{image1} Despite the 47-17 rout Sunday at the hands of the powerful Philadelphia Eagles, the Packers cling to a share of the lead in the NFC North. They have, of all teams, the Bears to thank for that.
The Bears upset the Vikings in Chicago, so Green Bay and Minnesota still sit on top of the division with 7-5 records. The Packers still have the tie-breaker with the Vikings at this point.
But, after watching the Eagles humiliate the Pack Sunday, you have to ask if it all matters.
Right now, it looks like you could give the Eagles the NFC Championship and go right to the Super Bowl. Donovan McNabb leads an explosive offensive unit. The defensive unit completely stymied the Packers and, at least in the first half, made Brett Favre look like an over-the-hill 35-year-old rather than one of the best in the game.
The Eagles came out the aggressors early. Two interceptions killed Favre and the Packers and handed the momentum completely to Philadelphia. The second pick should have been challenged, because TV replays indicated that Philly cornerback Sheldon Brown might not have had full possession of the ball when he hit the ground.
For some reason, coach Mike Sherman never threw the red flag. The Eagles went on for their second touchdown and never looked back.
It might not have made any difference, anyway, because on this given Sunday Philadelphia was clearly the better team. At 11-1, the Eagles already can start resting some players and pace themselves to get ready for the playoffs.
One slim ray of brightness for Packers' fans might be that the Vikings really don't look good enough to put much distance between themselves and Green Bay in the mediocre NFC North.
Randy Moss looks to still be hampered by his injuries. Daunte Culpepper still makes too many mistakes. And, the Vikings' defense made the Bears' Chad Hutchinson look like -- well, Donovan McNabb.
So, the Packers still have a chance to win the NFC North, and make the playoffs. A lot can change between now and January. But, if the Eagles remain healthy, they will be a very big obstacle for the Packers or any NFC team to get by on their way to the Super Bowl.
Players of the Game
You have to give the main honor to McNabb, who set a franchise record by completing his first 14 passes and established several career highs with 32 of 43 for 464 yards and five touchdowns. He and Peyton Manning of the Colts deserve the distinction of being the top quarterbacks in the NFL at this point.
Brian Westbrook and Terrell Owens also had outstanding offensive games for the Eagles. Brian Dawkins started to turn the momentum in Philadelphia's favor with the first of two interceptions of Favre passes.
Philly defensive coordinator Jim Johnson came up with a defensive game plan that stymied a Packers' offense that had averaged 34 points per game in the team's six straight wins.
And, Eagles coach Andy Reid, a former Packers' assistant, obviously remembers enough about Favre and knows the approach of Sherman, his friend and former fellow Mike Holmgren assistant, to come up with an overall scheme that handed the Packers one of their most embarrassing losses in recent years.
Plays of the Game
The two interceptions by the Eagles were huge. They came relatively early, before the game had become a rout, and gave Philadelphia the momentum.
Many felt the second pick should have been challenged by Sherman, but no flag was thrown. It might not have made any difference in the long run, but the Eagles took over after that play.
McNabb had two 41-yard TD passes to Owens and Westbrook. Both plays demonstrated the Eagles had explosiveness that the Packers could not handle.
Goats of the Game
Favre has to get a set. His consecutive TD pass streak ended at 36 straight games. He often was rushed and pressured, but he also threw some very poor passes and at times actually seemed to lose his poise -- a rarity in recent years.
Sherman also gets a set, for not challenging that interception call and for not having his team adequately prepared for such a big game. Last season, then defensive coordinator Ed Donatell took the rap and was fired after the playoff loss to the Eagles. To be fair, you certainly have to give a set of goat horns to current defensive coach Bob Slowik. Compared to Sunday's game, the loss in the playoffs, including the fourth-and-26 play, looked like a defensive masterpiece.
The entire defensive unit also could get horns, but give some special sets to Al Harris, Ahmad Carroll and Nick Barnett. Not only were they incapable of stopping the Eagles, but they fell into cheap trash talking late in the contest.
It frankly made them look like sore losers, with a lack of class, and also showed that premier trash talkers like T.O. and others were able to get into their heads. They should have watched how players like Favre and defensive end Aaron Kampman handled the defeat. Even though they did not play well, they kept playing hard and showed class.
Next Week
The Packers will need to bounce back, just like they did after getting off to that 1-4 start. They play two straight home games, against Detroit and Jacksonville.
Then, the Packers travel to Minnesota, in what could be a huge game on the afternoon on Christmas Eve, and finish the regular season at Chicago on Jan. 2.
At least on paper, three of these games look highly winnable. Much will depend on how well the Packers can forget the humiliation in Philly and bounce back. The Pack also suffered some injuries, the most severe a bruised kidney to linebacker Na'il Diggs. Those could end up factors, at least for next week.
