After losing six of their final seven games last season, the Philadelphia Eagles got off to an inauspicious start to 2024.
During the first quarter of Friday's matchup between Philadelphia and the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, miscues by the Eagles offense put the team in an early 6-0 hole.
With 10:57 remaining in the opening period, Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts tried to force a 3rd-and-15 pass down the field to wideout DeVonta Smith, only to be intercepted by new Packers safety Xavier McKinney. The former New York Giant, who joined the Packers on a four-year, $68 million deal this offseason, subsequently returned the interception 17 yards to Philadelphia's 16-yard line.
Fortunately for the Eagles, Green Bay was unable to capitalize on the favorable field position and only scored three points on a 31-yard field goal by PK Brayden Narveson.
However, Philadelphia quickly felt seven-time Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce's absence on its next drive. On third-and-six at the Eagles' 20-yard line, Hurts was unable to haul in an errant shotgun snap from new center Cam Jurgen, resulting in a fumble recovered by Packers DT Devonte Wyatt.
Despite having another opportunity to make Philadelphia pay for its mistakes, the Packers offense struggled to generate momentum in the red zone and ended up settling for another field goal.
Although the Eagles offense endured a sluggish start, the team should be pleased about the early success of the defense, led by new coordinator Vic Fangio.
