Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles 2016: Betting Odds, Early Preview, Team News For Week 12 Monday Night Football Matchup

Facing a massive hole after dropping four straight and five of their last six games, the Green Bay Packers (4-6) will try to salvage their postseason hopes in what’s been an injury-riddled and trying season when they face the similarly plodding Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) in Week 12 Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Packers fell another game below .500 after losing 42-24 to Washington on Sunday night, and presently sit two games back of NFC North rivals Detroit and Minnesota and seven spots behind the final conference wild-card spot.

With six games remaining, three away and three back at Lambeau Field, Green Bay will likely have to win out and get some losses from their division and conference foes in order to keep its streak of seven-straight postseason appearances alive. Should they fail, it would be the first time since 2008 that the Packers would sit out the postseason under All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers watch.

Rodgers has taken some heat for the Packers woes, but injuries to the offensive line and the secondary have left the team ripe for mishaps and poor stretches of play. Against Washington, the Packers missed starters like center/guard JC Tretter (knee), guard T.J. Lang (foot), and are still heavily depleted in the defensive backfield. All of which led to Rodgers taking two sacks and another five hits and Washington notching 515 total offensive yards, including two touchdown passes of 44 and 70 yards.

The loss to Washington further hampered Green Bay’s secondary. Even before, the Packers were missing cornerbacks Sam Shields (concussion) and Damarious Randall (groin), and then also lost corner Demetri Goodson to a left knee injury and safety Kentrell Brice (back) against the Washington Redskins. Back-up right guard Don Barclay (shoulder) also went down in Week 11.

In turn, the Packers shaken defense could allow Philadelphia to rediscover its form from the start of the season. The Eagles won three straight behind quarterback Carson Wentz and a surprising defense, but have since gone 2-5 and most recently slipped to Seattle 26-15 on Sunday.

Wentz, facing the Seahawks star-laden secondary, went 23-for-45 for 218 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions for his third multi-pick game of the season. The rookie has thrown seven interceptions on the season, which ties him with five others for 14th.

While turnovers are usually quite costly and put more pressure on the defense, the Eagles continued to struggle against the run. Philadelphia surrendered 152 rushing yards and a touchdown to Seattle and now rank No. 19 in the league with 105.7 yards allowed per game.

On the flipside the running game has played a major role in the Eagles offense this season but, like the Packers, they too endured injuries in Week 11. Philadelphia saw running backs Ryan Mathews (knee) and Darren Sproles (ribs) leave the game before halftime, each a significant blow to the NFL’s No. 6 rushing attack.

Eagles first-year head coach Doug Pederson announced neither Sproles nor Mathews would practice on Wednesday, an update from two days ago when he said Mathews was day-to-day and Sproles might be able to face the Packers.

Betting Odds: Philadelphia -4 via Sportsbook.ag

Over/Under: 48 points