evad04 said:
I want like hell for the Packers to win... but I think some of you are a bit overconfident in your predictions. The Eagles are on another level... on both sides of the ball. They have a stronger offense, an at least marginally better defense, and they are battle tested.
Help me see the light...
WR Pack vs. Eagles... without Driver it is probably even but they have no proven threat on the outside.. Curtis and Williams...
TE.. Pack vs Eagles.. LJ smith might practice today... that evens the score up a ton.
RB... They have a huge edge with Westbrook... but they have an unproven FB as well.
Oline ... Sorry our tackles match or exceed their tackles... Andrews inside is better than what we have but pretty close.
Dline... Sorry Freak is running out of gas and Cole beat out Howard we have the advantage at DE and probably better rotation inside.
LB... I will take our three over theirs any day...
Safeties... Advantage Eagles in a large way with Dawkins.. but Sean on the other side is green...
CB... Advantage GB in a landslide...
QB.... I will take Brett over McNabb, if for no other reason than motivation and desire... plus NcNabb is just comming back from injury with limited time in preseason..
So I don't see this other level with the Eagles... Can you say over-rated for the Philly team.
We may just have to agree to disagree. Here's how I see it:
QB: Favre is my ALL-TIME HERO... nonetheless, McNabb is undeniably the better QB as of now. Also, anyone familiar with McNabb's history against Green Bay has reason to worry.
RB: Westbrook. 'Nuff said. (Don't place too much importance on FB... sorry... not typically a game-changing position).
WR: I'd say this one is a wash. While Driver is loads better than anything Philly has, and I like the Packers young WRs (Jennings, Jones), Philly has good depth. Reggie Williams + Kevin Curtis + Hank Baskett seems pretty equal to Driver + Jones + Jennings.
TE: If L.J. Smith plays, Philly advantage.
O-Line: Packers are good at Tackle, above average at C with Wells, and the jury has to still be out in regards to Guard (by virtue of experience alone).
D-Line: This one is close to call as well. Kampan, Jenkins and KGB impress me at DE. I would hope that in 3rd down passing situations we also see a little of Jenkins as a pass-rushing DT. At DT the Packers have depth but no one really stands out. "The Freak", like McNabb, is an absolute force to be reckoned with. I'd compare their DE to Green Bay's: Cole beat out Howard as Jenkins beat out KGB. The third wheel's can still play and Philly's interior is better than you think. Bunkley is coming along well.
LBs: I agree with you here. Green Bay is better (although having to play against a playmaker like Spikes is scary).
CB: Can't call it a landslide, because such thing as a Nickelback exists. I like our starters more than theirs, but don't base everything you love and know about our duo on the second half of last year. Were you watching Charles Woodson the first half of the year? Green Bay gets the edge here.
S: No discussion. Doesn't matter how fresh Considine is. Two words: Brian Dawkins.
Special teams: Eagles because 1.) David Akers, 2.) the Packers ST has to prove it's even okay.
And the last thing, which is kind of a sports cliche but I think there's some truth to it, is: the Eagles are battle tested. They play in a tougher division, they are competitive almost every year, they have more "superstars", they have more experience. They are regarded as a top team in the NFC and I don't think it's for nothing.
The Packers can win if the defense can make some plays and they don't have to pass every down. You familiar with Jim Johnson? He does pretty well with a lead against a predictable offense.