(Photo: Getty)
By Mark Eckel
In big games, your big-time players need to make big plays.
The Philadelphia Eagles got a 41-yard catch and run from Saquon Barkley and a 36-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to Devonte Smith on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter.
The Green Bay Packers got . . .
Exactly.
Smith's touchdown catch gave the Eagles a 10-point lead and they hung onto beat the Packers, 10-7, in a defensive battle on Monday Night Football.
It was the second consecutive home loss for the Packers and the second week where quarterback Jordan Love and the offense failed to show.
Love went without a touchdown pass for the second straight game and seemed out of sorts from the beginning. He also fumbled with the team in field goal range in the first half.
Josh Jacobs, who scored the lone Packers touchdown for the second week, actually outgained Barkley, 74-60, but looked the wrong way on a screen pass that might have gone a long way on the Packers next-to-last drive of the game.
Somehow the Packers had one last chance getting the ball back at their 35-yard line with 27 seconds left. Brandon McManus' 64-yard field goal attempt never had a chance — before or after he kicked it.
In the span of two weeks the Packers (5-3-1) went from the top seed in the NFC to the fourth seed to now the seventh seed.
Here are the rest of the highlights and lowlights from the team's fourth straight loss to the Eagles.
Offensive Hero: Dontayvion Wicks had just four catches for 38 yards but it seemed like all four were key plays at the right time. There were no heroes for the offense in this one.
Offensive Zero: Give it to Love for his execution and to head coach Matt LaFleur for a terrible game plan.
Defensive Hero: Both linebackers Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper had nice games. Actually, with the exception of those two big plays in the fourth quarter, the defense played great all night.
Defensive Zero: The Eagles were without starting center Cam Jurgens and lost right tackle Lane Johnson for most of the game, still the Packers did not sack Hurts. So let's just give it to the pass rush as a whole.
Play of the Game: Cooper punched the ball out of Hurts' hands on the Eagles first drive of the game. The Eagles had from their 9-yard line to the Packers 25. Hurts kept the ball on 3rd-and-8 and had the first down before Cooper knocked the ball loose and Keisean Nixon recovered.
Turning Point: There were a few. The last came with just under a minute to play. The Packers had a 4th-and-1 at their 44-yard line. LaFleur called a run. Out of shotgun, Love handed to Jacobs who had nowhere to go and then fumbled. It didn't even matter since the offense was also called for an illegal formation.
This and That: In their last five first halves the Packers have scored a total of 29 points. …They still have not allowed a first-quarter touchdown. … The Packers ran the ball on their first six first downs of the game.
Injuries: Center Elgton Jenkins left the game with a leg injury and did not return. Sean Rhyan replaced him. Already thin at receiver Romeo Doubs left with a chest injury and did not return.
Inactives: Injured defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot) and cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) were ruled out Saturday. Wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder) was listed as questionable, but sat out. Offensive linemen Jacob Monk and Donovan Jennings, and kicker Lucas Harvisik were healthy inactives.
Former Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander and running back A.J. Dillon were inactive for the Eagles.
Up Next: On a short week the Packers will go on the road to face the New York Giants (2-8) at the Meadowlands. Monday the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll, so the Packers will be the first team to face interim head coach Mike Kafka. New York quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a concussion Sunday in Chicago and will be in protocol this week. Russell Wilson is the backup.