{"id":276898,"date":"2025-11-11T04:38:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T04:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/276898\/"},"modified":"2025-11-11T04:38:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T04:38:10","slug":"packers-fall-to-eagles-in-defensive-bout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/276898\/","title":{"rendered":"Packers fall to Eagles in defensive bout"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Tim McManus<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"icon-font-after icon-close-solid-after\" href=\"#\">Close<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"author-img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mcmanus_tim.png&#038;h=80&#038;w=80&#038;scale=crop.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tim McManus<\/p>\n<p>ESPN Staff WriterTim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine&#8217;s Birds 24\/7, a site he helped create, since 2010.<\/p>\n<p>Rob Demovsky<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"icon-font-after icon-close-solid-after\" href=\"#\">Close<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"author-img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762835888_765_demovsky_rob.png&#038;h=80&#038;w=80&#038;scale=crop.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Rob Demovsky<\/p>\n<p>ESPN Staff WriterRob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA.Nov 11, 2025, 03:24 PM<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re a fan of offense, Monday night in Green Bay was ugly. If defense is your thing, it was a thing of beauty.<\/p>\n<p>Two of the top teams in the NFC conference slugged it out on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, with the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"d1a9b001-1df7-fbd7-ae4c-6ca7065286ec\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nfl\/team\/_\/name\/phi\/philadelphia-eagles\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> coming out on top over the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"06cd3bcf-7a86-53d4-28e7-aa049dd36261\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nfl\/team\/_\/name\/gb\/green-bay-packers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Green Bay Packers<\/a>, 10-7.<\/p>\n<p>Every win in the tightly-contested NFC is significant: According to ESPN Analytics, the Eagles&#8217; chances of capturing the No. 1 seed jumped to 33% with the win; a loss would have dropped all the way to 12% with a loss.<\/p>\n<p>Editor&#8217;s Picks<a name=\"&amp;lpos=story:editorspicks:inline:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/46873496\/nfl-philadelpha-eagles-demand-greatness\" class=\"img-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/eagles-nfl-fan-1296.jpg&#038;w=130&#038;h=130&#038;scale=crop&#038;location=center.jpeg\" width=\"65\" height=\"65\"\/><\/a><a name=\"&amp;lpos=story:editorspicks:inline:2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/46906273\/nfl-green-bay-packers-philadelphia-eagles-tush-bush-ban\" class=\"img-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/r1573134_1296x1296_1-1.jpg&#038;w=130&#038;h=130&#038;scale=crop&#038;location=center.jpeg\" width=\"65\" height=\"65\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>1 Related<\/p>\n<p>The defense kept the odds in the defending champs&#8217; favor. The Eagles&#8217; revamped pass rush made <a data-player-guid=\"f19ea9a5-ca4d-79b9-3e49-543e438cd336\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4036378\/jordan-love\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jordan Love<\/a> uncomfortable all night, helping to hold the Packers scoreless through three quarters for just the third time under head coach Matt LaFleur.<\/p>\n<p>Philly&#8217;s offense showed a little life late by the way of a 36-yard touchdown pass from <a data-player-guid=\"caceb80c-6350-a107-9fcf-7c7bd1b4edd8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4040715\/jalen-hurts\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jalen Hurts<\/a> to <a data-player-guid=\"79fe15c5-5f05-f939-c4f5-c55466521a50\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4241478\/devonta-smith\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">DeVonta Smith<\/a>, and that was enough to push the Eagles to 7-2 as they ready for another heavyweight bout against the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"56caffee-178d-f6f2-a076-b277486b8c32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nfl\/team\/_\/name\/det\/detroit-lions\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Detroit Lions<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761135608_840__end_rule.png\" width=\"100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762835890_448_phi.png\" width=\"31\"\/>Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)<\/p>\n<p>Turning point: Nursing a 3-0 lead in the fourth quarter, Jalen Hurts found <a data-player-guid=\"94486c18-dd3e-6081-a3fe-4a26b71ddcdc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/3929630\/saquon-barkley\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Saquon Barkley<\/a> on a swing pass on 3rd-and-7, which Barkley turned into a 41-yard gain down the left sideline. On the next play, Hurts found Smith in the end zone for the 36-yard score.<\/p>\n<p>Most surprising performance: Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio gave edge rusher <a data-player-guid=\"ab9c9a20-5a41-25e0-b9d1-51a589d4e5bc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4242975\/jaelan-phillips\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jaelan Phillips<\/a> a major role in his first game as an Eagle, and Phillips delivered big-time. Acquired from the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"af33088b-1e19-d27d-dbc0-354fd7151703\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nfl\/team\/_\/name\/mia\/miami-dolphins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Miami Dolphins<\/a> for a third-round pick in front of last week&#8217;s trade deadline, Phillips got the start and erupted for seven QB pressures, two QB hits and six tackles. He forced a Josh Jacobs fumble on 4th-and-1 with 1:30 remaining to seal the win for Philly. The Eagles have something cooking along the defensive front with the Phillips addition and Nolan Smith&#8217;s return from a triceps injury.