The Philadelphia Eagles began their first season without their longtime player, but were propelled to victory by…..

The Philadelphia Eagles  kicked off their first season without longtime center Jason Kelce with a 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil, thanks to Saquon Barkley’s impressive three-touchdown debut. It marked the first time in 13 seasons that Kelce was absent from the lineup. Despite some early issues on the offensive line, Barkley’s two rushing touchdowns and one receiving score helped secure the win.

The game also took a worrying turn for the Packers as quarterback Jordan Love left the field with a lower leg injury, just six seconds before the final whistle. Replays indicated his knee may have buckled during a tackle.

In addition to Barkley’s performance, A.J. Brown added a touchdown in what was a historic moment for the NFL—the league’s first-ever game in South America.

Although Eagles coach Nick Sirianni’s team struggled last season, they showed resilience. However, some fans expressed concerns about Cam Jurgens, Kelce’s replacement, who mishandled a snap early on, leading to a Packers turnover. This prompted calls for Kelce to return from retirement, although the veteran voiced support for Jurgens on social media during the game.

The match was also marked by controversy as Eagles cornerback Darius Slay was jeered by the crowd, following comments about Brazil’s crime rate, for which he later apologized. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Barkley rushed for 109 yards, while Jalen Hurts threw for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

On the Packers’ side, Love threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, and Jayden Reed added two more scores with 171 yards of total offense.