On a balmy evening in São Paulo, Brazil, the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers delivered an electrifying First Friday to the 2024 NFL season. The Eagles emerged victorious, defeating the Packers 34-29 in a game that brought American football to a new international stage and showcased both teams’ strengths and weaknesses. The match was filled with excitement, suspense, and significant moments, including Saquon Barkley’s dazzling debut and a late-game injury to Packers’ quarterback Jordan Love.
This game was not just another season opener. Played at Arena Corinthians, it marked one of the NFL’s bold moves to globalize the sport. Fans from around the world gathered to witness this clash between two storied franchises. The atmosphere was vibrant, with Brazilian fans mingling with traveling supporters, adding a unique flavor to the spectacle.
The game began with what I would call a comedy of errors from both teams. The Eagles and Jalen Hurts could not hold onto the ball throwing an INT and fumbling in their own red zone. The Packers though just could not take punch the ball into the end zone in the 1st quarter despite having starting field postion twice inside the Eagles territory.
Jordon Love and the Packers would have to settle for a pair of first quarter field goals in what looked like might be a defensive game up 6-0 headed into the second. The Packers offense at this point looked awful and they had so many flags to hold them back. They started at the Eagles 13-yard line and went 28 yards in 10 plays. What!?
In the second quarter the Eagles struck first, capitalizing on a precise pass from their quarterback to set up Saquon Barkley for his first touchdown in Eagles colors. Barkley, who was a high-profile offseason acquisition, showcased his speed and agility, eluding Packers defenders to reach the end zone.
The Packers responded quickly, with Jordan Love leading a well-orchestrated drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to wide receiver Reed. The first half saw both teams exchanging scores, with the Eagles trailing the Packers 19-17.
Saquon Barkley’s debut was nothing short of spectacular. He scored three touchdowns and rushed for over 100 yards, proving to be a game-changer for the Eagles. His ability to break tackles and find open lanes gave Philadelphia an offensive edge they had missed last season.
Meanwhile, the Eagles’ defense, bolstered by key offseason acquisitions like Quinyon Mitchell and CJ Gardner-Johnson, showed marked improvement, particularly in the secondary. They managed to contain the Packers’ potent passing attack for much of the game.
In the second half the Eagles defense ramped up their aggression, applying constant pressure on Love, while the offense, led by Hurts, continued to find success through both the air and the ground. Barkley added his third touchdown late in the third quarter, stretching the Eagles’ lead to 31-26. The Packers struggled to find their rhythm , and while they managed a field goal to cut the deficit, the Eagles responded with another FG of their own with just :27 seconds left in the game, widening the gap to 34-29
The Packers had one last chance though to go 85 yards in just :23 seconds after Packers special teams took an advised run out of the end zone on the kickoff wasting precious seconds. Jordon Love though through seemed poised to make this interesting as he threw a 33-yard pass to Reed who got out of bounds at midfield with :15 seconds left.
The Eagles defense on the following play dialed up some pressure and got to Love who was able to pitch the ball back to Josh Jacobs and advance the ball 4 yards and get out of bounds with just :06 left.
It was at this point that every Packers fan around the world was speechless as Jordon Love was down on the ground grimacing in pain. The first thing that we all knew was that he would not be finishing the last seconds of this game based on the fact that he had to come out for at least a play. The second thing we realized is that the Packer hopes of a great season might come to an end 4,500 miles away from home.
Malik Willis came in for Love who was just picked up by them about 10 days ago. He threw a quick out route to try and advance the ball a little before the hail mary but it was incomplete to Doubs bringing up one last play with :03 seconds remaining.
What could have been a very nervy ending for Eagles fans and an exciting finish for all those in attendance in Brazil ended up being very anti-climatic. Willis ran around and was sacked by just a 4-man rush to end the game.
