McCarthy ‘optimistic’ on LB Jake Ryan

“I’m going to embrace it”, Smallwood said. “So we really had to be creative with some of our concepts and putting guys in spots and obviously throwing a little bit more than we have in the past”.

The bottom line, Schwartz insists, is that despite quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ numbers being down, “he’s one of the best play-action quarterbacks in the NFL”.

The Packers’ run defense has allowed 305 yards and four touchdowns on 61 attempts (5.0 yards per carry) in the team’s last two losses, almost half of which came off a 75-yard touchdown by DeMarco Murray in Tennessee and Rob Kelley’s 66-yard gain a week ago in Washington.

Green Bay, however, is two games back in the Wild Card hunt, and unless the Packers pull it together very soon, they will miss the playoffs.

While the Eagles’ depth along their offensive line has held up this season, there will be yet another shuffle Monday night, as Allen Barbre is expected to slide over to RT in place of the injured Halapoulivaati Vaitai. After starting 0-4, the Lions are 6-1 since and have only given up an average of 19 points a game. They’ve outscored opponents 108-38 at the Linc. You come around that corner there, and you get a heck of a welcome by the Philadelphia fans. “I think we’re getting close on offense to where we want to be”. “We’ve just got to continue to work and plan”.

Monday night, the Eagles can all but put an end to that streak by beating the Packers on Monday Night Football.

“And so right now we’ve still got a chance, so there’s no need to look at what other teams are doing and who needs to do what”. When no one else around you is where they are supposed to be, it’s easy for safeties to get themselves out of position, but Clinton-Dix has remained disciplined the entire time, leads the team in picks, has forced a fumble, and while it would be overstating things to call him a stabilizing presence, at least someone has shown they belong.

NEW TARGET: Carson Wentz might have a familiar face for the first time this season. I played against him many times and I have a lot of respect for Dom as a football coach, as a defensive coordinator and as a person. It remains to be seen if Nelson Agholor will even be active on Monday night. Agholor has struggled and is coming off a bad performance at Seattle. No catches, costly drop and TD-erasing penalty in loss to Seahawks.

Lacy’s absence has turned the offense into a one-dimensional passing attack.

Coach Mike McCarthy said he was not sure what Ryan’s status was because Ryan had to attend to a personal matter Monday and hadn’t been re-evaluated. Like Schwartz mentioned, the difference that a raucous crowd can make was very evident in Seattle last week.

Ultimately, it was the development of Ryan, Martinez and Thomas that gave the Packers enough comfort to move Matthews back outside this season.

Last time met: The Packers jumped to a 30-3 lead in the first half and cruised to a 53-20 victory over the Eagles at Lambeau Field on November 16, 2014. Top corner Sam Shields hasn’t appeared in a game since the season opener and starter Damarious Randall has missed the last five games with a groin injury. Either Spriggs or Barclay has a tough assignment against Cox. “So we’ll see where Jake is”. By the end of last week’s game, Joe Thomas and Carl Bradford were playing inside linebacker. He’s just playing faster. But, yes, Clay’s an impact player at outside linebacker.

When presented with the natural, albeit delayed, follow-up question on Wednesday, Rodgers took it a step – or six – further. They’ll take a short flight to Cincinnati and a bus ride to Baltimore.

McKelvin participated fully in practice Friday.