A potential NFC Playoff matchup to begin the season
A day after giving us an AFC Championship rematch for the season opener, the NFL’s First Friday matchup pits two potential NFC Playoff teams against each other in Brazil as the Green Bay Packers take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
These two teams had close to completely opposite seasons in 2023. Jordan Love and the Packers started the campaign slow but finished as one of the hottest teams in the league and won their first playoff matchup. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles were firing out of the gates to begin the year but fizzled down the stretch and got bounced in the first round of the postseason.
So, which trends will continue in Brazil tonight?
Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m. PT and the game will air on Peacock. Also, the lines from our friends and FanDuel Sportsbook are below so let’s make some picks!
[Odds below are as of September 5 at 11:00 a.m. PT]
Packers vs. Eagles
- Spread: PHI -2.5
- O/U: 49.5
- PHI ML: -130
- GB ML: +110
Picks: GB +2.5, Under 49.5, GB ML
As mentioned above, Green Bay was one of the hottest teams in the league at the end of last year and the primary reason was Love’s ascension. Also, Nick Siriani pulled the classic “It’s not my fault!” move that head coaches make when they’re on the hot seat by replacing the team’s coordinators. Between that and the reported friction between Siriani and Hurts last season, I think Philadelphia gets off to a slow start this season. As for the total, that’s just too many points to begin the year for my liking.
For the injury report, the only players who have been ruled out are Eagles linebacker Devin White (ankle) and Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (hand). The Packers have three players listed as questionable, tight end Tucker Kraft (back), running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) and running back Emanuel Wilson (hamstring).
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