For the first time ever, the NFL's opening weekend will include four days of football. It's also the first time an NFL game will be played in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There are no major rumors of anything being canceled or changed, but some people are concerned the game might not take place due to the wildfires and very poor air quality.
This will be the first of the Eagles' five scheduled primetime games and the only one that falls on a Friday night. Philly won four of their five primetime games last season, so it won't take long to see if they have the same performance in the bright lights this year, considering they play in primetime the first two weeks of the season.
Jalen Hurts is 3-0 in Week 1 games as a starter in the NFL, while Jordan Love has only played one NFL season as a starter and is also undefeated in Week 1s. Love only attempted 21 passes as Aaron Rodgers' backup in 2022, but nine were against the Eagles after Rodgers left the Week 12 game with an injury. Love threw for 113 Yards and one Touchdown.
Game Info
Date: September 6th, 2024
Start Time: 8:15PM ET
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Stadium: Corinthians Arena
TV Info: Peacock (NBC in local markets) (Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge on the call)
Eagles Uniform Info: Black Helmet, White Jersey, Black Pants, Black Socks
Packers Statistical Rankings 2023
Points Per Game: 22.5 (12th)
Points Allowed Per Game: 20.6 (3rd)
Offensive Yards Per Game: 345.5 (15th)
Passing/Rushing Yards Per Game: 247.6 (14th)/ 112.1 (15th)
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 335.06 (10th)
Passing/Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 223.7 (4th)/ 128.3 (21st)
Third Down Offensive/Defensive Conversion Rate: 47.97% (3rd)/ 43.7%(28th)
Red Zone Offensive/Defensive Conversion Rate: 53.42% (17th)/ 53.9% (13th)
Penalties: 105 (8th)
Penalty Yardage: 856 (11th)
Players Already Ruled Out
Packers: LB Ralen Goforth, CB LJ Davis, DT Jonathan Ford, TE Tyler Davis Eagles: CB James Bradberry, WR Joseph Ngata
Green Bay Packers
Defense
The Eagles have had a top-tier rushing game ever since they drafted Jalen Hurts, and that's where Green Bay needs to focus this week. Saquon Barkley will be making his Eagles debut behind the best O-line he's had to run behind, and that also will most likely open up the run game to Hurts. The Packers' LB core, especially Quay Walker, will need to be at the top of their game to help slow down the Birds.
The most exciting matchup will be Jaire Alexander and whoever he faces between AJ Brown and DaVonta Smith. Brown and Smith are one of the league's best-receiving duos, coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. The secondary will be backed up by two new safeties in Green Bay, Xavier McKinney, who is coming off a 116 tackle season, and rookie Javon Bullard.
Last season, the Packers had six players with over four sacks. However, the Eagles allowed the 10th fewest sacks in the NFL with 39. Philadelphia was -10 in the turnover department last season, so the Packers should try to keep that theme going. Green Bay also needs to find more success defensively in the red zone. Philly had the 20th-ranked red zone offense, so it's a good time for the Packers to see what works.
Offense
Jordan Love has only completed one season as a starter, and that one season earned him the biggest annual salary in NFL history! This offseason, Love signed a four-year $220 Million deal with a $75 Million signing bonus. They also have their main core of pass catchers returning and added star RB Josh Jacobs. Jacobs' workload may have grown a couple of days ago when the Packers announced AJ Dillon would miss the whole season. Long-time Green Bay starting RB Aaron Jones now plays for the Minnesota Vikings after signing there in free agency.
Last season, Jordan Love threw for over 4,000 yards and 31 Touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He showed out in the postseason, throwing for 466 yards, 5 Touchdowns, and two interceptions in the two playoff games he's played in, and was just four points away from beating the NFC Champion 49ers and making the NFC Title game. They had no receiver with 800+ yards, but their top six targets are all returning, and multiple have an excellent chance to be a 1,000-yard receiver this season. The last time the Packers facd the Eagles was in 2022, and Christian Watson had 110 receiving yards and a touchdown.
