Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns on his debut for Philadelphia, main the Eagles previous the Inexperienced Bay Packers 34-29 on Friday evening as Brazil hosted the primary NFL recreation in South America.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love limped off the sphere with help after getting injured with six seconds remaining in Sao Paulo. Backup Malik Willis was sacked by Zack Baun on the ultimate play of the sport, stopping him from launching a Hail Mary from the Philadelphia 47.
Barkley rushed for 109 yards and scored on an 18-yard catch and runs of 11 and two yards. Barkley spent six seasons with the New York Giants earlier than the Eagles signed him to a three-year, $37.75 million (£28.7m) take care of $26 million (£19.8m) assured.
He turned the primary participant to attain three touchdowns on his Eagles debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.
Jalen Hurts was 20 of 34 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Eagles. AJ Brown caught 5 passes for 119 yards, together with a 67-yard landing.
Inexperienced Bay’s Jayden Reed scored on a 33-yard jet sweep and a 70-yard reception, which was the longest landing completion of Love’s profession. Reed caught Love’s go inside Philadelphia’s 40 and made a transfer at across the 30 that despatched security CJ Gardner-Johnson sprawling.
Reed turned the primary participant to have a landing catch of 30-plus yards and a landing run of 30-plus yards in a season opener since Corridor of Famer Jim Brown did it for the Cleveland Browns towards Washington in 1963.
Reed additionally had an obvious 38-yard landing reception on the opening drive get worn out as a result of each groups had 12 males on the sphere. He completed with 4 catches for 138 yards.
Love went 17 of 34 for 260 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Stats leaders:
Inexperienced Bay Packers:
- Passing: Jordan Love, 17/34, 260 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
- Dashing: Josh Jacobs, 16 carries, 84 yards
- Receiving: Jayden Reed, 4 catches, 138 yards, 1 TD (+1 speeding TD)
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Passing: Jalen Hurts, 20/34, 278 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- Dashing: Saquon Barkley, 24 carries, 109 yards, 2 TD (+1 receiving TD)
- Receiving: AJ Brown, 5 catches, 119 yards, 1 TD
Barkley’s third landing put the Eagles forward 31-26 with 4:26 left within the third quarter. Reed Blankenship arrange that rating with an interception that gave Philadelphia the ball at Inexperienced Bay’s 25.
The Eagles nonetheless led 31-26 when Jaire Alexander intercepted Hurts in the long run zone early within the fourth quarter. Inexperienced Bay drove into the pink zone however settled for a 26-yard discipline purpose by rookie Brayden Narveson, who went 3 for 4 on his makes an attempt.
Philadelphia then managed possession till Jake Elliott kicked a 21-yard discipline purpose with 27 seconds left.
Some Eagles gamers had expressed reluctance earlier this week about touring to Brazil, which value them the chance to play their season opener at residence. The gang at NeoQuimica Enviornment as a substitute was balanced amongst Packers followers, Eagles followers and spectators who simply cheered any optimistic improvement.
Gamers from each groups had been slipping on the enjoying floor all through the primary half. A Brazilian Serie A soccer match was performed within the stadium 5 days earlier.
NeoQuimica Enviornment’s discipline is commonly praised by soccer gamers as Brazil’s finest, but it surely had by no means hosted an American soccer recreation. The hybrid discipline consists of each grass and artificial fibre.
The slippery floor might have contributed to a sloppy begin.
The Eagles dedicated turnovers on every of their first two collection, enabling Inexperienced Bay to start out back-to-back drives within the pink zone, however the Packers settled for discipline objectives each instances.
Then the offenses took over. Six of the subsequent seven possessions resulted in touchdowns.
What did they are saying?
Eagles operating again Saquon Barkley: “I’m at all times about visualising success and placing positivity in my thoughts. That’s certainly one of my objectives this yr: be extra of a optimistic thinker.”
Eagles huge receiver AJ Brown: “I don’t know if Sao Paulo is aware of when to cheer, but it surely was nice. It was loud your complete time. They type of obtained a foul rap. We obtained an entire bunch of ‘Don’t do’s,’ but it surely’s been nice ever since we obtained right here.”
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur: “We’ve obtained to be taught from this, as a result of, simply watching the tape, and I’m not attempting to take something away from Philly – they battled they usually performed their recreation – however I believe there was a variety of alternatives that we didn’t capitalise.
“The pink space was an enormous downside tonight. I might say a yr in the past, we had been fairly rattling good in that space. And we obtained destroyed in that space tonight.”
Packers huge receiver Christian Watson on Jordan Love’s harm: “We all know what sort of man he’s, how he approaches all the pieces. No matter it’s, I do know he’s going to get by means of it. We’re going to get by means of it.”
What’s subsequent?
After a nervous wait relating to the situation of Love, the Packers will host their opening residence recreation towards the Indianapolis Colts subsequent Sunday. The Eagles will play in their very own residence stadium towards the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Evening Soccer, reside on Sky Sports activities NFL.
Watch the Atlanta Falcons tackle the Pittsburgh Steelers from 6pm reside on Sky Sports activities on Sunday September 8, adopted by the Dallas Cowboys on the Cleveland Browns from 9.25pm and the Los Angeles Rams on the Detroit Lions at 1.20am Monday morning. Additionally stream with NOW.