Game 11: Pack at Iggles

[MickeyDavis]

Teams: Green Bay Packers (4-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-5)

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Where: Lincoln Financial Field.

TV: ESPN; plus local ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, Green Bay.

Radio: AM-620 in Milwaukee, AM-1360 in Green Bay; Packers Radio Network

Series: Packers lead, 26-16.

Line: Eagles by 4.

Weather: Low around 45, slight chance of showers

Surface: Grass.

Coaches: Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy (116-68-1) vs. Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson (5-5).

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

ON THE OUTSIDE: Wide receiver ranks as one of the Eagles’ two weakest positions. “The receivers can’t get open and they drop a lot of balls,” an executive in personnel said. “(Jordan) Matthews is the best. He’s a good route runner. Has a good understanding. He’s just inconsistent catching the ball. He’ll drop some really easy throws. (Carson) Wentz isn’t good enough to overcome those (drops) now. … (Nelson) Agholor has been a disaster. Lined up wrong in the last game taking away a touchdown. Dropping a lot of easy balls. He’s been that way since they drafted him. … (Dorial) Green-Beckham is big, athletic. The talent is there but you’re not seeing a lot of production. Still doesn’t have a concept or the trust of his quarterback to run the right routes. In his defense, it’s hard being traded (Aug. 16 from Tennessee) and picking up the offense midstream.” Added another scout: “They don’t have a lot of weapons or a lot of playmakers, if any at all. (Zach) Ertz is more of a safe kind of a guy, not a guy who scares you.”

LATE TO THE PARTY: This is DE Brandon Graham’s seventh season. It’s also his best. According to Sportradar, he ranks second in the NFL in pressures with 42. “When we looked at the film we went, ‘Oh my God, this guy is going to tear us up,’ ” an offensive assistant coach for a recent Eagles’ opponent said. “I think he plays better at home than he does on the road. He does as good a job rushing with his hands as anybody I’ve seen. He’s pretty relentless. He’s got a counter move. He’d have a few more sacks but quarterbacks have ducked under him. He’s almost too aggressive, and he misses guys at times. If you lean forward just a little bit on this guy he’s around you. He’s having an exceptional year.”

YOUNG LEADER: This will be the Packers first peek at QB Carson Wentz, the North Dakota State product who was the second pick in the 2016 draft. “Doug Pederson has done an excellent job protecting the young quarterback,” said one personnel man. “The receivers aren’t there but he has done a great job using the talent at tight end and running back. … Wentz has kind of come back to earth. You still see the talent. He’s got a long release and you can get a break on that. The last couple weeks he has had ball security (issues). But he has good arm strength. He’s accurate on the run. He can throw with deep touch. Natural thrower. Does a good job stepping up in the pocket. Does a lot of good things.”

PERIMETER TARGET: Rookie cornerback Jalen Mills, a seventh-round draft choice, has been forced to play a primary role given injuries and poor play elsewhere at the position. In the victory over Atlanta on Nov. 13, the Eagles actually matched Mills against Julio Jones. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has saluted Mills for playing with tremendous competitiveness. However, opponents have said Mills has major deficiencies in coverage and should be targeted. “He will definitely be a liability,” said one scout. “I question his ability to play the ball. He doesn’t have the speed to stay over the top. Low tackler. Makes some bad plays in the open field.” Added an opposing offensive coach: “He’s best in zone coverage. You put him in man and he’s going to get beat. We went after him a couple times.”

RUGGED RUSH: The Eagles’ sixth-ranked pass rush is more than just DE Brandon Graham on the left side. Fletcher Cox is an elite 3-technique, right end Connor Barwin goes all-out and Vinny Curry is a solid designated rusher inside. “Cox is a beast,” an offensive coach for a recent Eagles’ foe said. “He can run, he’s physical, he’s strong. … Barwin’s improved over last year. High-effort player. He will bull-rush you. He doesn’t have the speed. He’s not a nifty athlete like Graham. … Curry has good quicks. He’s got good power and is a good effort guy. He’s just not an exceptional athlete.”

VIEWS OF THE GAME

BOB McGINN

The Packers will be facing another in a succession of opponents that is no better than they are. They’ve lost four of these games in a row because they generally start slow and aren’t playing to their potential. The Packers haven’t played a complete game since beating Seattle in September 2015, which was 27 games ago. Isn’t it about time for another?

TOM SILVERSTEIN

I thought the Packers train was going to finally get out of the station last week. Maybe I was a week too early. This is the game their increased health and improved play on offense finally allow the Packers to break their losing streak and put off what may be inevitable — a losing season. Packers 24, Eagles 20

MICHAEL COHEN

There’s a good chance the Packers will have a lot of moving parts Monday in Philadelphia. Will Clay Matthews move inside? Will Jake Ryan be available? Can Christine Michael give the running game some juice? Lots of changes might spell trouble for a team that needs a win to save its season. I can’t pick the Packers until they give me a reason to do so. Eagles 24, Packers 20

PETE DOUGHERTY

Carson Wentz looks like he’s going to be a good one, but he doesn’t have the weapons that Tennessee and Washington displayed in demolishing the Packers the last two weeks. The guess here is that Aaron Rodgers will provide just enough offense for the Packers to win a squeaker. Packers 27, Eagles 24

RYAN WOOD

Over the past month, the Packers simply have shown no indications they’re capable of leaving Philadelphia with a victory. The Eagles are at the bottom of the resurgent NFC East, but they’re also undefeated at home. A loss would effectively end the Packers’ hopes of making the playoffs, so expect them to play with desperation. It just won’t be enough. Eagles 31, Packers 24

[MickeyDavis]

Randall and Ryan expected back. Too little too late.

