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TONY’S TAKE – A PREVIEW OF EAGLES-PACKERS

Tony Fiorello

Updated: Jan 17

by Tony Fiorello

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles greets head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 40-33 at Lincoln Financial Field on November 27, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)


Welcome to the 2024 NFL season’s Wild Card Weekend. Here at Buffalo Sports Page we will attempt to inform and educate our readers about the upcoming playoff games and what each team might do to emerge victorious.


One of the NFC’s wild card games will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the Green Bay Packers will face the Philadelphia Eagles. Here’s what you should know:

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 14: Jalen Hurts #1, Saquon Barkley #26, A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles look on against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)


EAGLES’ OFFENSE A DUAL THREAT

After Doug Pederson brought a Super Bowl championship to Philadelphia in 2017, things began to sour rather quickly in the City of Brotherly Love. Following a deterioration of talent thanks to age, free agency and the salary cap, general manager Howie Roseman let go of Pederson and hired his replacement in former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni.


Sirianni, who worked for Pederson’s championship-winning offensive coordinator in Frank Reich, has brought a similar system to the Eagles. Pederson offense’s – a chip off the old block from his mentor, former Eagles coach Andy Reid – is a West Coast-style unit that is built off misdirection concepts, quick underneath throws (especially on slant-flat concepts), screens, bootlegs, run-pass options and occasional downfield route combinations – mostly outside the numbers. Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore also rarely utilize formations from under center – except for their patented “Tush Push” play, their famous (or infamous) version of a quarterback sneak – and have increased their number of “empty” sets to spread the field and make easier reads in the passing game.


Moore, who is in his first season calling the plays after stints in Dallas and Los Angeles, does a good job of using tight splits for his wide receivers and motion to get defenders to commit to soft coverage. He then has his wideouts defeat them with double moves, and he’ll also go no-huddle from time to time.


The Eagles’ top offensive weapon is arguably running back extraordinaire Saquon Barkley. The 6-foot, 233-pound Barkley evokes comparisons to Marshall Faulk and Barry Sanders for good reason – able to make plays in both the passing and running game, Barkley possesses the strength and quickness to break tackles and slither in and out of gaps. The quote “Give me 18 inches of daylight, that’s all I need” from Hall of Famer Gale Sayers certainly applies to Philly’s tailback, as he can make big plays with his burst and excellent vision.


Thanks to Barkley and backup Kenneth Gainwell, the Eagles have consistently been a top-10 rushing offense in the NFL over the last four years. They were second this year, and were eighth, fifth and first in each of Sirianni’s seasons at the helm of Philadelphia.


Helping them in that department has been quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts, a product of Oklahoma, has utilized his mobility on several types of read option plays with zone, power and counter concepts built into them and capitalized by rushing for double-digit touchdowns in each of the last four years – the only signal-caller ever to do so. He also has a strong arm and his accuracy, ability to identify coverages, manipulate safeties with his eyes and decision-making post-snap has grown by leaps and bounds while executing a passing game with defined primary reads.


But Hurts has developed a habit of looking at the opposing pass rush too much and bailing out of the pocket prematurely, and he also needs to get rid of the ball quicker. He also doesn’t like throwing the ball into tight windows over the middle and is more comfortable throwing outside the numbers.


To accelerate his growth, in 2022 Roseman acquired one of pro football’s most physical wide receivers in A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans. Brown, perhaps the Eagles’ best pass-catching threat since Terrell Owens, performs well out of high-low concepts and he, deep threat DeVonta Smith, slot receiver Jahan Dotson and tight end Dallas Goedert make up one of the NFL’s best receiving corps.


Blocking for Hurts and his cohorts is an elite offensive line made up of Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Mekhi Becton and Cam Jurgens (the latter two replacing the departed Jason Kelce and Issac Seumalo). They’ve become one of the best thanks to the development prowess of position coach Jeff Stoutland and can execute most rushing concepts (gap schemes, duo, inside zone outside zone etc.).


Beyond their rushing accolades, the Eagles were also eighth in total yards and seventh in scoring. But they were just 29th in passing.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: Zack Baun #53, Darius Slay Jr. #2, Reed Blankenship #32, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles look on against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 15, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)


PHILLY DEFENSE, GREAT TWO YEARS AGO, HAS BEEN REBUILT

The Eagles’ defensive play-caller from 2022, Jonathan Gannon, is now in Arizona as head coach of the Cardinals. Last year he was replaced by former Chicago Bears coordinator Sean Desai, and both were avid fans of longtime defensive guru Vic Fangio (a consultant for the Eagles two years ago).


