4 bold predictions for the Packers in Week 1 vs. Eagles

The Green Bay Packers are set to kick off the 2024 season with a rare Friday night opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Even more rare, the game will be played in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as the NFL continually looks to expand its international audience.

The Packers and Eagles were two of the best teams in the NFC last season and figure to be two of the best teams in the NFC once again here in 2024. The Packers were this close to making it to the NFC Championship Game last year, while the Eagles represented the NFC in the Super Bowl just two seasons ago.

With high expectations and optimism bursting at the seams heading into Week 1, we're going to try to think outside the realm of "realism" (pessimism) for a moment. What types of big, bold predictions can be made for Week 1 of the season for the Packers, where anything is possible?

Let's dream big on four bold predictions as the Packers take on the Eagles.

1. Jordan Love throws four touchdowns passes to four different receivers

Jordan Love threw a lot of touchdown passes last season. In fact, he was second in the NFL behind only Dak Prescott, with 32 total touchdown passes on the season. One thing Love did on a number of occasions last year? Throw three touchdown passes in a game.

Something he didn't do a single time? Throw four touchdown passes in a single game.

Love's touchdown passes were spread pretty evenly over the course of the season and he had a whopping 13 multi-touchdown games, including the playoffs. So we're going to get bold and say he starts off with not just another multi-touchdown game, but throwing four touchdowns in this game against the Eagles, and throwing them to four different receivers.

The Packers certainly have the playmakers to distribute the ball to.

2. Lukas Van Ness forces a pair of fumbles

After playing a rotational role in his rookie season, the Packers are expecting a big jump from Lukas Van Ness in year two, and we saw some good work from him throughout the course of the preseason.

Playing in Jeff Hafley's four-man front, Van Ness should feel a little more at home since he did a lot of playing with his hand in the dirt under Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker. With Van Ness coming off of a rookie season in which he racked up 10 QB hits and 8.0 tackles for loss, I think we're going to see him explode onto the scene and notch a pair of forced fumbles in this game against the Eagles.

Jalen Hurts fumbled the ball his customary nine times last season and Saquon Barkley had a pair of fumbles with the Giants. Van Ness will have opportunities to punch the ball loose and create som havoc.

3. Two receivers go for 100+ yards

We mentioned earlier that the Packers have a plethora of talented playmakers to spread the ball to, and I am predicting we see that on full display in this game.

The Eagles may be excited about having Vic Fangio as their new defensive coordinator after the disastrous 2023 season under Sean Desai, but just having Fangio there isn't going to make the Eagles' secondary immediately better. Or at least, there's a chance they might still struggle in that area.

Even after all of the changes they've made this offseason, the Eagles are going to have a tough time dealing with all of Green Bay's playmakers at receiver. Whichever combination of guys you want to include here, I'm going out on a limb and saying multiple receivers go off for 100-plus receiving yards.

4. No missed kicks

Wow, is this really making the cut in a bold predictions article these days?

The Packers did away with both Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph after the preseason and brought in Brayden Narveson off of waivers from the Tennessee Titans. The Packers are obviously very confident that they have an appreciable upgrade in the kicking department with Narveson because they cut both of the guys they had in competition all camp to bring him in.

Narvenson has never kicked in a real game, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say he doesn't miss a single one in the Packers' season opener.

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