Get the inside scoop on Monday Night Football with odds and picks for the Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Join us for an electrifying game night!
Jet lag is a serious concern for the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of their home opener on Monday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons. Philadelphia faced Green Bay in the league’s first-ever game in South America last Friday, and although the Eagles got the win, they had a long flight back to the US. Flying from Philadelphia to Sao Paulo is twice as long and takes double the miles as a flight from Philly to Seattle, so there are some real concerns on whether the Eagles will be a little sluggish in the final game of Week 2.
Week 2 Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
Atlanta Falcons +6.5
Philadelphia Eagles -6.
Total 47
We’ve seen line and total movement on this game since the opening NFL betting odds were released on Sunday evening. The oddsmakers sold Philadelphia a bit short in the early going, making the Eagles just a 4.5-point favorite against Atlanta despite seeing the Falcons flail on offense against Pittsburgh in the season opener. There has also been movement on the total with that number dropping by a point to a point and a half depending upon the sportsbook.
Atlanta Falcons Overview
It was a rough debut for Kirk Cousins against Pittsburgh. The veteran quarterback moved to the Falcons this offseason to act as both a stopgap and a mentor to rookie Michael Penix Jr. while he learns the ropes in the NFL. Cousins completed just 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions although he has some electrifying talent in Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London. The hope is that Cousins will fare better this time, but Philly has a good secondary.
Cousins torched the Philly defense in Week 2 last season, completing 31 of 44 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to give his team the win. He now has more talent than he did in Minnesota given the draft capital the Falcons have put into skill positions over the last few years, but it may take him some time to build a rapport.
Atlanta was able to keep Pittsburgh out of the end zone last week, but the Falcons will be facing a better offense this time. Fortunately, pretty much everyone is still healthy, so Matthew Judon and Grady Jarrett can make a difference by coming after Hurts. That pass rush will be key because there are some holes in Atlanta’s secondary.
Philadelphia Eagles Overview
Jalen Hurts hasn’t alleviated most of the concerns fans had with his play over the second half of last season. Hurts notoriously had a difficult time picking up certain blitz packages and making the right read, and we saw multiple mistakes to that effect last Friday in Sao Paulo. The fifth-year quarterback completed 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, and he averaged just 2.5 YPC on the ground as a runner.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, this roster is loaded with talent at the skill positions. Saquon Barkley had a fantastic debut in Eagles’ colors with 26 touches for 132 yards and three touchdowns. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith helped this offense spread the field, while Dallas Goedert is one of the most underrated tight ends in football.
The defense didn’t perform very well in Brazil with Green Bay totaling 414 yards and 29 points. Philly’s front seven has a lot of high-priced talent, but the Packers were able to average 7.7 YPC and broke off several long runs that opened up the passing game. That’s something that must be addressed.
Monday Night Football Prediction
It’s tempting to go with the favorite here, but I believe Atlanta can stay within the number. The Falcons should be more fresh on both sides of the ball while I expect the Eagles to at least be a bit sluggish after their long flight and trip. Cousins can be a streaky quarterback, so let’s hope we catch him in one of his good streaks in the Week 2 finale. Hurts could stumble again versus this defense too, clearing the path for a potential upset.
Final Score: Philadelphia 23, Atlanta 20
