The Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Atlanta Falcons will cap off Week 2 of the NFL season. Philadelphia comes back from Brazil with a victory after beating the Green Bay Packers 34-29; thanks in part to Saquon Barkley’s stellar debut, in which he scored three times. The Eagles, as a whole, looked strong in their first game.
However, Jalen Hurts was lucky not to punished by the Packers for his mistakes. Hurts had four turnover-worthy plays, the most in Week 1 by any quarterback. Now, the attention turns to the Falcons, who also have a stout defense that includes Jessie Bates III.
The safety made opposing offensive coordinator Arthur Smith abandon the middle of the field in passing situations in Week 1. Smith stated that he didn’t want Bates to wreck their game. That is high praise, especially for one of your former players.
The Eagles will have to deal with Bates this week, and for a team that had only one pass in the deep middle of the field in Week 1, that could be a problem. Not to mention, that lone pass was an interception caught by Xavier Mckinney. So, we could see the Eagles take notes from the Steelers’ game plan on Monday Night Football. Ultimately, the Atlanta offense vs. the Philadelphia defense matchup will decide this game.
The Kirk Cousins Problem
There is a reason the Eagles are -6.5 point favorites on Monday night. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is the leading cause of this spread.
Anyone who watched Atlanta’s game against the Steelers could tell he was uncomfortable. It was evident that he still did not trust his surgically repaired leg. Viewers could notice that not just by watching the game, but also by the play calling.
Atlanta mostly kept Cousins in the pistol and ran no play action. Those notes lead to the fact that Atlanta also does not believe in Cousins’s leg, or they know something we don’t. The latter is the more likely case here.
However, one thing is certain. T.J. Watt made life miserable for Atlanta and its fans on Sunday. The Steelers had PFF’s third-highest pass rush team grade, while the Eagles were 22nd. With that noted, Edge Bryce Huff needs to have a better second game in Eagles green.
Huff registered the lowest pass rush grade on the team, with a 48.8 per PFF. The free agent acquisition did not look the part on tape, either. That confirms Vic Fangio’s offseason concerns about the edge rusher. Huff could be getting used to the new system, but he did not look like the same player Howie Roseman signed from the New York Jets.
The Eagles’ pass rush will have to improve in Week 2 to put pressure on an immobile Cousins. Also, fans of the Falcons and NFL alike might tone down their criticism of the Michael Penix pick in the coming weeks, especially if we consistently see this Kirk Cousins.
The Deep Ball
A significant takeaway from the Steelers and Falcons game was George Pickens, who was exceptional on the deep ball. Justin Fields was the top-graded passer thanks to two deep balls to Pickens. Meanwhile, Hurts was near the middle of the pack, finishing 18th. He did, however, have both of his passing touchdowns come on passes over 20 yards.
The Falcons have a star cornerback in AJ Terrell to compete with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. However, their second cornerback spot leaves something to be desired, similar to the Packers. Neither Terrell nor Mike Hughes looked great against the Steelers. If they repeat that performance, it could be a long Monday night for Atlanta’s defense.
Eagles vs. Falcons Outlook
With the spread being almost a touchdown, it is evident where this prediction is heading. The Eagles are back at Lincoln Financial Field against a quarterback in Cousins who notoriously struggles in primetime. This game has all the components for a blowout.
With Cousins not being 100 percent and the Falcons losing to a team that could not score a touchdown, all prospects for the team’s future have changed in just one short week. The Falcons are still the favorites to win their division. However, if they drop to 0-2 and lose their matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, things could snowball quickly for the offseason darlings.
The Eagles should have no problems beating this team. The Falcons’ game plan is highly evident. Due to Cousins’s injury, the Falcons will likely operate like they did against the Steelers.
Vic Fangio will dial up pressure to keep Bijan Robinson and company in check. If Kirk isn’t progressing in his recovery or the Falcons, do not put on a masterclass. The Eagles can win by three scores, considering the Steelers won by nine without a touchdown from the offense.
The fans in Philadelphia are already getting ready for Monday night, as the crowd will be rocking while Atlanta’s season hangs in the balance. The Eagles are better almost everywhere, while Atlanta does not have a capable quarterback under center.
The Eagles vs. Falcons matchup may not provide NFL fans with a fun Monday night, but Eagles fans will likely find themselves happy at the game’s outcome.