<\/p>\n<p>Biggest hole in the game plan: Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo played it conservative for the most part, especially on third down. There were multiple occasions where Philadelphia opted to run it on third-and-long. The Eagles are up to 29 3-and-out drives resulting in a punt this season, the second-most in the NFL behind Broncos (34). &#8212; Tim McManus<\/p>\n<p>Next game: vs. Detroit Lions (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/>Patrick McDermott\/Getty Images<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gb.png\" width=\"31\"\/>Green Bay Packers (5-3-1)<\/p>\n<p>This game won&#8217;t be on any offensive teaching tape. In fact, the Green Bay Packers might want to burn it.<\/p>\n<p>In one of the worst offensive performances of coach Matt LaFleur&#8217;s seven seasons in Green Bay, his team didn&#8217;t score until there was 5:49 left in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n<p>The Packers have never been shut out under LaFleur, and it was only the third time they were held scoreless through three quarters under the coach&#8217;s tenure. One of those was Jordan Love&#8217;s first career starting, filling in for <a data-player-guid=\"5fbab03e-2816-55ab-ae10-83b132803d9e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/8439\/aaron-rodgers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aaron Rodgers<\/a> against the Chiefs in 2021. The other came in 2023 against the Saints, and the Packers came back to win.<\/p>\n<p>In the Saints game, they rallied for a 17-0 deficit to win 18-17. Monday&#8217;s deficit wasn&#8217;t nearly as large. They trailed 10-0 until running back <a data-player-guid=\"a83b6715-f018-aedf-190e-f77f026c7e4a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4047365\/josh-jacobs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Josh Jacobs<\/a> finally got the Packers on the board, capping their first scoring drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.<\/p>\n<p>This after the Packers managed just 13 points in the previous week&#8217;s upset loss at home to the Panthers.<\/p>\n<p>The loss was especially damaging in the standings with the Packers (5-3-1) falling from first to third place in the NFC North.<\/p>\n<p>Stat to know: The Packers receivers had one dropped pass all season entering Monday night, according to ESPN Research. They had two on consecutive plays in the third quarter versus the Eagles. First, <a data-player-guid=\"931aa964-f11a-a6ef-f449-c1649f193837\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4361432\/romeo-doubs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Romeo Doubs<\/a> couldn&#8217;t bring in the ball on a third-and-9 play over the middle and then on the next play, with the Packers going for it on fourth down from Eagles&#8217; 41-yard line, <a data-player-guid=\"dc601a01-e27e-d2fd-eeae-631b3f91fb70\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4259305\/bo-melton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bo Melton<\/a> had a ball bounce off his chest.<\/p>\n<p>Then on the Packers&#8217; final drive, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4428850\/dontayvion-wicks\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dontayvion Wicks<\/a> dropped another one, giving them three on the night. Including all players, the Packers came into Monday&#8217;s game with five total drops, four by non-receivers.<\/p>\n<p>Biggest hole in the game plan: The Packers couldn&#8217;t find a way to replicate what they lost last week when budding star tight end <a data-player-guid=\"c7de446c-056d-5255-ba6e-47b061c83c98\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4572680\/tucker-kraft\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tucker Kraft<\/a> was lost for the season to a torn ACL. In fact, for most of the game, coach Matt LaFleur went with a run-heavy call sheet, limiting Jordan Love&#8217;s passing opportunities. It looked more like the game plans he used when Love missed two games last season with a knee injury, and LaFleur limited backup <a data-player-guid=\"77d56116-fed8-b61e-d8d8-9a30107e2104\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4242512\/malik-willis\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Malik Willis<\/a>&#8216; throwing opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Trend to watch: For the second straight game, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley&#8217;s unit gave the team a chance to win. A week after the 16-13 loss to the Panthers, they held the Eagles in check for most of the game. The Packers gave up their first points of the game on a field goal halfway through the third quarter and didn&#8217;t allow a touchdown until early in the fourth. &#8212; Rob Demovsky<\/p>\n<p>Next game: at <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"378600ea-2397-8364-8399-b7c1606a49a7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nfl\/team\/_\/name\/nyg\/new-york-giants\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New York Giants<\/a> (1 p.m. ET, Fox)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tim McManus Close Tim McManus ESPN Staff WriterTim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":276899,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[64,63,593,85],"class_list":["post-276898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=276898"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276898\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=276898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=276898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=276898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}