After a back-and-forth game with offensive explosions — and plenty of miscues — the Philadelphia Eagles are the winner of the NFL’s first game in Brazi, defeating the Green Bay Packers 34-29.
In his Eagles debut, Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns, two on the ground and one receiving. Jayden Reed scored twice for the Packers, who ultimately couldn’t take advantage of three Philadelphia turnovers.
And to add injury to insult, Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love limped off the field in pain on the game’s third-to-last play, leaving with an apparent leg injury after trying to extend a play.
It was a sloppy yet explosive affair. The teams combined for 17 penalties and four turnovers. There were five scoring drives in the second quarter alone, however, as the teams combined for a stretch from late in the first through early in the third without punting.
Green Bay started the scoring with two field goals that followed two Eagles turnovers — an interception and fumbled snap by Jalen Hurts on back-to-back drives.
Not converting those takeaways into touchdowns cost the Packers though, who also managed only a field goal after a fourth-quarter interception by Hurts. In all, Green Bay had nine points off three turnovers, as well as a missed field goal and failed two-point attempt.
After a slow start, the Philly offense found its footing, scoring on four straight drives starting in the second quarter. Barkley scored his first Eagles touchdown through the air before punching in two more on the ground. Hurts also connected with A.J. Brown for a 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter, the second-longest TD pass of his career.
In the fourth, the Packers were trailing 31-26 and were deep in Eagles territory after Hurts’ second pick. But on 4th-and-5 from the eight-yard-line, Green Bay opted for a field goal instead of attempting to convert. Philadelphia ran out all but 27 seconds of the clock on its next drive, and added three points for good measure.
On the Packers’ last drive, Love was trying to extend a play when his legs were crumpled under multiple defenders. He laid on the field for a few moments before limping off with assistance and he did not return for the game’s final plays.
Green Bay will play the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 15, and the Eagles will play the Atlanta Falcons on “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 16.