Packers RB Josh Jacobs says Jordan Love will be the league’s “next superstar”
Josh Jacobs praises his new quarterback and says Jordan Love has what it takes to be one of the best in the league.
Sport in Seriousness
In the first NFL game in Brazil, two up-and-coming NFC teams will face off against each other on Friday night.
Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles face Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers at the Corinthians Arena in San Paulo.
Hurts and the Eagles enter the season after an early postseason exit last season, having reached the Super Bowl in 2022-23.
Love and the Packers made a splash in the playoffs last year, defeating the Dallas Cowboys before falling to the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
The Packers and Eagles will likely be playoff contenders this season, offering an exciting Friday night duel in South America to kick off the 2024 NFL season.
How to watch the Packers vs. Eagles game on Friday night?
The Packers game against the Eagles begins at 8:15 p.m. ET and can be streamed live on Peacock.
Watch Packers vs. Eagles on Peacock
Packers vs. Eagles Betting Odds
The Eagles (-150) are the moneyline favorites, while the Packers (+125) are slight underdogs. The over/under is 48.5 points, with the Eagles favored by 3 points, according to BETMGM.
The NFL plays its first game in Brazil
The NFL will play its first game in Brazil on Friday. With its entry into South America, the league continues to expand its international presence. Brazil is an important market for the NFL, which has played in England, Germany and Mexico in recent years. The league will play a game in Madrid in 2025.
“Bringing the NFL to new continents, countries and cities around the world is a critical part of our plan to continue to grow the game globally,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement when the game was first announced last December.
“Brazil has established itself as a key market for the NFL and we are excited to play in Brazil and São Paulo for the first time in 2024. We look forward to working with the City of São Paulo, SP Turis and the Corinthians Arena to deliver a world-class gaming experience to this passionate and growing fan base.”
Spotlight on the quarterbacks: Jordan Love vs. Jalen Hurts
Hurts is entering his fifth NFL season as the Eagles’ $51 million starter. Only Patrick Mahomes (36) and Josh Allen (35) have more wins than Hurts (33) since the start of the 2021 season. Hurts is expected to expand his leadership role this season after longtime center Jason Kelce retired. But a return to the playoffs is imperative for Philadelphia.
Love is entering his second season as the Packers’ starter (fifth overall) after signing the most lucrative contract for a quarterback in NFL history (four years, $220 million) in the offseason. Love will make $55 million this season, a league-high, and expectations are high after a whirlwind playoff run last season. The Packers beat the Cowboys 48-32 but lost to the 49ers 24-21 before the NFL title game.
Notable Player: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
Running back Saquon Barkley was the face of the New York Giants. Now he plays for the Eagles after signing a three-year, $37.75 million contract in the offseason. He will bolster the offense behind Hurts with dynamic receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. The Eagles could rely on their running game behind Hurts and Barkley to keep the Packers offense off the field during their opening game.
Predictions for the Eagles vs. Packers game on Friday
Here are the USA TODAY Sports editors’ predictions for Friday’s Brazil game:
- Jarrett Bell: Packers 27–24
- Chris Bumbaca: Packers 30-27
- Nate Davis: Packers 27-23
- Safid Deen: Eagles 27-23
- Tyler Dragon: Eagles 26-21
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Packers
- Lorenzo Reyes: Packers 24-20
Tips for the first week of the NFL
DISCLAIMER: We occasionally recommend products and services of interest. If you make a purchase through one of the links, we may receive an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this does not influence our reporting.
