Prior to the Snap: Packers & Eagles set for Friday night lights in São Paulo, Brazil

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL (WFRV) – The Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles have been preparing for weeks, and after traveling thousands of miles, the two will open their seasons in São Paulo, Brazil.

The first-ever regular season game in South America will occur at the Corinthians Arena, home to SC Corinthians. This will be the second time Green Bay has played in an international regular season game.

Hopes are high for both teams, with Packers quarterback Jordan Love ready to prove he’s worth every dollar the team spent on him during the offseason.

Philadelphia hopes quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver AJ Brown, and newly acquired star running back Saquon Barkley can get the team back to the playoffs.

Before the Packers and Eagles battle under the Friday night lights, let’s look at a couple of facts and predictions in this week’s edition of Prior to the Snap!

Game Information

Matchup: Green Bay Packers (0-0) @ Philadelphia Eagles (0-0)
Location: Corinthians Arena, São Paulo, Brazil
Time: Friday, September 6, 7:15 p.m. CST / 9:15 p.m. Local Time
Spread & O/U: PHI -2.5, 49.5
Projected Weather: 70°F, Partly Cloudy, Winds 12MPH SSE

Statistics

All-Time against Philadelphia: 28-18
Last game against Philadelphia: 40-33 PHI (11/27/2022)
Last international matchup: 27-22 NYG (10/09/2022)
Last Ten games against Philadelphia: 6-4

Ticket Prices – Including Fees

Players to Watch

QB Jordan Love

Green Bay’s rising star got paid this offseason, and he got paid a lot. After signing a four-year, $220 million contract extension that includes $75 million guaranteed, Jordan Love will be pressured to perform. The Packers opted to give Love the massive deal after showing his true potential throughout the second half of the season, including the upset playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Love started all 17 regular season games, throwing for 4,159 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His 96.1 quarterback rating ranked him just outside the top ten active quarterbacks in 2023.

The Eagles ranked 30th in opponents’ points per game last season and 26th in opponents’ yards per game. This should open up the playbook for Love and the Packers, but beware. Green Bay could start the season slow with an international match. Though they beat the Bears 38-20 last year, they lost season openers in 2022 and 2021.

PREDICTION: Jordan Love throws for at least two touchdowns and over 300 yards.
PREDICTED STATS: 21 completions, 342 yards, three touchdowns.

RB Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles this offseason, a phenomenal move to poach him from their division rivals, the New York Giants. Barkley is a highly talented running back who performed well against the Packers in the last international game they played in London.

Barkley had 70 rushing yards on 13 carriers and a touchdown, adding three receptions for 36 yards on October 9, 2022. Though Philadelphia lost a centerpiece of its offensive line after star center Jason Kelce retired, Barkley has done more with less. He’s an explosive back who Green Bay will need to contain if it wants to keep the game close. Winning the battle in the trenches is essential, especially with a mobile quarterback like Jalen Hurts.

PREDICTION: The Penn State alumn rushes for over 100 yards against the Packers, scoring once.
PREDICTED STATS: 17 carries for 107 yards, one touchdown

Injuries (Q=Questionable, D=Doubtful, O=Out, IR=Injured Reserve)

Green Bay: LB Edgerrin Cooper (Q), CB LJ Davis (IR), TE, Tyler Davis (IR), RB AJ Dillon (IR), WR Romeo Doubs (Q), DT Jonathan Ford (IR), LB Ralen Goforth (IR), TE Tucker Kraft (Q), RB MarShawn Lloyd (Q), DE Arron Mosby (O), CB Carrington Valentine (Q), RB Emmanuel Wilson (Q).

Philadelphia: CB James Bradberry IV (IR), S Sydney Brown (O), TE McCallan Castles (IR), OT Le’Raven Clark (IR), WR Jacob Harris (IR), WR Joseph Ngata (IR), TE Albert Okwegbunam Jr. (IR), CB Isaiah Rodgers (Q), WR Ainias Smith (IR), LB Devin White (O).

All injuries are directly from ESPN Injury Reports as of Wednesday, September 4.

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