For the first time in the long and storied history of the NFL, the league will head to South America for Friday night's Week 1 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.
The latest: The Eagles are favoured by a field goal in Sao Paulo, Brazil as they look to start strong after crashing out in the latter half of last season. As for the Packers, a lot of folks are wondering if last year's late surge was a fluke — or the start of something special.
Check out my Packers vs. Eagles best bet and full odds for their Week 1 matchup on Sept. 6.
Packers vs. Eagles best bet
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Everything was going so well for the Eagles last year. Until it wasn't.
After an overtime win in Week 12, the Eagles soared to a 10-1 record and were deemed the class of the NFC — if not the league. But they went 1-6 from there, including a miserable wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Green Bay trended in the other direction, winning six of its final eight regular season games to earn a postseason berth. From there, the Packers steamrolled the Dallas Cowboys before taking a three-point loss against the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
On the NFC championship odds leaderboard, the Eagles and Packers sit third and fourth. This should be an exceptional test between two teams with sky-high hopes.
Back the Packers to cover
Best bet: Packers +3 (-121)
In a neutral site game that I expect to be close, I'll gladly bank a field goal with the Packers.
Jordan Love finished strong in his first season as a starter and I'm hopeful he can pick up where he left off with the same receiving corps, tight ends and play-caller in the mix.
From Week 10 onward last year, Love posted a 25:5 TD-to-INT ratio and a 107.8 passer rating. For context, only Brock Purdy had a higher season-long passer rating last year.
Green Bay went 6-6 straight up as an underdog and likely won't find itself in that role as often this season.
Not to linger on the past, but the Eagles really did collapse down the stretch in 2023. They went 0-7-1 ATS in their final eight games and only had one win by more than a field goal.
Philly addressed its problematic pass defence (31st in yards and TDs allowed) through the draft, but I don't expect rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to make a world of difference right away.
Love and the Packers should have enough offensive firepower to at least keep this close.
Key stat: Green Bay covered or pushed a +3 spread in 14 of 19 games last season.
NFL pick made at 2:05 p.m. on 09/02/24.
