Ranking Eagles’ potential opponents for 2024 NFL season opener in Brazil
The 2024 NFL schedule will be released sometime on a Thursday night in mid-May, but we know that the Eagles will open the season in a home contest, played on a Friday night in Brazil.
The Eagles have been chosen to play in the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil in Week 1 on Friday, September 6, to kick off their 2024 regular season, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Monday in his annual Super Bowl presser with the media in Las Vegas.
“Está pronto para ver os Eagles no Brasil?” (In Portuguese, “Are you ready to watch the Eagles in Brazil?”)
“The Eagles organization is honored to have been selected to play in the first-ever National Football League game in South America,” said Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO. “With the global growth of our sport being a top priority to our league, we embrace the opportunity to grow our fanbase around the world and bring Eagles football to the 38 million sports fans in Brazil. One of the world’s most culturally diverse nations, Brazil is an international melting pot, and we look forward to experiencing its warm, vibrant, and welcoming environment later this year.”
A look at the designated host teams for the 2024 International Games: pic.twitter.com/d50kwdMrCB
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 6, 2024
As part of the NFL International Series, this will be the first Friday night game on opening weekend in over 50 years. Philadelphia’s opponent and kickoff time will be announced later, closer to when the 2024 NFL schedule is revealed in May.
The contest will be played at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, with a seating capacity of 47,252.
This will be the second International Series Game in the regular season for the Eagles, who played in London during the 2018 campaign and defeated Jacksonville, 24-18 at Wembley Stadium. The Eagles played preseason games in Mexico City in 1978, London in 1989 and ’91, and Tokyo in 1993.
Home to the Brazilian soccer team SC Corinthians, the stadium was an official venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.
Philadelphia is one of the biggest draws in the NFL, and With nine possible opponents to choose from ( Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, Browns, Falcons, Jaguars, Steelers, Packers, and Panthers), the league is tasked with picking the most intriguing matchup.
Let’s rank the best potential matchups for that opening game:
Early Breakdown
An international game, in Brazil for the first time, on a Friday Night!
This game offers star power, and it’ll have to include two elite quarterbacks, and dynamic talent at key positions.
9. Dallas Cowboys
One of the most important games on the NFL schedule, ESPN (MNF), FOX (Sunday afternoon), and NBC (SNF) are not giving up the opportunity to land one of these two regular season matchups.
8. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers offer the quarterback storyline with Jalen Hurts and Bryce Young being two former Alabama signal-callers.
Carolina is coming off a 2-15 season, Young hasn’t looked elite, and they’ll unveil a new head coach. Canales is not opening up in Brazil.
7. New York Giants
The rebuilding New York Giants and Eagles could normally be a regular season opener on Sunday night, but it’s unlikely to kickoff the season overseas.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Raheem Morris is the new head coach and Bijan Robinson offers star power, we’re just not sure that a Falcons-Eagles opener in Brazil offers the sizzle.
5. Washington Commanders
This game would land higher on the list if Washington was guaranteed to land USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
Dan Quinn and the new look Commanders offer an intriguing matchup, but it’s not a record breaker.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
A matchup featuring in-state rivals taking place in Brazil offers some intrigue, but with no elite quarterback to counter Jalen Hurts, it could fall just short.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Doug Pederson angle offers the storyline, and Trevor Lawrence offers the elite quarterback comppetition.
Still there’s a bigger game to be had.
2. Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love is a star, and he made a huge impression on the Eagles and cornerback Darius Slay two years ago at Lincoln Financial Field.
Green Bay is loaded, coming off a playoff appearance, and the matchup would feature elite playmakers at QB, WR, RB, CB and pass rusher.
1. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland is a Super Bowl contender when healthy, and Deshaun Watson vs. Jalen Hurts is a matchup that’ll have the NFL world buzzing.
Myles Garrett and the Browns defense makes this matchup that more enticing, along with the Jim Schwartz storyline for Eagles fans.
Cleveland-Philadelphia gets the nod because Eagles-Packers has a SNF on NBC feel to it.
