Week 2 of the NFL season wraps up with a “Monday Night Football” matchup between two playoff hopefuls in the NFC.
Oddly, for the third straight year, Kirk Cousins is on the road in Philadelphia in Week 2 for a prime-time matchup.
Can the Eagles get the better of the quarterback this time, as they have in each of the past two seasons?
Let’s dive into the matchups and find an edge.
When the Falcons have the ball
Cousins had a rough debut for the Falcons in Week 1, ranking 26th in adjusted EPA/play and throwing two ugly interceptions. He also had a 9.1 percent turnover-worthy play rate that ranked second on the week, per PFF.
Much has been made about his lack of health in recovering from the Achilles injury, as he lacked mobility and struggled to plant on his right foot.
Cousins is at his best when he’s under center and running play-action, but he attempted just one pass from under center in Week 1 and didn’t run a single play-action dropback.
Whether he isn’t fully healthy enough to run Zac Robinson’s offense or the new offensive coordinator lacks the panache to run an offense with multiplicity and creativity, red flags were raised.
The Falcons offensive line was a significant concern in Week 1 as they finished 27th in pass-block win rate. Facing T.J. Watt and the Steelers can make any offensive line look bad, but Cousins was pressured on 39.3 percent of his dropbacks despite Pittsburgh only blitzing at a 14.3 percent rate.
The interior play was especially rough, and the Eagles’ Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis could take advantage Monday night.
When the Eagles have the ball
Eagles fans should be encouraged by Kellen Moore’s offense in Week 1, especially regarding motion.
Against the Packers, Philadelphia utilized motion on 48 of 73 plays (65.8 percent), the team’s highest mark in a game since 2020. Last year, the Eagles used motion at the lowest rate in the NFL (35.1 percent), per Next Gen Stats.
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Jalen Hurts seemed to love the new-look offense, completing 15-of-21 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns when the team used motion and just 5-of-13 for 66 yards and two interceptions without it. As the season progresses, expect the partnership between Hurts and Moore to continue to pay dividends.
Saquon Barkley had a tremendous debut with the Eagles, finishing with 132 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. His presence in the backfield gives Atlanta another weapon to worry about.
Falcons vs. Eagles pick
Much of the discussion surrounding the Falcons this week has been focused on Cousins’ health, but equally concerning should be the team’s poor play in the trenches.
In Week 1, Atlanta ranked 29th in pass-rush win rate and 27th in pass-block win rate, per ESPN. That won’t cut it against Philadelphia’s loaded offensive and defensive lines.
Hurts had a rocky Week 1 with some untimely turnovers, but even if he’s not firing on all cylinders, the Eagles offensive talent is overwhelming. With Moore’s play-calling offering a massive upgrade over last year, I don’t see the Falcons having a path to consistent stops in this game.
It might be the square side, but I’m laying it with Philadelphia on “Monday Night Football.”
The Eagles are the more talented, better-coached team with a massive home-field advantage and are working on two additional days of rest.
Expect a statement victory by the home team in prime time.
Recommendation: Eagles -6.5 (-110, Caesars)
