Week 1: Packers vs Eagles Preview
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Date/Time: Sunday, September 12, 4:15 p.m. ET
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
Green Bay vs Philadelphia Lines
Moneyline: Packers -155, Eagles +135
NFL betting favorite: Packers -3
Over/Under: 47.5
Green Bay Packers
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When Brett Favre left Green Bay, few people would’ve believed we’d be asking “is this the year?” of the Green Bay Packers just two years later. But Aaron Rodgers has been that good.
Showing perhaps the league’s best combination of arm strength, accuracy and scrambling ability, Rodgers has posted back-to-back seasons of at least 4,000 yards and 28 touchdown passes. He helms an elite Green Bay offense with targets like Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley and Donald Driver at his disposal.
Protection was a sore spot for the Pack last year; Rodgers took 50 sacks. But they did a better job protecting him in the second half and addressed their lines woes down the road by drafting Bryan Bulaga out of Iowa.
Defense is more of a question mark for the Pack this year – and all eyes will watch them against the high-flying Eagles. Though Green Bay finished with the NFL’s No. 2 defense last year, its secondary is aging rapidly with Charles Woodson and Al Harris. The Packers are also just two years removed from fielding a 26th-ranked defense. Is it possible that they’ll regress this year? [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Philadelphia Eagles
Few teams have as much boom-bust potential as the Philadelphia Eagles do this year. They traded Donovan McNabb and handed Kevin Kolb the keys to the starting quarterback job this offseason. As a guy who spent several years as an understudy before getting a chance to start, he’s in a remarkably similar situation to Rodgers two years back.
Is Kolb the answer? Coach Andy Reid believes so and his pass-heavy attack will give Kolb every opportunity to post monster numbers. Kolb has lots of skill around him. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are great deep threats, Brent Celek is a skilled tight end and LeSean McCoy is a good dual-threat back.
But Kolb struggled mightily this preseason, throwing off his back foot too often and failing to throw a touchdown pass. He’ll be tested early and often by the Packers’ “D.” If Kolb struggles over Philly’s first few games, Michael Vick is waiting in the wings. He, on the other hand, looked outstanding this preseason.
If Kolb does live up to the hype, the Eagles could be Super Bowl contenders, as their aggressive defense still specializes in big plays. The Eagles allow their share of points but few teams tally as many sacks and interceptions as they do.
The pick:
I’m a believer in Kevin Kolb; I think he’ll be a 4,000-yard quarterback this season. But facing the Packers, who many bettors believe will win the Super Bowl this season, is a tough first test. I expect some growing pains and turnovers.
Though the Eagles are an above-average defensive unit, the Pack have been an offensive force for two seasons and looked absolutely unstoppable this preseason. I’m just not convinced any team can prevent them from scoring, so I like Green Bay to win a shootout.
Packers vs Eagles prediction: Packers 35, Eagles 24
Moneyline: Packers -155
Spread: Packers -3
Over/Under: OVER 47.5
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