The Cowboys' win over the Redskins on Thanksgiving further steepened the Eagles' improbable climb to the top of the NFC, but improved their chances at capturing a wild card position.
The Eagles (5-5) will look to move within a half-game of Washington (6-4-1) for the second wild card position when they welcome the Packers (4-6) to the Linc on Monday night. Following their 25-16 loss to the Seahawks in Week 11, the Eagles, who are a perfect 4-0 at the Linc, return home for four of their final six games.
Green Bay comes to Philadelphia losers of four straight, most recently coming off a 42-24 loss to the Redskins last Sunday night. The last time these two teams met was in 2014 when Aaron Rodgers and the Packers ran the Eagles out of Lambeau Field with a 53-20 win.
To learn more about this year's Packers, here's what they're saying about the Eagles' Week 12 opponent entering Monday night.
Clay Matthews working his way back
The Packers had been a completely different defense with Clay Matthews on the field before their loss to the Redskins last week.
In the five other games that Matthews was healty for, Green Bay surrendered an average of 19.2 points, which would be good for the 10th best mark in the league. In the four games that Matthews has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, opposing offenses have gashed the Packers for 34.5 points per outing.
Philadelphia Eagles
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles and their NFL rivals from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
But when Matthews returned from his three-game absence last week it was to no avail, as he recorded just one tackle en route to the Redskins posting a 42-spot on the scoreboard.
While his return wasn't enough to shut down Washington's offense, Matthews is key to the Packers' success on defense and, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, the All-Pro linebacker is one of his players to watch entering Monday night's matchup with the Eagles.
"His return from a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury was supposed to provide a spark to the struggling defense. It didn’t. Matthews recorded only one tackle in 56 snaps against the Redskins. He did not record a single quarterback hit," Demovsky wrote. "Defensive coordinator Dom Capers might have to think about playing Matthews some at inside linebacker this week if he’s without Blake Martinez, who sustained a knee injury against Washington, and Jake Ryan, who missed the game because of an ankle injury."
Michael adds much-needed depth to backfield
Christine Michael is the Seattle Seahawks' leading rusher this season, but on Monday night, Michael will line up behind Aaron Rodgers in a Packer uniform for the first time.
Michael was released by Seattle, and subsequently claimed off waivers by Green Bay after Week 10. On the season, he's averaged four yards per carry on 117 attempts and the Packers are hoping he can provide stability and depth to a position that desperately needs it.
Starting tailback Eddie Lacy is out for the season with an ankle injury and James Starks just returned two weeks ago from a meniscus injury. With injuries to the top two backs Ty Montgomery, who is listed as a wide receiver, has shifted into the backfield and proven to be more than serviceable on the ground, gaining 5.2 yards per carry on 28 attempts this season.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, the addition of Michael, who has more rushing yards and rushing touchdowns under his belt this season than anyone on the Packers, could help balance out a Green Bay offense that has passed the ball over 65 percent of the time season.
"He gives the Packers something they haven’t had since early in the season: two experienced, traditional running backs," Demovsky wrote. "Even with Lacy declared out for the rest of the season, the combination of Michael and Starks could help balance an offense that has relied heavily on the passing game."
'Must-win' for Green Bay
The Packers' current four-game losing streak has put their seven-year playoff streak in serious jeopardy as they enter the final six games of their season. The Packers sit 21/2 games out of both first place in the NFC North and the second wild card spot.
While Green Bay still has three divison games remaining, Aaron Nagler of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote the Packers must leave Philadelphia with a win if they have any hopes of playing past Week 17.
"Nobody inside 1265 Lombardi will say it publicly, but there’s no question that Monday night is a must-win game if the Packers want to keep their playoff hopes alive. No, they won’t be mathematically eliminated with a loss, and yes, they will be two games out of the division lead with a win regardless," Nagler wrote. "But a fifth loss in a row would all but end any realistic shot this franchise has of making the postseason for a record eighth time in a row. As Rodgers said two weeks ago, harkening back to Marv Levy back in the day, World War II was a real "must win." But in the landscape of the Packers’ season, Monday night may as well be Rodgers and company landing on the beach. Failure is not an option."
Predictions
Vegas has the Eagles as slight home favorites (plus-four) and that theme was similar in the national experts' predictions for this one.
ESPN: Five of nine experts picked the Eagles
CBS Sports: Eight experts were split on their pick
FOX Sports: Four of five experts picked the Eagles
