Analyst Picks Packers vs. Eagles Week 1 as Must Watch

The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles are two of the teams looking to cement their status as contenders in the NFC. Philadelphia is looking to hold onto their spot near the top and Green Bay is one of the franchises looking to unseat them.

That is what makes their matchup in Week 1 of the 2024 season so important. It could go a long way in determining seeding down the line with different tiebreakers. Adding to the intrigue, this matchup will be making NFL history.

That is part of the reason Brooks Kubena of The Athletic selected Packers vs. Eagles in Week 1 as the must-watch Eagles game of the season. It will be the first time a regular season game is placed in South America, as it will be contested in Brazil.

“The setting for this game makes it a must-watch altogether. The football portion also presents an intriguing crossroads. The Eagles are attempting to stabilize themselves as a perennial playoff contender, and the Packers are attempting to continue their climb into the upper echelon of NFC powerhouses. Jordan Love looked like the NFL’s next star quarterback in Green Bay’s stunning beatdown of the Cowboys in last season’s NFC wild-card round, and the Packers subsequently almost prevented the 49ers from reaching Super Bowl LVIII. This game’s a toss-up that could create important momentum for either team,” Kubena wrote.

This is also the first time in more than 50 years the NFL will have a game played on a Friday during the opening weekend. With the league scheduling games on Christmas this year, they will be playing at least once every day of the week except Tuesday.

The Packers have one of the most difficult schedules in the NFL this season based on their opponent’s winning percentage in 2023. A late-season stretch around the holidays will also prove daunting with two Thursday, a Sunday night and Monday night game in a row.

That is what happens when you have an up-and-coming team expected to make some noise during the season. Both the Packers and Eagles will want to get off on the right foot, making that one of the most intriguing Week 1 matchups for a plethora of reasons.