This offense shouldn't miss a beat from last year. Jordan Love should only get better, and there's already good chemistry within the offense besides maybe Josh Jacobs, but he should fit right in. The main hope amongst the receiving core is that they can all stay healthy, especially Christian Watson, who only played in nine games last year.
Philadelphia Eagles
Defense
The number one thing Eagles fans want to see at the start of the season is an improved secondary. On paper, they are, but until we see it in action, we don't know how much the Eagles improved. It's not an easy test of the bat facing the Packers, but it's better than starting against bad teams and then losing to good teams later on, like in 2023. Unfortunately, new LB Devin White will not be traveling to Brazil with the team due to an ankle injury, so we'll have to wait and see how much he brings to the Birds' LB play.
Even after trading Haason Reddick to the Jets, the Eagles D-line should be one of the best in the league. In 2023, Bryce Huff had 10 sacks, Josh Sweat had 6.5, and Jalen Carter had 6. This season, Nolan Smith should get more snaps as an edge rusher, and rookie Jalyx Hunt could have an impact if given the opportunity. DT Jordan Davis has slimmed down, and his cardio is seemingly the best it's been since he joined the NFL. He and Jalen Carter could be a top IDL duo in the league.
The Packers ranked third in the league in offensive red zone efficiency. The Birds' defense was fourth worst in the league in that regard, so that's another area it would be nice to see some improvement. Vic Fangio's defense in Miami last season was the seventh worst, hardly better than how the Eagles performed.
Offense
Most eyes will probably be on Saquon Barkley, who will make his Eagles debut. NO Eagles running back has had 100+ yards in the season opener since LeSean McCoy in 2013, when he ran for 184 yards in a win over Washington. Barkley has run for triple digits in a season opener three times in his career. The most recent was his 164 yards in Week 1 of the 2022 Season. Green Bay ranked 21st in the league in rush yards allowed per game last season and allowed the 11th most yards per carry with 4.4; Hurts and Barkley both ran for 3.9 ypc.
Another thing to watch is how well Philly's offensive line can perform now that Jason Kelce is retired. Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, and Lane Johnson are all returning to the exact role they had last year. Cam Jurgens will return, but he'll replace Kelce at Center with Mekhi Becton, who is now starting at Right Guard. Becton is coming from the Jets and stands at 6'7" and 364 pounds. In his 985 career snaps, he's allowed 12 sacks and accounted for 18 penalties. This O-line might miss a beat, mainly because of how much of a leader Kelce was for this team. The Packers had the 16th most sacks last year with 45.
As previously mentioned, Jalen Hurts has never lost a season-opening game. Hurts throws for 225.7 yards in Week 1 action and has thrown four touchdowns in those games. Hurts has never thrown an interception in a season opener. He also rushes for an average of 63 yards per game with only one rushing touchdown in those three contests. Hurts finished 2nd in MVP voting in 2022 and was the betting favorite to win MVP for part of his 2023 campaign. With competent coordinators and a plethora of talent around him, Jalen Hurts could have a career year, and this Week 1 game will give us a glimpse at his season to come.
Betting Info
Points Spread: PHI -2 (-112) | GB +2 (-108)
Moneyline: PHI (-130) | GB (+120)
Over/Under: O 49.5 (-112) | U 49.5 (-108)
Lines Via Draft Kings as of Friday, September 6th
Prediction
I do think this game will be close, and I think this will be an offensive affair. Looking at the Packers' defensive number for last year, there's nothing too impressive. Same goes for Philadelphia, this Packers offense should be able to take advantage of a secondary that will be full of new faces in their first official game together. I think the Eagles will capitalize more on plays like third downs, possible fourth down conversions, red zone possessions, etc. I could also see CJ Gardner Johnson getting a pick, and in a game that's this close to evenly matched, one mistake could decide the game. I say the Eagles win 31-27. I'm not a betting man, but if I were, I would take the Eagles moneyline and spread, plus over 49.5 points.
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