Plenty has changed since then

Arthur from Eau Claire, WI

I am probably in the minority, but I believe the Packers can beat the Eagles. Why? Simply because any team at any time can beat any team at any time. I don’t place blame for a loss on any player, coach or referee, same with a win. My key to win is mistake-free play by the O- and D-lines. Is that a reasonable key?

The Packers can beat the Eagles because they’re a good freaking football team. But yes, my biggest key to winning this game is winning in the trenches. Philadelphia has playmakers galore but you gotta match its physicality.

How can the Pack go into Philly with momentum? What is the best way to contain Saquon Barkley?

Momentum doesn’t matter right now. The Packers can’t rupture. Green Bay did a solid job of containing Barkley early during both its game against the New York Giants in December 2023 and the 2024 opener in Brazil before Barkley started breaking off big runs. In fact, Barkley had a combined 49 yards on 18 carries (2.7 yards per carry) in the first half of those two games compared to 140 yards on 26 attempts (5.4 ypc) in the second. You have to tip your cap to Barkley, too. Part of his brilliance is how he wears down a defense until he finally breaks off a big run.

It seems to me the Packers will need to control the clock and play mistake-free football to pull off a win in Philly. Does that mean we should expect to see Josh Jacobs getting 24-plus carries and more than 100 yards in order to win?

I don’t know what the magic number of touches for Jacobs is, but he’ll be ready for whatever the Packers give him. I’d agree the more yards Jacobs produces, the better the Packers’ chances at coming out of Philly with a win.

With Minnesota throwing us a curveball of man vs. zone, do the Packers throw the Eagles a knuckleball? If we can start with the ball, do we come out slinging the ball and run no-huddle? I feel the Packers’ best chance of winning on Sunday is to get out early and not have to rely on our D to stop every drive in the fourth quarter to pull out a win. Or is there something else they can do to put Eagles on their heels early?

Nothing would surprise me, but running a pass-heavy, no-huddle offense would be a bold strategy to take against the league’s best pass defense. My approach, perhaps antiquated, would be to run it right at Philadelphia. That’s what the Packers have done best all season.