Two among the NFL’s most renowned teams will face off on Friday in an unusual site for the league: Brazil. The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles both have Super Bowl ambitions, but their rosters are riddled with concerns.
After two seasons of limited playing time, Packers quarterback Jordan Love succeeded in his first full season as a starter in 2023. He led Green Bay to a 9-8 record, with 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and a completion rate of 64.2%. The question now is whether Love can sustain this level of performance, demonstrating that he is a future star, or if last season was an anomaly. Another outstanding season would solidify his status as a rising star in the league.
The arrival of former Raiders running back Josh Jacobs has also helped the Packers improve their ground game. Jacobs underperformed last season, finishing with only 805 yards after leading the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards in 2022. A comeback in Green Bay may propel the Packers into serious contention.
On the reverse hand, the Eagles are gearing up for another deep playoff run. They have one of the NFC’s most dynamic offenses, with quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver A.J. Brown, and newly signed running back Saquon Barkley from the Giants. However, following a 10-1 start to the 2023 season, the Eagles faltered down the line, losing five of their final six games and falling out early in the playoffs. A strong start to the 2024 season will be critical to rekindling their title ambitions.