SAO PAULO, Brazil – The Packers dropped the first NFL game in South America to the Eagles, 34-29, and lost quarterback Jordan Love to an injury in the waning moments.
Here are five takeaways from the frustrating Week 1 defeat Friday night at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo:
- There was no update on Love's injury after the game.
The television broadcast had indicated Love was dealing with a calf injury, possibly from a slip on the field earlier in the game. On what turned out to be the third-to-last play in the fourth quarter, Love tried to avoid a sack and went down in considerable pain.
He was helped off the field and was walking more under his own power after the game but did not speak to the media. Asked what happened to Love, Head Coach Matt LaFleur answered, "I don't know."
Backup QB Malik Willis came in to try a Hail Mary but was sacked before getting the throw away.
- The Packers blew their chance to have firm control of this one early.
On the Eagles' first two possessions, the Packers took the ball away twice on a Xavier McKinney interception and Devonte Wyatt fumble recovery. Both turnovers occurred deep in Philly territory.
But Green Bay's offense sputtered due to penalties and poor execution, settling for two field goals rather than possibly taking a 14-0 lead.
A third turnover, this one a Jaire Alexander interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter, resulted in a long drive the other way. But once again, the offense bogged down and had to kick it.
On the flip side, the Eagles got one takeaway when Love threw an interception in Green Bay territory, and Philadelphia turned that into a touchdown.
"To force three takeaways against a really good offense, I feel we should win the game," LaFleur said. "Stats will tell you it's a 90 percent win ratio when you're plus-2 o the ball.
"Nine points off three turnovers, not good enough."
The Green Bay Packers kicked off their first game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
- Another promising drive ended in a missed field goal that proved costly as well.
Trailing by five late in the third quarter, the Packers once again had to settle for a field goal, and rookie Brayden Narveson missed wide right from 43 yards, grazing the right upright.
That only added to the points the Packers left out on the field in a game that was tight throughout. Narveson's third make in four tries, in the fourth quarter, made it a two-point game at 31-29 as the miss loomed large.
"We had a lot of opportunities we didn't capitalize on and when you don't do that, you get beat," LaFleur said. "The red area was a huge problem tonight. Last year I thought we were pretty good in that area, but we got destroyed there tonight."
- Penalties certainly didn't help.
There were 17 total in the game (10 on Green Bay, seven on Philly), not including declined or offsetting ones.
On offense, the Packers had a couple damaging holding calls as well as an offensive pass interference and several pre-snap violations. On defense, untimely fouls late helped the Eagles kill almost the final eight minutes on the clock when the Packers needed the ball back.
"A lot to clean up," LaFleur said. "Definitely a sloppy game for us. There were some uncharacteristic things we did as a staff, frankly, that trickled down to our players.
"Guys competed hard, but it was sloppy. It seemed like every time offensively we had a drive-stopping penalty. We overcame some of those, but a lot of penalties."
- Ultimately, the Eagles just had too much firepower.
The teams traded haymakers, with Jayden Reed (four catches, 138 yards) scoring on a 33-yard end-around run and a 70-yard catch-and-run pass for the Packers while A.J. Brown (five for 119) turned in a 67-yard TD reception for the Eagles.
After a slow start, Josh Jacobs started to get free for the Packers and finished with 84 yards, but Saquon Barkley had 109 on the ground with two TDs for Philly, plus a receiving touchdown.
QB Jalen Hurts threw for 278 yards (20-of-34) to Love's 260 (17-of-34), but more important, the Eagles just churned out too many long drives – three of more than five minutes of possession, the last one more than seven – and the Packers missed too many tackles in the debut of new coordinator Jeff Hafley's defense.
"They were having their way with us," LaFleur said. "I expected more from our pass rush tonight, and when we did bring pressure, a lot of times it looked like guys were uncovered.
"We had some mistakes, in the run game had some blown gaps where Saquon was barreling through there and getting chunk gains. You can't do that against a good football team."
Both teams struggled with footing on a slippery field, which produced a lot of missed tackles, but LaFleur stressed it was the same for both clubs.
In the end, a boisterous crowd of 47,236 was wildly entertained.
"I thought the atmosphere was outstanding," LaFleur said. "A lot of credit to the fans tonight. They showed out. It was an incredible setting.
"I'm just disappointed right now we didn't capitalize on the opportunity to come here and show what we're all about and play our best brand of football."
