Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns in his debut for Philadelphia, leading the Eagles past the Green Bay Packers 34-29 on Saturday night as Brazil hosted the first NFL game in South America.
Packer quarterback Jordan Love limped off the field with help after getting injured with six seconds left in Sao Paulo. Backup Malik Willis was sacked by Zack Baun on the last play, preventing him from launching a Hail Mary from the Philadelphia 47’s.
Barkley rushed for 109 yards and scored on 18 catches and runs of 11 and two yards. Barkley spent six seasons with the New York Giants before the Eagles signed him to a three-year, $37.75 million (£28.7m) contract with $26 million (£19.8m) guaranteed.
He became the first player to score three goals in 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 five passes for 119 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown.
Jordan Love was helped off the field after an injury
Green Bay’s Jayden Reed scored on a 33-yard jet sweep and a 70-yard reception, which was the longest touchdown run of Love’s career. Reed caught a Love pass inside the Philadelphia 40 and made a move around the 30 that sent safety CJ Gardner-Johnson sprawling.
Reed became the first player to catch a 30-plus-yard touchdown and a 30-plus-yard touchdown run in a season opener since Hall of Famer Jim Brown did it for the Cleveland Browns against Washington in 1963.
Reed also had a 38-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive as both teams had 12 men on the field. He finished with four catches for 138 yards.
Love went 17 of 34 for 260 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Head of Statistics:
Green Bay Package:
- graduate: Jordan Love, 17/34, 260 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- rushing: Josh Jacobs, 16 carries, 84 yards
- receive: Jayden Reed, 4 catches, 138 yards, 1 TD (+1 rushing TD)
Philadelphia Eagles:
- graduate: Jalen Sakit, 20/34, 278 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- rushing: Saquon Barkley, 24 carries, 109 yards, 2 TDs (+1 receiving TD)
- receive: AJ Brown, 5 catches, 119 yards, 1 TD
Barkley’s third goal gave the Eagles a 31-26 lead with 4:26 left in the third quarter. Reed Blankenship set up the score with an interception that gave Philadelphia the ball at Green Bay’s 25.
The Eagles still led 31-26 when Jaire Alexander intercepted Hurts in the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Green Bay drove into the red zone but settled for a 26-yard field goal by rookie Brayden Narveson, who went 3 for 4 on the attempt.
Philadelphia then controlled possession until Jake Elliott kicked a 21-yard field goal with 27 seconds left.
Several Eagles players have expressed reluctance earlier this week about traveling to Brazil, which gives them the opportunity to play their season opener at home. The crowd at the NeoQuimica Arena was rather balanced between Packers fans, Eagles fans and spectators who were just cheering for the positive development.
Players from both teams jumped on the playing surface during the first half. A Brazilian Serie A football match was held at the stadium five days earlier.
The NeoQuimica Arena is often hailed by soccer fans as the best in Brazil, but it has never hosted an American soccer match. Hybrid fields include grass and synthetic fibers.
Slippery surfaces may cause a poor start.
The Eagles committed turnovers on each of the first two series, enabling Green Bay to start back-to-back drives in the red zone, but the Packers settled for field goals twice.
Then the offense took over. Six of his next seven possessions resulted in touchdowns.
Score summary
What do they say?
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley: “I always visualize success and put positivity in my mind. That’s one of my goals this year: to think more positively.”
Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown: “I don’t know if Sao Paulo knows when to have fun, but it’s great. It’s loud all the time. They get a bad rap. We get a lot of ‘Don’t do it’, but it’s been great since we got here.”
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur: “We have to learn from this, because just watching the tape, and I’m not trying to take anything away from Philly – they fought and played the game – but I think there were a lot of opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on.
“The red area is a big problem tonight. I would say a year ago, we were pretty good in that area. And we were destroyed in that area last night.”
Packers wide receiver Christian Watson on Jordan Love’s injury: “We know what kind of person he is, how he approaches everything. Whatever it is, I know he’ll get through it. We’ll get through it.”
What’s next?
After a nervous wait regarding Love’s condition, the Packers will host their home opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Eagles will play in their own home stadium against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports NFL.
Watch the Atlanta Falcons take on the Pittsburgh Steelers from 18:00 live on Sky Sports on Saturday, September 8, followed by the Dallas Cowboys at the Cleveland Browns from 21:25 and the Los Angeles Rams at the Detroit Lions at 1:20 on Saturday morning. Also stream with NOW.
