Sunday’s NFC wild card match-up between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles has the makings to be a memorable one. It will certainly be a defining moment for the men who play the most important position; quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers can validate all the hype and talk about being with the upper echelon of quarterbacks. We all know the Michael Vick story. He has already enjoyed an astounding comeback to professional football, but performing in the postseason will make this story that more amazing. The fate of both teams clearly hinges on these two, but other factors will be just as important, if not more.
Two things make me weary if I’m Philadelphia. The first is Rodgers, who is a certified gun slinger and Philadelphia’s inability to stop him. The other is the suspect offensive line that has allowed Vick to get beat up in the past few weeks.
Rodgers finished the season throwing for 3,922 yards and 28 touchdowns. He certainly has his share of capable receivers to throw to. This group includes the steady and sure-handed Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson.
Aside from Asante Samuel, look out. I don’t have much confidence in Dimitri Patterson, Joselio Patterson and Trevard Lindley. Add to the fact that Green Bay ranks No. 24 in rushing (in large part with the loss of Ryan Grant), expect the Eagles secondary to be tested early and often.
Concerns don’t stop here for the home team.
Vick sat out last week’s game to nurse a bruised thigh suffered on the first play during the Minnesota game. It seems as if teams were tired of the exploits of Vick and allowing him to have his way. It has worked. Not only has Vick been on his back side almost after every other play, he has thrown a concerning amount of interceptions.
Philadelphia’s offense is hit or miss.
Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are exciting young wide outs but they completely ignore the middle of the field. If these guys were more included to run slant patterns and the offense used more of the short game, Vick maybe could fare better against the blitz.
The above thoughts lean heavily on the Green Bay side. It is all set up for this to be a triumphant first playoff win for Rodgers en route to him putting his name in the discussion with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. On the defensive side of things for the Pack, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson should have a field day against the lack luster protection from the Eagles. The Packers are easily the winners right? Not so fast.
One thing you have to remember is the Eagles are coached by Andy Reid, who usually has his men prepared for their first playoff game and certainly after a string of bad play. There is no doubt he will have his team ready this year. On the offensive side of things, if the Eagles want any chance of winning, they have to switch up their style and run the ball. Playoff ball comes down to a running game and defense. Both question marks in Philadelphia.
It doesn’t have to be this way though.
LeSean McCoy is a shifty back and is able to break long runs on any given play. He rushed for 1,080 yards despite being in an offense where the screen pass is considered a running play. Not only does this keep the Green Bay defense off balance, setting up the big play down field, but it keeps Vick upright and healthy.
The Eagles have the tendency to give up on the run pretty quickly. They have to stick with it. Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg can also make use of their many weapons like tight ends Brent Celek and Clay Harbor. They may not be able to make the big play to Jackson and Maclin but that’s not the end all be all.
Mixing things up will be a key on the defensive side as well for Philadelphia. Why not give teams a taste of their own medicine by blitzing themselves? This may not work for the quick releasing Rodgers, but sitting back and letting him sit back in the pocket with no rush will not cut it.
It should be a good game, one that may come down to a field goal or touchdown. It may be one of those classic the first one to make a mistake kind of affair. After the Eagles 27-20 loss to the Packers in week 1, Vick (who played half the game after Kevin Kolb went out with a concussion) said in his press conference he thought his squad would have won if he played the entire game. We will never know if that was true of the first matchup, but on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, Vick will be given a chance to show the difference he can make. It’s Vick’s confidence and the history of Reid’s coaching coming into the first post season game that leads me to believe the Eagles will put a stop to the rising Rodgers and Packers.
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