Which NFL winning streaks are in jeopardy heading into Week 11?
USA TODAY Sports’ Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaka break down how a team that’s been on a roll could lose this weekend.
The defensive battle at Lambeau Field ended with the Philadelphia Eagles holding out for a 10-7 victory over the Green Bay Packers on November 10.
On Monday night, Green Bay’s defense was brutal until the third quarter. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that both offenses woke up a little.
After a scoreless first half, the Eagles made a successful field goal in the third quarter. In the final period, a big play from star running back Saquon Barkley and a touchdown catch from wide receiver DeVonta Smith gave the Eagles enough points.
The Packers responded with a fourth-quarter touchdown, but kicker Brandon McManus missed a potential tying 64-yard field goal, and time expired with the Eagles holding on for the win.
USA TODAY Sports takes a look at the winners and losers of the NFC matchup “Monday Night Football.”
winner
stingy defense
Both defenses were solid in the first half.
When the Eagles were in the red zone, Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper forced a fumble by Jalen Hurts.
The Eagles returned the favor with Nakobe Dean’s strip sack of Jordan Love, shutting down Green Bay’s scoring opportunities.
Standout running backs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs didn’t have much room to work in the first half. Barkley gained 33 yards rushing and Jacobs had 38 yards on the ground. In the scoreless first half, both running backs averaged less than four yards per carry.
The defense continued to control the game after halftime. The Eagles managed to connect with a field goal after a 10-play, 50-yard drive. It wasn’t until the final quarter that both teams reached the end zone.
Green Bay gained 261 yards of total offense. Love and company averaged 4 yards per play. The Eagles weren’t much better, gaining 294 yards of total offense and averaging 4.9 yards per play.
Fittingly, Green Bay’s best chance to tie the score was stopped by some great defense in the fourth quarter. Jalen Carter and Jaelan Phillips exploded on a Josh Jacobs run from Green Bay’s 44-yard line on a fourth-and-one with less than two minutes left. Jacobs fumbled on that play.
Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith spark Eagles’ offense in 4th quarter
Both teams battled back and forth through the third quarter, until Barkley and Smith ignited the Eagles’ offense with back-to-back plays.
On a third-and-7 from Philadelphia’s own 23-yard line, Jalen Hurts threw a short pass to Barkley in the flat. Barkley caught the football, performed a wicked spin move on Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine, and raced down the field for a 41-yard catch-and-run.
On the next play, Smith caught a 36-yard touchdown pass with 10:36 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead.
Barkley had 25 touches for 101 yards from scrimmage. Smith had four catches, a game-high 69 receiving yards, and one touchdown.
geran phillips
Phillips was productive in his debut with the Eagles. The edge rusher had six tackles, one tackle for loss and two QB hits in the win.
loser
first half attack
In the first half, both Green Bay offenses were frozen.
Jalen Hurts fumbled the football on Philadelphia’s opening series, ending a promising drive. The fumble stopped all momentum for the Eagles. Philadelphia punted on three consecutive possessions after an initial drive turnover. They only gained 125 yards of total offense.
Hurts only completed 48 yards passing.
The Packers were worse offensively. Green Bay punted on its first four drives and went 0-for-5 on third down.
Jordan Love and the Packers offense managed only 85 total yards. Love completed just 39 yards passing and was sacked three times.
There were seven punts and one fumble in the first half. Both fumbles occurred in field goal range. According to ESPN, this was the first time since 2009 that Monday Night Football ended in a scoreless first half.
Questionable decisions by Nick Sirianni
Leading 10-7, the Eagles coach made a perplexing choice when he chose to go for a fourth-and-6 from Green Bay’s 35-yard line with 33 seconds left. A long pass from Jalen Hurts to AJ Brown fell incomplete and a turnover on downs cost the Packers a game-tying field goal.
Fortunately for Sirianni, Packers kicker Brandon McManus’ tying 64-yard field goal attempt fell just short.
NFC East
The Eagles (7-2) hold a commanding lead in the NFC East. No other team in this division has a winning record. The Dallas Cowboys (3 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw), who won a bye in Week 10, are in second place in the division. The Washington Commanders (3 wins, 7 losses) and New York Giants (2 wins, 8 losses) both lost in Week 10.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TylerDragon.
