Green Bay Packers fall to Philadelphia Eagles in defensive bout

If you appreciate offensive plays, Monday night in Green Bay was tough to watch. For those who favor defense, it was quite the spectacle.

Two premier teams in the NFC battled it out on the icy grounds of Lambeau Field, with the Philadelphia Eagles emerging victorious against the Green Bay Packers, 10-7.

Every win in the fiercely contested NFC carries weight: As per ESPN Analytics, the Eagles’ probability of grabbing the No. 1 seed surged to 33% with the victory; a defeat would have plummeted to 12%.

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The defense maintained the advantage for the reigning champions. The Eagles’ upgraded pass rush kept Jordan Love uneasy throughout the evening, preventing the Packers from scoring for three quarters, marking just the third instance under head coach Matt LaFleur.

Philly’s offense ignited late with a 36-yard touchdown connection from Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith, pushing the Eagles to a 7-2 record as they prepare for another intense challenge against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)

Turning point: Holding a 3-0 lead in the fourth quarter, Jalen Hurts connected with Saquon Barkley on a swing pass during 3rd-and-7, turning it into a 41-yard gain down the left sideline. The following play saw Hurts find Smith in the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown.

Most surprising performance: Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio assigned edge rusher Jaelan Phillips a significant role in his inaugural game as an Eagle, and Phillips made a notable impact. Acquired from the Miami Dolphins for a third-round pick just before last week’s trade deadline, Phillips started and recorded seven QB pressures, two QB hits, and six tackles. He forced a fumble by Josh Jacobs on 4th-and-1 with 1:30 left, securing the win for Philly. The Eagles are building momentum on the defensive front with Phillips’ addition and Nolan Smith’s return from a triceps injury.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo tended to play it safe, particularly on third down. There were several instances where Philadelphia chose to run on third-and-long. The Eagles have now reached 29 three-and-out drives resulting in a punt this season, the second highest in the NFL after the Broncos (34). — Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Detroit Lions (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)

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Aaron Rodgers faced the Chiefs in 2021. The other instance was in 2023 against the Saints, and the Packers mounted a comeback to win.

In the game against the Saints, they overcame a 17-0 deficit to win 18-17. Monday’s deficit was not nearly as significant. They trailed 10-0 until running back Josh Jacobs finally registered the Packers’ first points, ending their first scoring drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.

This occurred after the Packers scored just 13 points in the prior week’s unexpected loss at home against the Panthers.

The defeat proved particularly detrimental in the standings, with the Packers (5-3-1) dropping from first place to third in the NFC North.

Stat to know: The Packers’ receivers had recorded only one dropped pass all season leading into Monday night, according to ESPN Research. They had two consecutive drops in the third quarter versus the Eagles. Initially, Romeo Doubs failed to catch the ball on a third-and-9 play through the middle, then on the next play, attempting to convert on fourth down from the Eagles’ 41-yard line, Bo Melton let a ball bounce off his chest.

Then, on the Packers’ last drive, Dontayvion Wicks dropped another pass, tallying three for the night. Overall, the Packers entered Monday’s game with five total drops, four of which were by players other than receivers.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Packers struggled to replicate what they had lost the previous week when emerging star tight end Tucker Kraft was lost for the season to a torn ACL. Throughout the majority of the game, coach Matt LaFleur leaned toward a run-heavy play calling strategy, limiting Jordan Love’s opportunities to pass. It resembled the game strategies used when Love was sidelined for two games last season with a knee injury, during which LaFleur restricted backup Malik Willis’ passing chances.

Trend to watch: For the second successive game, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit provided the team a shot at victory. A week after the 16-13 loss against the Panthers, they kept the Eagles in check for a large portion of the game. The Packers surrendered their first points of the match via a field goal halfway through the third quarter and didn’t concede a touchdown until early in the fourth quarter. They have allowed 16 or fewer points in all three losses. They now stand at 1-3 when permitting 16 or fewer points this season, their most such defeats since 1978, according to ESPN Research.– Rob Demovsky

Next game: at New York Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox)