The Eagles defense swarmed Jordan Love (10) and the Packers all day in their wild card victory. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers had a good season with one obvious flaw: they couldn’t beat good teams.
The Packers’ offense went nowhere against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 22-10 playoff loss, dropping their record against the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Eagles to 0-6 this season. It’s hard to get too excited about an 11-win season when Green Bay seemed to be a tier below the top teams in the NFC.
The way the season ended won’t be good. The Packers played terribly on offense, with Jordan Love underperforming and throwing three interceptions against an Eagles pass defense that has been excellent for months. The Packers had a highlight reel from Josh Jacobs that set up their only touchdown. But that was about it.
The Eagles are moving on, and while their offense also struggled, the defense played well enough to solidify their status as a Super Bowl contender. The Packers enter the offseason wondering why they have struggled so hard to beat the best teams they have faced and what they can do to close the gap. The Packers seemed pretty far away Sunday night.
Bad 1st half for both teams
After three bad AFC games to start the wild-card weekend, it looked like Packers-Eagles would be a highlight. Then the teams played a miserable first half.
The Packers turned it over three times, including two bad interceptions by Jordan Love. The first turnover occurred on the first play of the game, when a huge hit by Eagles linebacker Oren Burks caused “Packers returner Keisean Nixon will fumble”. The Eagles recovered, although that was debatable. It looked like Nixon might have recovered, but there wasn’t enough evidence in the replay review to pass it on to Green Bay. The Eagles cashed that in with a Jahan Dotson touchdown run from Jalen Hurts. It was either team’s last touchdown of the first half.
The Packers had just 16 yards and a first down on their first four possessions. On the fifth drive, they got within field goal range, but Brandon McManus missed a 38-yard kick. It was ugly for the Packers. Coach Matt LaFleur told Fox at halftime that it was the worst half the Packers had played all season, and it was hard to argue.
It was ugly for the Eagles too. Jalen Hurts completed his first six passes for 39 yards, then threw his final seven passes of the first half incompletely.
The score was 10-0 at halftime and two good regular season teams were nowhere near playing their best football.
The Eagles extend their lead in the 2nd half
There were some fun plays to spice up the second half. Dallas Goedert had three stiff arms to break free for a 24-yard touchdown.
After that, Josh Jacobs dragged almost the entire Eagles defense to the 1-yard line on a great run, then finished the drive with a touchdown to cut the Eagles’ lead to 16-10.
The Eagles defense was not going to let this lead slip away. It was a frustrating day for the Packers offense, which lost guard Elgton Jenkins to a shoulder injury early in the game and then also lost receivers Romeo Doubs (head) and Jayden Reed (shoulder) as well as center Josh Myers (leg). On a fourth down play in the fourth quarter, Love hit Malik Heath, who was in the game due to injuries at receiver, near the sideline for what would have been a first down. But Heath’s foot landed out of bounds, the pass was incomplete and there was a turnover on downs. That’s how a confusing day unfolded for Green Bay.
Philadelphia’s defense has played well most of the season and was dominant against the Packers. Green Bay fueled this by making too many mistakes and not executing well. The Packers defense kept the team in the game as long as they could, but it was too difficult to overcome Green Bay’s miserable offensive performance.
Ultimately, it was a frustrating ending for the Packers. Love looked to be developing into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL late last season, but he had an inconsistent 2024 season and a poor finish in Philadelphia. The Packers’ season started with high hopes and wasn’t terrible, but it’s hard to feel good about the results. It will be a long offseason to figure out how to improve it.
LIVE COVERAGE IS COMPLETED60 updates
Philly heads to the divisional round
The Eagles will host the lowest-ranked remaining NFC team once the dust settles from the conference. If Tampa Bay wins tonight, it will be the Buccaneers. If Washin wins tonight, he will be the winner of Monday night’s Vikings-Rams game. — in Arizona – direction Philadelphia for the divisional round.
Saquon Barkley eclipses the 100-yard mark
And on the next play, Barkley broke loose, but slipped and surrendered so the Eagles could take a knee after 119 rushing yards. What more would you expect from a man who missed the opportunity to become the NFL’s rushing yardage king in a single season to prepare for the playoffs?
Game. Eagles.
