The Philadelphia Eagles showed their true grit, adding a signature win to Carson Wentz’s resume — and perhaps saving their season — with a thrilling 34-27 comeback win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Eagles were able to avoid a 1-3 start and now sit at 2-2 on the season with the Jets coming to Lincoln Financial Field in 10 days.
Here are 6 takeaways from the thrilling win:
1. Carson Wentz won a big game
Wentz didn’t have the numbers that Aaron Rodgers put up, but the Eagles star was gutty and once again showed why he’s one of the top-rated quarterbacks in football today. Wentz was 16 for 27 for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Wentz was steady all evening, taking what the Packers defense gave him while hanging in the pocket. Wentz finished with a passer rating of 113.1, and in the end he made more plays than Rodgers when it counted.
2. Jordan Howard carried the Eagles
Howard became the first Eagles running back with two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the same game since Corey Clement did it against the Denver Broncos in 2017. Howard had 15 carries for 87 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He also provided a physicality against the Packers that the Eagles had been lacking all season.
3. Eagles’ defensive effort was filled with penalties and big plays allowed
The Eagles were sloppy all night, with numerous penalties that allowed the Packers to continue drives. Derek Barnett’s hit on Jamaal Williams resulted in a 15-yard penalty. Zach Brown was called for a face-mask penalty, helping the Packers get out of a 1st-and-20 situation deep in their own territory. The Eagles allowed Rodgers to pass for 422 yards and two touchdowns but made some plays late when it mattered, forcing a turnover on downs with less than 10 minutes to go and picking off Rodgers in the end zone in the final minute.
4. Alshon Jeffery is the Eagles’ most important wide receiver
Jeffery only had three catches for 38 yards on the night, but he had one big touchdown, and his presence was huge for the Eagles all night. After missing almost all of the Eagles’ Week 2 loss and the entirety of their Week 3 defeat, Jeffery brought and toughness and physicality that was needed for the Eagles and even though he had a few bad drops late, he got Wentz out of a couple of jams on late drives.
5. Doug Pederson called a marvelous game
At one point late in the game, the Eagles had 151 rushing yards and 151 passing yards for 302 total yards, an indicator of how balanced a game Pederson called. In all, the Eagles rushed 33 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns, unleashing their thunder-and-lightning backfield. Jordan Howard rushed 15 times for 87 yards and two scores, while Miles Sanders had 11 carries for 72 yards, including a 30-yard rush. That’s the kind of offense that the Birds need to embrace against teams like the Packers that struggle to defend the run.
6. Eagles offensive line outduels the Smiths
The Philadelphia offensive line was dominant on Thursday night and showed up for the challenge of dealing with the highly ranked Packers defense. Carson Wentz went largely untouched on the night, and neither Preston Smith or his co-star Za’Darius had a sack; in fact, Green Bay did not bring down Wentz at all after he had been sacked three times in each of the previous two games. The Eagles offensive line was physical, and that translated to 33 rushes for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
