The Green Bay Packers will open their 2024 season on Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles at Arena Corinthians in São Paolo, Brazil, marking the first NFL game to be played in South America.
This is a highly anticipated clash between two talented teams with massive goals for the upcoming season. Both teams are led by two newborn, talented playmakers supported by great supporting casts. Friday’s match will be a great first test for both teams.
Here are the three most critical matchups to watch out for:
CB Eric Stokes vs. WR Eagles
Stokes’ first robust start since Week 9 of the 2022 season won’t be effortless. The 2021 first-round pick will be thrown into the fire against one of the league’s most talented receiver groups. The Eagles are led by wide receivers AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, two lethal pass-catchers who are coming off 1,000-yard seasons. Stokes is robust for the first time in more than a year after battling multiple hamstring injuries stemming from a foot injury that required surgery. Green Bay is hoping Stokes can return to his rookie form, where he showed plenty of promise early on, being named to the 2021 Sports Info Solutions All-Rookie Team. The 25-year-old cornerback has a lot to prove this season after a gritty start in his sophomore season and playing just 110 snaps in 2023. Have the injuries affected Stokes’ speed? Can he be relied on to match Jaire Alexander? Does he deserve a second contract? These are the questions Stokes must face in 2024, and it all starts on Friday.
Packers Interior OL vs. Eagles DTs
Philadelphia can no longer rely on defensive end Fletcher Cox, who retired after 12 productive seasons. The Eagles aren’t expected to have much trouble replacing the future Hall of Famer with two former top-15 picks, Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, poised for bigger roles. That means Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers and whoever starts at right guard for the Packers — likely Sean Rhyan — will have their hands full. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, there’s no reason to worry about Jenkins. But the same can’t be said for Myers and Rhyan, who have a lot of uncertainty surrounding them heading into the fresh season. Myers needs to take the next step in his development and prove he can be a long-term starter for the team under center. In the meantime, Rhyan may just be a replacement for rookie Jordan Morgan until he’s ready to take over. It all starts in the trenches, where Green Bay needs to have an answer for Philadelphia’s defensive playmakers.
Packers Pass Rush vs. Eagles OL
The last time we saw Hurts, he was nearly crushed to death in the Wild Card round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to Next Gen Stats, Hurts was pressured in under 2.5 seconds 13 times in that game. Knowing that changes were needed, the Eagles parted ways with offensive coordinator Brian Johnson this offseason. Kellen Moore has been tapped to replace him, but the question remains whether he has his players better equipped to handle pressure. Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said he plans to “let his imagination run wild” in his first game as quarterback. That could mean a lot of things, but if it means putting a ton of pressure on Hurts, he’ll have a ton of talent at his disposal. Led by a deep group of pass rushers, the Packers hope they can rely on them to disrupt the quarterback’s play all season long.
