The Green Bay Packers (11-6) travel from Wisconsin to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles (13-4) on Sunday, January 12, at 3:30 p.m. in a National Football Conference (NFC) Wild Card Game. Philadelphia is the No. 3 seed, and Green Bay is the No. 7 seed. The Detroit Lions are the top seed in the NFC and a Super Bowl favorite.
Weather will not be a factor in Philadelphia as the forecast is for an overcast 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Philadelphia is favored in the matchup by 4.5 points, the over/under is 45.5, and Philadelphia should win a close one. The difference is likely to be All-Pro Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley. This article previews both teams and gives some key players for each team.
Green Bay Packers Keys To Victory
As the underdog in this game, the Packers should attempt to control the football and keep it out of the hands of the potent Philadelphia offense. The Packers have the fifth-ranked rushing attack in the National Football League so possessing the ball should not be a problem. The Packers controlled the ball and had the tenth-ranked time of possession in the National Football League.
However, it is worth pointing out the Philadelphia Eagles had the top time of possession offense in the National Football League. Turnovers will also be important and the Green Bay Packers cannot beat themselves with penalties.
Green Bay’s Important Players
As the rushing attack will be important for the Packers, Running Back Josh Jacobs will be important. Quarterback Jordan Love hopefully has a healthy enough hand to play well. Green Bay needs him. As rushing and time of possession will be important for Green Bay their offensive line needs to play well. Brandon McManus is their placekicker, and it would be helpful for Green Bay if he bombed some long field goals. Also important in the playoffs are mistakes so the Packers cannot turn the ball over or hurt themselves with penalties.
Philadelphia Eagles Keys To Victory
For the Philadelphia Eagles, it all revolves around their offensive stars Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts. To win, the Philadelphia Eagles must run the ball effectively with their quarterback and star running back. This should be relatively easy for them as the Philadelphia Eagles have the best ball-control offense in the National Football League The Philadelphia Eagles cannot hurt themselves with penalties or turnovers. They also cannot give up big plays or touchdowns on special teams.
Philadelphia’s Important Players
While everybody on the Eagles needs to play well, Quarterback Jalen Hurts and Running Back Saquon Barkley are, by far, the most important players on the team. Hurts is deadly in short-yardage situations and he helped make the “Brotherly Shove” famous. It is when he sneaks the ball in a short-yardage situation and gets pushed over the line of gain by his offense. Now virtually every team does a version of this.
Barkley is the best running back in the National Football League and this season almost broke the single-season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson. Barkley had the best 14-yard run in League history a couple of weeks ago when he did a 360-degree turn to juke a defender and jumped over another, backward. It should be interesting to see how he does with a national audience.
Conclusion
The Philadelphia Eagles, with their excellent ball-control offense, should win this game with the Green Bay Packers if they do not shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers and penalties. It will be interesting to see Barkley perform in front of a national television audience. For the Packers to win this matchup they must control the ball and cannot hurt themselves.