For the Eagles, this game signaled a promising start to the season. With Saquon Barkley looking in prime form and the defense showing significant improvement, Philadelphia fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. However, they also saw areas needing refinement, such as special teams’ coverage and minimizing penalties that kept the Packers in the game longer than necessary.
The Packers, meanwhile, face uncertainty. Jordan Love’s injury status looms large, and his absence could significantly affect their offensive game plan moving forward.
This game also highlighted the NFL’s efforts to expand its reach globally. The enthusiasm from Brazilian fans and the festive atmosphere created a unique environment that showcased the potential of international games. It also served as a reminder that the league’s growth outside the United States is an ongoing endeavor, and success will rely on delivering exciting matchups and compelling storylines, much like what was witnessed in São Paulo.
While the Eagles walked away with the win, both teams have much to build on from this game. For Philadelphia, the focus will be on maintaining momentum and continuing to develop chemistry with their new star, Saquon Barkley. For Green Bay, the priority will be Jordan Love’s health and how they can adapt if he misses time. This game, played far from home, was a reminder of the unpredictable and exhilarating nature of the NFL, and it set the stage for an exciting 2024 season.
As the Eagles and Packers return to their respective cities, the lessons learned in Brazil will likely shape their paths moving forward. For now, fans can relish the spectacle they witnessed—a game that was more than just football, but a celebration of the sport’s growing global footprint.
Day #37 of Sports Betting
Today’s Starting Bankroll: $1,804.53
Bet Size: $18.04
The NFL Season has been a little rough to me to start. Watson was a disappointment having a few long balls thrown his way that he could not grab and even despite having a TD went well under his yards. I end up 1-2 on the day. Also, why can I not get past Level 1.3 of the Challenge?
$200 ➡️ $200K Challenge Bet: Alex Verdugo Over 1.5 HRR
- I got stopped again on this bet. I really thought this was the day that I got past Level 1.3. Verdugo went 1-3 with a walk. All I needed him to do was score in the 4th inning when he was on base. Ugh.
Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagle Over 49.5
- This bet looked like it was awful in the first quarter, but, after both teams figured out how to not slip on the field it was actually an easy winner as the Eagles won 34-29.
Josh Jacobs Anytime TD Scorer
- At one point in this game he had 8 rushes for just 12 yards. He later popped off and had a couple of great runs but they were no where near the end zone. He was handed the ball 3 times within the 5-yard line and maybe gained a yard total. The Eagles were never letting him in.
Christian Watson 40+ Receiving Yards
- He wasn’t targeted as much as I would have though after a great first season with the Packers. Instead Reed was the go-to guy on the field and it looked like Watson was more of a red zone target as he did end up with a TD. However, if your a red zone target that means your not getting long looks at yards being only thrown to at max a bout 10-15 yards.
Parlay of the Day: 2+ RBI’s
- Giancarlo Stanton: 0-3, 0 RBI’s
- Anthony Santander: 0-3, 0 RBI’s
- Masataka Yoshida: 0-2, 0 RBI’s
Day #37 Profit/Loss: – $27.99
What I Learned:
Eagles Defense Will Not Give Up Rushing TD’s: It was very apparent that the Eagles rush defense has a stifling ability within the red zone. Josh Jacobs and looked like they could not move an inch. To be fair the sets the Packers were running were all very clear run plays so if I could see them at home the Eagles for sure could see them. I do think though that the run defense of the Eagle is going to be something to pay attention to if your betting against them.
Day #38 Best Bets
Level 1.1 ($2 ➡️ $4): Nathaniel Lowe Over 1.5 HRR (+110)
#1) League Two: Newport County vs Port Vale Over 2.5 (-120)
#2) NCAAF: Texas -6.5 (-110)
#3) NCAAF: Michigan St. +9 (-110)
#4) NCAAF: UTSA +2 (-110)
#5) NCAAF: San Diego State +5 (-110)
Parlay of the Day: 2+ RBI Milestone
- Aaron Judge
- Cody Clemens
- Gary Sanchez
