The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Loss To The Philadelphia Eagles

The song remains the same.

And boy, has this been a brutal ballad for the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay’s postseason hopes were on life support heading to Sunday. Now, you can pull the plug.

Host Philadelphia piled up 500 total yards, scored on seven of 10 possessions and downed Green Bay, 40-33. That was most points the Packers have allowed since Nov. 20, 2016, when Washington scored 42 against them.

Green Bay lost for the seventh time in eight games — the first time that’s happened since 2008.

The Packers also fell to 4-8 for the first time since 2006. And just two teams in the NFC — Chicago (3-9) and the Los Angeles Rams (3-8) — have worse records in the conference than Green Bay.

Adding insult to injury, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game late in the third quarter with an oblique injury. And a season that began with great promise has officially become one of the most disappointing in team history.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly from Philadelphia’s win over the Packers, beginning with the ugly.

THE UGLY

RUSHING DEFENSE: The Packers’ defense acted like they were playing flag football much of the night, with zero interest in tackling or matching the Eagles’ physicality. And those clamoring for defensive coordinator Joe Barry to be fired have more ammunition than ever.

Philadelphia ran for a remarkable 363 yards, including 183 in the first half alone. Quarterback Jalen Hurts (157) and running back Miles Sanders (143) both eclipsed 100 rushing yards, marking the first time the Eagles have had two 100-yard rushers since Week 14, 2020.

Hurts’ career-high before Sunday was 106 rushing yards. His 157 rushing yards — that included 102 in the first half alone — were the fifth-most in the Super Bowl-era by a quarterback.

Sanders averaged 7.4 yards per carry while rushing for 143 yards and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns. Kenneth Gainwell also ran for 39 yards and a touchdown.

The Packers entered the night ranked 26^th in the league in rushing yards allowed (135.8). By the end of the night, that number had risen to 154.8 and the Packers fell to 31st in total rushing defense.

BRUTAL START: Just six minutes into the game, the Packers were already in a 13-0 hole.The Eagles drove 75 yards for a touchdown on their opening drive capped by a Kenneth Gainwell scoring run. Rodgers was intercepted on Green Bay’s first possession, and three plays later, Philadelphia Miles Sanders ripped off a 15-yard TD run.

THE BAD

HURTS SO GOOD: Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts showed why he’s one of the leading candidates for league MVP honors.

Hurts was remarkably sharp throwing the ball, completing 16-of-28 throws for 153 yards and two touchdown passes. Hurts also ran for 157 yards and averaged 9.9 yards per carry.

“He presents a ton of challenges for any defense both in the pocket, both out of the pocket,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Hurts last week. “He’s got, obviously, a lot of weapons around him to throw the ball to and those guys have been performing at a really high level.”

That was the story once again Sunday, as Hurts and the Eagles destroyed Green Bay’s defense.

ROUGH YEAR: Rodgers threw a pair of interceptions, bringing his season total to nine. That’s his most in a season since 2010.

On Green Bay’s third offensive play, a Rodgers pass was deflected and intercepted by Josiah Scott. Then on Green Bay’s first series of the second quarter, Eagles backup safety Reed Blankenship jumped in front of Tyler Davis and intercepted Rodgers.

Rodgers, who was sacked three times, was later knocked out of the game with an oblique injury.

RASUL DOUGLAS: Green Bay’s cornerback was the surprise of the 2021 season, when he was picked up off the street and led the Packers with five interceptions — including two he returned for touchdowns.

Things haven’t been as rosy in 2022, and they got even uglier Sunday.

Douglas gave up a 30-yard TD just before halftime to Eagles’ No. 3 wideout Quez Watkins that gave Philadelphia a 27-20 lead. Then on the Eagles’ opening possession of the second half, A.J. Brown smoked Douglas for an 11-yard TD that pushed Philadelphia’s lead to 34-20.

THIS AND THAT: Keisean Nixon dropped the opening kickoff in the endzone. Instead of staying put, Nixon ran the ball out and was stopped after just 10 yards at the Packers’ 9-yard line. … Mason Crosby missed a critical extra point that left the game tied 20-20 in the second quarter. Crosby entered the night 21 of 22 on extra points. … The Packers had one final chance to get the ball back and try tying the game. Instead, Sanders carried three times for 11 yards and a first down ending the game.

THE GOOD

JORDAN LOVE: The Packers’ backup quarterback was thrust into action in the fourth quarter after Rodgers left with his oblique injury.

All Love did was step in and lead a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Love went 3-for-3 on the drive for 75 yards, including a 63-yard TD pass to Christian Watson on a crossing route that the rookie took to the house.

Love finished the night 6-of-9 for 113 yards and had a quarterback rating of 146.8. He led the Packers to 10 points on his two drives.

With Green Bay out of playoff contention, many will be clamoring for Love to play. He got off to a terrific start Sunday.

CHRISTIAN WATSON: Watson’s fourth quarter TD was his sixth in the last three games. Watson became the first Green Bay rookie wideout since Billy Howton in 1952 to catch a touchdown in three straight games.

Watson had three TDs on Nov. 13 against Dallas, two against Tennessee on Nov. 17 and another against the Eagles. After a remarkably quiet first half of the season, Watson is playing as well — or better — than any rookie wideout in this year’s loaded receiver class.

WHERE’S RUDY?: Packers safety Rudy Ford has made a quite an impact since moving into the starting lineup in Week 10.

On Nov. 13, Ford had a pair of interceptions in a win against Dallas. On Sunday, Ford stripped Eagles standout receiver A.J. Brown and Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker recovered.

Walker returned the fumble 63 yards to the Eagles’ 13-yard line, and three plays later, Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to running back Aaron Jones.

THIS AND THAT: The Packers stopped the Eagles on both a third-and-1 and a fourth-and-1 in the first quarter. Jalen Hurts tried sneaking for the first down on both plays, but Kingsley Enagbare and Rasul Douglas both made tackles for no gain. … Linebacker Justin Hollins, who was signed just three days earlier, sacked Hurts in the second quarter. … Keisean Nixon’s 52-yard kickoff return to start the second half was Green Bay longest since Jeff Janis brought one back 70 yards on Nov. 22, 2015. Nixon later topped that, with a 53-yard return late in the fourth quarter.