PHILADELPHIA − Darius Slay has played 15 games against the Packers in his NFL career, more than any other team he has played against.
But there’s still one thing he has never done against Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers: get an interception.
Slay would like to change that, of course, and he’ll have a special place for the ball, along with balls he intercepted off Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
“I try to get a pick ball and put it on my Mount Rushmore, my pick-ball collection,” Slay said. “Only person I haven’t got is (Rodgers). He’s the only I’m missing. I hope he blesses me with one, but it’s going to be hard. I know how he is, but if I do, he’s going on my Mount Rushmore.”
Slay does have one interception against the Packers in his career, on Dec. 31, 2017, but it came against Brett Hundley.
The Eagles, meanwhile, are hoping to improve to 10-1 for the fifth time in team history. The other four times, the Eagles either won a championship (1949, 2017) or played for one (1980, 2004).
Slay, with three interceptions, is a big part of that. And he knows he’ll have a tough task against Rodgers, who has the highest and second highest passer rating for a single season in NFL history at 122.5 in 2011 and 121.5 in 2019.
“I’ve seen him for so long, but it’s still new because he does something new and special every year,” Slay said.
Slay should know. From 2013-19, Slay was on the Detroit Lions, going against the Packers twice each season as NFC North rivals.
“He’s an animal, man,” Slay added. “Besides Super Bowls, he’s probably one of the greatest ever at the quarterback position.”
Eagles sneak fails (twice), starter injured
The Eagles had faced a 3rd-and-1 at their 37 late in the first quarter, and they went to their customary quarterback sneak. It didn’t work, setting up 4th-and-1. The Eagles went for it on fourth down. The snap was fumbled. Miles Sanders recovered, but he was short of the first-down marker.
The Packers took over at the Eagles’ 37 and scored, taking a 14-13 lead. On that drive, Eagles safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson suffered a rib injury. He was helped off the field and onto a cart.
The Eagles regained the lead 20-14 on the next possession as Hurts’ 42-yard run brought the Eagles to the Packers’ 3. Hurts had 102 yards rushing on 6 carries in the first quarter.
Delaware native leaves with injury
Darnell Savage’s homecoming lasted two plays. The Packers safety who starred at Caravel Academy left the game on the third play with a foot injury. Savage had come up to tackle Jalen Hurts, who decided to run. Hurts ended up gaining 24 yards on the play.
3 things I’m watching
- Miles to run: The best way to stop the Packers’ offense is to keep them off the field. For the Eagles, that means taking advantage of the Packers’ run defense, which ranks 24th in the NFL, allowing an average of 135 yards per game on the ground. Miles Sanders, with 757 yards rushing in 10 games, has already surpassed by 3 yards his total from last season in 12 games. He’s 110 yards short of tying his career high for a season. If he’s on, that could happen Sunday night.
- Another record for Kelce: By taking the field, center Jason Kelce will set an Eagles’ record for most games played by an offensive lineman in team history. Kelce has played in 169 games since he was the team’s sixth-round pick in 2011, tying the record set by Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik, who played from 1949-62.
- Sacking the Pack: Sure, the Eagles’ new defensive line additions in Linval Joseph, Ndamukong Suh and Robert Quinn have gotten most of the attention lately. But quietly, Haason Reddick (7.5 sacks) and Javon Hargrave (7 sacks) have put together strong seasons. They are the first Eagles’ duo to have at least 7 sacks each through the first 10 games since 1991 when Reggie White (8) and Clyde Simmons (9) did it in 1991.
Prediction: Eagles 25, Packers 21.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