[Mags FTW]

Their wide receivers suck, so I would say "It's a good thing our weakness (secondary) isn't a strength of theirs" but I said that about the Titans...

Main concerns are Sproles out of the backfield and Ertz.

[Wiscfan92]

Lose and it's officially over

[Mags FTW]

Lose and it's officially over

I heard there is a scenario where we can lose 2 non-division games and win a 3-way tie with Minny and Detroit. We can definitely lose 1 non-division game and have a shot.

[Ron Swanson]

Well, considering last week I put a fork in this team's season, I have no expectations for this game. Win, lose, whatever. Just don't get embarrassed. Capers should have been fired last Monday.

[HKPackFan]

3 losses away from guaranteeing a losing season. 2 more after tonight..

Although feeling inspired after MM said their backs are against the wall, they were going to clean things up, and need better execution and pad level.

[JackSIKMA43]

Well, considering last week I put a fork in this team's season, I have no expectations for this game. Win, lose, whatever. Just don't get embarrassed. Capers should have been fired last Monday.

I agree, but I just don't see anyone getting fired after the season, sadly. If we end up with a losing record, this will be only the third losing season, since 1992, as crazy as that sounds (the others were 2005 and 2008). I highly doubt anyone gets fired, with that being the case.

[Flames24Rulz]

Lose and it's officially over

Yep. If they lose tonight, I'm rooting for a tank the rest of the way.

[Mags FTW]

Between @ New Orleans, @NYG, and @DAL, Detroit probably has 2 more losses in them. If we can beat them, that would make 3 losses, a 9-7 record, and GB having the tie breaker. It's definitely not over if we lose. We would probably need to run the table and have Minny choke a game away that they should win .

[GBPackers47]

3 losses away from guaranteeing a losing season. 2 more after tonight..

Although feeling inspired after MM said their backs are against the wall, they were going to clean things up, and need better execution and pad level.

Although it's nice to hear MM say that, my question is, what the hell took so long? We should have been playing like our backs were against the wall when we were still 0-0. To me, him saying that when we are 4-6 and currently on a four game losing streak just shows is arrogance and inability to make adjustments. After a four game losing streak you don't just "execute better and have better pad level." Those issues are deeper than that. It pains me to say this, but realistically based on how this team has played all year, nothing tells me we won't be 4-7 tomorrow morning.

[Flames24Rulz]

Between @ New Orleans, @NYG, and @DAL, Detroit probably has 2 more losses in them. If we can beat them, that would make 3 losses, a 9-7 record, and GB having the tie breaker. It's definitely not over if we lose. We would probably need to run the table and have Minny choke a game away that they should win .

Yeah, Detroit's due for a couple of L's too with the way they've played all season. Their schedule outside of the game against the Bears is pretty tough for this time of the year.

If we win tonight, I think we'll have something meaningful to play for in Week 16 & 17. I'm not too confident though that this team is going to be able to win out if they lose tonight, though. Especially with Seattle still on the schedule.

[Mags FTW]

Between @ New Orleans, @NYG, and @DAL, Detroit probably has 2 more losses in them. If we can beat them, that would make 3 losses, a 9-7 record, and GB having the tie breaker. It's definitely not over if we lose. We would probably need to run the table and have Minny choke a game away that they should win .

Yeah, Detroit's due for a couple of L's too with the way they've played all season. Their schedule outside of the game against the Bears is pretty tough for this time of the year.

If we win tonight, I think we'll have something meaningful to play for in Week 16 & 17. I'm not too confident though that this team is going to be able to win out if they lose tonight, though. Especially with Seattle still on the schedule.

The Seattle game is probably more winnable than tonight.

[GBPackers47]

Between @ New Orleans, @NYG, and @DAL, Detroit probably has 2 more losses in them. If we can beat them, that would make 3 losses, a 9-7 record, and GB having the tie breaker. It's definitely not over if we lose. We would probably need to run the table and have Minny choke a game away that they should win .

Yeah, Detroit's due for a couple of L's too with the way they've played all season. Their schedule outside of the game against the Bears is pretty tough for this time of the year.

If we win tonight, I think we'll have something meaningful to play for in Week 16 & 17. I'm not too confident though that this team is going to be able to win out if they lose tonight, though. Especially with Seattle still on the schedule.

The Seattle game is probably more winnable than tonight.

I think being at home against Seattle definitely helps. I just don't like us matching up against Wilson.

[BigDee]

I'm not holding my breath that they win this one.

[Mags FTW]

Agholor inactive.

[rilamann]

Healthy or not,the Bears game is the only game left on the schedule in which I would feel comfortable picking the Packers to win.

As for tonight I think the Packers get beat pretty bad once again.The Eagles defense is really solid,especially when they are at home and Wentz plays really well at home so I think the Packers are in for another long night.

I also think the Eagles are the best team in the NFC that no one is really talking about,they are better than their 5-5 record.The Eagles are my pick to be the team that gets hot in December and January and if the Cowboys or Eagles aren't playing in the Super Bowl I think it could very well be the Eagles.

I think the Eagles late season hot streak starts tonight.

Eagles 34 Packers 16

[RiotPunch]

Packers - 31
Eagles - 28

Have a feeling we pull it out, but almost hoping for an L to keep giving power to the winds of change.

[darklotus66]

Offense off to a good start...

[Mags FTW]

Cougar Alert