Dope Sheet: Packers open postseason in Philadelphia

The Green Bay Packers travel east to take on the Philadephia Eagles in the Wild Card Playoff.

• It is a rematch of the season opener that saw the Packers and Eagles play in Brazil. It is the sixth time (2002, Atlanta Falcons / 2010, Philadelphia / 2012 and 2013, San Francisco 49ers / 2014, Seattle Seahawks) that Green Bay will face the team they opened the regular season against in the playoffs.
• This will be the fourth postseason meeting between Green Bay and Philadelphia, with the Eagles holding a 2-1 (.667) advantage (1960, 2003, 2010). The previous three postseason matchups were all played in Philadelphia and decided by four points, three points (OT) and five points.
• The Packers lead the regular-season series 27-17 (.614).
• This will be just the second time that the Packers have faced a team in the playoffs that won 14-plus games in the regular season (2001 St. Louis Rams went 14-2).
• Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the Packers are the second-youngest team (25.72) by weighted age to make the playoffs over the last 45 seasons (1980-2024), behind the 2023 Packers (25.58).
• The Packers have won their last three Wild Card road games (Philadelphia in 2010, Washington in 2015 and Dallas in 2023), tied with the Ravens for the longest road Wild Card streak over that span.
• The Packers are 11-5 (.688) in the Wild Card Playoffs, including a 4-2 (.667) mark on the road.
• S Xavier McKinney has played against the Eagles six times (including the postseason), posting 42 tackles (24 solo), seven passes defensed, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and four interceptions, including three in the last two games he has played against Philadelphia.
• LB Rashan Gary has recorded 2.5 sacks, two tackles for a loss and four QB hits in his last two games against the Eagles.
• RB Josh Jacobs has 27 touches for 172 yards (6.4 avg.) with a rushing TD in two games against Philadelphia.
• WR Jayden Reed hauled in four passes for 138 yards (34.5 avg.) and a TD in the Week 1 game against the Eagles, including a career-long 70-yard TD catch.

WITH THE CALL

FOX Sports, now in its 31st season as an NFL network television partner, will broadcast the game.

• Play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt joins analyst Tom Brady and sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
• All Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which is made up of 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and North and South Dakota. 97.3 The Game – WRNW-Milwaukee is in its third season as the flagship station of the Packers Radio Network. For a map and full listing of radio affiliates, go to packers.com/video/radio-network. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst), and three-time Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn (sideline reporter) call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 30th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 26th season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
• The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 82 or 226 or through the app (Packers Radio Network feed).
• Westwood One will be broadcasting on radio to a national audience with Tom McCarthy (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst) and Amber Theoharis (sideline) on the call and Scott Graham hosting pregame and halftime shows.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

Packers at Eagles:

• All-time, regular season: 27-17
• All-time, postseason: 1-2 (1-2 at Philadelphia)
• All-time, at Philadelphia (regular season): 9-11
• Streaks: Green Bay has won three of the last four games played in Philadelphia (including playoffs).
• Last meeting, regular season: Sept. 6, 2024, Corinthians Arena (São Paulo), Eagles won, 34-29

COACHES CAPSULES

• Matt LaFleur: 67-33-0, .670; (3-4 postseason); 6th NFL season
• Nick Sirianni: 48-20-0, .706; (2-3 postseason); 4th NFL season
• Head to Head: LaFleur 0-2 vs. Sirianni
• vs. Opponent: LaFleur 1-3 vs. Eagles; Sirianni 2-0 vs. Packers

MATT LaFLEUR…In his sixth season as the Packers' 15th head coach.

• Is in his 16th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
• In his first six seasons leading the Packers, has authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 67 wins are the second most in league history by a head coach in his first six seasons in the NFL, trailing only George Seifert (75 in 1989-94).
• Became the first coach in NFL history to post 13-plus wins in three straight seasons and his 39 wins from 2019-21 passed Seifert (38) for the most wins by an NFL head coach in his first three seasons in the league (Elias). His 39 wins are also tied for the second most by a coach over any three-season span in league history, trailing only Andy Reid's 40 wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020-22 and Mike Ditka's 40 wins with the Chicago Bears from 1985-87 (Elias).
• In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).

NICK SIRIANNI…In his fourth season as the Eagles' 24th head coach.

• Is in his 16th season as an NFL coach, having previously spent time as the offensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts (2018-20), as a wide receivers (2016-17), quarterbacks (2014-15) and offensive quality control coach with the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and as a wide receivers (2012) and offensive quality control coach (2009-11) with the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Is the franchise's only head coach to make the playoffs in each of his first four seasons (2021-24). Became the third head coach in team history to win two division titles in their first four seasons (2022, '24), joining Doug Pederson (2017, '19) and Andy Reid (2001-02).
• Has produced the second-most regular-season wins by an NFL head coach in their first four seasons, trailing only Seifert (52-12, .813).
• Became just the second head coach in NFL history to win 14-plus games twice in their first four seasons, joining Seifert (1989, '90, '92).

