Game 1: Packers "@" Eagles - Friday, Sept 6 7:15 PM - São Paulo, Brazil!

[CheezWizHed]

First game of the season, First game in Brazil (or South America), Super Bowl contenders, wildfires, wearing green... so let's open the game thread early! 😀

[CheezWizHed]

Of course the main focus is going to be the "Love Hurts" head-to-head matchup, but a lesser considered thread is Barkley vs Jacobs - two power runners on new teams.  Frankly, I'm a bit concerned about Barkley vs our run D, but the same could be said for the Eagle's run D. 

[HarryDoyle]

We'll see how the Hafley era starts by how well they contain Barkley. Is Hafley finally the DC this team has desperately needed for over a decade or will this just be the same old same old. I've seen too much to get my hopes up with this defense but if Hafley is the real deal this team is definite Super Bowl contenders. You wouldn't know listening to the experts though since most of them think the Eagles will win. Maybe I'm the only one who saw how these two teams went in extreme opposite directions after Halloween last year, or did I just have a fever dream? I expect Green Bay to win this one.

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, HarryDoyle said:

We'll see how the Hafley era starts by how well they contain Barkley. Is Hafley finally the DC this team has desperately needed for over a decade or will this just be the same old same old. I've seen too much to get my hopes up with this defense but if Hafley is the real deal this team is definite Super Bowl contenders. You wouldn't know listening to the experts though since most of them think the Eagles will win. Maybe I'm the only one who saw how these two teams went in extreme opposite directions after Halloween last year. I expect Green Bay to win this one.

I'm not sure we're going to be great vs the run. I'm just hoping for...pretty good. It's more the pressures, TFLs and big plays. But it'd be nice if we could just shut down the run game as well. 

[HarryDoyle]

Something I will say about Jalen Hurts is that he was zero blitzed more than any other quarterback last year, and by a wide margin. In those situations, in EPA per play he ranked 31st in the NFL. Now I'm not a big stats guy because they never tell the whole story and you can make them say whatever you want them to say, but it is food for thought. Let's see if Hafley's more aggressive style of play utilizes that strategy.

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, HarryDoyle said:

Something I will say about Jalen Hurts is that he was zero blitzed more than any other quarterback last year, and by a wide margin. In those situations, in EPA per play he ranked 31st in the NFL. Now I'm not a big stats guy because they never tell the whole story and you can make them say whatever you want them to say, but it is food for thought. Let's see if Hafley's more aggressive style of play utilizes that strategy.

Yeah, they can, but you lose Kelce and that is going to really impact the protection scheme. 

I have no idea what to expect out of Philly though. I think if Barkley stays healthy, they could have a huge year running the ball, they still have those elite OTs. The defense isn't scary, but at least they have those DTs up front. Jordan Davis, Jevon Carter...

We'll also be facing that Vic Fangio defense, but it's actually run by Fangio, so...it's not as gutless as the Barry Defense. 

This feels like it should be one of the best teams in the league if they can stay relatively healthy. I'm assuming you get a full season of the good version of Love. Maybe not that 10-game run Love had extrapolated out for a full season, but I can't believe it was a fluke. So just get that OL to protect him and the WR/TEs are so good. Even scarier if they actually did figure out how to prevent the soft tissue injuries for Watson(and Stokes). 

We'll also get a chance to see two DBs pretty much every Packers fan would have been happy with the Packers taking in Rd1 in Mitchell and DeJean, both of whom the Eagles moved up to get in front of us. 

 

Should be a really good game but a tough matchup with Hurts+Barkley vs this front. 

[Brian]

Just heard on the radio the crime in Brazil is terrible where the Packers play there opener.  The Packers cannot even leave the hotel and were told not to bring any valuables. 

Eagles star says he told family not to come to Brazil amid safety concerns: 'The crime rate is crazy.'  Why would the NFL do this?  For money of course and hopefully new international viewership since NFL thinks it is similar to soccer. 

[Fear The Chorizo]

6 hours ago, Brian said:

Just heard on the radio the crime in Brazil is terrible where the Packers play there opener.  The Packers cannot even leave the hotel and were told not to bring any valuables. 

Eagles star says he told family not to come to Brazil amid safety concerns: 'The crime rate is crazy.'  Why would the NFL do this?  For money of course and hopefully new international viewership since NFL thinks it is similar to soccer. 

