On the opening kickoff, Green Bay fumbled the ball, allowing the Eagles to jump ahead early. Jalen Hurts connected with Jahan Dotson in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. It seemed like the Eagles had seized control and would dominate throughout the game, but the offense wasn’t particularly sharp. It was the play of Philadelphia’s No. 1-ranked defense that ultimately carried them to victory.
Photo Cred: USA Today
Despite the win, the Eagles were outgained by 12 yards. Jalen Hurts showed clear signs of rust, starting strong but then going 0 for 7 after completing his first six passes. The offense struggled to move the ball through the air. Though Saquon Barkley rushed for 119 yards, there were stretches where Philadelphia couldn’t find a rhythm on offense. Much of that was due to Green Bay’s strong defense, which successfully contained star wide receiver A.J. Brown to just one catch for 10 yards. Despite the offensive struggles, the Eagles’ defense played elite-level football, making it unnecessary for the offense to carry the load.
Vic Fangio’s defense, ranked No. 1 in the regular season, showcased exactly why they earned that distinction. The Packers, already hampered by offensive injuries, faced even more challenges. The Eagles forced four turnovers, three of which came from their defense. Cornerback Darius Slay grabbed the first interception when the Packers attempted a deep shot to wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. Linebacker Zack Baun made a key interception of Jordan Love with 45 seconds remaining in the first half. Rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell sealed the game with an interception in the end zone at the two-minute warning.
The Eagles’ defense led the way, not allowing a slow offensive night to cost them the game. Philadelphia has leaned on its defense all season, allowing the offense to play a more complementary role, relying on the run game and short-to-medium passes to move the ball. Despite weapons like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, there weren’t many explosive plays in this Wild Card matchup. It will be interesting to see whether Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore sticks with the run game or looks to add more explosive elements to the offense as the postseason progresses.
In their 22-10 win against the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia demonstrated just how dynamic their defense can be—even when the offense isn’t clicking. The Packers are a solid football team, but if the Eagles are to win on the road against the Detroit Lions, their offense will need to sharpen up compared to what was displayed on Sunday night.