Gannon took Fangio’s approach and got impressive results with them while leading Philly to a Super Bowl berth. Desai, meanwhile, struggled last in 2023, leading to an in-season demotion in favor of Matt Patricia and neither coming back this fall. Instead, Sirianni opted to bring back Fangio.


Fangio doesn’t like to blitz much. Relying on a four-man pass rush with stunts, twists and slants and two-deep safety looks often, he heavily employs well-disguised hybrid coverages that feature man and zone concepts – especially Cover Four, or “quarters”, with each defensive back dividing the field into fourths and matchup principles to take away vertical concepts.


This approach has been gaining in popularity in recent years throughout the NFL. According to Smart Football’s Chris B. Brown, “It’s the most important defensive scheme of the past decade…. At first glance, Cover 4 looks like an anti-pass prevent tactic, with four secondary defenders playing deep. But therein lies its magic. The four defenders are actually playing a matchup zone concept, in which the safety reads the tight end or inside receiver. If an offensive player lined up inside releases on a short pass route or doesn’t release into the route, the safety can help double-team the outside receiver. If the inside receiver breaks straight downfield, it becomes more like man coverage. This variance keeps quarterbacks guessing and prevents defenses from being exploited by common pass plays like four verticals, which killed eight-man fronts. The real key to Cover 4, however, is that against the run both safeties become rush defenders (remember, the outside cornerbacks play deep). This allows defenses to play nine men in the box against the run – a hat-tip to the 46’s overwhelming force.


Although they were just 17th versus the run, they ended 2022 second in total yards given up, first against the pass, eighth in points allowed, tied for fourth in takeaways and were first in sacks with an eye-popping 70 – 15 more than the second-closest team (Kansas City). In fact, Philadelphia became just the fourth team ever to reach 70 sacks in a season – along with the 1984 and ’87 Bears and ’89 Minnesota Vikings – and were just three away from breaking the ’84 Bears’ all-time record.


In 2023 the Eagles’ defense fell off a cliff. While 10th against the run, they were just 19th in sacks, 26th in total yards surrendered, second-last against the pass and tied for 23rd in takeaways. With Fangio now back, Philly’s defense is back as well – they were first in total yards and against the pass (the first team ever to go from 22nd or worse to first), 10th versus the run, second in points allowed, sixth in takeaways and tied for 13th in sacks.


To have success this way, you need to get pressure from a defensive line that has depth and talent. Which the Eagles have in spades, allowing them to use a 5-2 front at the line of scrimmage (a departure from most teams who use a four or three-man unit).


It helps that Philly has rebuilt this unit from one that was veteran-laden to the youngest defense in the NFL. Once boasting names such as Fletcher Cox, Haason Reddick, Linval Joseph, Derek Barnett, Javon Hargrave, Ndamukong Suh and Robert Quinn, now the Eagles can roll out names like Brandon Graham (currently injured), Josh Sweat, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Bryce Huff, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith on every snap and not miss a beat.


More change has come at the second and third levels of their defense. While cornerbacks Darius Slay, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox remain (Bradberry has missed the entire season due to injury), the Eagles drafted Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo in the first round and Cooper DeJean from Iowa in the second. DeJean has had a very good rookie season as he’s displayed good blitzing ability, patience and physicality at the top of opponents’ routes. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, one of the game’s rangiest and smartest centerfielders who can also play in the slot, holds down the back end along with Reed Blankenship.


After employing T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White two years ago and Zach Cunningham and Nick Morrow last season, Philly has upgraded at linebacker in the form of Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean. Baun has gotten some consideration for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award as he has made a near seamless transition from the defensive line due to his excellent awareness.

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 05: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers hands off to Josh Jacobs #8 during the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 05, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)


PACKERS’ OFFENSE TALENTED, BUT VERY YOUNG

After 13 years, four trips to the NFC Championship Game and a Super Bowl victory in 2010, longtime Packers coach Mike McCarthy was let go by Green Bay after 2018. A sense of staleness had grown around the franchise and general manager Brian Gutekunst sought to revive his team with new blood in the form of Matt LaFleur, who has taken “Titletown” to a pair of conference championship game appearances.


LaFleur was previously the Tennessee Titans’ play-caller, and prior to his time in the Music City he ran Sean McVay’s offense for the Los Angeles Rams. McVay and LaFleur go back even further than that too, with both spending time working for Mike Shanahan in Washington and LaFleur also served on the staffs of his pupils – Gary Kubiak in Houston and Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta.


