The Reedemer

It might not have been how many drew it up – particularly early – but the Eagles overcame their own follies, sloppiness and two Jalen Hurts interceptions to outlast the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday night in a 34-29 slugfest.

Hurts atoned for his two turnovers by keying two late-game drives, including a 16-play, 67-yard fourth-quarter drive in which he burned Green Bay’s defense with his legs and arm, as the Eagles (1-0) burned more than seven minutes off the clock before Jake Elliott extended the team’s two-point lead to five with on a chip shot.

The Packers (0-1) still managed to get the ball to Philadelphia’s 47-yard-line with less than 20 seconds to play, but an injury to quarterback Jordan Love forced backup Malik Willis into the game for the Hail Mary that Willis botched by taking a sack.

GETTY IMAGES: Despite two interceptions, Jalen Hurts made several clutch plays in the fourth quarter to help the Eagles past the Packers in the season opener.

On with the observations:

* In housekeeping news, QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB), CB Isaiah Rodgers, LB Devin White, EDGE Jalyx Hunt, OL Darian Kinnard, OL Trevor Keegan and DT Byron Young comprised the list of Eagles inactives. Of the group, the mild surprise was Hunt, the third-round rookie who flashed at times throughout the summer. But when crunching numbers, the nod typically goes to the superior special teams player, in this case fellow edge rusher Patrick Johnson dressed ahead.

* Interestingly, the Eagles kept first-round rookie CB Quinyon Mitchell on the outside, bringing in veteran Avonte Maddox to play the slot. In a surprising move, rookie Cooper DeJean came on as a dime defender. The initial thought was that second-year CB Kelee Ringo would rep on the outside when the Eagles were in nickel, with Mitchell kicking inside. Though he slipped on the Arena Corinthians field on the play, Maddox on the opening drive surrendered a 19-yard catch-and-run to Packers WR Romeo Doubs on 3rd-and-6.

* While the play was nullified due to both teams having 12 players on the field, but both Eagles safeties – C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship – missed tackles on what would have been a 38-yard Jayden Reed touchdown. Even though the defense – given the circumstances – turned in a gutsy first-half showing, Blankenship and Gardner-Johnson both struggled with wrapping up and keeping their footing.

* The field conditions at Arena Corinthians were terribly sloppy, with both teams fighting to keep their footing on a number of pivotal plays. The slick field notably hindered the running game on both sides, with Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs each deprived of chunk plays. The conditions were reminiscent of Super Bowl LVII, when it appeared at times the Eagles and Chiefs were playing on an ice rink. I thought the field quality Friday night was actually even worse.

* Much was made of Jalen Hurts largely avoiding turnovers in training camp but the Eagles QB, on his second pass, tossed a brutally underthrown pass intended for WR DeVonta Smith into a swarm of Packers green, though it was S Xavier McKinney who plucked it from the air. Questionable decision from Hurts. The Packers, however, only mustered a field goal.

* The LB tandem of Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun showed well early, especially Baun, but eventually fell victim to Green Bay’s play action. Dean, with a little more than five minutes remaining before the break, dropped a would-be pick-six that resulted in a 14-point swing. Still, as I’ve maintained, the Eagles LB landscape isn’t anywhere near as dire as many anticipated.

Yes, there were imperfections, but it’s inarguable that both Dean and Baun flashed at times.  Baun, who hadn’t logged many snaps at inside linebacker prior to Friday, showcased high-level instincts and a nose for the football. His range and ability to rapidly diagnose plays was an encouraging development for a revamped defense. Baun, by the way, led the Eagles in tackles (15) and accounted for the teams two sacks.

* The unveiling of RB Saquon Barkley, the Eagles’ big ticket free-agent signing, served as another reminder of just how dynamic the  offense can be this season. Barkley rolled up three touchdowns, two on the ground, one by air. The former Giants running back was explosive and powerful through the hole and showcased solid contact balance, but also shined as a pass-catcher. On the 18-yard wheel route touchdown – which looked eerily reminiscent of the Carson Wentz-to-Corey Clement pass on Monday Night Football seven years ago – Barkley showcased tremendous nuance and body control in reeling in the pass and getting both feet down.

* This game was a bit of Jekyll and Hyde for Hurts, who tossed two interceptions, the final nearly resulting in the definitive turning point. Facing a 3rd-and-13 from the Packers’ 14, Hurts threw across his body in the middle of the end zone short of WR A.J. Brown and was picked off by CB Jaire Alexander, though the Packers failed to punch it in to take the lead and settled for a field goal. The Packers, by the way, mustered just nine points on three Eagles turnovers. The good, though, included pinpoint touchdown darts to Barkley and a 67-yard catch-and-run touchdown to Brown. Those were his best throws of the evening.

* The Eagles failed to generate much pressure off the edge, though DE Josh Sweat proved most disruptive despite not getting home. Bryce Huff and Nolan Smith on several plays struggled to disengage from blocks and were often warded off in their rush attempts. For the Eagles’ defense to elevate, the pass-rush needs to come alive, and it needs to start with Huff.

* How about DeVonta Smith? The team’s smallest player played biggest when his team needed it the most. In the game’s waning moments, Smith reeled in a 16-yard reception with 2:23 remaining in regulation 2nd-and-13 and then all but iced the game two plays later with an 11-yard grab on a 2nd-and-8. Smith through on several plays throughout the night, many of which he was walloped and held on, though none more clutch than his late-game heroics in the final frame.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.