After a lackluster first half, the wild-card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers came to life in the second half with back-to-back highlight reel touchdowns.
In the end, the Eagles prevailed 22-10 to advance to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
The game started with all the markings of a contest that would see lots of points. The opening kickoff was dramatic and joyous for the home fans. Lincoln Financial Field went nuts when ex-Green Bay linebacker Oren Burks laid a massive hit on Keisean Nixon who fumbled.
The Eagles emerged from the scrum holding the pigskin, with the refs initially agreeing with them. The play was reviewed and stood with Philadelphia starting with the ball deep inside of the Packers territory straight away.
On the third play from scrimmage, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Jahan Dotson in the back of the end zone for the game’s opening score within the first two minutes of the contest.
Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley – who enjoyed a historic regular season by running for over 2,000 yards, nearly breaking Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season rushing record – and Hurts both had big runs in a first quarter drive that ended with a Jake Elliott 31-yard field goal to put Philly up 10-0 through the first quarter.
The Packers’ defense kept Green Bay in the game as Hurts and the Eagles’ offense went quiet in the second quarter, with Hurts either getting rushed into forced, incomplete passes or getting sacked.
The Eagles’ defensive unit was pitching a shutout but were getting banged up in the process – both Darius Slay Jr. and linebacker Nakobe Dean having to leave the field in pain. Dean was carted to the locker room.
Green Bay was finally able to move the ball – stringing together multiple first downs in a second quarter drive. Tight end Tucker Kraft kept the drive alive by converting a direct snap on fourth down for a fresh set of downs. The drive stalled and the usually reliable field goal kicker Brandon McManus uncharacteristically misguided a 38-yard kick wide right to keep the score at 10-0.
The Eagles got the ball first in the second half only to get stuffed by the impressive Packers defense. On a third-and-19, Green Bay halted Barkley at the line of scrimmage, which triggered the infamous boobirds inside the stadium.
It was an odd and yet familiar sound even with Philly leading the game.
The game came to a halt after a scary moment when Love targeted Romeo Doubs in the end zone. Doubs, who wears a Guardian Cap after suffering a concussion earlier in the season, fell awkwardly and his head appeared to whip against the turf.
The third-year receiver remained down on the turf for several minutes as he was attended to by medical personnel while Packers players kneeled around him in prayer. Doubs was eventually helped to his feet and walked off the field with the assistance of Green Bay trainers. The Packers later announced he was being evaluated for a concussion.
After the game resumed, the Packers did get on the board through a McManus field goal.
The Eagles’ Dallas Goedert quieted the previous booing with an incredible run for Philadelphia’s second touchdown of the night. Goedert caught a short pass to the left from Hurts turned upfield and fended off Carrington Valentine with a series of stiff arms to find the end zone. The tight end’s tough play stretched the lead to 16-3 with Elliott missing the extra point.
That score was followed by another wow play. On the ensuing drive, it was Josh Jacobs’ turn to make a memorable moment, running through and over Eagles defenders for 31 yards. His shirt was stretched out behind him as defenders hung on any way they could. He was initially signaled to have gotten into the end zone but was ruled down just short of the goal line. Jacobs pounded the ball into the end zone on the next play to give the Packers their first touchdown of the game to cut the lead to six at 16-10.
The Eagles answered with a 30-yard field goal from Elliott to make it a two-possession game with a score of 19-10.
On the Packers’ ensuing possession, Jacobs hobbled off the field with an apparent leg injury after a 14-yard catch, leaving the Green Bay offense again short-handed. Without their workhorse, the Packers’ offense stalled once again.
Green Bay turned the ball over on downs, resulting in another Elliott field goal to stretch the lead to 22-10.
Now in desperation mode, Love heaved a deep pass into the end zone, but Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell came down with the ball, Love’s third interception of the game.
From there, Philadelphia was able to run out the clock to cement the victory.
