The Green Bay Packers will look to make history with a season-opening win when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil on Friday night in the first regular-season game in South America.
The Week 1 showdown pits two NFC playoff teams from last year against two serious conference contenders for 2024. Can Matt LaFleur and the Packers return home from Brazil with an impressive win?
Here are five things to watch for and a prediction for Week 1 in Brazil:
Spotlight: Offensive Line
If there’s a question mark for the Packers’ offense in 2024, it could be the offensive line. The starting five can allay any concerns on Friday night against one of the NFL’s best defenses. The Eagles are strong and talented on the defensive line, and Jalen Carter, Bryce Huff and Josh Sweat are real spoilers. The right guard will be in the spotlight. Sean Rhyan will likely start, but first-round pick Jordan Morgan could also be used. If the Packers can block consistently on Friday night, scoring shouldn’t be a problem. The Eagles, on the other hand, are going into the first game of the post-Jason Kelce era, so there are question marks on the other side as well.
Watson and Stokes
Receiver Christian Watson and cornerback Eric Stokes both made it through training camp and the preseason without injuries. Now the two speedsters will be unleashed in Week 1. Watson adds a dynamic presence as both a coverage-clearing deep threat and an explosive playmaker with the ball in his hands, while Stokes — who is expected to start alongside Jaire Alexander — will get the opportunity to cover one of the Eagles’ two 1,000-yard receivers (AJ Brown or Devonta Smith) on most passing snaps. The Packers could use a big play or two from Watson on Friday and a solid return from Stokes.
Running Back Debuts
Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley will both make their debuts for new teams on Friday night. Jacobs, who won the 2022 rushing crown, could be a workhorse for the Packers, especially early in the year when MarShawn Lloyd gets up to speed. Barkley, on the other hand, has 100 or more total yards and two scores in each of his last two games against the Packers. The former Giant now gets a chance to play alongside Jalen Hurts and behind a great offensive line. Both Jacobs and Barkley could get 20 or more touches on Friday night.
First defensive test
Jeff Hafley’s first test as defensive coordinator won’t be an easy one. Jalen Hurts, who rushed for 157 yards in the last game against the Packers, can be a dynamic two-way threat. Saquon Barkley is one of the NFL’s best all-around running backs. AJ Brown and Devonta Smith both had over 1,000 receiving yards last season. And the Eagles’ offensive line is expected to be one of the league’s best, even with the loss of All-Pro center Jason Kelce. Can Hafley, calling plays defensively in his first game in the NFL, find the right answers on Friday night? Don’t expect him to sit back. The Packers will be aggressive up front in the new 4-3 formation. Quay Walker could play a key role; he may have to cover Barkley and do a lot of scouting on Hurts.
New kicker
The Packers released Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph after a summer-long competition and signed rookie Brayden Narveson, who will attempt his first kicks in an NFL regular-season game on Friday night in Brazil. Narveson was outstanding during the preseason, making 6 of 7 field goals, including a 59-yard kick and a game-winning one, but the pressure in the regular season – especially in a primetime game on the international stage – is much different. This should be a close game. Can the Packers count on their rookie kicker in a crucial situation?
Prediction: Packers 27, Eagles 23 (0-0)
A battle of NFC contenders that ended the 2023 season pointed in completely opposite directions. The Packers need to prove they can handle the Eagles at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, but the duel between Jordan Love’s passing game and the Eagles secondary — which is littered with question marks — could tip this game in Green Bay’s favor. Wouldn’t it be crazy if Xavier McKinney pulled an Adrian Amos and delivered the game-winning interception in his first game as a Packer?
