The Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers are kicking off the season with a bang. The season starter will be played at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which was also a venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics game. Josh Jacobs, the running back who recently transferred to the Packers thought he was going to have a blast, but Brazil has other plans.
Jacobs went to the Green Light with Chris Long podcast and talked about what his future with the Green Bay Packers looks like, but the topic of playing football in Brazil stood out the most. Jacobs revealed that the team might not be even allowed to leave their hotels, let alone hang out at the beaches or have a casual drink at the bars. It has something to do with gang violence.
Josh Jacobs told to halt his Brazil plans
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The host, an avid supporter of the Eagles asked the RB what excites him about the season opener. “They said that that part of Brazil we’re going to, you can’t even wear green at,” said Jacobs and further explained, “They said like I guess something to do with gangs and stuff. They said we’re not going to Rio, they were like ‘man it’s one of them places where they probably won’t let us leave.”
It must have something to do with the color green because the criminal gangs in the area are not fond of it. The strange thing about all of this is the Packers’ uniform is green and golden, which is the same as the color of a Brazilian flag. Not to mention, the Eagles also have a green uniform, but it’s not clear which version they will be wearing in Brazil.
Chris Long seemed to have feared the idea and immediately told Jacobs to cancel his plans for Brazil. “Alright, so cancel that trip,” said Long jokingly. Well, it’s too late to decide on that because the game is scheduled to take place on September 6, 2024.
More facts about the Eagles-Packers rivalry
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The last time Eagles vs Packers was a season opener was in 2010, which was also the 50 anniversary of the Packers-Eagles NFL Championship game played in 1960. That was the year when the Eagles beat Vince Lombardi’s Packers to win the title. Another astonishing fact about that 1960 game is that it was the only playoff loss that Vince Lombardi experienced in his Hall of Fame career.
Also, the Eagles and Packers saw each other back in 2022, when the Philadelphia team pulverized the Cheeseheads in a 40-33 game. That year was dismal for the Packers even with Aaron Rodgers at the helm as he went against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. Rodgers went 11 for 16 over 140 yards and two touchdowns, while also getting picked twice.
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Jalen Hurts surprised everyone in that game by rushing for 157 yards while having 17 carries. But as far as his passing is concerned, he went 16 for 28 over 153 yards and had 2 touchdowns without being intercepted. However, this year will be different because the Pack has Jordan Love as their signal caller.
Love carried his team to the playoffs and eliminated the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round in a 48-32 road win. Can he do the same to the Eagles in the Brazil game? Let us know what you think.