Make four turnovers on the day and Quinyon Mitchell earns the third pick of the day
That’s an awful lot of contact from Zach Baun on Bo Melton, but nonetheless, Mitchell’s first NFL interception will just about seal the deal for Philly to advance to the divisional round.
Two-minute warning: Eagles 22, Packers 10
It hasn’t been pretty, but with the Packers only having one timeout and needing two touchdowns, the Eagles are in control for the moment. Both defenses were very good today, but the Eagles’ lack of major mistakes made a big difference. Jake Elliott made all three of his field goal attempts and Philadelphia did not turn the ball over.
Green Bay center Josh Myers injured time out
Myers was picked off by reserve offensive lineman Kadeem Telfort on a sack of Jordan Love, and the attrition continues for Green Bay. Injuries – especially on offense – were a part of the story today for the Packers, and while no NFL team will blame injuries for a loss, playing with multiple backup offensive linemen and being without your top three receivers makes it very difficult to win.
Myers was carted off the field after the timeout due to injury.
Another Jake Elliott basket gives the Eagles a 12-point lead
There are 3:12 left to play and the Packers are in a tough situation. Both defenses were terrific tonight, but Green Bay’s three turnovers, along with injuries and penalties, seem incredibly important to the Packers right now.
Packers reported for unnecessary brutality after arresting Saquon Barkley
Just undisciplined play. TJ Slayton and a few other Packers throwing Barkley to the ground after he got up got a 15-yard penalty and a first down, and that’s going to be a problem for the Packers. He moves the ball to the 20 yard line with just under 5:00 left in the 4th quarter.
Packers TURN BACK on downs by themselves 41!
Malik Heath couldn’t put a foot down, and with 4:58 to play, the Eagles take over in positive territory with a chance to go up three scores. Birds of prey are certainly circling.
Jake Elliott brings Philly back in front by two scores
There are 7:33 left in regulation and the Eagles lead 19-10. Saquon Barkley came out of the lineup for a few plays late in the game and was replaced by Kenneth Gainwell. He looked like he stood up a bit gingerly after a tackle, but the Eagles could also rest him for the league’s best runner to try to close the deal on the Eagles’ next drive.
Tush Push makes its appearance
Would it be an Eagles game if they didn’t get one? A 1st down on a 4th and 1 around midfield for the Eagles.
Packers injury update
Green Bay only has three healthy receivers available for the game at the moment.
Josh Jacobs opens the 4th quarter with his first TD of the playoffs
Green Bay is back to within one score. 18 carries, 81 yards and the score for Jacobs, and it’s 16-10 with only four seconds elapsed in the 4th quarter.
JOSH JACOBS!!!!
This is only his second career playoff game, and he said on Fox Sports before the game that he came to Green Bay for a chance to play in playoff games like this.
Jayden Reed out with apparent arm injury
It would be a terrible loss for the Packers if Reed couldn’t return.
After a big first down in Philadelphia territory, Reed was shaken and knocked out of the game, at least for now. Green Bay is already without Christian Watson, who tore his ACL late in the regular season, and Romeo Doubs, who left that game and is being evaluated for a concussion.
Dallas Goedert MUSCULAR MAN
You know who else can give people a hand on the way to a BIG touchdown in the second half in a wild card game? Dallas Goedert!
Put that one on the sizzling reel.
Jake Elliott missed the PAT, but the Eagles came back by two touchdowns and led 16-3.
Welcome to the playoffs DeVonta Smith
It’s catch #3 for Smith, and he puts Philly on a 3rd down with a gain of 2.
Brandon McManus brings Green Bay onto the board
This second attempt for 26 yards is good, and the Packers are down by one possession in a 10-3 game with 5:46 to play in the 3rd quarter. Philadelphia had the #1 defense in the league this year and it looked to be up to the task today.
Packers recover 1st-and-goal pass interference flag
Dontayvion Wicks fouled Quinyon Mitchell for the 1st down at the 9 yard line
Doubs helped in the locker room
Roméo Doubs needed the help of two members of the Green Bay staff to return to the locker room for further evaluation of a concussion. It would be a huge loss if Doubs could not come back.
Romeo Doubs down in the end zone
The Packers’ big-play receiver hit the turf hard after jumping for a pass that fell incomplete, landing hard on his back and with his helmet also touching the ground. The coaches take care of him with the clock stopped and 6:48 left in the third quarter.
