NFL Week 2: Falcons v. Eagles Preview, Picks & Prediction

⏰ 8:15PM EST: Falcons v. Eagles

Monday night football presents the battle of the birds for week 2 of the NFL season. The Eagles are coming off of their win in Brazil against the Packers last week and many expect them to send the Falcons into an 0-2 deficit to start the season.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia's defence might have been average in their season opener, but their offense looked like one of the top contenders for Super Bowl 59. Free agent pickup Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns, and Jalen Hurts threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns.

In Week 1, only two teams outscored Philadelphia's 34 points, and only three teams amassed more total offense. Although Atlanta didn't allow a touchdown in their Week 1 loss, they faced a Pittsburgh team led by Justin Fields, which is anticipated to be one of the least dynamic offenses in the league.

The Eagles’ offensive line should be effective in creating significant running lanes. While Atlanta boasts a solid cornerback in A.J. Terrell, the Eagles will likely have numerous opportunities for big plays in the passing game. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith racked up 203 yards on 12 receptions against the Packers, but unfortunately, Brown has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Atlanta Falcons

Kirk Cousins came back from his Achilles injury in Week 1 but didn't resemble the quarterback we're accustomed to seeing. He played almost entirely from the shotgun formation and struggled to escape the relentless pressure from the Steelers' pass rush.

Cousins appeared static in the pocket and couldn't manage the longer drop-backs. He didn't attempt any play-action passes, making the play-calling highly predictable. The Falcons didn't run the ball at all during their 22 designed shotgun snaps.

The Falcons used the pistol formation 26 times, running the ball on 81% of those plays. Last year's first-round pick, Bijan Robinson, struggled in the run game, and this week's matchup is not any easier.