The Green Bay Packers will kick off the 2024 NFL season in an unprecedented fashion, facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6, in São Paulo, Brazil.
This highly anticipated matchup marks the very first time an NFL game will be played in South America, adding an exciting international twist to the league’s schedule.
Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst addressed the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the overseas matchup.
“I’m going to go glass half full on this as much as I can. We’re not in Philly, so that’s a really good thing,” Gutekunst told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“As that thing came down, I think there were some logistical challenges, but I think as we’ve gotten through those, we’re pretty excited to go down there and our players are very excited and putting it on a Friday night early where we’re the only one on TV and everybody’s watching I think players always love that.
“It’ll be exciting, and it’ll be a new experience, but I think, again we’re not in Philadelphia so that’s a good thing.”
The game is officially designated as a home game for the Eagles, sparing the Packers from having to play in one of the NFL’s toughest environments.
Philadelphia’s passionate fanbase is known for making life difficult for visiting teams, so the neutral site in Brazil might be a slight advantage for Green Bay.
Additionally, the Friday night scheduling gives the Packers a rare opportunity to return home and enjoy a full weekend of rest before hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.
Both the Packers and Eagles are expected to be strong playoff contenders this season, making this early-season showdown all the more intriguing.
The Eagles boast one of the NFL’s most talented rosters, now bolstered by the addition of running back Saquon Barkley.
Meanwhile, the Packers are coming off a strong finish to the 2023 season, with quarterback Jordan Love earning a contract extension after a series of impressive performances.
In their respective divisions, the Packers will likely face stiff competition from the Detroit Lions, while the Eagles will continue their rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys.
This Week 1 matchup figures to have significant implications for the NFC playoff race and might even serve as a preview of a future postseason battle.
What are your thoughts on such an important game being played in Brazil? … Are you in favor of it? Or do you think it should have remained a true Eagles home game???