GREEN BAY – The Packers gave Philadelphia arguably as good a game as any playoff adversary during the Eagles' run to their second Lombardi Trophy earlier this year.
But it served as little consolation for Green Bay in the wake of a disappointing 22-10 defeat at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl LIX champions in the NFC Wild Card playoffs.
The game featured rapid swings, beginning with referee Brad Allen's controversial ruling of a lost fumble on Keisean Nixon's opening kickoff following an uncalled helmet-to-helmet hit.
The loss put the skids on an 11-win season for Green Bay, which ended the 2024 season the same way it began – a 34-29 loss to the Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil.
Asked Thursday if that reality left a bad aftertaste in the mouths of the Packers, Nixon answered with a resounding yes before the question was even finished.
"Hell yeah. The hit, too. Yes, absolutely," Nixon said. "It's not even just the playoff game. We lost to them in Week 1, too. We went 0-2 against them last year and don't really want to have that feeling again."
The Packers get their shot at redemption against the Eagles this Monday night at Lambeau Field, the first time during the Nick Sirianni era Green Bay will face Philadelphia on its home turf.
The Eagles are coming off their bye week following a strong start to the 2025 season. They sit atop the NFC East at 6-2 with twice as many victories as nearest division rival Dallas (3-5-1).
Nearly all the Eagles' offensive weapons are back, including reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley, and receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown.
Super Bowl MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts is completing 70% of his passes this season for 1,677 yards with 15 touchdowns and just one interception (114.4 passer rating). He's also rushed for 207 yards and a team-high five TDs.
Once again, Hurts remains a cog in Philadelphia's infamous "tush-push," the short-yardage shove of the QB that the Packers led the way in trying to outlaw during the offseason. The play remains a hot topic in NFL circles after Green Bay's measure fell just two votes short of the necessary 24 to pass at the league meetings in May.
"It is what it is," said Head Coach Matt LaFleur before practice Thursday. "The NFL made a decision, and we have to find a way to try to stop the play, and it's a tough play to stop."
So, LaFleur's message to his team this week has been to not allow it to happen by keeping the Eagles out of third- and fourth-and-short situations. But even when it's occurred, the Packers have had success stopping the "tush-push" over the past few seasons.
It's mostly been finding a way to hold the line against the sneak, but during the playoffs Green Bay stayed disciplined when defending a third-and-1 deep ball to A.J. Brown off play-action.
Either way, Green Bay understands this will be a significant test for its fifth-ranked run defense, which allowed a season-high 163 yards and two touchdowns to Rico Dowdle and Co. during last Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Working in the Packers' favor this week is a good prognosis on defensive lineman Colby Wooden, who exited with a shoulder injury but returned to practice Thursday. Wooden told reporters after practice he expects to play Monday night.
"It's a new opp," Wooden said. "That's all you can ask for is an opportunity. They're the defending champs. They're defending champs until someone knocks 'em off, so we gotta go in, play good ball, play complementary football, put together a complete game. Like not one half, second half, put together a complete game and come out here and get a victory."
Situationally, the Eagles are formidable. They lead the NFL in both red-zone (85.0%) and goal-to-go offense (100%) while having the fewest giveaways (three).
The Packers have only come out on the winning side against Philadelphia once it its last five encounters – a 30-16 victory in a mostly empty Lambeau Field during the 2020 COVID season.
While Nixon admits he wasn't "realistically" over the playoff loss until Week 1, that result and everything that came with it are now well in the past.
"They got guys everywhere like we got guys everywhere," Nixon said. "Clash of the titans. We seen them twice last year. I think our biggest thing is just getting the win now, however it comes."
Nixon sees the Packers and Eagles as two "heavy-hitters" in a tight NFC battle. After losing two games apiece to Philadelphia, Detroit and Minnesota last year, this Monday's matchup with the Eagles is Green Bay's first chance to pen a new story.
Sitting 5-2-1 atop the NFC North, the Packers have a chance to wipe the slate clean against the reigning Super Bowl champions to kick off the second half of the 2025 campaign.
"Two losses against them last year, so it's going to be a test. We know that," quarterback Jordan Love said. "It's going to be a bounce-back week for us, and we've just got that mindset to focus on us and our process and all the little details and just have that mindset to go out there and start fast and play our best ball Monday."
