Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Eagles showcased their strength on Sunday, securing a 22-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card Weekend opener. This win advances them to the Divisional Round at Lincoln Financial Field, where they will face either the Minnesota Vikings or the Los Angeles Rams.

The game began with an impactful play by the Eagles' special teams. Jake Elliott's kickoff was returned by Keisean Nixon, who fumbled after a hit from Oren Burks. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. recovered it at Green Bay's 28-yard line. "I turned around and I was already celebrating and saw that Trotter got on it as well," Burks commented.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts connected with Jahan Dotson for a touchdown early in the game, setting the tone for a strong performance despite showing some rust after not playing for three weeks due to a concussion. Hurts finished with 161 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Philadelphia's defense excelled, intercepting three passes from Jordan Love and limiting him to minimal gains under pressure. Darius Slay, Zack Baun, and Quinyon Mitchell each contributed interceptions. The defense held Green Bay to just 107 rushing yards while coping with injuries to key players like Nakobe Dean.

"To play an explosive, good offense...and hold them to 10 points is really big," said Baun of their defensive efforts.

The Eagles won the turnover battle decisively at 4-0. Key plays included Burks' forced fumble on special teams and interceptions by Slay, Baun, and Mitchell.

Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore carefully managed Hurts' return by incorporating easy throws into the game plan. Meanwhile, Vic Fangio’s defense maintained pressure throughout the match.

In conclusion, this victory demonstrated both strategic coaching and solid execution across all phases of play for Philadelphia as they continue their playoff journey.