Philadelphia defeats struggling Green Bay in the NFL playoffs

PHILADELPHIA – In a playoff game that won’t generate much replay on NFL Network, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 22-10 in the NFC wild-card round on Sunday.

Dallas Goedert ran for a 24-yard touchdown in the third quarter and the Eagles defense featured Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and a depleted Green Bay receiving corps to pave the way to victory.

Neither quarterback played inspiring ball. For Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts completed his first six passes but missed his next seven and finished the game with 131 pass yards and five rushes for 37 yards on his 13 of 21 return after missing the last two games (and most of a third) with a concussion suffered on December 22 against the Washington Commanders.

Love, who threw two interceptions, had to rely on Jacobs and tight end Tucker Kraft in the passing game since Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed were sidelined with injuries, while Christian Watson was out long-term last week against the Chicago Bears.

The smoke from the pregame fireworks hadn’t even cleared yet and the Eagles already had the Packers in the rear. Oren Burks hit Packers returner Keisean Nixon on the first kickoff and the Eagles took over at the 28-yard line after a review appeared to show Nixon had regained possession of the ball. Saquon Barkley immediately ran 16 yards with a jump outside and a spin to get into the red zone.

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Two plays later, Hurts had all day to throw, and he stood up and shot to Jahan Dotson, who was running wide open in the back of the end zone for a touchdown lead 99 seconds into the game. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, he had 6.75 seconds to throw, the longest he’s taken to throw a touchdown pass from a clean pocket this season. No Packers pass rusher came within 2.5 yards of him.

On the first play of the second quarter, Love threw a deep throw to Dontayvion Wicks, who ran a go route down the right sideline. However, Eagles cornerback Darius Slay ran step-for-step with him, and the ball fell into his basket for an easy interception. It was Love’s first turnover in 409 games. He didn’t have to wait nearly as long for his next ball when he didn’t see All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun retreat into coverage before halftime to fend off an interception. Love threw a third interception to Eagles rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the final two minutes to seal the outcome.

Packers kicker Brandon McManus has gone 20-for-21 this season since signing with the Packers in October, but missed a 38-yard field goal to right and Green Bay went 37 yards on a 13-play drive wide and 7 yards scored, empty out: 37 o’clock.

Through turnovers, penalties and typically subpar special teams play, the Packers beat themselves as well as the Eagles. But the defense performed admirably as the first-half touchdown came on the short field.

The injury bug also plagued her again and again. Left guard Elgton Jenkins left early with a shoulder injury, and backup defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt left with a lower leg ailment. Then Doubs went down in the end zone after Love threw him dangerously in double coverage, and Reed left later in the frame with a shoulder injury. Center Josh Myers was also sent off late in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay’s first threat came after a defensive pass interference call on Mitchell advancing into the red zone. Love targeted Malik Heath and Bo Melton on consecutive plays in the end zone, both attempts hitting her outstretched hands and failing incomplete, symbolizing the Packers’ uphill battle. McManus scored from 26 yards out to make it 10-3 with 5:46 left in the third quarter.

The temporary saving grace for the Packers’ offense was their success rate on third downs. Philadelphia, meanwhile, started 1-7 before Hurts hit DeVonta Smith for 28 yards on third down in the third quarter to start a touchdown drive that made it 16-3 – Eagles kicker Jake Elliott missed the extra point – and ended with Goedert Stiff-armed Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine forced his way into the end zone three times in a row for a 24-yard catch-and-run.

On the final play of the third quarter, Jacobs (18 carries for 81 yards) didn’t let six different Eagles touching him impede his path to the goal line, where he nearly pushed the ball over before his knee briefly touched the ground for a touchdown . After officials initially assumed it was a landing, the replay concluded he was incapable of breaking the plane. He punched the ball in on the next play and the extra point made it 16-10.

Barkley had some space early but couldn’t run the ball in the second quarter. That changed when he made three straight runs early in the second half. But Hurts got a sack on second down and the Eagles passed it on third-and-long to draw a few boos from the Philly faithful.

Elliott hit field goals of 30 and 32 yards in the fourth quarter to provide some breathing room.

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Philadelphia defeats struggling Green Bay in the NFL playoffs

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