The first ever NFL game in Brazil helps kick start Week 1 of the new NFL season as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo.
Both teams reached the postseason last year and will be aiming to get the perfect start as they look to conquer the NFC this season.
There has been change for the Eagles, who bring in a new Defensive Coordinator in the shape of Vic Fangio, along with a revamped secondary.
They have also crucially lost Jason Kelce, who retired over the offseason, so quarterback Jalen Hurts will not have his dependable centre to rely on.
The Packers’ young team will be looking to build on an impressive first year for Jordan Love, who led Green Bay to a road playoff win in his first year as a starter before falling just short when losing to the eventual NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.
The first ever NFL game in South America is set to bring its own unique challenges to both teams in this matchup.
The weather is set to be better than it is in the league’s usual trips to London but it will be humid and the travel can disrupt team’s preparations, particularly in the lead up to a new season.
The field at Corinthians Arena is not closed so will be exposed to the elements and Philadelphia will miss out on home advantage that they would have gotten if lining up at Lincoln Financial Field.
They will also have to contend with Jordan Love, who was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL toward the end of last season.
The first-year starter threw 2,150 yards, 18 touchdowns and just one interception in the last eight games of the year before guiding his team to a 48-32 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs.
They subsequently lost narrowly to the 49ers in the next round but have made some exciting additions to their offense, most notably running back Josh Jacobs, who had the second-highest yards per carry in his position last term.
The Packers have also retained their young group of receivers, who look set to develop and can do some damage to an Eagles secondary that struggled in 2023.
On the other hand, Jalen Hurts is a two-time Pro Bowler who has to be respected now that he has shaken off the injuries that dogged his season last time around.
The best play looks to be to side with the over in this one, both teams have explosive offenses and the over hit in 11 of the Packers 19 games last season.
After a career playing for the New York Giants, pulling on a Philadelphia Eagles uniform may be a strange sensation for Saquon Barkley but he will relish playing in this offense.
A threat in both the running and passing game, the 27-year-old could have a breakout game behind this offensive line and is taken to record at least one touchdown in his first game for the Eagles.
Read more betting picks and predictions for the NFL on site.
GB Packers | +125 |
PHI Eagles | -150 |
Spread | PHI -2.5 |
Total Points | O/U 49.0 |
Saquon Barkley (PHI Eagles) | -105 |
Josh Jacobs (GB Packers) | +105 |
Jalen Hurts (PHI Eagles) | +110 |
A.J. Brown (PHI Eagles) | +125 |
DeVonta Smith (PHI Eagles) | +140 |
Christian Watson (GB Packers) | +162 |
Read the latest NFL news on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.