The Linc -factor for the Packers playoff game

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …

X-factors for every NFC team in the Wild Card round – SB Nation
Philadelphia Eagles: Safety Reed Blankenship. We tend to think of Vic Fangio as the master and ultimate dispenser of Quarters coverage, and there’s a lot to that from a historical perspective. The Eagles’ legendary defensive coordinator has half the league copy/pasting his Cover-4 stuff at any given time, but Philly’s outstanding defense has not led with Fangio’s allegedly primary construct. In fact, the Eagles have lined up in Cover-4 just 18% of the time this season, and they’ve been in Cover-1 (man coverage with a single-high safety) more often (22%), and they really lead with Cover-3 (zone coverage with a single-high safety), which they do 35% of the time. Fangio isn’t going to change his priors without the personnel to have it make sense. And here’s one thing for sure – the Eagles are outstanding when playing single-high coverage. Only the Houston Texans (71.7) have a lower opponent passer rating when playing Cover-1 or Cover-3 than the Eagles’ 73.0. Obviously, if you’re going to play that much single-high coverage, you need a great deep safety. It could be said that the Eagles have two: C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship. Gardner-Johnson is the more well-known name, but both he and Blankenship have lined up in the deep third on 602 snaps this season, and when he’s in in any kind of single-high stuff, Blankenship has allowed 13 completions on 19 targets for 127 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. That includes an interception on a pass that Jordan Love tried to get to tight end Luke Musgrave over the middle in Week 1, when the Eagles beat the Packers, 34-29.

Eagles-Packers Film Preview: Reasons for optimism and reasons for concern – BGN
I think the Packers’ offense is a little hit or miss. They will miss Christian Watson, as the depth at wide receiver isn’t great. They have top 5 potential, but they have been too erratic this year which has led to them running the ball a lot. I think the Eagles’ defense matches up really well with this offense, and I think the defense should go into this one feeling confident. However, Jordan Love is a bit of an enigma who can do crazy things. If he has one of those games where he turns it on, the Packers could be tough to stop.

Packers vs. Eagles Injury Report: 5 questionable for Green Bay – Acme Packing Company
Meanwhile, the Packers are still dealing with a couple of lingering injuries. Safety Zayne Anderson (concussion) is set to miss his second consecutive week of action while receiver Christian Watson (knee) has also been ruled out for this week. Five other players, defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. (foot), tackle Andre Dillard (concussion), defensive tackle T.J. Slaton (ankle), middle linebacker Quay Walker (ankle) and safety Evan Williams (quadricep), are questionable for Sunday’s game. Walker and Williams are every down players for the Packers, when healthy, who have missed the past couple of games due to injury. Walker and Williams were both limited participants in practice throughout the week.

Eagles’ veteran who has ‘a lot of juice left’ inspires team’s Super Bowl dreams: ‘He’s our heartbeat’ – NJ.com
After the game, Graham told reporters he might have taken the final snap of his 15-year NFL career. But the next morning, he didn’t act like someone who planned on retiring. He asked Hargrave for advice on the rehab process, and what to expect from the surgery, among other topics. “I would not be surprised,” Hargrave said about Graham coming back for his 16th season. “I be telling him all the time that in his 15th season, he was balling. Still got a lot of juice left. … If Philly wants him back, I’m pretty sure he would. That boy will play forever, honestly.” During their 30-minute call, Hargrave said that Graham was more worried about what he could do to help his teammates prepare for their Week 13 game against the Baltimore Ravens than he was about the injury.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings: Where every team sits ahead of Wild Card Weekend – PFF
3. Philadelphia Eagles. What makes the Eagles so frightening is the multiple ways they can win. Philadelphia is the only team in the league to rank in the top six in both offensive and defensive EPA per play, and it is just dotted with talent up and down its roster. On offense, Kellen Moore’s group boasts the third-highest-graded offensive line, powered by Jordan Mailata — the highest-graded player in all of football. The Birds can gash you via Saquon Barkley and the run game, where they’re third in EPA per play and second in yards before contact per attempt, and they can just as easily punish corners with a pass game featuring A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who both rank top-13 among receivers in PFF receiving grade. Meanwhile, Philly’s defense is elite at all three levels, ranking first in success rate. Ghosts of last season’s wild-card exit in Tampa Bay could linger, but this Eagles team feels like it’s in a significantly better place than a year ago. A limitation could be Jalen Hurts and his play under pressure — where his 43.5 PFF grade is 25th out of 30 qualifiers — but Philly has every opportunity to at least reach the NFC Championship.

