Alexander’s absence will be hard for Packers to overcome
By GERY WOELFEL
The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles put on a show in the NFL’s regular-season opener back in early September.
Look for them to do the same thing Sunday.
That’s when the talent-laden Packers and Eagles butt heads in an NFF opening-round NFC wild-card playoff game in Philadelphia
The Eagles prevailed in the season opener 34-29 in a game that was still very much in doubt late in the fourth quarter.
The so-called NFL experts, aka the bookies in Vegas, fully expect another edge-of-the-seat thriller in the second meeting of these teams. They have installed the Eagles as 4.5-point favorites.
That seems like logical odds as there is, at least on the surface, miniscule differences between the powerhouses who each have a great quarterback, a great running back and stout defenses.
But the Packers don’t have Jaire Alexander, and that’s going to make their uphill battle even steeper.
While Alexander is the definition of an enigma, he’s a gifted cornerback. There’s a reason he’s the third-highest paid cornerback in the NFL.
But Alexander is injured again – so, what’s new? — and his absence will be noticeably felt. That’s because the Eagles have unequivocally one of the best receiver tandems in the NFL in DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown.
Each one of them of them is capable of tilting the field. Smith had eight touchdown receptions and Brown had seven during the regular season.
Brown exhibited his explosive capabilities in the season opener. He caught five passes for 119 yards – a gaudy 23.8 yards per catch – and a touchdown.
Defending two elite receivers, while focusing on Saquon Barkely, arguably the best back in the game, will be a daunting task for Jeff Hafley’s defense.
And, even if the Packers’ defense does that, it has to make sure it doesn’t self-destruct with a critical, late-game malfunction – as was the case the last two weeks.
The Packers’ defense inexcusably left Vikings running back Cam Akers wide open in a critical third-and-2 situation with 1:49 remaining at the Packers 40-yard line.
Then, last Sunday against the Bears, Hafley placed three defenders about 30 yards downfield on a key 3rd-and 11 at the Bears’ 49 with 15 seconds left, allowing D.J. Moore to get wide open for an 18-yard gain. That set up Cairo Santos’ game-winning 51-yard field goal.
Yes, this could be a gem of the game and the Packers could pull off an upset.
But this game could also disintegrate into an ugly one for the Packers if they don’t keep the Eagles’ potent offense in check and avoid egregious errors.
Prediction: Eagles 34, Packers 24.