Eagles-Packers: The pick

This is a rare chance for the Eagles to win a game everyone circled as a loss on the schedule going into the season. But the Packers still have the better team, they just might not have the better quarterback, with Aaron Rodgers out. That's assuming the Eagles are led by Oakland or Tampa Nick Foles, and not Dallas Nick Foles.

Mike McCarthy is a smart coach who is capable of crafting a game plan that will allow journeyman Seneca Wallace to succeed. McCarthy faced a similar situation 3 years ago after a Rodgers injury; the Pack looked dreadful the rest of that game, losing, 7-3, to the Lions, but backup Matt Flynn was a different guy with a week to prepare, throwing for three touchdowns in the next game, a 31-27 loss to the Patriots.

I think Flynn in 2010 might have been a better quarterback than Wallace in 2013. I also want to see how Green Bay manages its defensive line against Chip Kelly's hurryup - the Packers have the second-ranked run defense because they like to bring in a bunch of earth-movers on running downs. It'll be interesting to see what happens if the Eagles can trap Green Bay's nickel personnel out there, or maybe even better, keep the big boys on the field for an entire long series.

We really have no idea what Foles will do, or what Wallace will do, for that matter. But last week earned the Birds a little trust here. Just a little.

- Les Bowen