They played in Brazil. It was weird. The field looked like a skating rink, everyone was slipping, and honestly, the score of Packers Eagles game—which ended 34-29 in favor of Philadelphia—doesn't even tell half the story of how chaotic that night in São Paulo actually felt.
Green Bay fans are still thinking about that final minute. It wasn’t just the loss. It was Jordan Love clutching his knee on the turf while the clock bled out. You could almost hear the collective gasp from Wisconsin all the way down to South America.
What the Score of Packers Eagles Game Actually Meant for the NFC
The final tally of 34-29 sounds like a standard high-scoring NFL affair, but the path to get there was a total mess. Saquon Barkley basically introduced himself to the Eagles faithful by scoring three touchdowns. It’s funny because Giants fans spent all summer saying he was washed, then he goes out in a different shade of green and puts up 109 rushing yards like it’s 2018 again.
Philly needed that. Jalen Hurts looked shaky at times. He threw two picks that had Nick Sirianni looking like he wanted to jump into the stands. But the Eagles survived. Winning a "home" game six thousand miles away is a bizarre way to start a season, yet that 1-0 record counts exactly the same as a win at Lincoln Financial Field.
Green Bay, on the other hand, left Brazil with a 0-1 record and a massive question mark at quarterback. The score stayed close because Jayden Reed is a human highlight reel. He had a 33-yard touchdown run and a 70-yard touchdown catch. If you had him on your fantasy team that week, you were probably screaming. If you’re a Packers fan, you’re just wondering why the defense couldn't stop a nosebleed in the red zone.
🔗 Read more: Liverpool FC Chelsea FC: Why This Grudge Match Still Hits Different
The Slippery Surface Controversy
You saw it. Every three plays, a world-class athlete was doing the splits. The grass at Arena Corinthians was clearly prepared for soccer, not for 300-pound men trying to dig their cleats in for a bull rush.
- Players were switching cleats on the sidelines like it was a fashion show.
- The footing affected the pass rush significantly, which might explain why neither team could buy a sack for long stretches.
- Many analysts, including those at ESPN and NFL Network, questioned if the international "spectacle" was worth the injury risk.
It’s a valid point. If you’re the NFL, you want to grow the game globally, but when your star players are sliding around like they’re on Disney on Ice, it makes for a frustrating product. The score of Packers Eagles game could have looked very different if the traction was better. Maybe the Packers' final drive doesn't end in a desperate scramble if the pocket holds up.
Key Stats That Defined the Night
If you look at the box score, the yardage was remarkably even. Philly put up 411 yards; Green Bay put up 414. That is almost unheard of for a five-point game. Usually, someone dominates the time of possession or the yardage battle, but this was a back-and-forth slugfest.
The difference? Red zone efficiency. The Eagles converted when it mattered. Saquon Barkley was the "eraser." Every time Philly got close, they just handed it to number 26 and let him do the rest. He scored on an 18-yard catch, an 11-yard run, and a 2-yard plunge. That’s versatility.
💡 You might also like: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
Green Bay struggled in the "gold zone" (as Matt LaFleur calls it). They settled for field goals too often. Brayden Narveson hit three of them, but you don't beat a high-powered Eagles offense by kicking through the uprights while they’re dancing in the end zone.
That Scary Final Minute
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. With less than ten seconds left, Jordan Love got caught in a Highland Fling of a tackle. His leg got twisted. He stayed down.
For about twenty minutes on social media, people thought the Packers' season was over before it even got back to US soil. It turned out to be an MCL sprain—bad, but not "see you next year" bad. Malik Willis had to come in for the final couple of plays. Expecting a backup to come cold off the bench and throw a 50-yard Hail Mary for a win is a big ask. He got sacked. Game over.
Defensive Growing Pains for Jeff Hafley
This was the debut of the new Packers defensive scheme. Out with Joe Barry, in with Jeff Hafley. People expected a more aggressive, man-to-man look. We got it, but it was a "be careful what you wish for" situation.
📖 Related: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
The Packers did force three turnovers. That’s the silver lining. Xavier McKinney got an interception in his first game as a Packer, which is exactly why they paid him the big bucks in free agency. But the run defense? Still leaky. Giving up 144 yards on the ground isn't going to win many divisions.
Vic Fangio, the legendary defensive coordinator now with the Eagles, didn't have a perfect night either. His defense allowed 414 yards. But in the fourth quarter, they tightened up. They forced the Packers into long-distance situations. Experience won out.
Why This Specific Game Matters Long-Term
The score of Packers Eagles game will be cited all season when we talk about playoff seeding. In the NFC, the margin for error is razor-thin. If these two teams end up tied for a Wild Card spot or a higher seed in January, this head-to-head result in Brazil is the first tiebreaker.
Philadelphia proved they could win ugly. That’s a hallmark of a Super Bowl contender. They traveled to a different continent, dealt with terrible field conditions, and still dropped 34 points. Green Bay proved they have the offensive firepower to hang with anyone, but they also showed they are incredibly vulnerable if their star QB isn't at 100%.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re tracking the NFC North or East standings, don't just look at the wins and losses.
- Watch the injury reports for the upcoming weeks. Jordan Love’s mobility is the single most important factor for the Packers' mid-season surge.
- Monitor Saquon Barkley's workload. The Eagles rode him hard in Brazil. Whether a 27-year-old RB can sustain that volume for 17 games is the biggest question in Philly.
- Check the weather for upcoming Green Bay games. After playing in the humid heat of Brazil, the Packers are heading into a stretch where the "Frozen Tundra" starts to become a factor.
- Evaluate the "New Defense" metrics. See if Jeff Hafley’s unit reduces the explosive plays allowed. They gave up too many big chunks to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in this one.
The 34-29 final was a wild ride. It was a historic game for the NFL's international expansion, even if the grass was a nightmare. Whether you're an Eagles fan celebrating a 1-0 start or a Packers fan breathing a sigh of relief over Love's MRI results, this game set the tone for the entire 2024-2025 season.