Eagles in Brazil: ‘A bunch of Don’t Do’s’ and travel blues for critical game vs Packers

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PHILADELPHIA − The way the Eagles see it, the NFL's first-ever game in South America might as well be in Minneapolis in December.

That's because Eagles are not going to Sao Paulo to explore the vast cosmopolitan city, home to 12 million people and the largest Japanese and Italian communities outside of their respective countries, not to mention annually hosting the world’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride parade.

And Sao Paulo's Ibirapuera Park is larger than New York City’s Central Park.

The Eagles won't see that either.

Rather, the Eagles are traveling 4,754 miles to Sao Paulo for a critically important season-opening game against the Green Bay Packers next Friday night. Both the Eagles and Packers are among the teams expected to contend for the NFC Championship this season.

The winner of this game will have a tiebreaker advantage should the two teams meet in the playoffs. And no one on the Eagles wants to play in frigid Green Bay in late January in front of rabid Packers fans, as opposed to having a home playoff game at soldout and raucous Lincoln Financial Field.

Aug 24, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

"We're professionals," Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown said. "We’re down there to win a football game. We’re not down there to see the city, do all this other stuff. This is not a vacation. This is a football game."

Fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith seemed even less enthused than Brown.

"No comment," he said when asked about playing there, before adding: "It's football. Just line up."

And really, the Eagles won't have a lot of time to explore anyway.

They're leaving from Philadelphia on Wednesday morning and not arriving to their Sao Paulo hotel until late that night. A direct flight from Philadelphia to Sao Paulo is 9 hours, 45 minutes. But there isn't a big time difference to adjust to − Sao Paulo is only one hour ahead of Philadelphia.

So there's no need for the Eagles to arrive three full days early, like they did in 2018 when they played in London.

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The Eagles' itinerary simply consists of a walkthrough practice Thursday at Corinthians Stadium, playing the Packers on Friday night, then flying back to Philadelphia after the game.

Another factor is that the team hotel is about one hour from the heart of downtown. But traffic jams, which Sao Paulo is notorious for, can easily double that time.

All of this is why Brown said the Eagles had a team meeting this week to go over how to conduct themselves there.

"There were a whole bunch of ‘Don’t Do’s,’" Brown said. "So I’m just trying to go down there and win a football game, and come back home."

Brown was asked what was on the "Don't Do" list.

"A lot, honestly," he said. "Things that we would normally do here, even something as simple as walking down the street with your phone in your hand, and stuff like that, which is kind of crazy."

Of course, the NFL sees this game between two marquee teams as a great opportunity to grow the game not only in a brand new city, but a brand new continent.

Eagles third string quarterback Tanner McKee, for one, said Brazil will always have a special place in his heart. McKee spent nearly two years in Brazil as part of his mission trip for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That included a month living in Sao Paulo.

McKee raved about the culture, the food, and the people. He said he still has several friends there. McKee is fluent in Portuguese, and he said Brown approached him about learning some words. Brown admitted that he didn't follow up once he learned the itinerary won't allow for much, or any, free time.

McKee knows this, too, as much as he's looking forward to the trip. He knows it's just like any other game, the only difference being that the Eagles are traveling a lot farther.

"When we get there, we’re literally going to play a game a day or two later," McKee said in early August. "So guys are feeling like, 'We gotta be ready to ball.' It’s not like we’re going to go on a plane, and have a week to get acclimated to things. We’re going to have to be ready to play."

The NFL, meanwhile, has several community events scheduled throughout the week. That includes the Eagles hosting a community day Wednesday afternoon, before the team arrives. The event will include more than 200 young athletes from local NFL Flag Football programs to take part in a series of activities and games.

The Eagles’ cheerleaders and mascot, Swoop, will be in attendance. The players and coaches will still be traveling.

Then on Friday, the NFL’s three-day fan festival will open and continue through the weekend. That includes a watch party in Sao Paulo, various football games and challenges, flag football clinics and more. The Eagles, of course, won't be there, either.

As Brown put it about the list: "After hearing all this stuff, I’m probably going to be in my room."

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles in Brazil: 'A bunch of 'Don't Do's', travel blues vs Packers

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