The Philadelphia Eagles are flying into the Divisional Round of the playoffs, beating the Green Bay Packers, 22-10, in their wild card game on Sunday night.
The Eagles will wait for their opponent in the Divisional Round, since it is necessary to play the Washington Commanders-Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams-Minnesota Vikings games.
This was not a game to remember for Green Bay, and it started on the opening kickoff when Keisean Nixon fumbled after a hit by Oren Burks, leading to an Eagles recovery at the 28-yard line.
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hands the ball to running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the third quarter in an NFC Wild Card game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Images by Bill Streicher-Imagn)
Just three plays later, Jalen Hurts, who went through concussion protocol after missing the team’s final two games, had all the time in the world in his pocket before firing a dart at Jahan Dotson for his first touchdown of the season. .
Now, while that was all the offense the Eagles got in the first half, aside from a Jake Elliott field goal later in the first quarter, Jordan Love and the Packers simply never found a rhythm.
The first two drives ended in punts and, trying to achieve something positive, Love threw a deep ball down the right wing intended for Dontayvion Wicks, but it was intercepted by Darius Slay.
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That was Love’s first of two interceptions in the first half, when Zack Baun jumped a route run by Malik Heath and intercepted him late in the second quarter. And to add insult to injury, the Packers’ first real drive into Eagles territory ended when Brandon McManus missed a 38-yard field goal, the first miss of his postseason career.
But when the second half began, a 10-0 game wasn’t a big enough lead for the Eagles to call the game decided. The Packers were finally able to get on the board when their first drive of the half ended with a field goal this time, although they certainly wanted seven points.
Philadelphia, however, quickly responded with a touchdown drive that was capped by a furious catch-and-run by tight end Dallas Goedert for 24 yards, as he hit an armed Carrington Valentine several times while attempting to tackle him down the sideline.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter in an NFC Wild Card game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Images by Bill Streicher-Imagn)
With a 16-3 deficit, the Packers were in desperation mode even in the third quarter because they couldn’t do anything offensively. That’s where Josh Jacobs, his workhorse starting running back, answered the call.
On second-and-10 from the Philadelphia 32-yard line, Jacobs broke through several Eagles players, knocking them to the ground and sprinting toward the goal line, where it appeared he had stepped in to close the gap. Replay review would put it at one, but the Packers would give it back to them to storm into the end zone and make the score 16-10 with more than enough time to rectify earlier mistakes.
But as they have been doing all season, they respond to adversity, and they kicked a pair of field goals and forced two turnovers, including Love’s third interception of the game, to ice their victory.
Scoring-wise, Hurts was 13-of-21 for 131 yards with two touchdowns, while Saquon Barkley led the game with 119 rushing yards on 25 carries. And although he didn’t reach the end zone, DeVonta Smith was the game’s leading receiver with four receptions for 55 yards.
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter in an NFC Wild Card game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Images by Bill Streicher-Imagn)
Love was 20 of 33 for 212 yards with his three interceptions, while Jacobs rushed for 81 yards on 18 carries. He lost receivers Jayden Reed, who had four receptions for 46 yards, and Romeo Doubs in this game due to injury. Packers center Josh Myers was also seen taken off the field, as injuries piled up at the wrong time.
