Tips, predictions and best bets for the second week of the NFL
USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes is back with his best NFL picks for Week 2 of the NFL season.
The Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) are in top form while the Atlanta Falcons (0-1) are struggling to get going as the teams prepare for their second Monday Night Football game of the season.
The Eagles should be well rested for their home opener after beginning their season on Sept. 6 in Sao Paolo, Brazil, with a win over the Green Bay Packers in a rare Friday night game that was also the first NFL game played in the Southern Hemisphere. Led by the momentum of running back Saquon Barkley, the Eagles beat the Packers 34-29 despite a slow start and some sloppy mistakes, including two fumbles. Against Atlanta, Philadelphia will look to iron out unforced errors and improve its defense, which allowed 423 total yards and three touchdowns against Green Bay.
After its opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the outlook for Atlanta was bleaker. Quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Falcons offensive line struggled, failing to score a single point in the second half of their 18-10 loss to a Pittsburgh team that didn’t score a single touchdown and played with backup QB Justin Fields because starting QB Russell Wilson was out with a calf injury. Although Atlanta won’t have to face linebacker TJ Watt and the rest of Pittsburgh’s defense, the Falcons will have to make offensive adjustments from Week 1 to keep the game close.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Falcons vs. Eagles matchup on Monday night.
The Falcons and Eagles will play Monday, September 16, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
How to watch the Falcons at the Eagles on Monday Night Football
The Falcons-Eagles game will be broadcast on ESPN with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters. ESPN Deportes will broadcast in Spanish.
Will there be a live stream of the Atlanta Falcons game against the Philadelphia Eagles?
The Monday Night Football game can be streamed on Fubo and the NFL app with NFL+ (subscription required).
What are the betting odds for the Atlanta Falcons vs the Philadelphia Eagles?
The Eagles (-300) are the moneyline favorites, while the Falcons (+240) enter the game as underdogs. The over/under is 47 points, with the Eagles favored by 6.5 points, according to BetMGM.
Spotlight on the quarterbacks: Jalen Hurts vs. Kirk Cousins
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts had some brilliant performances as he contributed 311 total yards against Green Bay, but he also made uncharacteristic errors that accounted for three turnovers (including two interceptions). Hurts, who has proven he can lead his team to the Super Bowl, will be looking to improve his game going forward and make Week 1 a mere blip attributed to the nervous energy surrounding the season opener.
While Hurts was a little rusty in Week 1, Cousins has a lot more rust to shake off. The former Minnesota Vikings quarterback returned to the field for the first time since tearing his Achilles last October and seemed no match for the Steelers’ suffocating defense. Cousins finished the game 16 of 26 passing for 155 yards, scoring just one touchdown and throwing two interceptions. If Cousins is to improve, he’ll also need more support around him, as he was sacked twice by Pittsburgh and hit seven times in total.
Notable Player: Eagles running back Saquon Barkley
Barkley is sure to receive a warm welcome at Lincoln Financial Field after being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding debut performance with the Eagles. Against Green Bay, Barkley revitalized Philadelphia’s offense with 24 carries, 109 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. In addition, the former New York Giants player showed he’s good in the air as well, hauling in two receptions and another touchdown. If Barkley plays like he did last week, the Falcons will face an immense challenge to match his offensive output.
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