It was a disastrous start against the top-seeded team in a hostile road environment.
However, replays of the fumble recovery have left many questioning the call from officials, as it appeared Nixon may have regained possession of the ball before officials ruled it in Philadelphia’s favor.
After review, officials upheld the ruling on the field despite what appeared to be a camera angle showing clear control of the ball.
The decision sparked a wave of frustration on social media, with fans voicing their displeasure and questioning the officials' interpretation of the play.
"I thought we recovered the ball, with what they showed on the big board and what I was hearing from our guys upstairs," head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game. "They all thought it was our ball, but obviously, the league felt differently."
Adding to the frustration, Packers fans pointed to a helmet-to-helmet hit on Nixon during the play that also went unflagged by the officials. From certain replay angles, the evidence seemed to support their case.
Green Bay never recovered from the disastrous start, losing the turnover battle by a staggering 4-0 margin in their eventual 22–10 loss to the Eagles.
“Defensively, I thought we played winning football,” LaFleur said. “Offensively and on special teams, we made too many mistakes. It was too much to overcome."
While the Packers had more than their share of mistakes throughout the game, the potential missed call on the opening play has fans wondering how much the officiating blunders influenced the outcome — and how different the game might have been had the Packers retained possession.