Honestly, a 49er just got shot in San Francisco in a robbing attempt and there are plenty of US metropolitan areas where teams routinely get bussed from the airport to team hotel, then stadium and right back to the airport.  Probably more risk/concern on the NFL's side of things due to being outside of the country in terms of not wanting players or family/friends abducted internationally.

[TURBO]

Meh, or it could just be that Brazil is a crime riddled cesspool.  No doubt, we have areas of our country getting the same way.

They wouldn't tell that stuff to the players and take extra precautions if their wasn't a legit concern.

[yourout]

5 hours ago, TURBO said:

Meh, or it could just be that Brazil is a crime riddled cesspool.  No doubt, we have areas of our country getting the same way.

They wouldn't tell that stuff to the players and take extra precautions if their wasn't a legit concern.

I think the biggest fear when they get outside the country is a kidnapping for ransom situation.

[BrewerFan]

6 hours ago, TURBO said:

Meh, or it could just be that Brazil is a crime riddled cesspool.  No doubt, we have areas of our country getting the same way.

They wouldn't tell that stuff to the players and take extra precautions if their wasn't a legit concern.

Yeah, there are obviously crime-riddled areas all over. Sao Paulo is...bad right now. Kinda interesting how they've gone up and down over the last 15 years. 

What happened in SF to Rickey Pearsall is awful, but SF has seen violent crime levels fall to near-all-time lows(though...theft is still a problem).

Maybe it's kidnapping they're concerned about. 

I'd think as big of an issue as any is that...in America, there is more familiarity with the area. If you play in Chicago, you know where to stay and how to get to the game. You're not putting the team up in certain areas, and you can hire plenty of off-duty Police to work as security in addition to your own security. 

You'd assume Brazil would be pretty worried about looking bad on the world stage and they'd have ample security, but if a player goes out, you can only do so much to protect them. 

 

It'll likely come and go without any major incidents other than the Eagles getting their wings clipped early!

[Joseph Zarr]

So TE Tucker Kraft, RB 2 and 3 in Wilson and Lloyd are all questionable. 

Yuck

[OldHeidelberg]

55 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

So TE Tucker Kraft, RB 2 and 3 in Wilson and Lloyd are all questionable. 

Yuck

They brought 2 RB’s and a FB from PS along so they are prepared but sounds like Kraft will play unless back tightens up. I don’t have a good feel for Lloyd and Wilson as there isn’t much reporting on backups. 
 

For me it’s typical of all Packer openers in that I am not sure what to expect tonight. Add the international travel and this is really a tossup. Eagles probably have chip on their shoulder after last years meltdown, both teams with new coordinators and schemes. A blowout either way wouldn’t surprise me.

[CheezWizHed]

I wouldn't expect much of Lloyd (actually hoping we don't see him unless it is a blowout) tonight.  He barely played in TC, so he really needs reps before he "goes live" for much.  Jacobs is healthy and a workhorse.  Merriweather looked good in TC and you have an experienced RB and FB on the PS that could be called up, so I'm not as concerned there.  

My bigger concern about Tucker is that this doesn't turn into a longer-term nagging issue.  Just go get heathy!

[yourout]

Great its only on Peacock......This multiple streaming horse hockey needs to end.

[HarveysWBs]

4 minutes ago, yourout said:

Great its only on Peacock......This multiple streaming horse hockey needs to end.

Yeah, hope they don’t spend my $7 all in one place. I’ll be cancelling by about 11pm this evening.

I know the whole Sunday Ticket thing has become a legal fiasco, but you have to wonder where the limit is in the way the league can continue to nickel and dime fans before curbing demand for the product. They evidently haven’t hit it yet.

[OldHeidelberg]

Lloyd out, Wilson and Kraft in, Merriweather elevated.

[SeaBass]

1 hour ago, yourout said:

Great its only on Peacock......This multiple streaming horse hockey needs to end.

If you're out of state, yes, but in WI it's being broadcast on regular old NBC.

[Joseph Zarr]

Wherever you may be, gentlemen, I hope you enjoy a Packers 'W' in Brazil! Let's see what we have early in the season.

[yourout]

Longest intro song ever....

[SeaBass]

The US national anthem performance was... interesting. Not in a good way.

[yourout]

29 minutes ago, SeaBass said:

If you're out of state, yes, but in WI it's being broadcast on regular old NBC.

Only in Milwaukee or Green Bay markets. 

[yourout]

Just now, SeaBass said:

The US national anthem performance was... interesting. Not in a good way.

Yeah that sucked.

[duewizard]

Football! Finally! Come on Packers give me an opening drive TD

[yourout]

Might want to block Williams.