Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles NFC Wild Card Weekend Prediction

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles NFC Wild Card Weekend Prediction: The Eagles only lost twice when Michael Vick started and finished a game this season. He hasn’t been as stellar lately as he was most of the season, but even when he’s been a little bit off, he’s looked nothing short of heroic. That amazing comeback against the New York Giants was a game where Vick put the Eagles right on his back. Vick has been better this season than any other year in his pre-prison career – and that truly is impressive.

The Packers have looked equally great at times. They straight crushed the Giants two weeks ago in what was essentially a do or die game for both teams. The Packers do’d, the Giants died. Green Bay then won an ugly defensive battle against the Bears in another playoff game last week. Needless to say, they are well tested.

Both teams have great quarterbacks, as Rodgers has blossomed into one of the truly great passers in our league. Vick is just amazing. Both have running games that don’t play too huge of a role, though the Eagles are much better with LeSean McCoy (as a runner and receiver) than the Packers are with Brandon Jackson. Defensively, I give the Packers the nod, and statistics do as well. Green Bay gives up 8.5 less points per game than Philly, and they give up fewer yards. But I don’t think pass-rushing defenses can play against Vick the same way they play everyone else. If the Packers rush their base package and drop their linebackers back, Vick will get big yards running the football. Will the Packers blitz like the Vikings and Cowboys did? It worked for them, but then Green Bay is playing out of their game.

This game is very close to even, for me – but I give the Eagles a home-field advantage, and the “Mike Vick Advantage” also puts me over the top. It’s only a field goal they must cover to win, and that 2.5 has never persuaded me one way or another. But there’s no doubt, this game could come down to a big play on either side of the ball, and both teams have the roster to make those kinds of plays.

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5)