Green Bay’s Final Knife to the Heart: NFC Wild Card Loss to Philadelphia

The Green Bay Packers' 2024-2025 season ended with a tough loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Game. Heading into the matchup, there was a lot of uncertainty, and unfortunately, the Packers didn’t exactly ease those concerns early on. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t going to be an easy win, it was more like a steep climb up Mount Everest. While no one expected them to completely overpower the Eagles, fans hoped for a competitive game that would at least give them something to be proud of as the season wrapped up. With so much going on in this one, here are the key takeaways.

The Slow Start Set the Tone

Slow starts have been a consistent issue for the Packers, and they never really seemed to figure out how to bounce back from them. When they did, it was often too little, too late. In a game like this, it’s crucial to come out swinging, but instead, Keisean Nixon fumbled on the opening kickoff. The early mistake put the Packers in a hole they never managed to climb out of. The Eagles capitalized quickly, turning the turnover into an easy touchdown. To make matters worse, the offense couldn’t get anything going, and Jordan Love threw two interceptions in the first half, making it even harder to rally and get back in the game.

Jordan Love Must Play Like His Contract

After signing a hefty four-year, $220 million contract extension, expectations for Jordan Love were understandably high. Fans expected his play to reflect the weight of that deal. Love certainly has arm talent and is capable of making throws that only a select few can. However, that doesn’t matter if he’s turning the ball over. Interceptions, especially in key moments, always kill momentum. 

There were a few throws that seemed to target Eagles defenders more than his own receivers, leading some viewers to question if he was colorblind. His accuracy was also just off. While Love isn’t the sole reason Green Bay lost, he didn’t play in a way that gave the Packers a fighting chance. Yes, Matt LaFleur’s playcalling can be questioned, and his receivers were dropping like flies, but at the end of the day, Love has to do better.

The Defense Showed Up

Although the first half ended scoreless, the Packers' defense kept the Eagles to just 10 points by halftime. After the Eagles' first score, the Packers' next six possessions produced only one field goal and five punts. Despite the offense struggling to find any rhythm, the defense held firm and kept the game within reach. If the offense had found its footing, it could have been a very different game. In fact, the score could have been much worse if not for the defense's effort, which has been a rarity for the Packers in the past. Overall, the defense gave their all, and they should be proud of their performance.

Injuries Buried Them Even Deeper

While this is by no means an excuse, it would be a lie to say that injuries didn’t impact the game. The Packers were already coming into the matchup undermanned, but as the game wore on, the players they were relying on to step up started going down too. Injuries kept piling up on both sides of the ball, and the Packers struggled to overcome them, especially on offense. Elgton Jenkins left early with a shoulder injury, and his replacements just couldn’t handle the pressure. It wasn’t entirely their fault, given they didn’t have many snaps under their belt, but it still hurt the offense when they couldn’t keep up with the Eagles’ front. On top of that, wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed both left the game with injuries, leaving Jordan Love to try and make something out of nothing.

The Packers’ season ended much like it began, with self-sabotage and a lack of discipline. Once again, they were a good team, but not quite a great one. They couldn’t consistently fix their mistakes and keep them in the past, and injuries continued to take their toll. Penalties were a constant issue throughout the year, contributing to their self-inflicted downfall. In the playoff loss, they finished with eight penalties. Better luck next year. With this loss comes reflection and problem-solving for the season ahead. The Packers will look to address their weaknesses and build on what they’ve learned, hoping to one day bring the Lombardi Trophy back home.