Run, Eagles, Run: Eagles Offense Posts Historic Numbers and Beat Packers 40-33
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum
On a cold Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles looked to be the first double-digit win team of the season and continue their dominance over the NFC. Jalen Hurts has been on an MVP campaign for the past ten weeks of the season, and this was another chance for him to show why he belongs in that conversation with a signature prime-time performance. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers were coming into a hostile environment with the hopes of saving their season, with their playoff hopes slowly dwindling at 4-6.
The Eagles scored on their opening drive with a touchdown run in the red zone by Kenneth Gainwell. On the Packers’ first drive, Aaron Rodgers was picked off by cornerback Josiah Scott, and the Eagles quickly capitalized with a touchdown run by Miles Sanders. The Packers responded with a touchdown run of their own by A.J. Dillon, and they narrowed the lead to 13-7. They got the ball back after Jalen Hurts failed to convert on a QB sneak on fourth down, and drove down the field, ending their drive with a touchdown pass to Randall Cobb. The Eagles ran the ball down the Packers’ throats on their next drive, highlighted by a Hurts 41-yard run and capped off by Sanders punching it into the end zone for his second score of the night.
Rodgers threw his second interception of the night to safety Reed Blankenship on their first drive of the second quarter. On the subsequent drive by the Eagles, they turned over the ball as well, after A.J. Brown fumbled in the red zone and linebacker Quay Walker returned the football to the ten-yard line. This was followed up by a Packers drive ending with a touchdown catch by Aaron Jones. Defensively, the Packers continued the positive momentum from their previous drive, and Philadelphia booted the first punt of the night. The following drive by the Packers also ended in them punting, and the Eagles went into two-minute drill mode. Quez Watkins caught a touchdown pass with 13 seconds left, and the Eagles were up 27-20 at the end of the half.
The first drive of the second half ended with the Packers punting; the Eagles then went on a run-heavy drive featuring Sanders, Hurts, and A.J. Brown catching a touchdown pass to end the drive. Green Bay then went on a long field goal drive to make the score 34-23; afterward, Rodgers left the game with an oblique injury. Philadelphia responded with a field goal drive of their own. Jordan Love went into the game at quarterback for Green Bay on the next drive, where they went on a four-play drive and scored on a Christian Watson catch-and-run touchdown. Both teams went on field-goal drives. The game ended with a failed onside kick attempt by the Packers, with the final score being 40-33 Eagles.
The Eagles’ offense had one of the best rushing games of the Super Bowl era, with 363 rushing yards on 49 carries for 7.4 yards per carry. Hurts broke the record for rushing yards in a single game by a quarterback with 157 yards, and Sanders had his best game of the season with 143 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground as well. Philadelphia has one of the most potent offenses in the league and can beat defenses running and passing the ball. Paired up with their star players on defense, this team will be tough to beat come January.
The Packers, however, had their season essentially ended after this game. With their starting quarterback injured, and with how poorly their defense has been playing, the chances of them running the table to clinch a wild-card spot are slim-to-none. These upcoming games are their best chance to be able to properly evaluate Jordan Love before they can pick up his fifth-year option to see if he can take over the reigns after Rodgers retires.
