It's here and it's spectacular! That's right, friends, Week 1 beckons as does a historic journey for our friends in the Green & Gold down to Sao Paulo. The preseason and camp, as exciting as they were to get our toes dipped back into football, are in the rearview and it's all the focus on the Philadelphia Eagles.

And these are some very formidable birds. With weapons galore on offense, a mutant and multiple question marks on defense, the Iggles will prove to be more than formidable against your future Super Bowl Champion Packers. But with the Brazilian fan base behind them, Lambeau will be travelling south in just two days.

So on this, the 54th anniversary of the death of Vince Lombardi, let's raise up the Periscope for the first time in this regular season and look at the past, present and future of the Packers and Eagles.

The Past

First meeting in 1933, the Packers own a 28-18 edge over Philadelphia. The Packers, since 2014, have won 3 out of 5 games. But the most recent matchup in 2022 was a 40-33 Eagles win in which we saw Aaron Rodgers leave with an injury and Jordan Love enter the game and make us all a whole helluva lot more confident in his abilities.

For this week's look-back game, I picked one of my absolute favorite all-time games. From the 2011 Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, the Green Bay Packers, fresh off a must-win week 17 game over the Chicago Bears, went to The Linc to take on Michael Vick and the NFC East Champion Eagles. What ensued was the catalyst to a Super Bowl run, establishment of an elite quarterback and a springboard for a cornerback named Tramon Williams.

The game started off fast and furious with the Packers D led by Clay Matthews III immediately setting Philly back, as Desmond Bishop smoked Vick on the blind side inside the 10. After exchanging punts, a handoff to Le'Sean McCoy ended with an injury to De'Sean Jackson, an injury that would be notable throughout the game.

But on the ensuing possession, the Packers took over behind running back James Starks, who got a scoring drive going with a 27-yard run. Then, from inside the 10, Rodgers playfaked fo Starks and hit Packers Legend Tom Crabtree for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

In the second, the defense showed up again, this time with Matthews getting to Vick for a big loss killing their drive. With the ball again, Rodgers and the Packers found themselves quickly back in the red zone. After using his legs for a first down on a 3rd and 5, Rodgers bought time, rolled right and hit James Jones in the front corner of the end zone to go up 14-0.

After big plays to Jeremy Maclin and Vick rushing the ball, the Eagles next drive stalled in the Packers red zone bringing up a David Akers field goal, cutting it to 14-3 Packers.Nearing halftime, Rodgers went deep to James Jones for a surefire touchdown, but it went right through his mitts.

Starting with the ball in the second half, Philly's D made an impact with a strip sack of Rodgers, putting the birds in scoring range right away. Two plays later, Vick hit Jason Avant over the middle for the touchdown and 14-10 Packer lead. 

With the ball again, the Packers hit chunk plays to Donald Driver and then James Starks to get into scoring range. On second and goal from near the 20, Rodgers hit Brandon Jackson on the most gorgeous, perfectly developed, patient screen pass in maybe the history of football. It was a work of art that put the Pack back up 21-10. But Philly wouldn't be denied, as they quickly got back near the red zone. But after a 3rd and short stop. David Akers missed a chip shot to keep the Packer lead at 11.

The Packers were stopped near midfield on their last, and Philly began moving the ball. From the Packers 34, Vick hit Shady McCoy near the 20, then a completion to Brent Celek got them near the goal line. On fourth and goal, a Vick sneak and subsequent failed two-pointer made it 21-16 good guys.

In the four-minute offense, only netted one first down, forcing a Packer punt. After an utterly horrifying DeSean Jackson punt return, Jackson YAC'd a catch well into Packers territory with just over a minute left. 3 plays later, Vick went to Riley Cooper in the end zone where Tramon Williams waited and picked it off, icing the game.

The Present

The Packers are healthy. That's rare. And they're going to need to be, especially defensively, against an extremely talented Eagles team led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, stud RB Saquon Barkley and receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Sure, they lost Jason Kelce on the line, but they still boast one of the toughest units in football. And given how Nick Sirianni likes to operate, you know they're going to be a physical bunch to deal with.

It's going to be a true test of this sparkling new Jeff Hafley defense. The speed and aggression we've heard so much about will need to be at its peak down in Brazil. And, with virtually no film to go on, it's going to be a mystery for anyone without a "G" logo. And for that, I am excited.

Offensively, we know what our Packers have going. While Jordan Love, and many of the starters, didn't play this preseason, they'll all be out there against a defense that, frankly, has Jalen Carter and little else. Ok, fine, Darius Slay I guess, but this is not a defense that is giving me 2000 Ravens vibes. This is a group that can be exploited, and I can't wait to see what Matt LaFleur has dialed up.

The Future

Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 7:15 PM Lombardi Time.  It's going to be a true spectacle down in Brazil on Friday and I'm so happy for those fans that they not only get an NFL game, but they get their team in person for what should be an unbelievable Global event. Safest of travels for everyone heading down that way. It'll be incredible. Oh, and it's a high of 70 and low of 61. Talk about ideal weather for playing football.

I hope that all of the talk about wildfires, crime and staying in hotel rooms is replaced with energy, warmth and pure excitement from not only the people of Sao Paulo, but travelers as well. All of the feedback from fans actually in Brazil has been positive, and I'm hopeful it stays that way through the week. 

It's here, fellow Packer Backers. Time to crack a beer, bun a brat and watch the Packers go 1-0 from the Southern Hemisphere.