Health Check – Iggles Blitz
Johnson is generally regarded as the best OT in football. Somehow he was voted 2nd team All Pro at RT, behind Penei Sewell of the Lions. Apparently Johnson wasn’t happy about that as you can tell by the page he posted in his locker. I’m excited to see what this Eagles team does. This is a talented group that has the potential to win the Super Bowl. They could also lose on Sunday. Green Bay is a talented team that actually finished higher in the DVOA rankings (3rd) than the Eagles (5th). The road to the Super Bowl won’t be easy. The NFC is loaded. If the Eagles are truly a great team, they’ll find a way to win the games. That’s what makes the playoffs special. Great teams do great things. They make history. Players become legends. Who ever thought Nick Foles would out-duel Tom Brady to win the Super Bowl? The Eagles have the players to go on a run of their own and make history. It will be fun to see if they can pull that off

Eagles updates: Jalen Hurts ‘ready to go’ after clearing concussion protocol; A.J. Brown playing through knee injury, ‘gotta be out there’ after last season – PHLY
“At the end of the season, everyone’s banged up,” Brown said. “Some are banged up more than others. But most importantly, I’m going on Sunday. Going to give it all and make plays. It doesn’t matter.” Brown missed the postseason loss to Tampa Bay last season with a knee injury. That absence is still on his mind and makes this game more significant. “Absolutely. I know I’m banged up — everybody is — but gotta be out there,” Brown said. “Give it my all for my teammates, for the city. Felt miserable last year to let it go like that. …This time had to be different.”

NFL playoffs wild-card round: Picks, schedule, odds, injuries – ESPN
Bold prediction: Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter will bat a pass, and it will be intercepted. Carter recorded six batted passes this season, second most in the NFL, and he’ll be facing only an average pass-blocking guard in Sean Rhyan. Expect him to get a hand on one of Jordan Love’s throws Sunday. Matchup X factor: Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Cooper has the second-level range to track the ball carrier on the edges, and he can patrol the intermediate windows in coverage. If the Packers want to get a win in Philly this weekend, he will need to play an impact role to limit Barkley and clog the middle of the field in the pass game.

In Roob’s Eagles Observations: A position coach who’s made a huge difference – NBCSP
4. It’s not ideal that A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have both missed practice time this week. Brown was limited Wednesday and out Thursday with a lingering knee issue, and Smith sat out Friday with back tightness. Both will play Sunday, but if they’re anything less than 100 percent that could really handicap this offense. There just isn’t anybody else. Hurts completed 113 passes for 1,619 yards and 11 touchdowns to Brown and Smith this year. Hurts’ numbers to the Eagles’ other WRs: 12-for-122 to Jahan Dotson, 7-for-34 to Britain Covey (who’s on IR), 6-for-30 and a TD to Parris Campbell (who’s on the practice squad), 2-for-14 and a TD to Johnny Wilson, 2-for-0 to Ainias Smith and 1-for-0 to John Ross. That’s an average of 13 yards per game to receivers other than Smith and Brown. The Eagles seem confident Smith and Brown are both healthy enough to play at a high level, but it is a little scary because they can’t afford to lose either one.

Ranking the NFL’s top five coaching staffs right now: Chiefs, Vikings, Lions employ brilliant football minds – NFL.com
Philadelphia’s defensive rise is a testament to Vic Fangio’s work in his first year as a coordinator with the franchise. The veteran quickly fixed the secondary’s problems by inserting a pair of rookies (Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean) into the starting lineup at prime positions (CB1 and nickel). In addition, he fully unleashed defensive tackle Jalen Carter at the point of attack to help the Eagles re-establish their dominance in the trenches. With linebackers Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun thriving as big-play specialists, Fangio continues to cement his status as an all-time great defensive mind, having turned this unit into the league’s top D. Kellen Moore’s work with Jalen Hurts and the offense has showcased his adaptability as a play-caller. Also in his first year as an Eagles coordinator, Moore has helped Hurts re-emerge as a potent playmaker. Using designed quarterback runs was not a big part of Moore’s call sheet at his previous stops, but he has found a way to build the game plan around his quarterback’s strengths. While the inconsistency of Philadelphia’s passing attack has led to some frustrating moments for wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Moore typically keeps the duo engaged with scripted touches on the call sheet. Given how the Eagles’ coaching staff deftly manages the game — and the team’s egos — while chalking up wins, the group deserves a spot on this top-five list.

