The Packers entered Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a 3-0 record on the season and 5-0 on Thursday Night Football at Lambeau Field. A four and a half point favorite, the Packers got on the board first with a three-yard run by Aaron Jones with 10:31 to play. After a Mason Crosby field goal early in the second quarter, the Packers were up 10-0 and seemingly in total control of the game.
A 67-yard kickoff return by Miles Sanders gave the Eagles some life. After five plays and 34 yards, they cut the lead to 10-7 after Carson Wentz hit Alshon Jeffery for a six-yard touchdown. A field goal by Mason Crosby put the Packers up, 14-13, but the wild second quarter continued. The Eagles marched down the field on a 11-play, 60-yard drive culminating in 3-yard touchdown pass from Wentz to tight end Dallas Goedert.
Just two plays into the next possession, Aaron Rodgers was stripped by Derek Barnett for the first turnover of the game. Four consecutive Jordan Howard runs produced another Philadelphia score, putting the Packers down, 21-13. Rodgers marched the Packers down the field at the closing of the half, finding Geronimo Allison with a 19-yard pass to cut the deficit to 21-20 at the half.
Both teams mounted long scoring drives in the third quarter. The Eagles continued to pound the ball on the ground and finished with a 20-yard pass to Jordan Howard. The Packers continued to rely on Rodgers, hitting Jimmy Graham with a 14-yard pass with 3:16 left in the third to tie the game at 34.
Philadelphia went back on top, using a great combination of run and pass. The Packers didn’t have an answer against the run all day, as Howard took the final two plays of the drive 18 yards on the ground to put the Eagles ahead 34-27.
The Packers had an excellent chance on the next possession, marching down the field 78 yards to the Eagles one. Completely abandoning the run, the Packers failed on four consecutive passes, losing the ball on downs. The allowed the Eagles 50 yards on the next possession but forced a punt. Driving for the potential tying score, the Packers used the pass on every play to get down to the Philadelphia seven. On first and goal, Aaron Jones ran to the Eagles four. With 28 seconds to play, Rodgers attempted to find Marquez Valdes-Scantling, however the pass was broken up and intercepted by Nigel Bradham, sealing the win for the Eagles, 34-27.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 422 yards on 53 attempts for two touchdowns and an interception. Davante Adams had 10 receptions for 180 yards. The rushing game outside of Rodgers’ 46 yards on five attempts was stifled. Jones was held to 21 yards on 13 carries.
Defensively, the Packers were again torched on the ground, allowing 176 yards on 33 carries and two scores. Although they held Carson Wentz to 160 yards passing, he threw three touchdowns and the Packers failed to record a sack or an interception.
At 3-1, the Packers remain on top of the tight NFC North. They head to Dallas for a tough test against the Cowboys on October 6 before returning home for a Monday Night divisional contest against the Detroit Lions.