After setting a franchise record with 477 points in their 2022 Super Bowl season, the Eagles went downhill a bit in 2023. While their 433 points were still the seventh-best mark in team history and they finished seventh in the league in scoring, the eye test showed concerns. These increased as the team plummeted from a 10-1 start to an 11-6 finish that was capped off with an embarrassing playoff loss to the Buccaneers.
That offense will now face the Packers in Brazil on Friday night to open its season, facing new Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Hafley, 45, spent the last four seasons as head coach at Boston College, compiling a 22-26 record. He brings seven years of professional defensive coaching experience in Tampa Bay, Cleveland and San Francisco. During his time with the 49ers, current Jets head coach Robert Saleh was the team’s defensive coordinator. He will lead Green Bay to switch to a 4-3 formation.
What can the Eagles expect against Hafley and the Packers defense?
Even though a new leader and a new system are in place, here are some select statistics on Green Bay’s defensive performance in 2023:
| statistics | figure | Rank |
| Points/game | 20.6 | 10th place |
| Total Yards | 5,696 | 17. |
| Passing Yards | 3,515 | 9th place |
| Racing yards | 2,181 | 28. |
| Defensive level* | 71.4 | 21. |
| Passing grade D* | 62.5 | 18. |
| Run D Class* | 71.2 | 18. |
| Bags | 45 | t-16 |
via PFF*
Jaire Alexander was twice selected to the Second Team All-Pro as a cornerback. The last time the Eagles faced the Packers in 2022 with the trio of Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, Alexander was targeted six times in coverage and allowed two catches for 23 yards in the Eagles’ 40-33 win, according to PFF.
Eric Stokes, a 2021 first-round pick, is at corner opposite Alexander. The Packers also signed back end safety Xavier McKinney to a four-year deal worth up to $67 million. While resources have been invested in that secondary, stopping guys like Brown and Smith may be the toughest task for them this year.
Defensive tackle Kenny Clark is also coming off a Pro Bowl season for the Packers. In his five matchups to watch in the game, our Eagles writer Jimmy Kempski highlighted Clark’s performance against Eagles right guard Mekhi Becton, who will make his team debut in Week 1.
When asked what immediately catches the eye about Clark, Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore replied before practice on Monday: “Explosion.”
Moore continued, “He’s a guy that could have a big impact on this game. We realize they’ve invested a lot in this defense. They’ve done a great job of building the talent around this thing. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”
Moore was also asked what he learned about Becton in his role as right guard.
“It’s obvious he can do it, and he’s done a great job of just getting into a new role, getting with the guys, the veterans around him, and just embracing it,” Moore said. “He’s done a phenomenal job. So many positives.”
Of course, Jason Kelce is now retired, so Cam Jurgens moves to center, with Becton as the new RG. That’s a fresh interior team coming into Week 1. Changes everywhere!
The Eagles’ talent at wide receiver is evident with two stars in Brown and Smith, but today it looks like Saquon Barkley could really break out. It remains to be seen how he will be used in his time with the Eagles right from kickoff in Week 1, but the Birds should be able to run and do well against this Packers defense.
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