The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The Philadelphia Eagles

It wasn’t pretty. And it was far more stressful than it probably needed to be.

But the Green Bay Packers defeated Philadelphia, 30-16, Sunday and stayed in contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

New Orleans holds the No. 1 spot in the conference with a 10-2 record, followed by Green Bay (9-3) and the Los Angeles Rams (8-4).

Here’s the good, bad and ugly from Green Bay’s victory over Philadelphia.

THE GOOD

THE DEFENSE: Green Bay’s defense has been the weak link all season long. Not Sunday.

The Packers had a season-high seven sacks, including two by second-year defensive end Kingsley Keke. Outside linebackers Rashan Gary and Za’Darius Smith both had 1.5 sacks, as well.

The Packers held the Eagles to 278 total yards. And safety Darnell Savage had a late interception to ice the win.

AARON RODGERS: Green Bay’s quarterback continued his push for the third MVP of his Hall of Fame career.

Rodgers completed 24-of-33 passes for 290 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Rodgers also threw the 400^th touchdown of his career when he hooked up with Davante Adams for a 9-yard score in the third quarter. Rodgers became the fastest player in NFL history to throw 400 touchdowns, doing it in 193 games. New Orleans’ Drew Brees was the previous fastest to 400 career touchdowns, doing it in 205 games.

Rodgers also became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw at least 35 touchdowns in five different seasons. Rodgers’ 35^th touchdown of 2020 came late in the first half when he hooked up with tight end Robert Tonyan for a 25-yard score.

“Well, I mean, it’s a different level man,” wide receiver Davante Adams said of Rodgers this week. “12s play speaks for itself. I’m the No. 1 guy, I’m his No. 1 fan and I’m always going to be saying he should be the MVP, especially when he’s playing like he’s playing now. … He’s definitely my MVP.”

DAVANTE ADAMS: Green Bay’s Pro Bowl wide receiver has now caught touchdown passes in seven straight games. That matches Don Hutson for the longest streak in Packers’ history.

Hutson accomplished it twice (1941-42 and 1943-44).

Adams also went over the 100-yard mark for the second time in his career. In two other seasons (2016 and 2019), Adams finished with 997 receiving yards.

Last week during a Zoom call with local reporters, Adams held up his cell phone and showed a picture from his grade school yearbook that said he wanted to be an NFL or NBA star.

“I don’t know how many people in the world can say that when they were third or fourth grade that they wrote in their yearbook what they wanted to do and then they achieved that,” Adams said. “It’s been a blessing, man, it’s been awesome. It’s been a crazy road, but it just kind of makes the story better and makes it all the more sweet.”

AARON JONES: The Packers were reeling. Their 23-3 lead was down to 23-16.

Then with just 2:51 remaining, running back Aaron Jones ripped off a 77-yard touchdown run to ice the win.

Jones finished the night with 130 rushing yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.

THE BAD

SEALING THE DEAL: For the second straight week, Green Bay failed to deliver a knockout blow.

Eagles backup quarterback Jalen Hurts threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Greg Ward with 7:52 left to pull the Eagles within 23-10. Philadelphia’s Jalen Reagor then returned a punt 73 yards for a score to pull the Eagles within 23-16.

One week ago, the Packers led Chicago, 41-10, in the fourth quarter. The Bears then scored the final 15 points of the game.

“I think it’s always tough, as much as you can preach about it … just keeping guys locked in and focused,” Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. “For them, it’s hunting time. Like, ‘I’m going to make a play or get a sack, an interception.’

“We’ve got to keep on those guys about, ‘Hey, do your job. Good things will happen. The plays will come to you.’ It’s human nature and it’s hard to guard against it when you get that type of lead. We really have to fight against those lapses.”

THE UGLY

MVS: Two weeks ago, Packers wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a critical fumble in overtime that helped Indianapolis defeat Green Bay.

Afterwards, a reporter asked Packers coach Matt LaFleur this exact question: “I hate to be blunt, but how can you live with MVS?”

That extremely fair question still holds true today.

On the first play of the second half, MVS raced behind the Eagles’ secondary. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered a perfect ball and Valdez-Scantling dropped the pass.

Green Bay’s wide receiver depth is mediocre, at best. So for the time being, it appears the Packers have no choice but to live with MVS.

“There’s very few mistakes in a game that are actually on him mentally,” Packers wide receivers coach Jason Vrable said. “Physically, we just try to get him to be as well rounded as he can be. It’s all about how you respond in this league.”

SPECIAL TEAMS: Green Bay’s special teams have been problematic for years. And they’ve been every bit as bad this season.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Eagles rookie wideout Jalen Reagor returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown that pulled Philadelphia within 23-16. The Eagles built a wall to the right side, Reagor was able to turn the corner, then made punter J.K. Scott look foolish and whipped him to the endzone.

In the past six weeks:

• Scott had a punt blocked.

• The Packers failed to recover an onside kick against San Francisco.

• Jacksonville’s Keelan Cole returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown.

• Packers return man Darius Shepherd fumbled a kickoff that Indianapolis recovered. Three plays later, Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship drilled a 43-yard field goal to give the Colts a 31-28 lead.