The Eagles’ defense swarmed Jordan Love (10) and the Packers all day in their wild-card victory. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers had a good season with one obvious flaw: They couldn’t beat good teams.
The Packers’ offense went nowhere against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 22-10 wild-card playoff game loss, which dropped their record against the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Eagles to 0-6 this season. It’s hard to feel too excited about an 11-win season when Green Bay seemed like a full tier below the NFC’s best teams.
The way the season ended won’t sit well. The Packers played terribly on offense, with Jordan Love getting very little going and throwing three interceptions against an Eagles pass defense that has been excellent for months. The Packers had one highlight run from Josh Jacobs that set up their only touchdown. But that was about it.
The Eagles move on, and although their offense struggled too, the defense played well enough to reinforce their status as a Super Bowl contender. The Packers go into the offseason wondering why they struggled so much to beat the top teams they faced, and what they can do to bridge the gap. The Packers seemed pretty far off on Sunday evening.
Poor 1st half for both teams
After three bad AFC games to start wild-card weekend, it looked like Packers-Eagles would be a highlight. Then the teams played a miserable first half.
The Packers turned it over three times, including two bad interceptions from Jordan Love. The first turnover came on the first play of the game, when a huge hit by Eagles linebacker Oren Burks caused Packers returner Keisean Nixon to fumble. The Eagles recovered, though it was debatable. It seemed like Nixon might have recovered but there wasn’t enough evidence on the replay review to give it to the Green Bay. The Eagles cashed that in with a Jahan Dotson touchdown catch from Jalen Hurts. That was the last touchdown from either team in the first half.
The Packers had just 16 yards and one first down through its first four possessions. On the fifth drive they got into field-goal range, but Brandon McManus missed a 38-yard kick. It was ugly for the Packers. Coach Matt LaFleur told Fox at halftime that it was the worst half the Packers had played all season, and it was hard to argue.
It was ugly for the Eagles, too. Jalen Hurts completed his first six passes for 39 yards and then threw incomplete on his last seven passes of the first half.
It was 10-0 at halftime, and two good teams from the regular season were nowhere close to playing their best football.
Eagles extend 2nd half lead
There were a couple of fun plays to spice up the second half. Dallas Goedert had three stiff-arms to break free for a 24-yard touchdown.
After that, Josh Jacobs dragged nearly the entire Eagles defense to the 1-yard line on a great run, then finished the drive with a touchdown to cut the Eagles’ lead to 16-10.
The Eagles’ defense wasn’t going to let that lead slip away. It was a frustrating day for the Packers’ offense, which lost guard Elgton Jenkins to a shoulder injury early in the game and then also lost receivers Romeo Doubs (head) and Jayden Reed (shoulder) as well as center Josh Myers (leg). On a fourth down in the fourth quarter, Love hit Malik Heath, who was in the game due to those receiver injuries, near the sideline for what would have been a first down. But Heath’s foot landed out of bounds, the pass was incomplete and it was a turnover on downs. That’s how a confounding day went for Green Bay.
Philadelphia’s defense has been playing well most of the season, and it was dominant against the Packers. Green Bay fed into that by committing too many mistakes and not executing well. The Packers’ defense kept them in the game as long as it could, but it was too hard to overcome Green Bay’s miserable offensive performance.
Ultimately it was a frustrating end for the Packers. Love looked like he was becoming one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks late last season, but he had an inconsistent 2024 season and a bad end to it in Philadelphia. The Packers’ season started with a lot of hope and wasn’t terrible, but it’s hard to feel great about the results. It will be a long offseason figuring out how to make it better.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER60 updates
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM EST
Philly is off to the divisional round
The Eagles will host the lowest-seeded remaining NFC team after the conference dust settles. If Tampa Bay wins tonight, it’ll be the Buccaneers. If Washin wins tonight, it’ll be the winner of Monday night’s Vikings-Rams matchup. — in Arizona — heading to Philly for the divisional round.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:50 PM EST
Saquon Barkley eclipses the 100-yard mark
And on the next play, Barkley broke away, but slid and gave himself up so the Eagles could kneel it out after 119 rushing yards. What more would you expect from a man who sat out a chance to become the NFL’s single-season rushing yardage king to gear up for the playoffs?
