The NFL confirmed on Wednesday that the Green Bay Packers will serve as the road team against the Philadelphia Eagles for the league’s first regular-season game held in Brazil on Friday, Sept. 6.
Even before the NFL officially announced that decision, Cleveland Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand explained why the NFL went with the Packers over the Browns for that historic encounter.
“The fact is the Packers initially did not want to participate,” Grossi said. “Further, the Eagles preferred to keep the Packers game – a key NFC matchup – on their home schedule in Philadelphia. Part of the delay in the NFL making this game official, in my opinion, was the need to twist the arms of the Packers and Eagles to get them to buy in and sign off on it. The Browns let the NFL know from the start that they welcomed playing in Brazil.”
Well-known NFL insider Peter King first reported in February that the Browns, Packers and Atlanta Falcons were realistic opponents for Philadelphia in Brazil. King added at that time that the Browns made “the most sense to” him, in part because the Eagles “would hate to lose a date in Philadelphia versus the Packers” on their schedule.
Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst then raised eyebrows when he suggested in March he knew Cleveland was playing in Brazil. Hurst later walked that comment back, and he humorously addressed the matter via X on Wednesday.
For his latest mailbag, Grossi was asked if the NFL may not want Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson “on prime time opening weekend” because of “his past legal troubles.” Watson missed the first 11 games of the 2022 season while serving a suspension related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions but has faced no criminal charges regarding those alleged incidents.
“The NFL’s desire to feature the Packers in Brazil has less to do with Deshaun Watson and more to do with the Packers’ international appeal,” Grossi said. Grossi also added that Green Bay eventually accepted taking an assignment the Browns clearly wanted.
“We’re looking forward to being a part of this historic matchup against the Eagles in São Paulo,” Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy said for the official league release. “We’re excited to play in front of our devoted fans in Brazil and help build upon the international popularity of the NFL and the Packers.”
As for the Browns, Grossi said on Wednesday he believes Cleveland will “probably” face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London this fall.
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