The Eagles will travel to Lambeau Field for the second time in as many seasons to take on the Green Bay Packers in 2014. The Eagles won last year's matchup between these two teams in 2013, 27-13, capped by a brilliant drive that consumed the final nine-plus minutes of the fourth quarter. Of course, the Packers were without franchise cornerstone Aaron Rodgers in that game, instead relying on Seneca Wallace and Scott Tolzien under center.
Rodgers returned from a broken collarbone in Week 17 of the 2013 season for the NFC North championship game against the Chicago Bears and helped lead the Packers to victory, thanks to a 48-yard touchdown strike to Randall Cobb on fourth down with under 40 seconds left. At 8-7-1, the Packers hosted the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau but lost a heartbreaker, 23-20, on a field goal as time expired.
The Packers stuck to their modus operandi of re-signing their own players prior to free agency – cornerback Sam Shields to a four-year deal, defensive lineman B.J. Raji to a one-year deal, outside linebacker Mike Neal to a two-year deal, running back James Starks to a two-year deal and tight end Andrew Quarless to a two-year deal – but made one significant splash, bringing in defensive end Julius Peppers, who was cut by the rival Bears. Peppers is 34 years old and had a down season in 2013, like the entire Bears defense, but is determined to prove he still has juice left in the tank.
The defense still has Clay Matthews coming off the edge, and Andy Mulumba will get a chance to prove his worth as a pass rusher after coming on late in his rookie season. A year after Packers safeties recorded zero interceptions, Green Bay used its first-round pick on Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
Rodgers lost center Evan Dietrich-Smith, wide receiver James Jones and tight end Jermichael Finley, but he still has his most important offensive weapons in Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Eddie Lacy. With its second-round pick in this year's draft, Green Bay added another pass catcher for Rodgers in receiver Davante Adams. The Packers, if healthy, figure to be the favorites in the NFC North once again.
