Saquon Barkley scores 3 TDs as Eagles beat Packers in Brazil

Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns in his debut for Philadelphia, main the Eagles previous the Inexperienced Bay Packers 34-29 on Friday evening within the first NFL sport in South America.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love limped off the sector with help after getting injured with 6 seconds left. Backup Malik Willis was sacked by Zack Baun on the ultimate play of the sport, stopping him from launching a Hail Mary from the Philadelphia 47.

Barkley rushed for 109 yards and scored on an 18-yard catch and runs of 11 and a couple of yards. Barkley spent six seasons with the New York Giants earlier than Philadelphia signed him to a three-year, $37.75 million cope with $26 million assured.

He grew to become the primary participant to attain three touchdowns in his Eagles debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.

Jalen Hurts was 20 of 34 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Eagles. A.J. Brown caught 5 passes for 119 yards, together with a 67-yard landing.

Inexperienced Bay’s Jayden Reed scored on a 33-yard jet sweep and a 70-yard reception, which was the longest landing completion of Love’s profession. Reed caught Love’s move inside Philadelphia’s 40 and made a transfer at across the 30 that despatched security C.J. Gardner-Johnson sprawling.

Reed grew to become the primary participant to have a landing catch of 30-plus yards and a landing run of 30-plus yards in a season opener since Corridor of Famer Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns towards Washington in 1963.

Reed additionally had an obvious 38-yard landing reception on the opening drive get worn out as a result of each groups had 12 males on the sector. He completed with 4 catches for 138 yards.

Love went 17 of 34 for 260 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Barkley’s third landing put the Eagles forward 31-26 with 4:26 left within the third quarter. Reed Blankenship arrange that rating with an interception that gave Philadelphia the ball at Inexperienced Bay’s 25.

The Eagles nonetheless led 31-26 when Jaire Alexander intercepted Hurts ultimately zone early within the fourth quarter. Inexperienced Bay drove into the purple zone however settled for a 26-yard area purpose by rookie Brayden Narveson, who went 3 for 4 on his makes an attempt.

Philadelphia then managed possession till Jake Elliott kicked a 21-yard area purpose with 27 seconds left.

Some Eagles gamers had expressed reluctance earlier this week about touring to Brazil, which price them the chance to play their season opener in entrance of a pleasant crowd at Lincoln Monetary Area. The group at NeoQuimica Area as a substitute was balanced amongst Packers followers, Eagles followers and spectators who simply cheered any optimistic growth.

Gamers from each groups have been slipping on the enjoying floor all through the primary half. A Brazilian soccer league sport was performed within the stadium 5 days earlier.

NeoQuimica Area’s area is commonly praised by soccer gamers as Brazil’s finest, however it had by no means hosted an American soccer sport. The hybrid area contains each grass and artificial fiber.

The slippery floor could have contributed to a sloppy begin.

Philadelphia dedicated turnovers on every of its first two sequence, enabling Inexperienced Bay to begin back-to-back drives within the purple zone, however the Packers settled for area targets each instances.

Then the offenses took over. Six of the subsequent seven possessions resulted in touchdowns.

Accidents

Eagles LB Devin White (ankle) didn’t play. The Packers have been lacking RBs AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd. Dillon went on injured reserve final week with a neck difficulty, and Lloyd was out with a hamstring harm.

Up Subsequent

Eagles: Host Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16.

Initially Printed: September 7, 2024 at 12:10 a.m.