The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a victory in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil, 34-29.
For their real home opener (at 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16), what are some keys to yet another win, this time against the 0-1 Atlanta Falcons?
Control Bijan Robinson
The Falcons have a few playmakers on their offense, but none is more dynamic than running back Bijan Robinson. He had 23 touches in Week 1 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, putting up 111 yards—his teammates had 133 total yards of offense combined.
While the Steelers have a better defensive unit than the Eagles, Robinson was the only clear threat here. Pass-catchers Drake London and Kyle Pitts both have some upside, but the high workload back was the danger.
If Robinson can continuously gash the Eagles’ defense, a tight game might be in their future. Those sizable early-down gains can take their toll over time. Limiting him alone could give the Eagles a win.
Take Advantage of Cousins’ Struggles
Coming off of an Achilles tear last season, quarterback Kirk Cousins made his first start as a member of the Falcons. It didn’t go so well. In Week 1, he finished 27th in quarterback rating (QBR) and was just 23rd in passing expected points average (EPA). He had a middling 155 passing yards on 26 attempts (16 completions), a touchdown, and two interceptions.
There’s been speculation that Cousins is still not 100 percent, and that’s hard to deny after his performance. In both 2021 and 2022, he finished eighth in passing EPA—he was one of the top throwers in the football before his injury. Maybe it really was his rust showing, but there should be serious worry about his play.
After last week, there’s potential for this one to be a blowout. The Falcons’ defense was a problem for the Steelers, but they were led by backup quarterback Justin Fields and an uninspiring surround cast—scoring 18 points was more or less the expectation. Against the Eagles, though, Atlanta will need their offense to fire on all cylinders. Is Cousins really capable of that?
To account for the Eagles’ high-skill offense, the Falcons need some offense of their own. Robinson is the X-factor, but there’s really nothing there if Cousins can’t improve.
Magnifying his struggles would be ideal.
Hurts Being Smarter with the Football
Sometimes, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts can be really frustrating. He is one of the best athletes in the sport under center but is prone to making some egregious mistakes. It wasn’t a problem in 2022, but it really started to show in 2023—it probably cost the team a couple of games, as good as he is. The defense only allowed six points on back-to-back turnovers deep in Philadelphia territory against the Packers, so he got away with it that time. But that was a lucky break.
Hurts can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league if he can limit those blunders. The Falcons aren’t as much of a threat as the Packers, but any team can take advantage of mistakes if there are enough. A smoother game could do wonders for Philadelphia’s offense.
Feed Saquon Barkley
When the Eagles needed him most, Saquon Barkley delivered. The running back position is still immensely valuable to an offense, but there’s been a stigma around paying them in recent years. Barkley showed how important they can be. With a three-touchdown performance against the Packers, along with some explosive plays in there, he added the extra oomph that the Eagles needed.
In Week 2, the plan should be similar. He’s a great athlete and a smart player who can find holes in defenses. More importantly, he can take over a game. A high-usage Barkley game can allow Hurts to be more efficient and perhaps make fewer blunders.
When the former New York Giants running back has the ball in his hands, Philadelphia is a better team.
Can he do it again?
Don’t Depend on the “Brotherly Shove”
Okay, so the Eagles’ “brotherly shove” didn’t work so well against the Packers in Week 1. It wasn’t good in the preseason, either. Both Hurts and center Cam Jurgens had some errors that the former and Jason Kelce did not. Considering how many weapons the Eagles have, maybe they should start to lean less on a play that caused a fuss around the league.
We don’t have the numbers to really say whether or not the Eagles should be using that play as much as possible in late-down situations, but it wasn’t great last week. With playmakers around the field who can turn nothing into something, maybe it’ll be better to focus on getting them the ball. This shouldn’t be the death of the brotherly shove, but it should probably be used in moderation. Hurts fumbled a snap at the goal line against Green Bay late in the fourth quarter. Even though he picked it up and no harm was done, that’s a doomsday scenario—someone like Barkley getting the ball, a straight-up pass, or a punt would suffice. Take risks, but take smart risks.
Eagles vs. Falcons Injury Report
Now to the injury reports. Both linebacker Devin White and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who missed their Eagles debuts in Week 1, were full participants in practice on Sept. 12. Milton Williams was a limited participant, but that was it.
For the Falcons, tackle Caleb McGray participated only partially. Linebacker Nate Landman, cornerback Antonio Hamilton, and linebacker Nate Landman also did not participate.
In both 2022 and 2023, the Eagles won their first five games, leading to 10-1 starts. Can they continue their early-season success against Atlanta?
PHOTO: Dale Zanine/Imagn Images
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