Three reasons the Eagles will beat the Packers, and beat them handily on Sunday – Inquirer
1. Jordan Love is a wild card even when healthy.The Packers quarterback is one of the highest-variance players in the league. In the regular season, he was one of only three quarterbacks in the league to complete 12-plus passes of 40-plus yards, alongside Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. But he completed just 63.1% of his passes overall, tied with Will Levis for 31st among 39 qualifying quarterbacks. His penchant for throwing off his back foot is evidenced by his lackluster on-target percentage of 73.2. The only quarterbacks who finished with a lower mark: Anthony Richardson, Cooper Rush, Jameis Winston, Aidan O’Connell, Dak Prescott, Spencer Rattler, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, and Mason Rudolph.

Unscripted: How this Eagles team went 14-3 – PE.com
Head Coach Nick Sirianni laid out the blueprint for this team to succeed at a team meeting at the end of Training Camp. Relive the regular season as the head coach’s message came to life in the form of a franchise-record-tying 14 wins, the NFC East title, the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, and a date with the Green Bay Packers this Sunday in the Wild Card Round on the latest episode of Unscripted, presented by Lincoln Financial.

Check out this ‘Jawn’! Eagles fans can buy big logoed pretzel during playoffs – NBC10
It’s a “jumbo pretzel served with porter cheese sauce, green mustard sauce, and bourbon vanilla brown sugar butter,” Aramark said. The pretzel — which Aramark didn’t give size specifics for — is in the shape of the Eagles’ iconic bird logo.

DSU welcomes new Hornet Head Football Coach DeSean Jackson – DSU
Delaware State University publicly ushered in a new chapter of Hornet football by introducing newly hired Head Football Coach DeSean Jackson to the DSU and at-large communities. In the follow-up to the Dec. 27 announcement of DSU’s hiring of the former three-time NFL All-Pro standout, the University held a Jan. 8 media event in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center on campus, where Coach Jackson made the first public statement of his new tenure: “Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished alumni, faculty and staff, students and supporters, thank you for being here today. First and foremost, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to God for this incredible opportunity. I am also thankful for my family, whose unwavering support has been a foundation in my life.”

Four Washington Commanders players voted Second-Team All-Pros – Hogs Haven
The Washington Commanders are 12-5, going to the playoffs, and having their best season in decades. Success bring accolades from your peers, fans, and the people that write about you every day. We’ve been giving the team all the credit they deserve, but now four players have been given another nod for their hard work this season. The team, and head coach Dan Quinn, announced this morning that WR Terry McLaurin, RB/KR Austin Ekeler, and LBs Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu have been voted second-team All-Pros.

Report: Jerry Jones, Mike McCarthy expected to open talks on new contract today – Blogging The Boys
It is Friday, January 10th, 2025. Officially, it is Day 5 of the offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. They still do not have a firm decision on who their head coach is or will be going forward. It is unbelievable, I know. It is insane and ridiculous and silly and a lot of other things, but nevertheless the Cowboys remain intent on dragging their Mike McCarthy decision out as long as they possibly can. With the head coach’s contract set to expire on Tuesday and the window for exclusive negotiation firmly closing for Dallas and McCarthy… time is of the essence. These were the exact words of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Friday morning. Pelissero offered one of the weirder reports you will see, even as far as the Cowboys are concerned. He shared on X on Friday morning – basically – that the Cowboys and McCarthy are still open to working together in the future, but that there have been no negotiations yet. He added that time is of the essence due to us getting closer and closer to Tuesday.

Every New York Giants’ 2024 draft pick is part of The Athletic’s All-Rookie Team – Big Blue View
Final thoughts. The 2024 draft class does not entirely make up for the reality that Schoen’s first two draft classes have not provided the hoped-for impact. The best player from those two classes, 2022 No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux is a good player but has yet to become the dominant player you would hope to get at that point in the draft. To take steps toward improving, the Giants need another impact draft class from Schoen a few months from now.

NFL Teams Finalize 2025 Salary Cap Carryover – Over The Cap
We have been using estimates for the carryover for all of our cap figures for 2025 and those have now been updated to reflect the real numbers. We will be adding in some estimated adjustments in the coming weeks and then change those when the NFL makes the numbers official. Here is the amount of carryover for each team: