Philadelphia Eagles vs Green Bay Packers Picks and Predictions September 6th 2024

PEA will be televising the week one matchup between the Eagles and Packers on Friday, September 6th at 8:15 ET. The game is being played at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, making it a neutral site game. The Eagles are the home team and are favored by -3, with their money line sitting at -149. The Packers’ money line is +125, and the over/under line is set at 49 points.

The Packers were 9-8 overall last season, placing 2nd in the NFC North with a 4-2 division record. They advanced to the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, where they lost 24-21 to the 49ers. Green Bay’s road record was 5-6, and they were above .500 with a 5-4 record against teams with winning records. Against the spread, they were 11-8, going 9-5 as underdogs and 2-3 as favorites.

Their 8th-ranked passing offense helped their games average 45.2 points, resulting in an 11-8 over/under record. The Packers finished the season 7th in the NFC and 13th in the league in scoring. They were 3-2 vs. the spread in home underdog situations and 2-1 as home favorites.

Green Bay’s offense was at its best on the road last season, averaging 27 points per game, the 2nd best figure in the league. Overall, they were 8th in the NFL with 23.8 points per game. The Packers were 7th in offensive power rankings and 6th in yards per play, averaging 5.7 yards.

In the passing game, the Packers were 8th in yards per attempt. They finished 13th in passing yards per game. Green Bay ran the ball 26.4 times per game, which was 18th in the league, and they converted on 47.1% of their third down attempts, ranking 5th in the NFL.

On the road, the Packers’ defense gave up 22.4 points per game, which was the 10th best figure in the league. For the season, they allowed 21.4 points per game, ranking 13th in the NFL. Green Bay’s defense was 23rd in the power rankings, and they allowed 354.4 yards per game, which was 22nd in the league. They were tough in the red zone, ranking 9th in red zone scoring percentage allowed.

Despite giving up a lot of yards, the Packers were tough to score on, giving up the 5th fewest passing touchdowns. They also forced 18 turnovers and had the 8th best turnover differential in the NFL. However, on third downs, opposing offenses converted against the Packers 41.1% of the time, ranking 21st in the league.

The Packers were 9-8 last season, finishing 2nd in the NFC North with a 4-2 record against division rivals. They made it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, where they lost to the 49ers 24-21. Green Bay’s road record was 5-6, and they were above .500 at home, going 5-3.

Overall, the Packers were 11-8 against the spread, with an over/under record of 11-8, averaging a combined 45.2 points per game. When favored, Green Bay went 3-2 ATS, and as underdogs, they went 7-7 ATS. Their games ranked 13th in the league in average combined scoring.

Green Bay was the 2nd best scoring offense on the road last season, averaging 27 points per game, but they struggled at home, ranking 24th with 19.4 points per game. Overall, they were the 8th best scoring unit in the league, averaging 23.8 points per game. The Packers finished the season with the 7th best offense power ranking. They were 8th in the league in points per game.

The Packers were 6th in yards per play, averaging 5.7 yards, and 8th in passing yards per attempt. They also excelled on third downs, converting 47.1% of their third down attempts. Green Bay finished 10th in the league in yards per game, averaging 348.3 yards per contest.

Despite finishing 23rd in defensive power rankings, the Packers’ defense was 13th best in points allowed last season, giving up 21.4 points per game. They were effective at pressuring the quarterback, ranking 9th in quarterback hits and 10th in sacks. Green Bay’s defense also had the 8th best turnover differential in the NFL.

However, they struggled on third downs, allowing a 41.1% conversion rate, which was 21st in the league. Additionally, opponents were able to move the ball against them, as they gave up 345.4 yards per game, ranking 22nd in the NFL.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers are kicking off the 2024 NFL season in a groundbreaking way — by playing the league’s first-ever regular-season game in South America. This historic Week 1 matchup takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday night. While the location is unique, both teams are approaching it with a business-first mindset, focusing on extending their success under head coaches Nick Sirianni and Matt LaFleur.

Eagles Seek Continued Early-Season Dominance

The Eagles have built a reputation for starting the season strong, and they haven’t lost a September game since 2021. Under Sirianni, they’re 3-0 in season openers and will aim to keep that streak alive, even with the challenge of playing on neutral ground. Last season, Philadelphia soared to a 10-1 start before being knocked out in the wild-card round. In 2022, they were even more dominant, finishing 13-1 before a Super Bowl appearance.

Packers Look to Build on Playoff Consistency

For the Packers, the trip to Brazil is just another step toward building on their recent playoff success. Under LaFleur, Green Bay has made the playoffs four times in the last five seasons. Last year, they defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round but were eliminated by the San Francisco 49ers after a late-game touchdown from Christian McCaffrey.

LaFleur stressed that the focus is all business: “It’s not going to be anything crazy that we haven’t done before. We’re focused on the Eagles and what we need to do.”

Logistical Challenges and Security Concerns

Playing in Sao Paulo presents unique logistical challenges for both teams, especially with the long 10-hour flight and quick turnaround. The Eagles will arrive late Wednesday, hold a walk-through at Corinthians Arena on Thursday, and head back to Philadelphia right after the game on Friday night. The Packers have a similar plan, prepping at the Corinthians soccer club training ground.

Safety has also been a hot topic, with players expressing concerns. Eagles cornerback Darius Slay raised the issue on his “Big Play Slay” podcast, especially noting the crime rate in Sao Paulo.

Star Players to Watch: Spotlight on the Running Game

While much of the pre-game buzz has focused on the quarterbacks — Jalen Hurts for Philadelphia and Jordan Love for Green Bay — with their faces adorning a massive mural in downtown Sao Paulo, the spotlight for Friday’s game is likely to be on the running backs.

The Eagles have added a major weapon to their offense with Saquon Barkley, a two-time Pro Bowler who joined the team after an impressive run with the New York Giants, where he racked up over 5,000 rushing yards. Meanwhile, the Packers signed Josh Jacobs, the NFL’s 2022 rushing leader, who brings more than 5,500 rushing yards from his time with the Raiders.

Injury Report

The Eagles will be without linebacker Devin White (ankle) and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (hand) for the Brazil game. On the Packers side, running backs MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) and Emanuel Wilson (hip), as well as tight end Tucker Kraft (back), are listed as questionable. However, good news for Green Bay fans: wide receiver Romeo Doubs (hand), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hip), and cornerback Carrington Valentine (hamstring) are expected to play after being limited in practice earlier this week.

Conclusion: A Historic Game with Playoff Aspirations

This first-ever NFL regular-season game in Brazil marks a special moment in the league’s history, but for the Eagles and Packers, the mission remains the same: start the season strong. The Eagles are aiming to keep their early-season dominance going, while the Packers hope to set the tone for another playoff run.

Despite the exotic setting, both teams are laser-focused on the task at hand — proving that whether it’s in the U.S. or South America, football is always about business.

Our pick vs. the spread for this week one matchup between the Eagles and Packers is to take the Eagles to cover the spread. Even though the Packers are the favorite at +3, we have the Eagles pulling off the upset by a score of 27-22.

For this one, we have the Eagles covering as home favorites. As for an over/under pick, with the line sitting at 49 points, we like the over, with a projected score of 27-22 in favor of the Eagles.