The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to go 2-0 with a Monday Night Football win vs. the Atlanta Falcons, and it won’t be easy with superstar WR A.J. Brown unavailable due to a hamstring injury.
The Falcons are road underdogs following a Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Kirk Cousins’ Atlanta debut.
Falcons vs. Eagles MNF odds for NFL Week 2
A few days ago, Philadelphia was a 6.5-point favorite until word got out regarding Brown’s status for tonight’s game.
The spread quickly dropped, given the concerns about the Eagles’ offensive capabilities with Brown sidelined.
The former Ole Miss Rebel has been reliable in his first two seasons with the Eagles and had 119 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 win vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Brown was targeted on 10 of Jalen Hurts’ 29 completion attempts.
The over/under also diminished following the Brown news. You can bet Philadelphia’s team total (27.5 points) at BetMGM Sportsbook, where new users will also find a $1,500 first-bet bonus offer.
Why the Eagles could win as the favorite
Philly’s offense started hot in Week 1 with 34 points and 410 yards but Hurts’ two interceptions were glaring red flags.
Hurts had turnover problems at the end of last season and it carried over into Week 1.
DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley should be ready to shoulder a greater workload with Brown out.
Smith had 84 yards vs. Green Bay while Barkley’s unbelievable performance included 132 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.
Hurts doesn’t run the ball as often as he used to but that needs to change for the Eagles to cover the spread.
Atlanta allowed 57 rushing yards to Justin Fields in Week 1, and Philadelphia may be desperate to move the ball if no pass catchers step up.
Containing Bijan Robinson will be vital for the Eagles. The Packers gained 163 yards on the ground vs. Philadelphia.
Why the Falcons could win as the favorite
Lincoln Financial Field provides one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL thanks to the noise produced by Eagles fans. However, the Falcons can exploit the Eagles defense in a few areas.
Robinson had 111 all-purpose yards vs. the Steelers dominant defense, and he’ll likely post better numbers against Philadelphia.
Cousins was under constant duress in Week 1 and his numbers were subpar. Luckily for Cousins, the Steelers’ pass rush is much better than Philadelphia’s.
While the Eagles have flashy offensive weapons like Hurts, Smith and Barkley, Philly’s WR depth is terrible. Brown and Smith were the only WRs to catch a pass in Philly’s win vs Green Bay on September 6.
If Atlanta can limit Smith, Hurts will struggle to move the ball through the air.
Falcons vs. Eagles prediction for MNF
Pick: Falcons +5.5 (-105 at Caesars Sportsbook)
I’m expecting a high-scoring game that comes down to the final few possessions.
The Eagles’ offense won’t be as efficient without Brown, but Hurts’ rushing ability will help mitigate the loss.
Philadelphia’s defense was one of the worst in the NFL in 2023 and it doesn’t seem like much changed based off their Week 1 34-29 win over Green Bay in Brazil.
The Falcons offense had all the pieces in place last season (besides QB). With Cousins and head coach Raheem Morris now in the fold, Atlanta is ready to take a step and compete for the NFC South title.
I predict the Eagles to win, but Atlanta to cover the spread.
