The Green Bay Packers will attempt to combine history with a season-opening victory when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the first ever regular season game played in South America on Friday night in Brazil.
The Week 1 showdown features a pair of NFC playoff teams from a year ago and two legitimate contenders in the conference entering 2024. Can Matt LaFleur and the Packers return home from Brazil with an impressive win?
Here are five things to watch and a prediction for Week 1 in Brazil:
Offensive line spotlight
If there’s a question mark for the Packers offense entering 2024, it might be along the offensive line. The starting five can put to bed any concerns against one of the NFL’s best defensive fronts on Friday night. The Eagles are deep and talented along the defensive line, and Jalen Carter, Bryce Huff and Josh Sweat are legitimate game-wreckers. Right guard will be in the spotlight. Sean Rhyan is likely to start, but first-round pick Jordan Morgan might also get snaps. If the Packers can block consistently on Friday night, scoring shouldn’t be a problem. The Eagles, meanwhile, are entering the first game of the post-Jason Kelce era, so question marks exist on the other side, too.
Watson and Stokes
Receiver Christian Watson and cornerback Eric Stokes both got through training camp and the preseason without an injury. Now, the two speedsters will be unleashed in Week 1. Watson adds a dynamic presence as both a coverage-tilting deep threat and explosive playmaker with the ball in his hands, while Stokes — who is expected to start opposite Jaire Alexander — will get an opportunity to cover one of the Eagles’ two 1,000-yard receivers (A.J. Brown or Devonta Smith) on most passing snaps. The Packers could use a big play or two from Watson and a solid return to action from Stokes on Friday.
Running back debuts
Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley will both make their debuts for new teams on Friday night. Jacobs, who won the rushing crown in 2022, could be a workhorse for the Packers, especially early on in the year as MarShawn Lloyd gets up to speed. Barkley, meanwhile, produced 100 or more total yards and two scores during each of his last two games against the Packers. The former Giant will now get a chance to play alongside Jalen Hurts and behind a terrific 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 meeting against the Packers, can be a dynamic two-way threat. Saquon Barkley is one of the NFL’s best do-it-all running backs. A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith both went over 1,000 receiving yards last season. And the Eagles offensive line is expected to be one of the league’s best, even after losing All-Pro center Jason Kelce. Can Hafley, in his first game calling plays defensively in the NFL, find the right answers on Friday night? Don’t expect him to sit back on his heels. The Packers will be aggressive up front in the new 4-3 base. Quay Walker could be key; he might have to cover Barkley and spy Hurts a bunch.
New kicker
The Packers dumped Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph after a summer-long competition and picked up rookie Brayden Narveson, who will be attempting his first kicks in an NFL regular season game on Friday night in Brazil. Narveson was excellent during the preseason, connecting on 6-of-7 field goals, including a 59-yarder and a game-winner, but regular season pressure — especially in a primetime game on an international stage — is so much different. This figures to be a close game. Can the Packers count on their rookie kicker in a big spot?
Prediction: Packers 27, Eagles 23 (0-0)
A battle of NFC contenders that finished the 2023 season pointed in completely opposite directions. The Packers must prove they can handle the Eagles along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, but the matchup of Jordan Love’s passing game against the Eagles secondary — which is littered with question marks — could swing this game Green Bay’s way. Wouldn’t it be crazy if Xavier McKinney pulled an Adrian Amos and delivered the game-sealing interception in his first game as a Packer?