The Philadelphia Eagles started their regular season against the Green Bay Packers.

Now, the Eagles’ postseason journey begins with the same opponent.

The second-seeded Eagles (14-3) will host the seventh-seeded Packers (11-6) at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in an NFC Wild Card game at Lincoln Financial Field

As of Sunday night, the Eagles are 3.5-point favorites in the rematch, but the odds could change once Jalen Hurts is officially active.

The Eagles could have gotten the Washington Commanders, a matchup I would have probably liked a little better. The Eagles are better than Washington and should have swept them. With the game being in Philly, the Eagles would have most likely won. The Eagles can still beat the Green Bay, but it is not the easiest opponent.

A lot has changed since the Eagles’ 34-29 win over the Packers in September. For instance, the Eagles defense has profoundly improved and their offense found their identity.

“Both teams are different from that day until now, no doubt,” Nick Sirianni said after the Eagles beat the Giants on Sunday. “But you’ll use that, you’ll use everything. … They’ll use that, we’ll understand that. They’re a really good team, they’re really well-coached.”

Most of the team feels the same way.

“I feel like a lot of stuff has changed,” Eagles center Cam Jurgens said. “I feel like it’s been a year since we played them last … in Brazil, my God. Reset and get ready for this postseason.”

One major difference is the Packers lost their top cornerback in Jaire Alexander, who was placed on injury reserve Saturday. Without him, the Packers secondary may be weak.

Should the Eagles feature a strong pass attack against Green Bay? I mean, it worked against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hurts can get the job done with his arm, not just his legs. Saquon Barkley and the run game has been such a big part of the Eagles’ success this season, but I have a feeling they will need to rely on the passing game more in the playoffs. That’s not to say to completely abandon the run. That’s a major element with this team. But they also have to be prepared to mix in that passing attack.

Off that, Hurts may have some rust after not really playing for the last few weeks. That’s what worries me. I think it may take Hurts a few snaps to get up to game speed. Still, whether he has some rust or not, he is still a dynamic threat and a crucial part each week. But without Alexander, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert, who will be back, may have a great matchup.

The Packers’ will lean on Keisean Nixon and Corey Ballentine, a pair that have not been great lately. Green Bay will also look to Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes on the outside. But Hurts and the receivers could be in line for a big game.

Hopefully Hurts clears concussion protocol soon. But, hypothetically he doesn’t, Tanner McKee showed Sunday he deserves to be Hurts’ backup. McKee threw for 269 yards with two touchdowns, and mainly with backups. I thought McKee was a good quarterback in the preseason. He’s not Hurts, but he’s a quality backup, and he proved that in his first NFL start. But Hurts should be good to go as he’s “progressing through the protocol,” Sirianni said.

The biggest problem for Hurts will be Packers safety Xavier McKinney, but as long as Hurts keeps protecting the ball and offensive coordinator Kellen More accounts for McKinney in the game plan, the threat should be avoided.

Barkley will be well-rested after not playing against the Giants, so he potentially could run all over the Packers. Having him, along with a strong passing game against a depleted secondary, could spell trouble for Green Bay. Barkley definitely should be featured as much as possible Sunday. He hasn’t really been stopped yet, and I don’t see him being slowed down.

The Eagles offense should be electric, but should the defense be a concern?

Well, is Jordan Love healthy? Love hurt his throwing elbow Sunday and missed most of the Packers’ 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears. However, Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said Love will be ready for Sunday. It would be great for the Eagles if he isn’t 100%, though. Love is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFC. Him being banged up in any capacity could be the difference

In the season opener, Love went 17 for 34 with 260 passing yards, two TDs and an interception. Love finished the season ranked sixth in yards per attempt and 12th in passer rating. We saw last season how he elevated his game against the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs and, with another year under his belt, he is capable of doing that again.

But the Eagles defense has only allowed more than 23 points in one game since Week 4. This is a different unit. This team is very capable of stopping Love and the Packers offense.

Love will also likely be without starting wide receiver Christian Watson, who left Sunday’s game with a knee injury that required him to get carted off (see now why it was smart to sit Barkley?).

The Packers will still have Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed, both decent wide receivers, but not having Watson gives the Eagles defense a better matchup. Hopefully, Vic Fangio and his group can capitalize and make things difficult for Love.

“Everyone makes their adjustments throughout the season, tries to figure out who they are as a team, as a defense, as an offense,” said linebacker Zack Baun, who has been a big piece to the defensive puzzle this season. “You throw in wrinkles here and there and you see what sticks. We’ve changed and I know they have too.”

Another thing that is worrisome is the Packers played the Vikings and Lions twice. Green Bay was in a very tough NFC North, so the Packers are battle-tested.

But the Eagles started with a 2-2 record and went 12-1 down the stretch. So, this game should be very interesting.

“We just have to make sure that we play smart and also look at the film they had after the (first) game. Because that was the first game,” defensive tackle Jordan Davis said. “Everybody changes. This is a different team that we’re seeing. We just want to make sure that we get that squared away.”

Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs has also been playing very well. He finished the regular season with 1,329 rushing yards, so he could be a challenge.

The Packers went into Week 18 ranked fifth in total rushing yards and seventh in yards per attempt.

But the Eagles have done well against top running backs this season, becoming one of the league’s top defenses. Guys like Cooper DeJean, Davis and Baun have made great strides.

“I’m expecting a hard game,” Davis said. “It’s the playoffs, at the end of the day. We know what they’re about. We’ve seen them already. They were a good team when we played them the first time. We have to make sure we’re on our Ps and Qs because that game was close too. But at the end of the day, it’s a playoff mindset. It’s a new season going into next week. We just have to treat it as such.”