Game. Eagles.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM EST
Make that four turnovers on the day, and Quinyon Mitchell grabs the third pick of the day
That’s an awful lot of contact by Zach Baun on Bo Melton, but nevertheless, Mitchell’s first NFL interception will just about seal the deal for Philly to move on to the divisional round.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:46 PM EST
Two-minute warning: Eagles 22, Packers 10
It hasn’t been pretty, but with the Packers having just one timeout and needing two touchdowns, the Eagles are in control at the moment. Both defenses have been very good today, but the Eagles’ lack of major mistakes has been a big difference. Jake Elliott has made all three of his field goal attempts and Philadelphia hasn’t turned the ball over.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:40 PM EST
Injury timeout for Green Bay center Josh Myers
Myers got rolled up on by reserve offensive lineman Kadeem Telfort on a Jordan Love sack, and the attrition continues for Green Bay. Injuries — particularly on offense — have been part of the story today for the Packers, and while no NFL team will blame injuries for a loss, playing with several backup offensive linemen and being without your top three receivers makes it very hard to win.
Myers was carted off the field after the injury timeout.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM EST
Another Jake Elliott field goal makes it a 12-point Eagles lead
3:12 left in the game and the Packers are in a tough spot. Both defenses have been tremendous tonight, but the three Green Bay turnovers, along with injuries and penalties, are looming incredibly large for the Packers right now.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM EST
Packers flagged for unnecessary roughness after stopping Saquon Barkley
Just an undisciplined play. T.J. Slayton and a couple of other Packers tossing Barkley to the ground after he was stood up drew the 15-yard penalty and first down, and it’s going to be trouble for the Packers. It moves the ball to the 20-yard-line with just under 5:00 to play in the 4th quarter.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM EST
Packers TURN IT OVER on downs on their own 41!
Malik Heath couldn’t get a foot in, and with 4:58 to go, the Eagles take over in plus-territory with a chance to go up by three scores. The birds of prey are certainly circling.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM EST
Jake Elliott gets Philly back in front by two scores
7:33 left in regulation and the Eagles are up 19-10. Saquon Barkley came out of the lineup for a few plays late in the drive and was replaced by Kenneth Gainwell. He looked like he got up a little gingerly after a tackle, but the Eagles could also be resting him up for the league’s leading rusher to try to close the deal on the Eagles’ next drive
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM EST
Tush Push makes an appearance
Would it be an Eagles game if they didn’t get one? A 1st down on a 4th and 1 around midfield for the Eagles.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM EST
Packers injury update
Green Bay has just three healthy receivers available for the game at the moment after this.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:02 PM EST
Josh Jacobs opens the 4th quarter with his first playoff TD run
Green Bay is back within a score. 18 carries, 81 yards and the score for Jacobs, and it’s 16-10 with just four seconds gone in the 4th quarter.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM EST
JOSH JACOBS!!!!
This is just his second career playoff game, and he said on Fox Sports, pregame, he came to Green Bay for a chance to play in playoff games just like this one.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM EST
Jayden Reed exits with apparent arm injury
This would be a terrible loss for the Packers if Reed can’t return.
After a big first down catch into Philly territory, Reed was rocked and knocked out of the game, at least for the moment. Green Bay is already without Christian Watson, who tore his ACL at the end of the regular season, and Romeo Doubs, who left this game and is being evaluated for a concussion.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM EST
Dallas Goedert MUSCLE MAN
You know who else can stiff arm people on the way to a BIG second-half touchdown in a wild-card game? Dallas Goedert!
Put that one on the sizzle reel.
Jake Elliott missed the PAT, but the Eagles go up by two touchdowns and lead 16-3.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM EST
Welcome to the playoffs DeVonta Smith
It’s catch No. 3 for Smith, and he has Philly moving on a 3rd down with a gain of 2.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM EST
Brandon McManus gets Green Bay on the board
This second attempt from 26 yards is good, and the Packers are down by one possession in a 10-3 game with 5:46 to go in the 3rd quarter. Philadelphia had the No. 1 defense in the league this year and it’s looked the part today.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM EST
Packers pick up 1st and Goal on pass interference flag
Dontayvion Wicks drew the foul on Quinyon Mitchell for the 1st down at the 9-yard-line
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM EST
Doubs helped to the locker room
Romeo Doubs needed the assistance of two members of the Green Bay staff to get back to the dressing room for further evaluation for a concussion. Would be a huge loss if Doubs couldn’t return.
Sun, January 12, 2025 at 6:33 PM EST
Romeo Doubs down in the endzone
The Packers’ big play receiver slammed hard on the turf after a leaping for a pass that fell incomplete, landing hard on his back and with his helmet hitting the ground as well. Trainers are tending to him with the clock stopped and 6:48 to go in the third quarter.
