Eagles

Eagles

Eagles

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons hands the ball off to Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

After a week 1 “home game” in Brazil, the Eagles come back to Philly to host the Falcons in their first actual home game of the season on Monday Night. While the Eagles will be looking to improve on what was a not so pretty win, the Falcons are trying to bounce bag from an ugly loss.

As fans, we tend to hyper focus on our teams issue’s, ignoring the context from the rest of the league. Jalen Hurts turnovers, the lack of a pass rush, the slow start in the game, the defense giving up too many big plays. Those are real issues, but the Falcons had it so much worse. They played an inferior opponent, Steelers instead of the Packers, at home, and they still struggled.

Related: 6 Eagles Players In Store For Great Games Vs The Falcons

There is something wrong with Kirk Cousins. He is not an elite QB, but he is usually more than capable of putting up big numbers. He couldn’t move in week 1 though. He was never a mobile QB, but he was a statue in that pocket, and a sitting duck for the Steelers pash rush. When he did get the ball off, he just couldn’t deliver the ball on target. Cousins looks injured.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 26: Drake London #5 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after a touchdown score by Bijan Robinson #7 in the second quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Cousins has weapons. Not as many weapons as Hurts, but they built a nice team around him. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson. They should be able to put up numbers. But the O-Line got picked on, and Cousins had no answer for the rush.

Still, they will not just roll over for the Eagles. Like mentioned, there is some talent on that team. There are specifically some talented players in areas the Falcons could exploit the Eagles weaknesses. The Eagles are currently 6.5 point home favorites, and should be expected to win, but they still have to take care of their own business.

Here are 5 Falcons Players Who Could Give The Eagles Trouble:

  • Bijan Robinson

    The Eagles allowed 133 yards on 20 carries to the Packers RBs in week 1. Big-chunk plays killed them, with Josh Jacobs breaking off two 20 20-yard runs, including 1 that went for 32. Emmanuel Wilson meanwhile had an 18-yard run. Now they get another tough test in Bijan Robinson.

    Robinson was not quite as effective in week 1 vs the Steelers as Jacobs was vs the Eagles. but the talent is clear. That dude will kill you if you let him. A good running game can take the steam out of the opposing offense, keeping the Eagles off the field. If Bijan runs all over the Eagles, the clock will keep winding, and the offense will get less time with the ball. They need to contain the run. That falls on Jordan Davis being better. When he was at his best early last season, no open could run on the Eagles. They need to see that guy again.

  • Kyle Pitts

    The Eagles did surprisingly well against the Packers’ TEs last week. Tucker Craft had one big 29-yard catch, but otherwise, he was silent, and Luke Musgrave never even touched the ball. It was a major problem for them last year, but so far so good in 2024.

    They get a tough test in week 2. Kyle Pitts has not been the monster people thought he would be coming out of college. But he can still hurt you. Pitts had the Falcons’ lone TD last week.  The Eagles LBs need to keep up what they showed last week, shutting down the opposing TEs.

    NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "KYLE PITTS TOUCHDOWN. 📺: #PITvsATL on FOX📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/mEmlF3kpGP / X"

    KYLE PITTS TOUCHDOWN. 📺: #PITvsATL on FOX📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/mEmlF3kpGP

  • Drake London

    Last week the Packers looked for mismatches. They decided the smaller Avonte Maddox was the weak link and targeted him. Dont be surprised if they try to get him on Avonte Maddox throughout the game. The Packers did it last week with Christian Watson in the Red Zone, and he beat Maddox for a TD. Falcons have Drake London who can produce a similar mismatch and size. They could also do that with the aforementioned Kyle Pitts.

    This will be where the Eagles are the most vulnerable. In the slot across the middle of the defense. It was their biggest weakness last year, and it was their biggest weakness in week 1. Either Avonte Maddox needs to be better win week 2, or the Eagles need a new plan to protect the middle of the field.

  • Jessie Bates and Justin Simmons

    The Eagles’ offense was mostly good last week, apart from the 3 turnovers. The one had nothing to do with the Packers, it was just a bad snap. The other two, was Hurts forcing a pass over the middle of the field. That just so happens to be where the Falcons are strongest.

    AJ Terrell is a good corner, but the rest of their cornerback room is wanting. They have two Pro Bowl Caliber Safeties though, who are likely just waiting for Hurts to make similar mistakes. if Hurts Is not smarter with the ball in week 2, Simmons and Bates will happily jump in and add a pick to their stat sheet. This offense is too talented for Hurts to think he has to play hero ball. Take what the offense gives you, and let the very talented weapons around you make the defense pay.

    NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "Jaire Alexander picks it off in the end zone!📺: #GBvsPHI on Peacock pic.twitter.com/k77NxlCZjV / X"

    Jaire Alexander picks it off in the end zone!📺: #GBvsPHI on Peacock pic.twitter.com/k77NxlCZjV

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