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE PACKERS-EAGLES SERIES

• Green Bay won the first nine games played against Philadelphia and 16 of 17 regular-season contests from 1933-70.
• The Eagles beat the Packers, 17-13, in the 1960 NFL Championship, the first postseason meeting between these teams, handing Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi his only postseason defeat.
• The Packers defeated the Eagles twice during the 2010 season on their way to winning Super Bowl XLV. Green Bay defeated Philadelphia, 27-20, in the season opener and again, 21-16, in the NFC Wild Card.
• Green Bay and Philadelphia have split the last six regular-season contests (2016-24). The Packers have won three of the last four games played at Lincoln Financial Field (including playoffs).

NOTABLE CONNECTIONS

Packers K Brandon McManus was born in Philadelphia, attended North Penn High School (Lansdale, Pa.), and played collegiately at Temple (2009-12)…Packers DL Rashan Gary attended Paramus (N.J.) Catholic High School…Packers WR Bo Melton is from Egg Harbor City, N.J., attended Cedar Creek High School and played collegiately at Rutgers…Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was born in Montvale, N.J., and coached at Rutgers in 2011…Packers LBs/running game coordinator Anthony Campanile is from Fair Lawn, N.J., played (2002-04) and coached (2005, 2012-15) at Rutgers, and also coached high school football at Fair Lawn (2006) and Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) (2007-11)…Packers RBs coach Ben Sirmans was born in East Orange, N.J. …Packers T Rasheed Walker played at Penn State (2018-21)…Packers T Andre Dillard was drafted by Philadelphia in the first round (No. 22 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft and played for the Eagles for three seasons (2019, '21-22)…Packers LB Eric Wilson played for the Eagles during the 2021 season…Packers special teams coordinator/assistant head coach Rich Bisaccia signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL in 1983…Eagles LB Zack Baun attended Brown Deer (Wis.) High School and played at the University of Wisconsin (2016-19)…Eagles head coach quality control Tyler Yelk is from Arlington, Wis. …Eagles LB Oren Burks was drafted by Green Bay in the third round (No. 88 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft and played four seasons (2018-21) for the Packers…Eagles LS Rick Lovato appeared in two regular-season and two postseason games for the Packers in 2015…Eagles passing game coordinator/DBs coach Christian Parker was a defensive quality control coach for the Packers in 2019-20…Eagles VP of player personnel Charles Walls worked in the Packers' personnel department for seven seasons (2013-19)…Packers S Xavier McKinney and Eagles RB Saquon Barkley were teammates with the N.Y. Giants from 2020-23…Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Packers assistant special teams coach Byron Storer were on the Chargers' staff together in 2013…Hafley (2016-18), Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich (2017-18), assistant DL coach Vince Oghobaase (2016-18) and strength and conditioning coordinator Aaron Hill (2019-23) coached with Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay (2016-20) in San Francisco…Eagles CBs coach Roy Anderson was also on the 49ers' staff in 2016 with Hafley, Oghobaase and Clay…Campanile, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and safeties coach Joe Kasper coached together in Miami in 2023…Fangio also coached with Packers TEs coach John Dunn in Chicago in 2016-17…Fangio was the head coach for Denver when McManus played for the Broncos in 2019-21…Bisaccia and Eagles TEs coach Jason Michael were on the Chargers' staff together in 2011-12…Eagles OC Kellen Moore and Packers special teams quality control coach Kyle Wilber were teammates for the Cowboys while Bisaccia and Eagles offensive assistant Kyle Valero were on the Dallas staff in 2014-17…Bisaccia, Storer and Packers passing game coordinator (defense) Derrick Ansley were on the Raiders' staff with Eagles RBs/assistant head coach Jemal Singleton in 2018…Singleton and Packers strength and conditioning assistant Todd Hunt were part of the Bengals' staff together in 2019-20…Packers QBs coach Tom Clements coached quarterbacks for the Saints from 1997-99 when Eagles QBs coach Doug Nussmeier played quarterback for New Orleans…Ansley and Nussmeier were on the Chargers' staff together in 2023…Packers passing game coordinator Jason Vrable and Eagles passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo were both assistants for the N.Y. Jets from 2015-16…Sirmans and Eagles run game coordinator/OL were on Michigan State's coaching staff together in 2005-06…Ansley was on the staff at Alabama in 2016-17 when Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and WR Devonta Smith played for the Crimson Tide…Packers OL coach Luke Butkus and Eagles WR coach Aaron Moorehead were teammates at Illinois from 1999-2001…Packers defensive assistant Sean Duggan was on the defensive staff at Massachusetts in 2018 when Eagles CB Isaiah Rodgers played for the Minutemen…Former college teammates include: Jacobs, McKinney, Hurts, Smith and G Landon Dickerson (Alabama); Packers DL T.J. Slaton, Eagles S C.J. Gardner-Johnson and T Fred Johnson (Florida); Packers LB Quay Walker, DL Devonte Wyatt, CB Eric Stokes, S Javon Bullard, TE John FitzPatrick, DL Brenton Cox Jr., Eagles DT Jalen Carter, DT Jordan Davis, LB Nakobe Dean, CB Kelee Ringo and OLB Nolan Smith (Georgia); Packers DL Lukas Van Ness and Eagles DB Cooper DeJean (Iowa); Packers CB Carrington Valentine and Eagles T/G Darian Kinnard (Kentucky); Packers T Rasheed Walker and Eagles WR Jahan Dotson (Penn State); Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper and Eagles WR Ainias Smith (Texas A&M).