This week is a big one. The Green Bay Packers have a highly leveraged roster on the salary cap, meaning that their best opportunity to win the Super Bowl over the next five-ish seasons is right now. Despite
that, the team has proven to be inconsistent thus far, with a loss on Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles giving the Packers the prospect of winning just 5 games in the first 10 weeks of the season.
If Green Bay drops this one, against the reigning Super Bowl champions, anything is possible. Right now, the Packers are technically favorites in this matchup and are considered to be a top-four team in the NFL per Vegas power rankings. With another loss, though, things can change very quickly.
To help us break down this game, we’re joined this week by Bleeding Green Nation’s Brandon Lee Gowton, who will answer our questions about the Eagles.
Obviously, the Eagles made a bunch of trades near the deadline, adding cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander, along with pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips. What are the expected roles for these new players in this game?
Jaelan Phillips could conceivably lead all Eagles edge rushers in snaps played. The learning curve with a new team should be mitigated by the fact that he’s already played for Vic Fangio in the past. The Eagles traded for Phillips because they’ve lacked pass rush juice. Considering that he ranks 12th in true pressure rate (via Brandon Thorn) and fourth in high quality pressures per snap, the expectation is that he should be able an impact right away. Whereas the Eagles last played a game with just three healthy full-time edge rushers, they should have now have a five-man rotation that features Phillips, Nolan Smith (returning from IR), Jalyx Hunt, Brandon Graham (first game back from unretiring), and Joshua Uche.
Roles for the Eagles’ new defensive backs currently aren’t clear in part due to the uncertainty at CB2. If the Eagles want to move Cooper DeJean to the outside, they could start Michael Carter II in the slot. But Fangio has been reluctant to move DeJean since he’s been so good as a nickel defender. MC2 might just be a backup slot and special teams contributor for now. Old friend Jaire Alexander, meanwhile, could be in the mix to start on the outside. It would be surprising to see him take over that role since he only just joined the team. Then again, the Eagles don’t have great options at CB2. Week 1 starter Adoree’ Jackson has yet to fully practice since suffering a concussion in Week 7. Kelee Ringo was supposed to be the CB2 starter this year but he’s largely been a disappointment. Jakorian Bennett might get a look now that he’s seemingly ready to come off injured reserve. If Alexander isn’t starting, I guess he’ll be active as a backup?
For all the complaints about quarterback Jalen Hurts to start the season, he’s been on an elite run over the last two weeks, posting seven touchdowns to zero interceptions for a combined passer rating of 155.2. Are we catching Hurts at the wrong time, and what has changed?
For a more detailed analysis of Hurts’ 2025 season, I’d recommend checking out this recent film review by BGN’s Jonny Page.
I do think it’s fair to wonder if the Packers are catching him at the wrong time. He had his worst game of the season in Week 6 and he’s looked really good since then. Hurts looks in command of the offense and it finally feels like the offensive coaching is starting to help him out more (some under center play-action looks have helped), as opposed to him having to win in spite of them.
Even through Hurts’ uneven stretches earlier in the season, he had some really high highs. The first half of the Eagles’ Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for example, was arguably the best first two quarters of his career. Hurts carried the offense by making plays out of structure with his legs in the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
It’s possible Hurts won’t be able to stay quite as hot as he was prior to the bye but I’m feeling optimistic about his outlook. The offense as a whole seems to be coalescing with the coaching figuring things out and the run game coming alive.
Is there anything that can stop a Tush Push?
Besides a bunch of cowardly cry-baby loser NFL owners?
I definitely wouldn’t recommend the strategy that the Vikings tried back in Week 1 where they put a defensive lineman lined up parallel to the line of scrimmage. That tactic got Chris Jones injured in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win.
The Jaguars had some success against it last season, stopping it twice within the same game. Here’s a look at those plays:
Of course, there is danger in selling out to stop the push. The Eagles have run some variations off this formation that have been successful. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a trick or two up their sleeve against the Packers, given Green Bay’s role in trying to get the play banned.
What does a Philadelphia Eagles win look like on Monday?
The fan-fiction version looks like the Eagles winning on the final play of the game with a walk-off tush push touchdown.
The actual version looks like Hurts taking care of the football and the Eagles’ running game picking up where they left off in Week 8. The offensive line, which mostly hasn’t provided Saquon Barkley with proper blocking this season, should be well-rested. Missing Cam Jurgens isn’t ideal but backup Brett Toth played well in his absence against the Giants, and specifically as a run blocker.
The Eagles need their revamped pass rush to help mitigate their weakness at CB2. If they can force Jordan Love into making some mistakes, I like the Eagles’ chances to capitalize on extra possessions.
What does a Packers win look like?
The Packers could simply want this game more. They’re at home after a bad loss to the Panthers. They’re facing a team that beat them twice last year and ended their season.
In addition to potentially having that X-factor on their side, the Eagles’ offense cannot be implicitly trusted just yet. Too often have there been stretches of games this season where the offense struggles to merely move the ball forward. The Eagles have been too good at getting in their own way and the Packers could make it easier for them to do so since they have a strong defense. Green Bay’s defensive line could shut down the Eagles’ running game and force Philly’s offense to become one-dimensional. Hurts having to drop back 35-plus times against this pass rush probably isn’t ideal.
I know the Packers are banged up at wide receiver but that might not matter when it comes to taking advantage of the Eagles’ CB2 weakness. That spot has been a problem all season. It’s not even clear who will be starting in that role on Monday. Love and Matt LaFleur should be working together to target whoever that play is over and over and over. No need to test Quinyon Mitchell.
