Of all the games on the slate this NFL weekend few have the intrigue of the Packers and Eagles at Lambeau Field Sunday. The Eagles were a playoff team of a year ago but questions about their defense and the health of quarterback Donavon McNabb leave many wondering if they are ready to step up or step back. The Packers on the other hand, because of question marks at running back and offense in general are pretty resigned to the bottom of the division, if not the league.

And regardless of the preseason and last four or five games of last year, the Packers’ defense still has to prove itself. The defense gave up huge chunks of yardage last year and for much of the first half of the season couldn’t stop anybody. Only when the defense started to show some signs of life did the Packers start making progress under first-year coach Mike McCarthy. The first-string defense was dominant during the preseason and play like that is what will be needed until the Packers find an identity on offense.

In the Packers’ favor is the fact that the Philly defense is not all that strong and it is McNabb’s first game back from his season-ending knee injury last year. I also think the Packers are much more prepared to compete in this game than they were a year ago against the Chicago Bears. The schedule makers could have not have given the Packers a worse opponent to open McCarthy’s first year at the helm with a new scheme and a young team to boot. This year, judging from the preseason mostly, it appears the Packers first-stringers can play, but lack of depth at pretty much every positon on offense and linebacker on defense could be huge if the Packers suffer any early injuries. Key concerns are linebacker on defense and running back on offense.

I’m not ready to make my prediction yet, but I like the Packers’ chances.