In some ways, the Eagles had been terribly clumsy Friday night time of their season opener within the first NFL recreation performed in Brazil.
Fortunately, the Inexperienced Bay Packers had been extra inept at Area Corinthians in São Paulo, permitting the Eagles to open their 2024 season with a 34-29 victory over Inexperienced Bay after seven lead modifications.
On a first-half play that mirrored the sport, Inexperienced Bay scored a landing, which was negated when the Packers and Eagles every had been flagged as a result of that they had 12 gamers on the sector.
The Packers transformed simply 3 of 11 third downs and had been one for 4 within the crimson zone, whereas being penalized 10 instances for 71 yards.
The Eagles weren’t a lot better, changing 4 of 14 third downs, and turning the ball over thrice—twice on their first two drives of the sport. Jalen Hurts did what he was imagined to do—win, although he made some extremely doubtful selections, like throwing a fourth-quarter interception when he might have taken a sack or thrown the ball away and settled for a discipline objective. Nonetheless, Hurts did end finishing 20 of 34 for 278 yards, with two touchdowns.
The true star was Saquon Barkley. How typically is it than a bonafide star free agent seems to be higher than anticipated? Barkley positive made an unimaginable first impression, speeding for a game-high 109 yards on 24 carries, and two touchdowns, and scoring the primary Eagles’ landing of the season on a leaping catch ultimately zone.
Defensively, the Eagles managed to corral Packers’ quarterback Jordan Love, who accomplished 17 of 34 for 260 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. The Eagles’ protection was leaky, although they could have lastly discovered an impactful linebacker in Zack Baun, who had a game-high 15 tackles and had the Eagles’ solely two sacks.
There was numerous good, a mixture of unhealthy, and a pile of ugly, although the Eagles prevailed, 34-29, to begin the season 1-0 by beating a crew that they might presumably see later.
The Good
Saquon Barkley was all the things after which some. He scored three touchdowns, rushed for a game-high 109 yards on 24 carries, and two touchdowns, with one other TD receiving. He spun off a 34-yard run and he got here up with an enormous fumble restoration with lower than a minute to play that preserved the Eagles’ victory.
Hurts made some inexcusable errors, although general, he performed properly. He accomplished 20 of 34 for 278 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions, whereas being sacks twice. Most significantly, with the sport on the road, Hurts pulled the Eagles over the end line.
Receiver DeVonta Smith on the Eagles’ final drive. He got here up with two big catches on second downs. On a second-and-13 on the Inexperienced Bay 35, Hurts discovered Smith for 16 yards, bringing the ball to the 19. Then, on second-and-eight on the 17, Hurts discovered Smith once more slanting towards the center for 11 yards to the Packers’ six and sealing the victory.
Security Reed Blankenship’s interception on the Inexperienced Bay 24 with 6:08 left within the third quarter. It arrange Barkley’s third landing of the sport and a 31-26 Eagles lead with 4:26 left within the third quarter. It was the seventh lead change of the sport. The Blankenship interception was made attainable by Baun coming in beneath Packer receiver Dontayvion Wicks and forcing Like to overthrow into Blankenship’s arms. Blankenship later made a touchdown-saving sort out on Packers’ operating again Josh Jacobs inside two minutes left within the third quarter.
A.J. Brown’s 67-yard landing reception to start the second half over Inexperienced Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander. It was a superbly tossed go by Hurts and landed in Brown’s arms in stride. It gave the Eagles a 24-19 lead with 14:09 left within the third quarter and was the fifth lead change of the sport. Brown completed with a team-high 119 yards receiving.
Barkley’s leaping 18-yard landing catch from Hurts on a second-and-11 giving the Eagles’ their first lead of the season, 7-6, with 12:38 to play within the half. The rating capped the Eagles’ third drive, with an 11-play, 70-yard sequence that chewed up 5:23. Barkley topped that later within the second quarter with an 11-yard landing run with 5:34 left within the half.
Nice blocking by middle Cam Jurgens and proper guard Mekhi Becton making a gaping gap on the precise facet of the Eagles’ line for Barkley to go sprinting by for an 11-yard TD and a 14-12 Eagles’ lead. Jurgens and Becton jumped the Packers’ defensive sort out T.J. Slaton, who fell off stability. Nobody touched Barkley.
Rookie first-round cornerback Quinyon Mitchell did a pleasant job when attacked by the Packers on their first drive. On third-and-six on the Eagles’ 38, Mitchell stayed with the receiver Christian Watson. Mitchell might have gotten away with a maintain, when his left hand grabbed Watson’s jersey. There was no flag. Mitchell performed properly.
The Eagles’ protection on the Packers’ first two drives. It appeared like edge rusher Josh Sweat and defensive sort out Milton Williams created an early theme, knocking down Packers’ operating again Josh Jacobs for a one-yard loss. The Eagles pressured a Inexperienced Bay discipline objective after Hurts’ interception on the Eagles’ first possession. It turned out to be uncommon second. The Eagles hardly put any strain on Love and the Packers.
Baun was super, arising a game-high 15 tackles and making quite a few tackles for no achieve and choosing up the Eagles’ first sack of the season, taking down Love for a five-yard loss on Inexperienced Bay’s second sequence on the Eagles’ 24. Of Baun’s 15 tackles, 11 had been solo and he had the Eagles’ solely two sacks—ending the sport with a sack.
