerous player – Rodgers- on the bench and off the field.

But would Kelly try to pull a fast one and actually have the stones to dial it up?

If Kelly chooses to attack the Pack thru the air it is a strategy that plays to Green Bay’s strengths. After looking lost against Drew Brees in New Orleans Micah Hyde not only played much better he added a pick to start the Packers avalanche of the Bears. CB Casey Hayward added a pick 6 also. The Eagles are stout up front but have been hampered with a far below ordinary secondary. Up front Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton anchor the line and LB’s Connor Barwin and Trent Cole have provided more than enough push to stifle their opponents. The front 7 is missing DeMeco Ryans who landed on the IR and the MLB slot is now manned by Matthews.

But it’s the wrong Matthews. Clay Matthews was moved to MLB last week in a move that caught the Bears by surprise. His little bro Casey is now playing the same spot for Philly. Casey is no match for Clay, but few in the NFL are. The element of surprise is gone so look for Dom Capers to move Matthews around frequently. While moving Matthews in essence removes one the NFL’s best pressure outside rushers Matthews’ speed, nose for the ball, football instincts and high motor give him an opportunity to directly involved in far more plays. For the past few years teams have accounted for Matthews by simply going to the other side.

The FA signing of Julius Peppers is looking better and better each week as the “he’s too old” tag has been rendered moot. With Nick Perry playing at his current level the move actually strengthens the Packers instead of diluting it. Matthews in the middle provides the ability to get more quality defenders on the field. The line rotation of Datone Jones, Mike Daniels, Mike Neal, and Letroy Guion has made a much better 4-3 alignment than 3-4.

On area of concern the Pack should have is Tramon Williams play of late. Williams cannot be singled out but he has been caught out of position more times than a Pro Bowl CB should. As Sam Shields gets more confidence in the knee he banged up he becomes an even greater asset.

The Packers will likely counter the Eagles aggressive approach to offense with their own wrinkles. Yes, they’ll still play uptempo. But it will be a more deliberate pace. If Eddie Lacy can get untracked on the ground it opens up a world of possibility for Rodgers. Lacy has made the screen pass sexy again and recalls the days of Edgar Bennett and Ahman Green when the screen was a Packer staple. If Lacy is able to get the tough yards against a tough D Rodgers will be able to play-action the Eagles to death. Sanchez will have to counter with a career game to try to keep pace.

 

One area the Pack can ill afford a mistake is in special teams. Avoiding RB Darren Sproles and the damage the little guy can do has to be taken into account. The Panthers did not heed the warning and torched the Panthers when they foolishly kicked the ball in a low line drive right down Main St. Sproles plays like a human pinball and is both small enough to squirt through a hole but strong enough to stay upright longer. The Saints clearly miss his contributions and the Eagles are thrilled to have him.

Lacy vs. McCoy. Rodgers vs. Sanchez. McCarthy vs. Kelly. Matthews III vs. Matthews. Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams against an overmatched secondary. The Birds pass rush against the Packers banged up offensive line. The Eagles in the unfriendly confines of Lambeau Field vs. the cold.

Oh, and also a little detail about a potential playoff preview. We live for these games. It will be entertaining and feature many points scored. Football purists will shake their heads but the Madden generation will love the proliferation of scoring. Just like on the sandlots first team to 35 wins.

Okay class… this is not a quiz. This one is a test.

 

 

 

 

  GREEN BAY   34 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Philadelphia  23