Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) reacts against the Green Bay Packers during the second half in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline
Philadelphia Eagles football is finally back.
On Monday night, the Eagles will play their first football game in 15 days. Have you missed them?
The last time the Birds were in action, they cruised to a convincing win over the New York Giants on Oct. 26. That Week 8 victory was certainly a relief following an embarrassing Week 6 loss to Big Blue. However, beating the now-2-7 Giants isn't exactly a signature win.
Now, the 5-2-1 Green Bay Packers? That could be a signature win.
The Packers will be looking to rebound after last week's unexpected loss to the Carolina Panthers. They're slightly favored to beat the Eagles; FanDuel Sportsbook currently has the Packers listed as 2.5-point favorites. It should be a good game. Here's how our On Pattison staffers think it will go.
Tim Kelly (5-3)
Score: Eagles 27 - Packers 24
Game MVP: A.J. Brown
This was a really difficult game to pick because the Eagles are 6-2, but it's certainly been an uneven ride to this point.
Ditto for the 5-2-1 Packers, who at times have looked like a Super Bowl contender, and other times Jordan Love is too much of a gunslinger and they end up losing to the Carolina Panthers.
While Micah Parsons scares me – as does Love, if he's on – I'm going to lean Eagles. They had their bye, and chose to hold onto A.J. Brown through the trade deadline. There has to be a plan to get him involved more consistently, right?
Anthony SanFilippo (3-5)
Score: Packers 24 - Eagles 23
Game MVP: Streaming services not fighting with Disney
I have no real justification for picking the Packers other than the line telling me something. Here are the Packers coming off an ugly home loss to the Carolina Panthers in which Jordan Love looked bad, their best receiver Tucker Kraft got hurt, and their defense couldn't stop the run. Period. And now they have to try again against an Eagles team coming off the bye, a team that just so happens to have the best record in the NFC.
And yet, the Packers are 2 1/2-point favorites. Why? For those of you who will be able to watch the game (sorry YouTube TV subscribers), something tells me that you'll see an Eagles squad that's a little disjointed as it tries to implement its new defensive additions, and that will be enough for the Packers to squeak out a win.
Grace Del Pizzo (3-5)
Score: Eagles 30 - Packers 27
Game MVP: The Tush Push
The Eagles will face the Packers for the first time since the Packers picked up their pitchforks and torches to anoint themselves the leaders of the anti-Tush Push angry mob. Green Bay proposed the failed Tush Push ban during the 2025 offseason.
I know, I know, the Tush Push is just one play. I also know that Nick Sirianni already said he's not thinking about the Packers' ill-fated offseason proposal. But in case you've forgotten, Sirianni is petty. If the Eagles face first-and-goal from inside the five, I wouldn't be shocked if we see a repeat of this series from the first Giants game:
If at first you don’t succeed, push that tush again… and again… and again… and AGAIN.
Behold, the full sequence of four straight tush pushes by the Eagles:pic.twitter.com/pZWzS5RiPN
Outside of the Tush Push, I like how the Eagles defense matches up against the Packers offense. In their 2024 Wild Card matchup, Vic Fangio took the run away from the Packers and dared them to throw. It didn't go well. Jordan Love threw three interceptions and was sacked twice.
Although Love has only thrown three interceptions so far this season, the Eagles have a tried-and-true formula to get the gunslinger to sling it. The Packers are missing multiple top receiving options, and the Eagles added multiple secondary members via trade. Even playing at Lambeau Field, I like the Birds' odds to win a close one.