Defensive sort out Jordan Davis on the Eagles’ 4 on the Packers’ second drive. Jordan pushed again Packers’ left sort out Rasheed Walker into the backfield, enabling Nakobe Dean and Brandon Graham to swarm Jacobs for a one-yard loss on the Eagles’ 5.
The Dangerous
Proper sort out Lane Johnson being known as for an unlawful formation that pressured a second-and-two right into a second-and-seven with 4:48 to play. It’s not the time to get flagged for one thing like that.
With 5:30 left, Hurts blowing a timeout when the Eagles had been making an attempt to whittle down the clock. Hurts misplaced observe of the sport time and Nick Sirianni was pressured to name a timeout.
The Eagles lack of a go rush. They’d two sacks (each by Baun) and one hurry, permitting Love to select them aside at instances.
The Eagles’ false begin penalty on Dallas Goedert with :31 left within the half on the Inexperienced Bay 20. It pressured the Eagles again to the Inexperienced Bay 25. The Eagles needed to accept a Jake Elliott 38-yard discipline objective to shut the half trailing 19-17.
Barkley falling on his face for a five-yard loss on his first carry as an Eagle. The slick turf didn’t assist.
The Eagles’ first quarter. They had been lucky to be trailing 6-0. They turned the ball over twice, had been known as for 2 penalties, together with an pointless roughness name, and one for 12 gamers on the sector, which was offset as a result of the Packers had been simply as inept having 12 gamers on the sector on the identical time.
The Ugly
Free security C.J. Gardner-Johnson bouncing off after which failing to sort out Jacobs on his 32-yard run with 12:20 left within the recreation on a first-and-10 on the Inexperienced Bay 13. The Jacobs run got here after Hurts threw an interception ultimately zone and gave the Packers some respiratory room out to the Inexperienced Bay 45.
With an opportunity at a two-score lead, Hurts did the unthinkable. He threw throughout his physique with 12:53 to play to a ready Jaire Alexander ultimately zone. His pricey resolution got here after A.J. Brown had slipped ultimately zone and with Hurts wanting precisely the place he was going to throw—as an alternative of consuming it, taking the loss and settling for a discipline objective on a third-and-13. It was a significant blunder in what was in any other case a powerful recreation for Hurts.
Nickel nook Avonte Maddox getting flagged for interference in opposition to Wicks on the Eagles’ two on a third-and-nine on the Eagles’ 15. A cease might have pressured a discipline objective. As a substitute, the decision led to a Packers’ landing and a 26-24 Inexperienced Bay lead with 11:55 left within the third quarter.
Nakobe Dean fully shedding Packers’ tight finish Tucker Craft on a first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 45 with 13:25 left within the third quarter. Dean had appeared in coaching camp. He somebody missed Craft, who whizzed proper by Dean on haul in a Love go for 29 yards to the Eagles’ 16. The pay ultimately led to a Inexperienced Bay rating and a 26-24 Packers’ lead—and sixth lead change of the sport.
Baun’s roughing the passer name with 13:29 left within the third quarter. It got here on a third-and-one on the Packers’ 39 and pushed Inexperienced Bay to the Eagles’ 45.
The blown protection on Jayden Reed on the 70-yard, second-quarter landing with 5:11 left within the first half. The rating answered Barkley’s second TD and marked the fourth lead change of the sport. It gave the Packers a 19-14 lead. The place was Gardner-Johnson? He turned his physique proper, as Reed ran proper by him unchecked for a simple TD. The 70-yard TD toss was Love’s longest in his younger NFL profession.
The Eagles failure to cease Reed on his 33-yard, second-quarter landing run. It was a jet sweep during which the Eagles failed to guard the sting. To their credit score, the Packers blocked it properly, however Baun, who had performed properly your complete recreation, had a crack at Reed on the Eagles’ 22 and fell off. Then, it was open floor for Reed. The one Eagle who put their arms on Reed was Baun.
Jurgens wants work. He had a tough debut because the Eagles’ beginning middle. He snapped the ball to Hurts on the Eagles’ second drive when Hurts was not prepared, which resulted in a misplaced fumble and a 6-0 Packers’ lead. Then, he was crushed badly inside by Packers’ defensive sort out T.J. Slaton on Barkley’s one-yard loss on the Packers’ 17 with 13:26 to play within the half. Jurgens was later flagged within the fourth quarter for an unlawful man downfield, however happily the Packers declined the penalty.
The Eagles turning the ball over twice on the primary two drives. Hurts’ first completion of the season went to the Packers’ Xavier McKinney on the Eagles’ first sequence. Hurts was to not blame for the second turnover. He was caught fully unaware when Jurgens snapped the ball.
Defensive sort out Jalen Carter getting nailed for pointless roughness to the Eagles’ 12, after Baun’s five-yard sack on the Eagles’ 24. Carter’s retaliation was not the brightest transfer. It got here proper in entrance of an official. Carter later jumped offside on the Packers’ extra-point try after Reed’s 33-yard landing run with 10:16 left within the half. Carter had two of the Eagles’ 4 first-half penalties.
