Can Green Bay generate explosives without Watson?

The availability of Christian Watson has been a huge factor in Green Bay’s ability to generate explosive plays this season.

With Watson on the field in 2024, the Packers receivers rank first in the NFL for explosive plays per route. Without him, they fall to 19th.

Whether it is Watson causing the damage, or his presence drawing attention and opening up opportunities elsewhere, he has been a force multiplier for Green Bay. After an ACL injury was confirmed, along with other knee ligament damage, he will not suit up for a while.

Philadelphia’s defense, coordinated by veteran coach Vic Fangio, excels at keeping everything in front of them, and is therefore very stingy in the explosive plays department. Fangio’s unit allowed the fewest net yards gained per pass attempt in the NFL in 2024.

All of that adds up to a potentially difficult task for the Packers to pick up big chunks of yardage on Sunday afternoon. So, how can they find a way?

Getting back to leaning heavily on Josh Jacobs could provide an avenue for success, after lightening the load on him of late. If there is an area in which the Eagles defense is not truly outstanding, they ‘only’ rank 11th in yards per carry allowed.

For all the success the Eagles have had defensively, they also only rank 28th in pressure percentage.

The Packers have a strong pass protecting offensive line, so Love has a good chance of being able to get comfortable in the pocket and look downfield, while his pass catchers should have time to run longer developing, deeper routes.

But with Watson out, the question still remains; who will step up for Green Bay? Jayden Reed exploded for 138 yards in the first matchup with Philadelphia, but he has been quiet of late and fumbled in the season finale versus Chicago. 

It might be time to fully trust in Dontayvion Wicks, and give the receiver a big helping of targets. Wicks is the best route runner on the team, has been catching the ball much more cleanly of late, and could be Green Bay’s best answer to their issues getting open against man coverage specifically.

Without Watson, the Packers are going to have to get creative to avoid becoming predictable on offense.

Is Jalen Hurts rusty?

When Sunday’s game kicks off, Hurts will have thrown just four passes – and only one completion – in live action in the previous 28 days, thanks to a concussion suffered against the Commanders in week 16.

Although his team ultimately prevailed, Hurts did not have his best game against the Packers way back in week one. He threw two touchdowns and two interceptions in Brazil in a performance which provided his worst passer rating of the season in a game he has finished.

The Eagles quarterback has only thrown three interceptions since that game, but perhaps the Packers have his number.

They will need to keep him in the pocket – like they did in week one – and make him win as a passer, although a smidge more pressure, while not compromising the integrity of rush lanes, would be welcome this time around.

Hurts has not been tasked with moving the offense quite as much this year, with the addition of Saquon Barkley at running back shouldering most of that responsibility, but he is far from a perfect quarterback. Making the Eagles throw to win could be a recipe for success on defense.

Saquon Barkley

The NFL’s rushing champion, and one of just nine players in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season, Barkley will be the focus of everyone’s attention on defense at all times this Sunday.

When the Packers saw Barkley back in week one, the league did not yet know what was about to hit them, but the star running back made a statement in his Eagles debut, registering three total touchdowns in Brazil.

It goes without saying that Barkley is going to be productive, but Green Bay must stop him from taking over the game. Fortunately, the run defense has been a strength for the Packers this season.

Having T.J. Slaton available, who is questionable with an ankle injury but told reporters earlier this week that he would play on Sunday, would be a huge boost for the Packers. Slaton is their only true big body on the defensive line.

While Barkley stole the headlines back in week one with his three scores, the 4.5 yards per carry he accumulated in that game is actually his fourth-worst mark of the season. Of course, he is also a threat to do damage out of the backfield, as the Packers found out.

Containing Barkley to any significant degree has to be the top priority for the Packers defense in Sunday’s game.

Defenders reinforcements arriving?

The Packers have a chance of getting two key defenders back for their postseason run, with Quay Walker and Evan Williams both having a chance to return this week. Walker has been out with an ankle injury, while Williams has dealt with a quad issue.

Before picking up the injury, Walker appeared to have turned a corner, producing some solid displays. In his absence, his fellow linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has become a true difference maker, seeing his snap count rise to the point he is now essentially playing every snap on defense.

Getting Walker back out on the field to pair with Cooper could help solidify the linebacker position at a key time. Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie have filled in admirably, but both have deficiencies in coverage especially.

The return of Williams would give Green Bay more flexibility and depth on the back end, as well as freeing up Xavier McKinney to go and make plays rather than babysit his safety partner.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has had to shuffle the defensive backfield too often as of late, mostly due to injuries. Having a trustworthy player like Williams back at his disposal would clear up the picture considerably.

Can the Packers corners hold up against Brown and Smith?

The Eagles have two excellent wide receivers at their disposal in A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, and although both players popped up on the injury report this week, they do not have designations ahead of Sunday’s game, meaning they will play.

Brown killed the Packers in the previous matchup, racking up 119 yards receiving and a long touchdown, and Green Bay had their top corner Jaire Alexander in that game, who will not be available this time around.

There has been a positive change in Green Bay’s cornerback group since then though, as Carrington Valentine has seen his share of snaps increase as the year has gone on, and the second-year man has taken advantage of his opportunity.

Valentine played just 12% of snaps in the season opener, but has not left the field in each of the last two games. In the regular season, he ranked 14th out of 116 qualified corners in coverage grade according to PFF.

Keisean Nixon has also improved throughout the year and has somewhat surprisingly adapted very well to being moved from the slot to outside corner. Even Eric Stokes has stepped up in the second half of the season, playing solid ball.

There is no doubt Hafley has done his best to hide his corners at times, but they also deserve credit for the way they have played. If Williams returns at safety, the configuration of Valentine and Nixon outside, with Javon Bullard in the slot, may be the preferred combination.

Facing Brown and Smith will be one of the toughest assignments Green Bay’s corners have faced this year, but there is some evidence they can pass the test.