The Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles will close the NFL Week 2 schedule with a clash at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday night.
Bet on Falcons vs. Eagles
ATL +5.5
PHI -5.5
Atlanta opened the season with a disappointing 18-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers as four-point favourites, extending its losing streak to three games dating back to last season.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, opened its season in Brazil with a 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers as a single-point favourite. Monday will be the Eagles’ actual home opener despite the team being listed as the home squad for the Brazil clash.
Let’s dive into the game odds for Monday’s clash between the Falcons and Eagles courtesy of bet365:
Falcons vs. Eagles odds
| Falcons Moneyline Odds | +205 |
| Eagles Moneyline Odds | -250 |
| Spread odds | Eagles -5.5 (-115), Falcons +5.5 (-105) |
| Over/Under | Over 46 points (-110), Under 46 points (-110) |
| Time/Date | Sep. 16, 8:15 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN/DAZN |
About the Falcons (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS, 0-1 o/u)
Kirk Cousins will be looking to rebound after a subpar performance in his Falcons debut. The veteran quarterback threw for just 155 yards and was picked off twice in Week 1 against the Steelers, although he did find tight end Kyle Pitts in the end zone for his first touchdown pass in an Atlanta uniform.
It should be noted that Cousins has historically performed well against the Eagles, posting a 6-5 record with more career passing yards (3,341) and touchdown passes (26) against Philadelphia than any other opponent. He threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in his visit to Lincoln Financial Field last year.
Atlanta will also be looking to run the ball more efficiently than in its season opener. Lead back Bijan Robinson carried the ball 18 times for 68 yards against Pittsburgh (3.8 yards per carry average) without finding the end zone, but he did have some success catching the ball out of the backfield for an additional 43 yards on five catches.
Atlanta’s defence held Pittsburgh out of the end zone last week, forcing the Steelers to claim all 18 of their points via field goals.
About the Eagles (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS, 1-0 o/u)
The Eagles will have the rest advantage (10 days) after playing their season opener early in Week 1 in Brazil, although the 13-plus hour flight home from South America couldn’t have been fun. Players weren’t happy about the slippery field conditions in Brazil, but Philadelphia came out of the contest relatively unscathed, with just two players on its injury report this week (more on that below).
It was a sparking debut for Saquon Barkley, who found the end zone three times against the Packers while racking up 109 yards on the ground. He spent the last six years with the New York Giants before signing a three-year deal with the Eagles during the offseason.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts was solid, but not spectacular, in his season debut, throwing for 278 yards and two touchdown passes while being intercepted twice.
Line movement
This spread opened at Eagles -3.5 points at bet365 and has since moved to Eagles -5.5 as of Monday morning. The total has also been bet down to 46 points from 48.
Key Injuries
Falcons CB Antonio Hamilton (groin) and LB Nate Landman (calf) have been ruled out.
As for Philadelphia, WR A.J. Brown (hamstring) is officially listed as questionable as of Monday morning, although there are now multiple reports that he has been ruled out. Brown is the team’s top receiving option, hauling in five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, so it’s a big loss for the Eagles. WR Johnny Wilson (hamstring) is also questionable.
Weather
Forecasts are calling for temperatures around 21 C under partly cloudy skies. Winds will be light out of the east at 6 mph.
NFL betting trends
- The over is 8-2 in Philadelphia’s past ten home games.
- The Eagles have hit the team total over in nine of their past ten home games.
- The Falcons are 5-15 ATS in their past 20 games.
- Kirk Cousins is 3-10 on Monday night games.
NFL player prop trends
- Barkley has recorded 19 receiving yards or more in three straight games and four of his last five. He’s -125 to record over 17.5 receiving yards.
- Falcons WR Drake London was expected to take a big step forward this year, but he caught just two passes for 15 yards while being targeted just three times in Week 1. His receiving yards line is 56.5 (-110), a mark he’s failed to hit in five straight games dating back to last season.
- Hurts has thrown at least one interception in four of his last five regular season games. He’s +100 to get picked off at least once on Monday night.
Saquon Barkley over 17.5 rushing attempts
Falcons vs. Eagles predictions
- Barkley over 17.5 rushing attempts: -125. He exploded in his Eagles debut and was rewarded with 24 carries behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Pittsburgh ran the ball 41 times against the Falcons in Week 1 and had success with 137 yards on the ground. Barkley should be able to get 18-20 carries in this spot against a relatively weak run defence.
- Robinson over 14.5 rushing attempts: -125. He recorded 18 carries in Week 1 against Pittsburgh and was on the field for 89% of the offensive snaps. Additionally, the Falcons were limited to the second-fewest offensive plays (50) last week by the Steelers, so he should see an even bigger workload if Cousins can move the ball more effectively this week and keep the game close.
