Eagles vs. Packers Week 10: Three must-know storylines for 'Monday Night Football' showdown

Green Bay's 2024 season began and ended with losses to the Eagles -- first in Brazil and then in the playoffs in Philadelphia.

On Monday night, the Packers hope to get payback against a resurgent Philly team that could send them reeling with a second consecutive loss in front of the Lambeau Field faithful.

The Eagles also have some cause for vengeance, though. Over the offseason, the Packers were the team that proposed a rule to ban the tush push play nearly perfected by Philadelphia. The rule narrowly failed to pass, meaning the Eagles can continue to run it as much as they please.

All eyes will be glued to how any goal-to-go or short-yardage situations play out.

But beyond the storylines from last season and the offseason that followed, the prime-time affair already promises to be a knock-down, drag-out fight, with the NFC East and NFC North leaders through nine weeks knowing full well how important this result could be to playoff seeding.

Three must-know storylines

1) Hurts looks to keep rolling

There seemed to be endless consternation over Philadelphia's passing offense during the first six games of the season. Then came Jalen Hurts' explosions against the Vikings and Giants. He finished the Week 7 win over Minnesota with a perfect 158.3 passer rating and followed it up with a 141.5 rating versus Big Blue, trouncing his 100.2 mark through the previous six contests. Between Weeks 7-8, Hurts threw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns, just one fewer than he entered the Vikings game with, to bring his season total to 15 TDs compared to just one interception. He quieted the noise surrounding the usage of his top two targets, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, as they contributed 19 catches for 388 yards and three TDs -- and that's with Brown missing the game against New York due to a hamstring injury. Now, with Brown back, the question is whether Hurts and Co. can come out of their bye just as hot.

2) Can Love, Packers offense overcome Kraft's injury?

There aren't many tight ends in the league more important to their team's offense than Tucker Kraft, who tore his ACL in last week's shocking upset loss to the Panthers. Not only is he a tremendous blocker, whose absence could reduce the effectiveness of running back Josh Jacobs, but he also happens to be the most dangerous pass catcher on the Packers. A tone-setting yards-after-catch monster, Kraft leads the team in receiving yards (489) and receiving TDs (six). His 344 yards after catch -- on just 32 receptions -- trailed only Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, Ja'Marr Chase, Khalil Shakir and De'Von Achane at the time he was lost for the year. Jordan Love has hovered around top-10 quarterback play this season, but now he must take on the Eagles without his star TE. Luke Musgrave, a tight end from Kraft's same 2023 draft class, is the next man up at the position, but Love will also require more from his wideouts. That's especially true for Christian Watson, who has mostly served as a deep threat in two games back from injury and must get involved in more varied ways with several other WRs ailing (Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks and Savion Williams are all questionable). It's a testament to the Packers' offensive ceiling that they rank 11th in scoring despite maddening cold stretches, but it's going to be even harder to correct those inconsistencies sans Kraft.

3) Eagles defense underwent bye week makeover

Teams don't normally transform to the degree Philadelphia did at the trade deadline. The Eagles, who during last year's Super Bowl run sported the NFL's second-ranked scoring defense, were apparently none too pleased with a unit that ranked 19^th in points allowed at the season's halfway point. Therefore, general manager Howie Roseman worked his magic. He acquired cornerback Michael Carter II, who has played 65 games over five seasons for the Jets, on Oct. 29, and three days later traded the Ravens for two-time Pro Bowl corner Jaire Alexander. Then, on Nov. 3, he landed pass rusher Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins. Carter brings versatility, with the ability to play nickel and safety, to a group already highlighted by Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship, while Alexander becomes one of the more experienced, decorated backups a team could have to rotate into the lineup. They'll both likely need some time to fully acclimate, but Phillips could presumably hit the ground running on passing downs alongside fellow edge rushers Josh Uche and Jalyx Hunt. There's suddenly a plethora of big-name players available to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio following a Philly facelift over the Eagles' bye week.

Eagles' Week 10 injury report

Packers' Week 10 injury report