Eagles Get Ready For Rodgers-Less Packers
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Every football team catches good and bad breaks during the season. The Eagles are catching a very good one this week.
The Eagles will face the Green Bay Packers this Sunday and Green Bay Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not play in the game. Rodgers suffered a fractured collarbone during Green Bay's Monday night loss to Chicago, so Seneca Wallace will be under center for the Packers. Eagles Defensive Coordinator Bill Davis says the Packers won't change much even with Rodgers stuck on the sidelines on Sunday.
"The running backs are really playing well," said Davis. There's a lot of weapons on the field for them. The quarterback they put in there will distribute to the weapons and that's what we have to defend."
While the Eagles will likely talk about having to prepare the same way, the absence of Rodgers is a huge blow to the Packers. But even with Wallace under center, DeMeco Ryans says the Packers present a strong challenge with their rushing attack.
"We still have to look at the film and see what they did with Seneca in the game," Ryans said. "But we're all out with stopping the run game. They have two good backs who can run the ball, so we have to focus on stopping the run game first and foremost."
While the Packers will be missing their star quarterback, the Eagles are hoping Nick Foles will build on his spectacular performance in Oakland. Foles says he's looking forward to playing at historic Lambeau Field for the first time, but added it will be all business once the game gets underway.
"It'll be fun playing there," said Foles. "But when the game starts, you really zone out the stadium. It's the same field that we practice on. You just block everything out and you just play the game."
Foles' seven touchdown passes against Oakland have helped the second-year quarterback win plenty of praise in the locker room Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson says Foles has been impressive both on and off the field.
"He's able to stay around here and motivate guys," Jackson said. "He has that characteristic you want in a quarterback. I see a big change in him since last year."
Wide Receiver Riley Cooper did not practice on Tuesday because of a stomach illness.
