After years of facing relatively easy opponents in Week 1, the Philadelphia Eagles have a tall task in front of them on Friday night. The Eagles will face off against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil.
Over the past two seasons, the Eagles are 20-2 through their first 11 games, easily the best mark in the NFL. They’ll be looking to keep that hot streak alive against a significantly tougher opponent in Week 1.
Here are five matchups to watch during Friday night’s primetime matchup between the Eagles and Packers.
5 Matchups To Watch in Eagles vs. Packers
Saquon Barkley vs. Xavier McKinney
Over the last four seasons, Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney were leaders and key starters for the New York Giants. Earlier this offseason, each player found a new home. Barkley signed with the Eagles and McKinney signed with the Packers.
Now the former teammates will face off against each other in their first regular-season games for their new teams. While Barkley and McKinney’s interactions with each other on Friday night might be limited, they could be pivotal.
McKinney could play the deep safety role in new Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme. Therefore, McKinney could be left 1-on-1 against Barkley if Philadelphia’s star running back reaches the last level of Green Bay’s defense.
According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, McKinney offered high praise for his former teammate ahead of Friday night’s matchup.
“He’s just dynamic with the ball,” McKinney said. “He’s pretty much all you want a back to do. You’ve seen him over the years, the things that he’s done. When he has the ball in his hands, even when he’s running routes, he just can do it all. He’s a special back. One of one.”
Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun vs. Matt LaFleur
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is likely going with a starting linebacker duo of Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun, now that Devin White was ruled out. While Philadelphia’s revamped linebacker group has shown promise, there are certainly legitimate concerns about the unit’s coverage ability.
Therefore, the Eagles need to be prepared for Green Bay’s potent offense. Once the Packers found their offensive groove in Week 12 last season, Jordan Love was playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
A huge part of Green Bay’s late-season resurgence was the team’s ability to operate out of 12-personnel, especially using play action. According to Shane Haff of the Eagles Pin-Pull Network, the Packers used 12-personnel and play action at the third-highest clip in the NFL from Week 12 to Week 18.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
Dean and Baun are two players who aren’t exactly regarded for their phenomenal coverage ability. In two NFL seasons, Dean has allowed a completion percentage of 94.1% while in coverage. While Baun has allowed a completion percentage of 85.2% in four NFL seasons.
It will be interesting to see how Fangio attacks Green Bay’s offense, given that Dean and Baun will be obvious targets in coverage. Fangio could lean heavily on either Dean or Baun as pass rushers, which would help mask their struggles in coverage.
Mekhi Becton and Cam Jurgens vs. Kenny Clark
Although Philadelphia’s offensive line is renowned as one of the best units in the NFL, there are two new starters for the Eagles in 2024. Cam Jurgens will be tasked with replacing Jason Kelce at center, while Mekhi Becton won the starting job at right guard.
While both Jurgens and Becton will be full-time starters in the NFL at their respective positions for the first time this season, they’ll face a tough matchup in Week 1 as Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark is one of the best interior pass rushers in the league.
Clark recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023, along with 61 total pressures. Thanks to Hafley’s arrival as defensive coordinator, Clark could see fewer double teams moving forward.
It will be interesting to see how Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland handles Clark and Hafley’s attacking defense, especially given that Jurgens and Becton will be playing together during a game for the first time in Week 1.
Jalen Carter vs. Josh Myers and Jordan Morgan
Eagles second-year defensive lineman Jalen Carter got off to a hot start during his rookie season before cooling off down the final stretch. Now Carter is eager to wreak havoc along the defensive front in Fangio’s scheme.
While Green Bay’s offensive line is solid as a whole, there are definitely a few worthwhile targets that Fangio will look to exploit on Friday night. Most notable is starting center Josh Myers, who struggled last season.
Myers allowed five sacks and 28 total pressures in pass protection last season. Similar to Carter, Myers got off to a rock-solid start in 2023 and then struggled mightily down the stretch. It’ll be interesting to see if Fangio matches Carter up with Myers once Jordan Davis exits the game.
Alongside Myers, Green Bay is going with a rookie at right guard as first-round pick Jordan Morgan is expected to slide inside for the Packers. After spending his entire collegiate career at left tackle, Morgan is moving to right guard.
Morgan didn’t play a single snap during the preseason, as he dealt with a nagging shoulder injury. Therefore, his first action in the NFL could come against one of the best young interior defensive linemen in the league. Carter is likely eager to give Morgan his “welcome to the NFL” moment in Week 1.
Kellen Moore vs. Jeff Hafley
Similar to the Eagles, Green Bay made a notable change at defensive coordinator this offseason. The Packers hired Hafley, the former Boston College head coach, to revitalize the team’s underperforming defense.
Hafley will bring an aggressive 4-3 defensive front that could give the Eagles problems in Week 1. Therefore, it’ll be interesting to see what type of game plan Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore cooks up in Brazil.
FREE: Subscribe to PFN’s NFL Newsletter
Given Jalen Hurts’ well-documented struggles against the blitz, Moore is expected to have a significantly better plan in place for QB1 in Philadelphia. Yet the concerning factor is that Green Bay’s defense was able to generate pressure without blitzing in 2023.
The Packers were third-best last season at generating pressure without blitzing (38.6%, NFL average: 33.3%). While it was under a different defensive coordinator, it’ll be interesting to see how often Hafley sends an extra rusher or two at Hurts in Week 1.
Historically, Moore has put together a strong plan against the blitz. Both Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert excelled against the blitz during their time with Moore as their offensive coordinator. Now it’s up to Moore to prove that he can continue that trend with Hurts.
Join Theo Ash: Your Football Opinion
Listen to the Your Football Opinion with Theo Ash! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Find us on the Pro Football Network YouTube Channel!