GREEN BAY, Wis (WFRV) - As the Green Bay Packers prepare for their Wild Card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, excitement is building both on the field and off.
Optimistic and diehard fans gathered at Austin Straubel Airport to send their beloved Packers to Philadelphia for Sunday afternoon's playoff game.
Joe Westphal of Winneconne believes the Packers have a legitimate shot at victory.
“I think they have a chance as long as everyone is healthy and Jordan Love's arm is feeling good,” he said. “They have shown they can play with anybody, so they have a chance as long as they stick to their fundamentals, do the basics, and execute. They have a chance to win.”
While the Packers’ path to the playoffs has been marked by ups and downs, Westphal sees promising growth in the young team.
“I think they had a great season. I think a couple of free-agent additions have helped them out, and the defense has been playing well. I've seen growth in the young guys; it's a young team. I think there's going to be a lot of people underestimating them,” he added.
Fans are also confident in their team’s resilience. Nick Curran from Gresham noted that the Packers’ talent gives them a strong chance against the Eagles.
“I think they got a good matchup this weekend,” he said. “The Packers have a lot of talent, the Eagles are a tough team, but I do think they can beat them.”
The Packers will face off against a passionate Eagles fan base in Philadelphia, a team that handed them their first loss of the season in Brazil.
The Packers are 1-2 all-time against the Eagles in the postseason, with their most recent playoff meeting coming in 2010, where Green Bay came out on top 21-16 en route to winning Super Bowl XLV.
As the Packers hit the road for this highly anticipated Wild Card matchup, fans like Westphal and Curran expressed their confidence that their team can rise to the occasion, even in a tough road atmosphere.
“That’s a passionate fan base,” Westphal noted. “It’s going to be intimidating, but these guys are professionals, and as long as they maintain their focus and stick to their game plan, I think they can beat them.”
With their eyes set on revenge and playoff success, the Packers are ready for a challenge that could take them all the way to the top. The Packers and Eagles begin their playoff journeys at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday from Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.