Eagles vs. Packers: Previewing Philadelphia's Preseason Week 3 Matchup
The Philadelphia Eagles travel to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the second consecutive season as they take on the Packers in their third preseason preseason game Saturday.
Philadelphia will enter the game fresh off a 40-17 victory over Baltimore. Last Saturday, every facet of the team from the starters to the fourth-stringers seemed to have their way with the Ravens. The first team capped off two impressive drives with a 14-yard run by Ryan Mathews and a two-yard run by DeMarco Murray. The Eagles showed their ability to put up points, going ahead 14-0 just over 12 minutes into the game.
The team will be happy with its performance last weekend, but even more will be shown against the Packers on Saturday. The third week of the NFL preseason usually gives fans and coaches the largest glimpse into what the team will look like come the first week of the regular season.
"Remember, Week 3 in the NFL preseason should be viewed as a final dress rehearsal for the starters," wrote Matt Bowen, Bleacher Report's NFL National Lead Writer. "Coaches will be looking for clean execution and positive production within the game plan."
With that said, here is all the info you need for Saturday night's game.
Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Preseason Week 2 Results and Recap
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Philadelphia's preseason victory over the Ravens featured impressive debuts for two major offseason acquisitions in Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray.
Bradford led the offense down the field in his only drive of the game, completing three out of his five passes for 35 yards. Ryan Mathews capped off the drive with a 14-yard run.
Besides playing well, Bradford also knocked off the rust following a long injury-induced absence. The 84-yard touchdown drive was his first action since tearing his left ACL for the second time. Almost more importantly than operating efficiently, the Oklahoma product took and survived his first hit of the season. Terrell Suggs hit Bradford late around his knees, which forced a roughing penalty against the Ravens.
Murray also capped his debut with a short touchdown run to give the Eagles an early 14-point lead over the Ravens. Murray finished his brief appearance with a total of five carries for 17 yards.
On the other side of the ball, Philadelphia's secondary caused Joe Flacco problems on the first two possessions. Nolan Carroll tipped a deep ball from Flacco, and Walter Thurmond secured the interception to end the Ravens' first drive. On Baltimore's second drive, Byron Maxwell snagged an overthrown pass. The Eagles forced Flacco to throw two interceptions in his first four throws of the day.
"We have a lactose-intolerant secondary," coach Chip Kelly said, according the Associated Press via ESPN.com. "They're not biting on play-action fakes."
The Eagles pass defense ranked among the league's worst the past two seasons, but the new additions to the secondary seem to be turning that around. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis and company will have a good test in their dress rehearsal against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Saturday.
News and Notes
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Mychal Kendricks Turnaround
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Mychal Kendricks to a four-year contract extension worth $29 million with $16.4 million guaranteed, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Zach Berman.
The inside linebacker's new deal puts him in the conversation with national names such as Bobby Wagner, Lawrence Timmons and NaVorro Bowman, according to NFL.com's Chris Wesseling.
Kendricks recorded 333 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, nine sacks and three interceptions in his first three seasons in the NFL. His partner in the center of Philadelphia's 3-4 defensive scheme, DeMeco Ryans, thinks he can get even better.
"He still has a ways to go, he can still get much better. He knows that," Ryans said, according to Andrew Kulp of CSN Philly. "The sky is the limit for Mychal, but I think before it's said and done, he could be the best linebacker in this league."
Despite a successful start to his career, Kendricks' place in Philadelphia's defense came into question because of offseason reinforcements at inside linebacker. The Eagles traded for Kiko Alonso from the Bills and re-signed veteran Ryans, creating doubt as to where Kendricks fit into Kelly's long-term plans.
The 24-year-old's extension comes after trade rumors during the spring. Former head coach Andy Reid drafted Kendricks, and he is now one of the select few players from the previous era that Kelly has decided to keep around.
Offensive Line Position Battle
This offseason brought a few changes to the offensive line as the Eagles decided to cut both right guard Todd Herremans and left guard Evan Mathis. Through training camp and preseason, the coaches are looking to fill those positions from within.
Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur spoke prior to the team's Wednesday practice and addressed the offensive line position battles. He made it clear that the right guard position is still up for grabs, according to Eagles Insider.
The battle on the right side of the line comes down to the likes of Andrew Gardner, Matt Tobin, Julian Vandervelde and John Moffitt. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland echoed Shurmur's claim that the competition is still open.
“Every single day, we’re taking it one day at a time,” said Stoutland, according to CSNPhilly.com's Aaron Mazer. “Each guy has an opportunity to present to us what they have to offer in terms of technique, effort—all those things are being evaluated.”
The left guard position was left vacant by Mathis' departure, but veteran Allen Babre has impressed the coaching staff so far this offseason and is in pole position to operate between Jason Peters and Jason Kelce, per Eagles Insider.
Latest Injury News
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The biggest concern for every coach during training camp and preseason is injury. A team's entire outlook can change based on one season-ending injury to a key player.
The Green Bay Packers were dealt a blow this week after Jordy Nelson was ruled out for the season due to a torn ACL he suffered during the Packers' second preseason game. Luckily, the Eagles have avoided season-changing injuries so far this season.
However, the team still has a several key players in doubt for Week 1 of the regular season, including starting inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans and last year's first-round pick Marcus Smith. Meanwhile, sixth-round rookie JaCorey Shepherd is ruled out for the year with a torn ACL.
