Saquon Barkley made an impressive debut for the Philadelphia Eagles, scoring three touchdowns as the team triumphed over the Green Bay Packers with a score of 34-29. This matchup marked the first NFL game held in South America.
The game ended on a concerning note for the Packers as quarterback Jordan Love sustained an injury and had to leave the field with assistance, just six seconds remaining in the game. Backup Malik Willis faced a sack from Zack Baun on the final play, preventing a last-minute chance for a Hail Mary attempt from the Philadelphia 47-yard line.
Barkley, who previously spent six seasons with the New York Giants, rushed for 109 yards and found the end zone on an 18-yard catch and runs of 11 and 2 yards. He signed with Philadelphia for three years at $37.75 million, with $26 million guaranteed, and became the first player to score three touchdowns in an Eagles debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards, including two touchdowns and two interceptions. A.J. Brown had five receptions for 119 yards, featuring a notable 67-yard touchdown.
For Green Bay, Jayden Reed made an impact, scoring on a 33-yard jet sweep and a long 70-yard reception–the longest touchdown throw of Love’s career. Reed’s touchdown contributions marked a rare achievement, being the first to have a touchdown catch of over 30 yards and a touchdown run of over 30 yards in a season opener since Hall of Famer Jim Brown in 1963. He ended the game with four receptions for 138 yards.
Love recorded 17 completions on 34 attempts for 260 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Barkley’s third touchdown put the Eagles ahead 31-26 late in the third quarter, following an interception by Reed Blankenship that set up the score. The Eagles maintained the lead, even as Jaire Alexander picked off Hurts in the end zone early in the fourth quarter. The Packers managed to drive into the red zone but settled for a 26-yard field goal by rookie Brayden Narveson, who made three out of four attempts.
The Eagles then controlled the ball, leading up to a 21-yard field goal from Jake Elliott with just 27 seconds to go.
Despite some players voicing hesitation about traveling to Brazil, which meant missing a season opener at home, the crowd at NeoQuimica Arena was mixed, with fans from both teams and neutral spectators enjoying the action.
Throughout the first half, players from both teams struggled on the playing surface, as a Brazilian soccer league match had taken place just five days prior. Although the NeoQuimica Arena’s field is usually lauded for its quality, this marked its first ever hosting of an American football game, featuring a combination of grass and synthetic fiber, which likely contributed to a rocky start for the teams.
Both teams faced a few early turnovers, and while Philadelphia faltered in their initial series, Green Bay could only convert resulting drives into field goals. However, as the game progressed, six of the next seven possessions resulted in touchdowns.
Injury notes included Eagles linebacker Devin White (ankle) not participating in the game, while the Packers were without running backs AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd—Dillon was placed on injured reserve with a neck issue last week, and Lloyd missed the game due to a hamstring injury.
Looking ahead, the Eagles will host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, September 16.