SAO PAULO, Brazil − Before we get into the winners and losers from the Eagles ' 34-29 win over the Green Bay Packers on Friday night, let's give it up for the Brazilian fans who flocked to Arena Corinthians for the game, enduring hours of Sao Paulo traffic to get there.
It was estimated that more than 90% of the 47,236 fans were Brazilians, and they were into it. They danced and sang throughout the game as if they were at a Brazil soccer match in the World Cup. Sure, the cheering might have come at inopportune moments, but it was clear they enjoyed the experience.
The Eagles did too. Of course, winning helps.
AVOIDING DISASTER: Why Eagles Jalen Hurts' sloppy play vs Packers wasn't the disaster that it should have been
SHOW STOPPER: How Saquon Barkley stole show after Jalen Hurts INTs to lead Eagles by Packers in Brazil
"It was loud, real loud," Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith said. "When they were doing the little chant, that was amazing."
Added running back Saquon Barkley: "Just the opportunity was amazing. So thankful to the NFL. So thankful to everyone in Brazil. It was super fun. The energy was amazing. You know, I couldn't picture it any way better than that."
Clearly, Brazil and the NFL's quest for global reach were the big winners.
Here, then, are the winners and losers from the actual game:
Winners
Saquon Barkley, Eagles running back
Not only did Barkley embrace the Brazil game from the start, he made like Brazilian soccer star Neymar with a hat trick by scoring three touchdowns. Barkley became only the second player in Eagles history to score 3 TDs in his first game as an Eagle, joining Terrell Owens in 2004.
You can see why Barkley was so happy afterward. The three TDs in his first game as an Eagle is something he did only once in six years as a Giant, and that came in his rookie season of 2018.
In all, Barkley had 109 yards on 24 carries, and 2 receptions for 23 yards. Not a bad debut.
"I think a hat trick is never a bad thing," Barkley said. "There is so much that I can do, and that's the kind of player that I am. Always going to be like that. Go back and watch film. Obviously the good, look at the good, but there is a lot of bad in there too."
Quinyon Mitchell, cornerback
Mitchell's NFL debut wasn't perfect as he was called for a pass interference penalty. But Mitchell knew the Packers would test him early and often, and he was ready.
On the Packers' first possession, QB Jordan Love threw into the end zone, hoping to hook up with Christian Watson from 37 yards out. Mitchell was step for step with Watson and broke up the pass.
"Oh yeah, I’m a rookie," Mitchell said. "They weren’t going at (Darius) Slay, they were going at me."
Mitchell responded. He played 94% of the snaps, and finished with 5 tackles and 2 passes defensed.
AJ Brown, wide receiver
We know what Brown can do for the Eagles after back-to-back 1,400-yard seasons. But Brown showed it again when he broke free on a double move, and hauled in Hurts' long pass, then cut across the middle for a 67-yard TD.
It came on the second play of the third quarter, enabling the Eagles to piggyback on their field goal to end the first half, going from a 19-14 deficit to a 24-19 lead before the Packers touched the ball again.
In all, Brown had 5 catches for 119 yards.
Zack Baun, linebacker
Like Barkley, Baun had a great Eagles debut with 15 tackles and 2 sacks, the only sacks for the Eagles on Friday. His sack on Packers QB Malik Willis, who replaced the injured Love late in the game, ended the game.
While it’s only one game, Baun has quickly erased the memory of the Eagles’ linebacking corps of 2023.
Losers
John Mara, Giants president
We found out during "Hard Knocks: Offseason With The New York Giants" how much Mara wanted Barkley to stay with the Giants. There was a scene when Giants GM Joe Schoen told Mara that the Giants were going to let Barkley test free agency and hope Barkley would give the Giants a chance to match an offer.
That's when Mara told Schoen: “I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia ."
Well, it's hard to imagine Mara sleeping very well Friday night, or actually all weekend, after Barkley's performance coupled with the Giants' 28-6 loss to the Vikings on Sunday at home.
Adding to Mara's nightmare: The Giants gave Barkley's replacement, Devin Singletary, Barkley's No. 26. Singletary is no Barkley. He had 37 yards rushing, and the Giants didn't score a TD.
If you think Mara isn't sleeping well now, just wait until Barkley makes his return to MetLife Stadium on Oct. 20.
Bryce Huff, edge rusher
The Eagles are still better off with Huff than had they kept Haason Reddick, but not by much. That's because Huff had 1 more tackle than Reddick will have Monday night with his new team, the Jets. Of course, Reddick won’t play for the Jets because he is holding out for a new contract.
That, of course, is why the Eagles traded Reddick and signed Huff as a free agent from the Jets to a similar contract as Reddick's (three years, worth as much as $51 million for Huff, and 3 for $45 million for Reddick). Huff is 4 years younger than Reddick, and he had 10 sacks in only 42% of the snaps last season.
It’s becoming clear that Huff played only 42% of the snaps because he's not a good run stopper. Huff only played 45% of the snaps Friday. But it was even more worrisome that Huff not only didn't record a sack, he didn't even pressure the QB.
Jalen Hurts, quarterback
Look, Hurts did some great things, such as the TD pass to Brown and the beautifully executed 18-yard wheel route to Barkley.
But Hurts can't turn the ball over three times. The two interceptions were both poor decisions, while the fumble might not have been his fault as center Cam Jurgens seemed to snap the ball before Hurts was ready.
Still, that's 23 turnovers in Hurts' last 18 games. The Eagles might have beaten the Packers with 3 Hurts turnovers, but that's not sustainable.
Turf at Corinthians Arena
If there was one negative, it was the slippery turf at Corinthians Arena. Players from both teams were slipping, including Barkley and Love, not to mention defenders from both teams. For the Eagles, it was reminiscent of the Super Bowl in Feb. 2023.
And LeBron James was among many taking to social media , writing on X, "Man this field sucks!!!"
But it's also not an excuse. Barkley admitted that he didn't think he needed studs after going through warmups. Then he slipped and lost 5 yards on his first carry.
"I just didn't handle it the right way," Barkley said. "I went out in warmups and decided to not go with studs because I felt comfortable enough. It's different than warming up and going full speed.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl, on Threads and Instagram @martinfrank1.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles winners, losers from Brazil: Biggest loser having 'tough time sleeping' in New York
Local News
