JEFF ALLEN GAME PREVIEW: GREEN BAY at PHILADELPHIA
Tonight’s Monday Night Football action features two teams desperate for a win in a game that has serious playoff
implications as the 4-6 Green Bay Packers face the 5-5 Philadelphia Eagles at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. The
Packers best hope to reach the playoffs would be to with the NFC North in a division where they trail the surging
Detroit Lions by a whopping 3 1/2 games when you consider the H2H loss and the game in hand. Philadelphia is
also playing for a wildcard as they are last in the four-team NFC East and must win just to keep pace with the Skins
Cowboys and Giants. Both seasons are in the balance tonight in Philly.
The game opened earlier in the week with the home team a -3.5 point favorite. and the total 47. There has been
much movement at this point with the Eagles looking to be a rock solid -4 across the board. The total took a brief
jump to 48 but has settled in at 47 virtually everywhere in the last 24 hours. The forecast shows perfect football
weather in Philadelphia, partly cloudy with no wind and a temperature in the high 40s at kickoff.
Green Bay has lost four straight and five of six, allowing 153 points in its last four, the most in a four game span for
the Packers since 1958. The defense was expected to be a team strong point but injuries and shaky secondary play
has put the offense in a bad way always having to play catch up. RB Eddie Lacy went down early and Green Bay has
made little effort to run the football since. Aaron Rodgers is having his second consecutive “off” year throwing the
football.
The Eagles busted out of the gate 3-0 but have not been the same after an early bye and and are just 2-5 since.
Philly rookie QB Carson Wentz, the talk of the league in September has struggled and has averaged just six yards per
pass attempt the last five games. The Eagles are a different animal at home winning four games by a combined
65 points or an average margin of 16+ ppg.
At face value, the side looks to be all Eagles.with four straight dominating wins and covers in their home games. The
Packers have lost four straight and this is their third straight road game, historically a bad spot for NFL teams. The
Packers have played four straight overs while the Eagles home games are 4-0 under. NFC East non-division
home favorites are 7-2. If you didn’t see the jerseys or knew this was the Packers it would probably be an easy call
but the Pack has won four of the last five in the series including a 53-20 beat down at Lambeau Field in 2014. Tough
game to call.