Green Bay is going to be a tough assignment for the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense, and Vic Fangio acknowledged as much when he and the Eagles' coordinators met the media this week at the NovaCare Complex.

"They are running the ball very, very well, and they have their play pass game off of that," Fangio said. "They are a big-play team. They get a lot of explosives because of the quality of their running game. And it's a really good offense. They do a good job calling it. They keep you off balance. Really good."

Philadelphia, of course, played Green Bay in Week 1 back in September in Brazil and prevailed, 34-29. Both teams have matured since then, said Fangio, so there are going to be plenty of differences in this NFC Wild Card Playoff matchup at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday (4:30 PM, FOX).

The Eagles have been outstanding this season, jelling as a unit, and they will have to be at their best against quarterback Jordan Love, running back Josh Jacobs, a strong offensive line, and a cadre of very good receivers, even with the Packers playing without deep ball threat Christian Watson, out with a knee injury.

On Love, Fangio praised the young quarterback's all-around skills: "He's got a big arm. He can throw it to all parts of the field with accuracy and touch. He's got good movement in the pocket. He's elusive. And he really fits their offense. That offense needs a guy that can throw it down the field. He can do that. They need a guy that can scramble a little bit and be elusive. He can do that. He's a perfect fit for their offense."

Green Bay's running game is led by Jacobs, who ran for 1,329 yards and scored 15 touchdowns this season. But it isn't just Jacobs, said Fangio.

"They have got a really good line to begin with. I think their five o-linemen have been in there for every play I think, No. 1," Fangio said. "No. 2, they have a great back. Jacobs has had as good a year as anybody, and he's hard to tackle. Runs physical.

"And they have the play pass game off of it. So, they have really good big-play receivers that you're always worried about, and the combination of them being able to throw it down the field and run it is a tough combination."

Kellen Moore: Offense looks to build on a strong regular season

It seems like forever ago when the Eagles opened the regular season in Brazil, so there is only so much to glean from that game for the offense, which produced 410 total net yards after starting slowly with two giveaways (three in game).

Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore knows that.

"Long time ago, first. I think both teams evolved, certainly, when you play a full season. That's the first one, and now we're into the playoffs. So, a lot has happened since then," he said. "So, it's something you take account for as far as we're both on the field at the same time, but a lot of things have changed. Really competitive game. They did a phenomenal job. They created turnovers. They did a really good job. We were fortunate to come out of that thing with a win. There's a lot of good things that came out of it."

Green Bay is ranked in the top 10 in run defense, is outstanding on third downs, and is among the best teams in the NFL at taking the football away. As he has watched the Packers "evolve" during the season, Moore has been impressed.

"These guys are doing an excellent job. They are top in a lot of categories. They are doing excellent on third downs. They are keeping the ball in front of them. They are doing a really good job from that standpoint. They are doing some good stuff in the run game to kind of stress you a little bit," he said. "I think they found a really good formula. You can tell they are playing fast. They are playing confident. Their guys are all tied together. You don't see a bunch of mistakes. It just, you know, you can feel it's a really well-coached team."

Michael Clay: Green Bay is dangerous in the return game

Keisean Nixon is a threat, averaging 12 yards per punt return and more than 29 yards per kickoff return. Michael Clay's coverage teams are on high alert for Sunday.

"Elite speed. Great vision. It's a little bit similar to (Cowboys WR/KR/PR KaVontae) Turpin. If you look at his kickoff returns, he kind of lulls you to sleep in that first 10 to 12 yards. It looks like he's kind of jogging and then he hits that burst," Clay said. "So, for us, we have to really minimize the space he has in the running lanes, get off blocks. Great block destruction and come to the party right there, like we did on the one with Turpin that he got tackled at the 26. You know, being able to eliminate those big spaces right there.

"But he is a fantastic kickoff return guy. I think he's a two-time All-Pro kickoff returner. But he lulls you to sleep and he has that burst, and if you get out-leveraged, we tell the guys, 'If you're head up, you're pretty much out of position.' So, we don't want to get head up. We want to keep this leveraged out and get off blocks and make a secure tackle with him."

As for the Eagles and their kicking game, Clay knows the potential is there for tough weather, and that's just the way it is. Wintertime in South Philadelphia can be very challenging. Clay is glad that he has an experienced placekicker in Jake Elliott and a strong punter in Braden Mann on his side.

 "I think Jake, being around him so much and personally just talking with him, I think his confidence is still very, very high in what he's doing," Clay said. "Obviously, he missed that 39-yarder off the left hash right there (on Sunday in the wind against the Giants), and he thought the wind was going to play a little bit more of a factor on the ball. But he struck the ball well in terms of that, and you know, he goes back and he's always going to be his hardest critic going forward. But nice for him to come back and hit those two. They were shorter field goals, but it's also nice to see the ball go through the net right there.

"So, he's been striking the ball well. It's not like the ball has been fluttering or barely getting there. It's one of those things where we have to keep the confidence that he has and that we have in him, because going forward, we know it's no longer the regular season. All the points matter for us to advance in this situation in the postseason."