The Eagles (1-2) lost on Sunday to the Lions and are on the road to face the Packers (3-0) on a short week on Thursday Night Football.
It won't be an easy one.
To the predictions:
Reuben Frank (1-2)
There's a lot working against the Eagles this week. Short week. Injuries. A Hall of Fame quarterback with some speedy weapons. A very difficult stadium to win in as a visiting team. A much-improved Packers defense. It's going to take 60 minutes to win, it's going to take mistake-free football to win, it's going to take an Eagles team taking advantage of every opportunity to make a big play to win. And so far through three weeks we haven't seen any of those things. The Eagles are a talented team but a beat-up one and an inconsistent one, and that's not a good formula to go into Lambeau on a short week. Maybe the Eagles will get this thing back on the rails soon, but I don't think it's going to be Thursday night.
Packers 23, Eagles 17
Dave Zangaro (1-2)
Could the Eagles win on Thursday? Sure. But they'd need to play a full-team game and I haven't seen anything in the first three games to makes me think they can. At times, the offense looks great, but the defense struggles. At times, the offense struggles, but the defense looks great. And when they both start to look good together, the Eagles' special teams unit fails. The Eagles are talented, but it would take a great performance and I'm not anticipating that coming on the road, at Lambeau and on a short week. Maybe they surprise us, but I think they're looking at a 1-3 record. If not, I'll be looking at a 1-3 record.
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
Packers 24, Eagles 20
Derrick Gunn (1-2)
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Eagles against Detroit. If the foul ups, bleeps, and blunders weren't bad enough, it looks like they're going to be down yet another body as they prepare for undefeated Green Bay. Ronald Darby has a hamstring issue and will be out. Kamu Grugier-Hill will return to help out the ‘backers and defense overall. There's a good chance Alshon Jeffery will be available to assist Carson Wentz and maybe show the Eagles' pass catchers how to secure the ball. The Packers are still learning new head coach Matt LeFleur's complicated offense, but their point total has increased each week. Green Bay's opportunistic defense has been the story. Mike Pettine's unit leads the NFL with eight takeaways and is second in the league in sacks with 12. This past Sunday, Denver's defense couldn't touch Aaron Rodgers (zero sacks). That's bad news for an Eagles' defense that has only two sacks in three games. The Eagles need to find a away to snap their current two-game slide, but A-Rod in prime time is bad mojo for the opposition, especially an Eagles' secondary that's struggling in pass coverage. Packers move to 4-0.
Packers 27, Eagles 17
Ray Didinger (2-1)
The scary thing about the Packers is they are 3-0 and Aaron Rodgers hasn't really heated up yet. He showed signs of it in Sunday's win over Denver but there are still a dozen quarterbacks with higher passer ratings through three games. The key stat though is zero interceptions and it is hard to see the Eagles winning this game unless they get a turnover or two.
The most impressive thing about the Packers so far is their defense coached by Mike Pettine Jr. They have allowed just 35 points (only the Patriots have allowed fewer) and Pettine deserves credit for bringing a more aggressive and creative pressure package to Green Bay. Pettine's defense was all over Joe Flacco (six sacks, one interception) and forced three turnovers.
This would have been a tough game for the Eagles anyway but playing it in Lambeau Field on a short week makes it even tougher.
Packers 23, Eagles17
Andrew Kulp (2-1)
All signs point to a Packers win. Aaron Rodgers doesn't lose often at Lambeau, especially on a short week, and his protection has been tremendous, which doesn't bode well for an Eagles' pass rush that couldn't get to the quarterback with a GPS.
But... the Eagles are only a catch in each game from being 3-0 themselves, and getting Alshon Jeffery back will help in that department. Plus, Doug Pederson has been very good at getting his team prepared for these Thursday night games.
I might be alone in this, but I don't think the Eagles are as bad as their record, and I don't think the Packers are as good as theirs. In fact, the D is improved, but Green Bay's offense really hasn't done much at all -- and that's with healthy receivers. Still a tough spot for the Eagles, yet my gut tells me they feel the desperation and face a slightly overrated opponent.
Eagles 20, Packers 16
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.