Like his former colleagues, LaFleur has used a playbook that emphasizes a running game built around zone-blocking (especially to the outside on “stretch” plays) and passes that are created off the threat of run-action. It’s a West Coast-style of offense that can create a lot of big plays down the field from craftily designed routes that work off one another, and the skill position players often line up in reduced splits to the line of scrimmage to become both extra blockers on runs and to have more room to run routes on the field. Additionally, unlike McCarthy’s matchup-based system, LaFleur’s playbook relies more on the design of his plays and the progressions of the quarterback – and it’s taken well to this roster.


For the first four years of the LaFleur regime, the Packers’ offense continued to run through quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That partnership, however, is no more after Rodgers (like his predecessor, Brett Favre) was traded to the New York Jets for draft pick compensation.

Waiting in the wings was Jordan Love, who had some big shoes to fill after a combined 31 years of Hall of Fame excellence preceded him under center. Like Rodgers, who also had to wait three years before he got his shot to replace Favre, Love has excelled after taking over as Green Bay’s starting quarterback with his accuracy, touch, eye discipline and athleticism while remaining an aggressive downfield thrower.


For the last several years, Rodgers and Love’s wide receivers included an extraordinary route runner in Davante Adams (who is especially adept on double moves and was a favorite target on third down), Marques Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, and all could carry out Green Bay’s favorite routes. Slants, posts and back-shoulder fades are staples of the Packers’ offense, and not only do they excel at such pass-patterns but they also had a great feel for how to get open when plays break down – especially Adams, who could also play in the slot.


However, they all eventually followed Rodgers out of town and the Packers decided to rebuild this group. Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks have stepped up in the absence of Christian Watson, who has followed up a solid rookie year with a pair of injury-plagued seasons. When healthy Watson provides speed, physicality and good route-running ability.


Green Bay’s tight ends also occasionally get in on the action – especially in the red zone – and those duties fall to Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. While the two are used liberally in “12” personnel packages (one back, two tight ends), LaFleur loves to use Doubs, Reed and Watson/Wicks in four-by-one sets – especially against man coverage.


The Packers also boast threats on the ground. Josh Jacobs brings physicality, vision, patience and downhill ability with speed and can operate well behind any rushing scheme. He’s also an excellent receiver out of the backfield and his backup, the powerful (but injured) A.J. Dillon, can also get the job done. Executing blocks for Jacobs and company are Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom.


The Packers, the youngest team in the NFL in terms of average age, ended 2023 11th in total offense, 12th in passing and scoring, and 15th in rushing. They also allowed the third-least amount of sacks, only Buffalo and Kansas City surrendered less.


2024 was more of the same for Green Bay as fifth in total yards and rushing, 12th in passing and eighth in points. They were also second-best in sacks allowed, behind only the Buffalo Bills.

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 05: Kenny Clark #97 of the Green Bay Packers lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 5, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)


GREEN BAY’S DEFENSE IS SOUND

Former coordinator Joe Barry was hired by LaFleur in 2021 in hopes of bringing a different approach than Mike Pettine once did. While Pettine was a fan of overload blitzes, exotic pressure schemes and man-press coverage, Barry relied on four-man rushes and zone coverages with two deep safeties – mainly Cover Two and Four, although he mixed in more single-high looks near the end of 2023.


After firing Barry, LaFleur replaced him with Jeff Hafley, who was Pettine’s defensive backs coach in Cleveland. Hafley took a defense that had been rooted in 3-4 principles since 2009 and morphed it into a 4-3 with one-gap responsibilities, stunts and A-gap blitzes for his front seven and aggressive man coverage behind it with one deep safety – otherwise known as Cover One.


The defensive backs that are integral to Hafley’s secondary are All-Pro Jaire Alexander (currently injured), Eric Stokes, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine and Keisean Nixon at cornerback and Jonathan Bullard and the rangy Xavier McKinney at safety. The team’s depth on the back end is imperative to the team, as Green Bay loves to use subpackages (especially dime, 4-2 and 5-1 nickel).


Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare are the Packers’ main edge rushers. Joining them at linebacker are the speedy Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson. Kenny Clark, who is very athletic for his 315-pound frame and T.J. Slaton are Green Bay’s best defensive tackles.


2023 saw the Packers give up the 17th-most total yards, the ninth-least amount of passing yards, and they were 10th in points allowed. But they were the fifth-worst team against the run, 16th in sacks and just 23rd in takeaways. But in 2024 those numbers improved as they were sixth in total defense, 13th against the pass, seventh versus the run, sixth in points allowed, tied for eighth in sacks and fourth in takeaways.

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