Eagles vs. Packers 2014: 3 questions that will decide the game

The Philadelphia Eagles own one of the league's best records but have consistently allowed big plays in the secondary and face an uncertain offensive future under Mark Sanchez. The Green Bay Packers have pulled back into the NFC North race after early-season struggles but are limited by inconsistent play and a porous run defense. So both have plenty of questions to answer when they face off against each other on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.

Coming into their game against the Chicago Bears, the Packers had one of the worst run defenses in the league. Facing the specter of Matt Forte and desperate for an answer, defensive coordinator Dom Capers made the unorthodox decision to slide Clay Matthews from his traditional outside linebacker position -- where he's been one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the game -- to an inside spot. The move paid off: Matthews was wrecking ball on the interior and the Bears gained just 55 yards on the ground.

Philly's ground game should give us the answer. Though LeSean McCoy has been surprisingly inconsistent this season, he and Darren Sproles still form one of the most dynamic and dangerous rushing attacks in the league. Chip Kelly's offense gets them in space with the ball, which will put heavy pressure on the Packers to maintain discipline and make sure tackles.

The Eagles' defense has allowed 22 completions of 25 yards or longer this season, the fourth-worst total in the league. That's an alarming stat for a group about to face a Packers offense that just shredded the Bears with their deep passing attack last Sunday. Aaron Rodgers connected on five separate completions of at least 20 yards by halftime, including touchdowns of 73, 56 and 40 yards. Two of those scores went to Jordy Nelson, who leads the league in long touchdown receptions.

The impetus for stopping those big plays will fall on Eagles safeties Nate Allen and Malcolm Jenkins. While the Eagles' pass defense numbers haven't been pretty, the numbers belie how improved the team's safety play has been in 2014. Jenkins -- who came over in free agency from the New Orleans Saints -- has been a revelation, grading out at Pro Football Focus as one of the top five cover safeties in the NFL.

The Eagles are capable of playing solid coverage and Rodgers' receivers certainly won't be comically open like they were against the Bears, but it's not like he needs much room to work. Rodgers has been surgical with his deep ball this season, completing 56.5 percent of his shots at least 20 yards downfield (only Drew Brees has a higher percentage). Making matters even more difficult for Philly, Rodgers is playing at home, where he's thrown a ridiculous 26 touchdowns and zero picks in his last 10 games.

This may be the most captivating question in the league right now. Long the literal butt of the league's biggest joke, Sanchez has the opportunity to wipe of the stench of his final years in New York and prove that given a stable situation and capable offense, he can succeed as an NFL quarterback. He got off on the right foot on Monday night against the Carolina Panthers, throwing for 332 yards, two touchdowns and no picks in his first start as an Eagle.

The Packers -- who boast a top-10 pass defense and stock their secondary with playmakers like Tramon Williams, Sam Shields and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix -- should provide a solid measuring stick. The Sanchez question won't be answered with certainty after this weekend, but a big day against the Packers will go a long way in convincing people that he's more than just a punch line.