GREEN BAY, Wis. – Things have not improved much for the Eagles in the second quarter, as they will go into the locker room at Lambeau Field trailing 30-6.
The Eagles began the second quarter trailing 17-0 but with the ball inside the red zone. On 3rd-and-2 from the 5-yard-line, however, quarterback Mark Sanchez was sacked on play action when Packers linebacker Clay Matthews came in unblocked. Cody Parkey would convert a 33-yard field goal to make the score 17-3.
On the ensuing drive, Aaron Rodgers would need only six plays to take the Packers 80 yards for a touchdown in 2:29, capping the drive with a beautiful 27-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson over Bradley Fletcher.
The Eagles then drove the ball into Packers' territory but would be forced to punt the ball away after a third-down throw to Jordan Matthews went through the rookie's hands.
Again, Rodgers would move the Packers down the field with ease. This time, Packers running back Eddie Lacy plunged into the end zone from one yard out after a pass interference call on Fletcher in the end zone.
Credit to Sanchez and the Eagles offense for getting points on the final drive of the half, with Parkey converting from 33 yards as the half ended. The biggest play of that hurry-up drive came when Sanchez stepped up in the pocket, ran right and lofted the ball down the field to Matthews for a 40-yard completion to the Packers' 15-yard-line. However, the offense was unable to punch the ball into the end zone.
The Eagles' pass rush, which was so effective last Monday night against Carolina, has failed to make much of an impact. Rodgers has been sacked once (by Vinny Curry), but has been generally unaffected. At the close of the half, the Packers quarterback is 18—of-25 for 279 yards, two touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 135.2.
On the other side of the ball, the Eagles have needed to be perfect and have fallen short of that benchmark. The lone trip into the red zone ended with a field goal instead of a touchdown and the inability to finish drives, despite moving the ball, has left them with the three halftime points.
LEADERS
Passing
Mark Sanchez – 10-of-16 for 148 yards and a 92.7 quarterback rating
Aaron Rodgers – 18-of-25 for 279 yards, two touchdowns and a 135.2 quarterback rating
Rushing
LeSean McCoy – 11 carries for 34 yards and one catch for 18 yards
Darren Sproles – Two carries for 21 yards and two catches for 24 yards
Eddie Lacy – Seven carries for 21 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 13 yards
Receiving
Jeremy Maclin – Two catches for 24 yards
Jordan Matthews – Two catches for 45 yards
Randall Cobb – Eight catches for 97 yards
Jordy Nelson – Four catches for 109 yards and a touchdown
