In college football, teams often schedule a light opponent for their first game of the season. They want an opponent they will beat and help them shake the rust off before facing off against tougher competition down the road. As Adam Sandler put it in his 2005 movie The Longest Yard, it’s a way to get their confidence up. It’s an excellent way to settle into the season and see what you’re working with.
Jeff Hafley and the Green Bay Packers defense won’t have that chance. The Philadelphia Eagles will immediately test them in Brazil on Friday night.
The Eagles should have a tremendous offense. They have a former MVP quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and two stud receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Philadelphia added a third legit wideout threat in former first-rounder Jahan Dotson. The Eagles also made a meaningful upgrade at the running back position in free agency when they added Saquon Barkley.
Week 1 will mark Hafley’s first chapter as an NFL defensive coordinator, and he’ll have his hands full. It starts in the backfield with Philadelphia’s newest threat.
“He just can do it all,” Green Bay’s new safety Xavier McKinney said. “He’s a special back. One of one.”
McKinney has an inside source on Philadelphia’s new running back because he spent four years with Barkley in New York.
The Packers cannot take Barkley lightly. Two years ago, the former Offensive Rookie Of the Year torched the Packers for almost 100 total yards and a touchdown in a 27-22 loss in London. Green Bay has switched coordinators since, and Barkley will get a new-look Packers front.
Green Bay’s defense will also have to deal with a rushing threat at quarterback. Hurts is one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the NFL. His ability to extend plays and make things happen with his legs gives the Green Bay’s defense a little extra to worry about.
“He’s like the fastest chicken in the yard with no fence,” Preston Smith said.
Smith is a veteran and has seen Hurts before. A lot of Green Bay’s team has seen Hurts before, and that outing was not one the Packers’ defense would like to remember.
The last time the Packers faced the Eagles was a late November game in Philly. Hurts rushed it 17 times for 157 yards while tossing two touchdowns in a 40-33 Eagles win.
Containing Hurts will go a long way toward ensuring the Packers leave Brazil with a W. In 2023, Philadelphia’s offense was in the top 10 in rush yards and yards per attempt. The Eagles’ offense was tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns and seventh in total scoring.
Philly boasts two premier receivers, but their passing offense was in the middle of the pack last season. Brown and Smith are elite pass catchers, and most corners have trouble covering them. Jaire Alexander is a perfect match for the slighter Smith, while Eric Stokes and his larger 6’2” frame are a better fit for defending Brown.
Having McKinney on the back end, who has played the Eagles twice a year for the last four years, is a major plus for Hafley and the Packers. McKinney will be a Swiss Army knife, helping out the rookies next to him. Javon Bullard and Evan Williams will see a ton of playing time against Philadelphia, trying to slow down their dynamic duo at wideout.
Philadelphia’s offensive line lost longtime center Jason Kelce, but the line is still a strength of the team. The Packers will have a tough time making a strong push in the run game or getting after the quarterback.
While Philadelphia’s offense may not be as good as in previous seasons, it still poses a considerable threat to the Packers in Week 1 in Brazil.
The defensive coordinator’s legacy in Green Bay is storied. Most Packers fans have been frustrated with the hires since Dom Capers. First, it was Mike Pettine, and then it was Joe Barry. Now, Hafley can make his mark as the defense coordinator in Green Bay. But he’s not going to get much time to warm up.
All stats and data via ESPN, NFL, and the Green Bay Packers unless otherwise noted.
