1234

Packers Vs Eagles NFL Wild Card Playoffs: Las Vegas Line & Pick Against the Spread

Green Bay Packers & Philadelphia Eagles Meet Again in Rematch from Week One

Todd Jacobs
The Green Bay Packers will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Lincoln Field on January 9th for their NFL Wild Card Playoffs game. The Green Bay Packers and the Eagles will be playing a rematch from NFL Week One. In that game the Philadelphia Eagles were a much different team than they are entering the NFL Playoffs.

Kevin Kolb was the opening day starter for the Philadelphia Eagles and he was knocked out of the game and his starting job by the Green Bay Packers defense. Michael Vick came into the game as Kolb's replacement and the Philadelphia Eagles offense changed in an instant. The Green Bay Packers won the game 30-27 but they inadvertently transformed the Philadelphia Eagles offense in that fateful game.

Green Bay Packers Defense vs Philadelphia Eagles Offense

Run defense is the weakness of this 3-4 style Green Bay Packers defense. BJ Raji is the best defensive lineman up front and Clay Mathews is a linebacker that assumes the role of a roving lineman when an opponent commits to the run.

Mathews best skills are not in the run stopping department which leads to issues for the Green Bay Packers stopping the run. They are allowing 115 yards per game and they are ranked 18th against the run among NFL defenses.

Pass defense is the best unit on this Green Bay Packers team. Charles Woodson is the reason for the strong pass coverage on this Packers team and he is developing a good understudy in Tramon Williams. With Woodson on the strong corner.

Williams is seeing a lot of balls thrown his way and has made the best of it. Williams had six interceptions in the regular season and is becoming a force on the edges for the Green Bay Packers. The Green Bay Packers pass defense limiting NFL offenses to 194 yards per game, fifth in the NFL.

Michael Vick has hijacked this high powered Philadelphia Eagles offense and he has been unstoppable with the exception of a few setbacks. Vick is an obvious threat out of the back field on a designed option play or taking off on a whim when his receivers are covered up.

Vick has learned in his time away from the game two important quarterback skills. Patience and leadership. Vick has always had the desire but now he is twice as dangerous now that he has learned the mental aspects of being a great quarterback. The Philadelphia Eagles pass offense ranks ninth in the NFL and their run offense is solid with Vick and LeSean McCoy running for an average of 145 yards per game.

The receivers on this Philadelphia Eagles offense are a perfect mix of talent. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are the deep route receivers with ability to take a short pass and make a fifty yard run. Brent Celek and Jason Avant are the middle route runners with the good hands and LeSean McCoy is a dangerous pass catcher out of the back field. The Philadelphia Eagles offense has the edge over the Green Bay Packers defense.

Green Bay Packers Offense vs Philadelphia Eagles Defense

Aaron Rodgers has been the forgotten top five NFL quarterback this season. Injuries and two concussions have slowed Rodgers after he was considered to be the best quarterback in the NFL coming into this season. Rodgers has also had to deal with season ending injuries to his number one pass catching tight end Jermichael Finley and the Green Bay Packers number one running back Ryan Grant. Both offensive players were also key leaders in the huddle.

Rodgers still has plenty of weapons to work with in the NFL Playoffs. Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson are his short route runners and Greg Jennings his deep home run threat when he needs an explosive play down field. Jennings has disappointed Rodgers of late with numerous drops in key situations recently. The pass offense for the Green Bay Packers ranks fifth in the NFL despite all the issues Rodgers overcame this NFL season.

Defense has been the weakness of the Philadelphia Eagles this NFL season. Run defense has been an issue this season and they rank 15th in the NFL against the run. NFL Playoffs football dictates that good run defenses advance deep in the NFL Playoffs and if this is true both these teams may make an early exit.

Pass defense for this Philadelphia Eagles secondary has been inconsistent at best and it can be traced to the gambling style of their flamboyant corner, Assante Samuel. Samuel is a feast or famine corner and when he gambles for the highlight reel pick and misses the results can be devastating. The Philadelphia Eagles pass defense rates 15th overall in the NFL and is vulnerable to a good quarterback. The Green Bay Packers offense has the edge over the Philadelphia Eagles defense.

Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles -2.5: Pick Against the Spread & Breakdown

The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook has made the Philadelphia Eagles a 2.5 point favorite over the Green Bay Packers in their NFL Wild Card Playoffs game. The Green Bay Packers are 5-3 against the spread in the regular season when on the road and they are 10-6 against the spread overall in the regular season.

The Philadelphia Eagles are are 7-9 against the spread overall in the regular season and they are 3-5 against the spread when playing in Lincoln Field. Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles should possess an edge in this home game but the Green Bay Packers look to be the team heading in the right direction. Take the number six seed Green Bay Packers +2.5 points to cover the spread against the Philadelphia Eagles.

More from Yahoo Contributor Network:

NFL Playoffs Power Rankings for 2011: New England Patriots Most Powerful NFL Playoffs Team?

Jets Vs Colts NFL Wild Card Playoffs: Las Vegas Line & Pick

Packers 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview: Rodgers & Company Hot at Right Time?

Philadelphia Eagles 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview: Five Questions & Answers

Statistical sources:

www.lasvegasinsideinfo.com

www.yahoosports.com

www.espn.go.com

Published by Todd Jacobs

Todd Jacobs is from Anaheim, California and resides in the city of Las Vegas. Todd worked for Orange Coast Magazine as News Editor in the 80s and recently began writing for several online sites including:...  View profile

  • Run defense is the weakness of this 3-4 style Green Bay Packers defense.
  • Vick has learned in time away from game two important quarterback skills.Patience and leadership.
  • Defense has been the weakness of the Philadelphia Eagles this NFL season.
The Green Bay Packers won the game 30-27 but they inadvertently transformed the Philadelphia Eagles offense in that fateful game.

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.