Which teams should (and shouldn't) play the Eagles in Brazil next year

The Philadelphia Eagles will open their regular season in Brazil next year, but who will they play? It can only be one of the nine opponents tabbed to play a road game versus Philly.

Here’s why each team should (and shouldn’t) join them in Sao Paulo:

Atlanta Falcons

Should: After three games in London, a pair of preseason games in Tokyo, and one game against the Bills in Canada, Atlanta has plenty of experience with international games. With this being the NFL’s first trip to South America, adding a well-traveled team like the Falcons makes sense.

Shouldn’t: The Atlanta Falcons are as boring as an Arthur Smith game plan. With just two Pro Bowl players, safety Jessie Bates III and guard Chris Lindstrom, new coach Raheem Morris could be the most exciting thing about the team.

Carolina Panthers

Should: Adding Bryce Young to the roster didn't give Carolina the boost it was looking for in 2023, but maybe a change of scenery (albeit temporary) could be all last year’s No. 1 pick needs to bounce back. Of course, a dynamic new head coach like Dave Canales won’t hurt either.

Shouldn’t: Sending the NFL’s worst team to this game could be viewed as an insult to its host.

Cleveland Browns

Should: The Browns won 11 games in 2023, giving the team just its fourth winning season since 1994. They needed Joe Flacco to do it, but with quarterback Deshaun Watson set to return, things are looking up for Cleveland.

Shouldn’t: Cleveland may have the worst uniforms in professional sports. Brazil is such a colorful, vibrant country. Imagine walking around Rio de Janeiro during Carnival in a Browns jersey. Boring.

Dallas Cowboys

Should: Like it or not, no team generates more interest than the Dallas Cowboys. Who better to bring to a new market? With star players on both sides of the ball and a hyperbolic owner like Jerry Jones, “America’s Team” could easily become “South America’s Team.”

Shouldn’t: Rest assured, Philly fans aren’t about to let Commissioner Roger Goodell take away a home game against the Dallas Cowboys. 

Green Bay Packers

Should: If the NFL wants an exciting young quarterback to market on a big stage, it should look no further than Jordan Love. The former Aggie had 18 touchdowns with one interception in the last eight games of the regular season and ended the Cowboys’ playoff run early with three touchdowns in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Shouldn’t: Can Brazilian fans relate to a team that plays on a “frozen tundra?” How will the Packers adjust to a tropical climate? Why take the risk with such a storied franchise?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Should: Head coach Doug Pederson would love to turn up the heat against the team that fired him four years after bringing the franchise its Super Bowl victory. How do you say, “Philly Special” in Portuguese?

Shouldn’t: With 11 games played in London, Jacksonville has a pretty good thing going with the U.K. Stick with what works.

New York Giants

Should: As representatives of America’s largest city, either of New York’s football teams would make a good opponent. Aaron Rodgers’ Jets would be better, but they aren’t on the Eagles’ schedule in 2024.

Shouldn’t: Aside from 2022, New York has been hard to watch in recent years. With Daniel Jones returning and Saquon Barkley likely gone, the Giants are best left in East Rutherford.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Should: Mike Tomlin always fields a competitive roster. With 17 consecutive non-losing seasons, but no contract beyond 2024, the Steelers coach can get a head start on his next beach vacation.

Shouldn’t: Winning season or not, Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation isn’t good. Kenny Pickett had just six touchdowns in 12 games this year, but remains the team’s best option. The NFL’s fifth-lowest scoring team should never be in a showcase game.

Washington Commanders

Should: After spending a league-record $6.05B to buy the franchise, you can bet new owner Joshua Harris wants all eyes on his new toy. Washington fans didn’t have much to cheer about in 2023, but a new quarterback like USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye could make the Commanders must-see TV.

Shouldn’t: With the NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense and not much offense, Washington isn’t quite ready for the international spotlight.