Eagles-Packers: Monday Six Pack

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After being dominated on the road in Seattle, the Eagles return to home sweet home. Home has been a great place to be for the Eagles, who have four convincing wins at Lincoln Financial Field this season.

The Green Bay Packers come into Monday night's game a struggling team at 4-5. Despite having one of the top quarterbacks in the league in Aaron Rodgers, it's been a difficult and trying year for the Packers. 

Here are six players to watch in Eagles-Packers on Monday night.

Wendell Smallwood - With Ryan Mathews out, Smallwood is going to see an increased role. This is a huge opportunity for the fifth-round rookie. To this point in the season, Smallwood has averaged 4.4 yards per carry, but has just 57 attempts. This will be a good place to see where the rookie is in his development.

Aaron Rodgers - The numbers are pretty typical for Aaron Rodgers — 2,761 yards, 25 touchdowns, seven interceptions — but the record for the Packers doesn't come close to reflecting that. It's the Green Bay defense that is to blame for that — 31 points or more allowed in each of their last four games, all losses — but Rodgers is starting to show signs of frustration. It's not his play that has the Packers at 4-5 and given the Eagles defense of late, Rodgers still has the ability to carve them up.

Paul Turner - Eagles fans asked for it and now they're going to get it. Turner should see the field for the first time this season on Monday night. He won over fans with a strong preseason, but has been on the practice squad. With the way the Eagles have struggled at the wide receiver position, it doesn't matter who it is, a new face in the group can't hurt.

Jordy Nelson - Speaking of wide receivers, the Packers have some good ones. Nelson leads the way, though tied for receiving yards with Davante Adams at 663, he leads the way in touchdowns with nine and has been targeted 16 more times. Between Nelson, Adams and Randall Cobb, this could be a night to forget for the Eagles secondary.

Fletcher Cox - To this point in the season, Cox has been a disappointment in many ways. He came out of the gate strong, but is stuck on four sacks and has just 19 tackles on the season. Teams are obviously focusing in on Cox when it comes to blocking the defensive line, but the Eagles could use a big play or two from No. 91 to show that the former first-round pick is snapping out of a slump.

Nick Perry - One of the bright spots in the Packers defense has been lineman Nick Perry. Perry has a team-high seven sacks on the season. If the Packers are going to stop Philadelphia's home dominance, it will take a much-improved game from the Green Bay defense and Perry can certainly be a focal point if he gets to Carson Wentz enough times.

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