Will the Packers Be the Packers’ Greatest Foe In the Philadelphia Matchup?

Has anyone reminded you recently that it was the Philadelphia Eagles who beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 last year, and it was Philadelphia who ended Green Bay's playoff run as well? Just in case you forgot.

On Monday night, in a game that could have significant playoff seeding implications, the Packers will get a chance to enact revenge. But if Green Bay wants to come out on top, they have to drastically reduce self-inflicted wounds.

In the playoff loss last year, Keisean Nixon fumbled the opening kickoff. Three plays later, the Eagles threw the first punch, taking a 7-0 lead that took a lot of wind out of the sails for Matt LaFleur's squad.

When the final score illuminated on the Jumbotron at Lincoln Financial Field, it read: Eagles 22, Packers 10.

Green Bay lost the turnover battle 4-0 in that playoff defeat. Along with Nixon's fumble on the opening kickoff, quarterback Jordan Love threw three interceptions. You might be able to get away with losing the turnover battle against the bad teams. However, turnovers sank the Packers in bad losses to a lousy Cleveland Browns team and an average Carolina Panthers roster this year. Against the good teams like the Eagles, you simply can't afford it.

Love was reflective following the playoff loss last January and noted the mistakes that sealed Green Bay's fate.

Green Bay had an entire offseason to focus on that. To their credit, the turnovers have been few and far between this year. The Packers have only five giveaways this season, tied for the second-fewest in the NFL.

Yet, turnovers aren't the only way teams hurt themselves, and the Packers have learned that the hard way. Green Bay is 27th in the league in penalties per game and near the top of the leaderboard in pre-snap penalties. Most of the turnovers, even if there are only five of them, have also come at absolutely brutal times.

Is there ever a good time to have a turnover? No. But, situationally, there are times when they can sting even more, like Love's interception in Cleveland or the strip sack at the end of the first half against the Dallas Cowboys.

If the Packers want to beat the Eagles on Monday night, they must clean it up.

Thankfully for Green Bay, Philadelphia's defense hasn't been a turnover-forcing machine this year. Vic Fangio's group has only seven takeaways on the year, tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL. For one reason or another, they've been able to force Love's hand, though. Love had four interceptions in the two games combined against the Eagles last year, and the offense looked stagnant in the playoff loss.

Things look different for the offense this season, and Love has been humming in quite a few games. Still, the mistakes linger.

Green Bay has been an enigma this year. In games against the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, and Pittsburgh Steelers, their best looks good enough to beat anyone in the NFL. In losses to the Browns and Panthers, their worst is bad enough to lose to quite literally anyone.

To some, the Packers have been the person you match with on Hinge, and then when you show up for the date, you realize they're just really good at getting the angle right on their photos. Sure, they're still attractive and on a good day. But on a bad day, you're left wondering what the hell you just got yourself into as you reevaluate your life decisions.

In what could be a potential playoff preview, the Packers have a chance to keep fans on a roller coaster ride and follow up a brutal home loss to the Panthers with a win over the Eagles, who, at the moment, have the No. 1 seed in the NFC. A win over Philly puts the Packers back in most people's good graces, but with the recognition that they're always close to self-destructing.

Limit the dumb mistakes, and Green Bay has a great chance to win on Monday. It really is that simple. But what isn't simple is this team successfully executing that plan against a Philly team ready to pounce.