The Philadelphia Eagles outlasted the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night football by the score of 10-7. This was a very odd game. It looked like the Eagles were going to score on their opening drive and then Jalen Hurts fumbled the ball in the red zone. After that, both teams seemed to decide to be extremely conservative to avoid turning the ball over anymore, but Green Bay did turn it over twice. The weather was definitely a factor. This was the coldest game at this point in the season. It affected the way plays were called. Another confusing part of this game was the fact that AJ Brown only had two catches on three targets the entire game. He’s a very good receiver. I don’t know why Jalen Hurts is not throwing the ball to him more consistently.
At halftime, the game was 0-0. That had not happened on a Monday Night football matchup since 2009. I did not understand the last offensive play for the Eagles in this game. They were winning 10-7. With 23 seconds left and they decided to throw a go route to AJ Brown on fourth down instead of punting the ball either in the end zone or deep in Packers territory. Instead, this play did not succeed and gave the Packers field position and a chance to move into Eagles territory to tie the game at the buzzer. Fortunately, Green Bay couldn't make that field goal come to fruition.
If the Eagles want to be successful in their next game on Sunday night against the Detroit Lions at home, their offense is definitely going to have to be better. The key reason the Eagles won Monday's game was the great performance by the defense.
Even though the 76ers are 7-4 on the season, I’m worried about their future prospects because Joel Embiid is now having difficulty with his right knee. This is after having repaired his left knee. So something isn't right, putting his and the team’s future up in the air. Tyrese Maxey is playing great so far this season, but I don’t know how long he’s going to be able to keep up this level of play. It’s fitting that he is playing like Allen Iverson used to play in the early 2000s as the Sixers are highlighting the history of the 2000-01 Eastern Conference championship team the whole season. Another concern is that the team defense has been poor for most of the games, and for some reason, especially bad in the third quarter. They have to get their act together.
On the local side of sports, Cape football will have to play Sallies in the first round of the state football playoffs on Friday. Cape just barely made the playoffs with a 6-4 record. I hope Cape can pull off a huge upset, but it's unlikely. I hope they play their hearts out and at least make the game competitive right up to the end.
Congratulations goes out to the Cape field hockey team for making it the state finals yet again and playing great defense. The Vikings only allowed four goals the entire season, all to Smyrna, in the two overtime losses. So tough to lose the final 1-0 .
And last, but for sure not least, a huge congratulations to the Cape boys’ cross country team for winning the state championship. Well done, Cape!
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A 2002 Cape grad and 2007 UD grad, Lewes resident Sumner Spence is one of the Cape area's biggest sports fans. Although he’s used a wheelchair his entire life, he has lived vicariously through his sports-playing father, brother, and friends, who gave him his love of sports. He hopes to provide new and interesting perspectives on the sports stories and issues of the day. Email Sumner at sumspence@gmail.com.
