The Philadelphia Eagles play host the Green Bay Packers in one half of the NFC Wild Card bracket and a rematch of their Week 1 game that saw the Packers jump out to a 20-3 lead before Michael Vick appeared and brought the Eagles to within seven before eventually losing. The Eagles and Packers are two of the top teams in the league ranking fifth and sixth, respectively, in my Unbiased Power Rankings. The Eagles finished the season with a 462.5 rating (2nd-best in the NFC) and the Packers were close behind with a 439.5 rating (3rd-best in the NFC).
These teams have met in the playoffs twice before. Once in 2004 and previously way back in 1960. The 2004 game saw the Eagles overcome a 14-point first quarter deficit to win 20-17 in overtime. For you history buffs, the 1960 game at Franklin Field featured Norm Van Brocklin completing only nine passes but for 204 yards in a 17-13 victory over Bart Starr and the Packers.
What will be the result this time around? Let's dive in.
Packers Analysis
The Packers were a popular Super Bowl pick in the preseason but now they find themselves with the toughest road to Dallas as the No. 6 seed. Injuries have crippled this team yet they still managed to win 10 games and that's without any semblance of a running game. If Aaron Rodgers doesn't get hurt against the Detroit Lions, this team is likely 12-4 and home resting with a first round bye but this isn't the hypotehtical league. The Packers beat four teams with a winning record this season but also lost to the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins and Lions so there's a bit of Jekkyl and Hyde at play here.
Eagles Analysis
If not for the impossible-to-believe final eight minutes of the New York Giants game, this Eagles team could be on a three-game losing streak heading into the playoffs. They look disinterested in their loss to the Minnesota Vikings and rested everyone against the Dallas Cowboys to close the season. They have huge wins over the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts and Giants (twice) but they've also lost to inferior teams in the Washington Redskins, Tennessee Titans and the aforementioned Vikings and Cowboys.
The Pick
The Eagles have been fading while the Packers are ascending but I just can't get away from an Eagles win at home. As a Falcons fan, you're rooting for the Packers but a Vick-Falcons NFC title game appears destined to happen.
Eagles 25, Packers 24
Filed under: