Sep 5, 2024; Sao Paolo, Brazil; Workers erect signage prior to the 2024 NFL Sao Paolo game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers at Neo Química Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Philadelphia hasn’t lost a game in September since 2021 and is 3-0 in season openers under coach Nick Sirianni.
The Eagles will try to extend that success in a different hemisphere in Friday night’s unprecedented Week 1 date with the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the first NFL regular-season game in South America.
“It’s going to be good for us to go play in a neutral site and handle the different things that pop up in the NFL,” Sirianni said.
“… There are things you can’t control. What we can control is our effort, we can control our attitude, we can control our core values, and we’re going to focus on that this week.”
ODDS & TRENDS
The Eagles are consensus 2.0-point favorites. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 70 percent of the spread-line bets and 67 percent of the money.
Philadelphia’s -136 moneyline has been event more popular, drawing 72 and 67 percent of the action, respectively.
The public is expecting a high-scoring clash, with 74 percent of the money backing the Over at 49 points.
PROP PICK
Saquon Barkley Anytime TD (-137): The Eagles’ new featured back reaching the end zone at least once on Friday has been the most wagered-on prop for this game at the book, drawing 5.0 percent of all bets and 8.7 percent of all money. Barkley scored 10 total touchdowns in 14 games last season for the Giants, whose offense was hit hard by a season-ending injury to quarterback Daniel Jones.
Barkley also leads all players on both teams by a wide margin, drawing 33 percent of the money at DraftKings to be the first player to score a touchdown Friday night.
THE NEWS
Philadelphia won its first eight games and started 13-1 in 2022 en route to advancing to Super Bowl LVII. The Eagles won their first five contests and started 10-1 last season before losing in the wild-card round.
Green Bay is coming off its fourth playoff appearance in five seasons under coach Matt LaFleur. The Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers on a late Christian McCaffrey touchdown run in the divisional round last season after a wild-card victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
It’s a business trip to Brazil for both teams with no time for sightseeing. The Eagles planned to arrive Wednesday night after a 10-hour flight, hold a walk-through at Corinthians Arena on Thursday and fly straight back to Philadelphia after Friday night’s game.
“We’re professionals,” Eagles receiver A.J. Brown said. “We’re down there to win a football game. We’re not down there to see the city, do all this other stuff. This is not a vacation. This is a football game.”
The Packers arranged a 10-hour direct flight leaving from Green Bay on Wednesday morning and, as the “visiting” team, they held their walk-through Thursday at the Corinthians soccer club’s training ground.
“It’s not going to be anything crazy that we’ve never done before, and I would expect the same from Philly,” LaFleur said. “… I’ve only talked to our guys about the Philadelphia Eagles, and what we need to do.”
A massive mural of starting quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Jordan Love of the Packers adorns the side of a building in downtown Sao Paulo, but the spotlight in the stadium will be on the running backs.
Barkley, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, joined Philadelphia after six seasons and more than 5,000 rushing yards with the division-rival Giants.
Josh Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing leader and also a two-time Pro Bowl pick, signed with Green Bay after five seasons and more than 5,500 rushing yards with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.
“I’m just trying to not let it be me, the guy who messes it up,” Jacobs said. “That’s my biggest thing going into Game 1 is just trying to be very disciplined in my keys, and try to put my little spin on it when I get a chance.”
INJURY REPORT
Eagles linebacker Devin White (ankle) and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (hand) will miss Friday’s game.
The Packers listed three players as questionable: running backs MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) and Emanuel Wilson (hip), and tight end Tucker Kraft (back). Three players who were limited earlier in the week — receiver Romeo Doubs (hand), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hip) and cornerback Carrington Valentine (hamstring) — are expected to play.
THEY SAID IT
The quick turnaround time may be disruptive, but it also gives NFL officials and players who are concerned about security some peace of mind.
“I do not want to go to Brazil,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said on his “Big Play Slay” podcast this week. “They already told us not to leave the hotel. They told us we can’t do too much because the crime rate is crazy. NFL, why do you want to send us somewhere where the crime rate is so high?”
SUPER BOWL OR BUST?
The Eagles are among the Super Bowl champion favorites at DraftKings, where they are third among the 32 teams with 10 percent of the money backing them at +1400 to win it all. The Packers have slightly higher odds at +1800, but have drawn a very modest 5 percent of the money wagered.
Kansas City, which won the NFL regular-season opener on Thursday night, leads the way with 17 percent of the money at +450 odds, followed by Detroit with 13 percent at +1200.
PREDICTION
While the Eagles crashed and burned following a hot start last season, the Packers upset the Cowboys in Dallas in the playoffs and nearly knocked off eventual NFC champion San Francisco. Philadelphia enters the season with plenty of questions — especially focused on its embattled coaching staff — but the Eagles also have a roster loaded with veteran talent who should handle the unique environment well. –Eagles 27, Packers 24
–Field Level Media