Key Injuries
| Date | Position | Player | Injury |
| 8/25/15 | Linebacker | DeMeco Ryans | Achilles |
| 8/21/15 | Linebacker | Marcus Smith | Hamstring |
| 8/14/15 | Tight End | Zach Ertz | Sports Hernia |
| 8/10/15 | Defensive Back | JaCorey Shepherd | Knee |
Unlike the Eagles, the rest of the NFC East has suffered some serious setbacks so far this offseason. The story out of Washington centers on Robert Griffin III's concussion and hurt shoulder suffered against the Lions. The New York Giants also lost their starting safety Bennett Jackson to a torn ACL, and their backup safety Justin Currie fractured his fibula and ankle.
Cowboys also missed several starters in their last preseason game because of injury, including Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith, Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick, Byron Jones and Rolando McClain. Dallas also held out Tony Romo and Sean Lee as a precaution.
Although the Eagles have avoided the injury bug so far, Philadelphia's coaching staff and players will have their fingers crossed to reach their season opener unscathed.
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Key Matchup
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Aaron Rodgers vs. Eagles Secondary
The Eagles rolled into Green Bay last season with a 7-2 record, but Aaron Rodgers and company made quick work of Philadelphia in a 53-20 blowout. He finished the day with 341 yards and three touchdowns on 22 completions.
Well beyond just that game in Green Bay, the Eagles secondary hasn't been great the last two seasons. Philadelphia finished second-to-last in the NFL in passing yards per game last season, giving up 264.9 yards per game, according to ESPN.com.
With largely the same secondary, the Eagles also finished dead last in passing defense in 2013. The organization acted quickly this offseason to clean house of their starting corners in Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher, along with starting safety Nate Allen.
A large part of the secondary's misfortune came from giving up big plays. Take Jordy Nelson's performance last season when he caught four passes for 109 yards, including a 64-yard bomb, against Philadelphia.
Possibly even more important than player changes, new defensive backs coach Cory Undlin came in this offseason with the goal of eliminating the big plays through the air that proved to be the Achilles' heel of the Eagles defense last year.
"Adding Cory Undlin is really probably the biggest addition we had when you talk about upgrading that (defensive backs) room," safety Malcolm Jenkins told CSNPhilly.com's Reuben Frank. "The biggest thing is keeping the ball in front of us. It’s that simple. Football's not a complicated game. When you keep the ball in front of you as a secondary, nine times out of 10 you're going to win."
In last week's game against the Ravens, the secondary seemed to battle against the deep ball well. Flacco tried to test new starting cornerback Nolan Carroll with a 50-yard pass, but Carroll deflected the pass and allowed Walter Thurmond to make the interception.
One change seen this week in practice to keep an eye on is the switching of Carroll into the slot. This means rookie Eric Rowe will slide to the outside, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane.
Philadelphia faced two quality quarterbacks in Andrew Luck and Joe Flacco already this preseason, but going up against Rodgers, for possibly an entire half, would be the biggest test for the secondary so far.
X-Factor
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Eagles X-Factor of the Week: Kenjon Barner
With two games down and two left to play, the Eagles are still ironing out the latter half of their 53-man roster. One player who is fighting for a position in Philadelphia is Kenjon Barner, and he is really fighting.
Contributing on special teams is often the best way for fringe players to earn one of the final spots on a roster, and the former Oregon standout has proved to be a weapon in the return game.
"He's making a huge case," coach Chip Kelly said after the game against the Ravens, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "You go back-to-back weeks with a punt return for a touchdown. I think he made some good plays in the run game. ... I think he's putting himself in position. We talked about it last week and he's continuing to do that."
The 24-year-old returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown against the Ravens to add to his 92-yard punt-return touchdown and nine-yard rushing score against the Colts. Although similar to fellow running back Darren Sproles, Barner will make the roster because he provides youth and cover for the older multi-tool player, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com.
"There is no way Barner makes it through to the practice squad, meaning if the Eagles release him, he won't be coming back," wrote Shorr-Parks. "Having him around as a valuable special teams player, and as a backup to a trio of running backs with injury history, lands him a spot."
With his job on the line, Barner will try to impact the game any way he can in the last two weeks of the preseason. A few more big plays would strengthen his case, and the Packers will have a tough time covering him in the rushing, passing and return games.
Prediction: Eagles 28, Packers 20
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The problem with preseason preparation is most teams want their opponent to play all of their starters to get a true glimpse of how their own team would perform when the game counts. However, coaches don't want to risk their own players too much on their own end.
Philadelphia decided to ease new running back DeMarco Murray into the action, and now the Packers are also looking to protect their investment in quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In practice on Wednesday, Brett Hundley took mainly every rep in practice, which led Arrick Upton of The 1265 Report to believe Rodgers' time against the Eagles may be limited.
Preseason comes down to two things: evaluating the roster and staying healthy. Although players at the bottom will be fighting for spots, this game will be determined by how long Chip Kelly and Mike McCarthy decide to play their starters. With Green Bay fresh off the loss of top wide receiver Jordy Nelson, it is unlikely McCarthy will want to risk his stars.
On the other side, the Eagles made a lot of changes this offseason and need to establish continuity on both offense and defense before the season kicks off. Kelly will want to see more from Bradford this week as well. But after playing only one series last week, it is unlikely Bradford will play the whole first half.
Final Prediction: Eagles 28, Packers 20
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