The NFC’s two powerhouses, the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, are on a collision course for a Week 10 Monday night showdown that’ll likely reshape the conference’s playoff picture. But before we get there, both teams have some serious fine-tuning to do.
We’re deep in September football right now – that awkward phase where teams are still figuring out who they are. Both squads boast elite defenses, but Philly’s aerial attack and Green Bay’s ground game haven’t quite clicked yet. In Week 3, they’re facing completely different challenges, with the Eagles getting a perfect opportunity to build some real momentum.
Eagles Only Care About the W
The Packers drew the short straw this week, facing Cleveland’s bizarre combination of stellar defense and utterly lifeless offense. Unless their running game suddenly transforms, we won’t learn much about Green Bay’s ceiling.
Philly, meanwhile, gets the Rams – a team with a sizzling offense and a defense that can definitely be exploited. It’s an ideal early-season test for both sides of Sirianni’s squad.
Jalen Hurts and his teammates care about one thing only – winning. And they’re pretty damn good at it. Dating back to last season’s start, they’re 20-2 in games Hurts has started and finished. Style points? Irrelevant. They just want the W.
That said, they’ve won far more games by pounding the rock than by lighting up the scoreboard through the air.
A Passing Game Would Be Nice:
Saquon Barkley has historically dominated the Rams – 460 rushing yards and four TDs against them last year. He’ll obviously be central to the gameplan Sunday.
But wouldn’t it be refreshing to see a passing attack that actually threatens defenses downfield more than twice a game? Doesn’t seem like too much to ask.
Can they win without it? Sure. Do we know Hurts can connect with his receivers when needed? Absolutely. But do we know if offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo can sequence plays effectively and leverage their run-first identity? Not really.
It would help both our collective anxiety – and more importantly, Patullo himself – to establish a functional passing game before crunch time hits. I’m not even asking for creativity here – just effectiveness.
That showdown in Green Bay could get dicey, and it’d be reassuring if Patullo knew he could call something where A.J. Brown isn’t just running another slant. Seems like a reasonable request, doesn’t it?
Pass Rush Needs to Dominate:
Funny enough, when the Packers landed Micah Parsons, their pass rush immediately became elite. It’s probably the only area where they clearly outshine the Eagles – but what an important advantage that is.
Philly’s pass rush showed real improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. They went from a 34.3% pressure rate with zero sacks against Prescott to a 28.9% rate with two actual sacks against Mahomes. They finally finished plays, even with a slightly lower pressure percentage – that’s what I call efficiency!
Two things worth noting: the Dallas rush was better than the stats suggest, and their blitzes against KC were surprisingly effective.
To disrupt the Rams’ passing attack, they need more than just pressure – they need immediate pressure. This isn’t just a “get after Stafford” game; it’s a “get after Stafford within 2.5 seconds” game.
“Immediate pressure” usually means interior pressure. That puts the spotlight squarely on Jalen Carter to wreck this game. He’s more than capable – he’s done it before, specifically against these Rams.
With Green Bay’s star defensive lineman playing like an absolute monster, the Eagles need their own game-wrecker to match that impact.
CB2 Development
Last season, Philly’s suffocating coverage made everything work. DeJean and Mitchell look fantastic, and Adoree’ Jackson played much better in Week 2 than Week 1, but… let’s be honest – Kansas City’s receivers might be the worst group the Eagles will face until they play Chicago in Week 13.
The Rams’ Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are legit weapons, and McVay excels at creating separation for his guys. Jackson could play significantly better technically and still get torched.
But remember – it’s still September. Growing pains happen, especially in Fangio’s complex system. It wasn’t until around Week 6 last year that everyone looked comfortable in the scheme.
I don’t expect Jackson to suddenly transform into a shutdown corner overnight. For him, it’s about gradual improvement. After Week 1, Fangio said Jackson needs to “be a master technician, and not let his technique falter.”
That means knowing assignments and seamlessly passing off receivers. In 2023, the secondary did this effortlessly. It’s unrealistic to expect instant perfection, but they need progress opposite Mitchell soon… especially considering some of the high-powered offenses looming in the schedule.
Clean Up the Tush Push
While there are still six games before the Packers matchup, the NFL announced this week they’ll officiate the Tush Push more strictly after all the whining about it last week.
In an ideal world, this would mean they’d also penalize defensive linemen for lining up in the neutral zone… but we all know what’s really happening. They’re going to flag the Eagles to make an example of them and punish them for running the play effectively. Feel free to start getting angry now.
The Green Bay game is particularly significant for the Tush Push because the Packers were the ones who proposed banning it this offseason. The Eagles should run it relentlessly just to make a statement and demoralize that crowd.
But that only works if they execute it cleanly. If they don’t, it’ll backfire completely. So how about starting this week with perfect execution? Let’s not see any Twitter clips of people complaining about the Eagles getting away with penalties. That would be ideal.