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Eagles Not Taking Struggling Packers Lightly

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- These are not your father's Green Bay Packers and certainly not your grandfather's from the Lombardi days.

This proud franchise was expected to be back in contention in the NFC this season, but Green Bay is 4-6 and heading to Philadelphia on playoff life support. The Packers have been decimated by injuries on defense and while Aaron Rodgers appears to be getting back to his old form, his struggles early in the season made the difference in several close contests. It would seem the Eagles will have the perfect opportunity to get back on the winning track at home Monday night, but coach Doug Pederson believes the Packers are still a dangerous opponent.

"Injury does play a factor with teams that are struggling," said Pederson. "But listen, Green Bay is still an explosive team. Aaron Rodgers is still completing over 60 percent of his throws. He's having a good year. They're doing some things right there, too."

The Eagles defense is well aware Rodgers can take over any game despite his struggles in 2016. Fletcher Cox and the rest of the defenders are only concerned with the potent Aaron Rodgers they see on film and Cox believes Rodgers is still on of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

"He'll still make plays," Cox said. "He'll still make plays with his feet. He'll still make those throws that make you open your eyes and say 'wow'. He's still good throwing on the run and they're still a really good football team."

The Eagles are also in a position where another loss could be damaging to their playoff hopes. At 5-5, a win over Green Bay would put the Eagles back in the middle of the hunt. Linebacker Jordan Hicks believes the Eagles must not look too far ahead with six games remaining.

"I think the way you have to approach it is to see the light at the end of the tunnel and understand that it's there," said Hicks. "But in no way, shape or form should we look ahead. We need to look at the task in front of us and we've got to handle our business each and every week."

For the Eagles, the post-season push starts with Green Bay on Monday night. It is clear there will not be a problem of overconfidence against the struggling Packers.

"I don't even look at the struggles," Cox said. "I think they're a really good football team. It shows on tape. The games they've lost are really close games. Green Bay is still a really good football team."

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