Eagles-Falcons participant matchups to observe in Week 2

Eagles-Falcons player matchups to watch in Week 2 initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Eagles (1-0) will host the Falcons (0-1) of their house opener on the Linc on Monday Evening Soccer.

The Eagles are coming off a 34-29 win over the Packers in Brazil, whereas the Falcons are coming off an 18-10 house loss to the Steelers.

Listed below are some key matchups to observe:

Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata vs. Matt Judon

The Eagles bought an prolonged have a look at Matt Judon at their joint follow in opposition to the Patriots in August. He gave them matches. After which a pair days later, he was traded to the Falcons, who desperately wanted some move rush.

Judon, 32, performed in simply 4 video games in 2023 however made 4 consecutive Professional Bowls earlier than that and had 12 1/2 and 15 1/2 sacks in his two full seasons with the Patriots. He nonetheless regarded that disruptive within the joint follow in August and Judon bought off to a pleasant begin in Week 1 with the Falcons, choosing up half a sack and 5 mixed tackles.

Judon will play on either side of the road so each Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata should be prepared for him on this sport however Mailata will most likely see extra of him. The excellent news is that the Eagles have among the finest deal with duos within the NFL. Each Johnson and Mailata performed extraordinarily properly within the season opener in opposition to a superb Packers offensive line. Perhaps the Packers had some hassle getting traction on the sector in São Paulo, however the Eagles’ tackles did their job. After one week, Johnson ranks fifth and Mailata ranks tenth on the PFF high offensive tackles.

Jalen Hurts vs. Jessie Bates and Justin Simmons

After throwing only one interception all summer time, Jalen Hurts made some dangerous choices in Week 1 and threw a few interceptions in opposition to the Packers. The Eagles have been fortunate to win the sport after turning the soccer over 3 times. Hurts is aware of he needs to be higher.

“These are issues that I management and I’ve to be higher at and I take accountability for that,” Hurts mentioned after the win.

A type of picks final week from Hurts was taken by security Xavier McKinney. Hurts has to take care of a few powerful safeties in Week 2 in Jessie Bates and Justin Simmons.

Bates, 27, is likely one of the finest safeties within the NFL. The Falcons gave Bates a four-year, $64 million contract earlier than final season and he lived as much as it. In his first yr with Atlanta, Bates had a career-high 132 tackles and 6 interceptions. During the last two seasons, Bates has 10 interceptions, which ranks second within the NFL behind simply DaRon Bland (14).

Additionally within the high 5 in interceptions? Bates’ new teammate Justin Simmons, who has 9 over the past two years. Simmons joined the Falcons in mid-August however realized the protection shortly. The 2 veterans safeties didn’t depart the sector in Week 1.

Bates is so good that the Steelers actually altered their game plan in Week 1.

A.J. Brown vs. A.J. Terrell

There’s little doubt that Brown is likely one of the finest receivers within the NFL and he confirmed that once more within the Eagles’ season opener. He had 5 catches for 119 yards and a landing in opposition to the Packers and did lots of that harm in opposition to Professional Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander.

Brown popped up on the damage report Friday with a hamstring damage so we’ll have to attend and see about his situation. But when he is in a position to go, Brown could have one other powerful attract Terrell but it surely shouldn’t be something he can’t deal with. Terrell isn’t thought-about to be among the finest corners within the NFL however he’s nonetheless properly above common and is the most effective nook the Falcons have. He additionally performs on either side of the road so it could make sense if he follows Brown on this sport.

However even when Terrell is ready to decelerate Brown, the Falcons don’t have nice corners past him. Which means DeVonta Smith shall be going through Mike Hughes exterior and Dee Alford within the slot.

Eagles iOL vs. Grady Jarrett

One of many largest questions coming into Week 1 was concerning the Eagles’ new-look inside offensive line with Cam Jurgens at heart and Mekhi Becton at proper guard. Each performed very properly down in Brazil, even in opposition to Professional Bowler Kenny Clark, who has the flexibility to wreck video games.

Grady Jarrett is 31 now and is perhaps properly previous his prime however he bought off to a superb begin in Week 1 with 1 1/2 sacks, 3 QB hits and a pair of TFLs. He had simply 1 1/2 sacks in eight video games final season in order that’s a formidable first sport in 2024.

Eagles linebackers vs. Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson

One of many largest tales from Week 1 was the play of linebacker Zack Baun, who had 15 tackles and was all around the discipline. And the opposite beginning linebacker, Nakobe Dean, additionally had some actually good moments when he was working downhill. We’ll see what occurs with Devin White (ankle), who missed Week 1. However irrespective of who’s on the market, this Falcons offense can positively put some stress on linebackers with a superb tight finish and working again who’re good move catchers.

Bijan Robinson is getting into Yr 2 is anticipated by many to have an enormous breakout season. He had 1,463 scrimmage yards as a rookie and had 111 in Week 1. In his profession, Robinson has 530 receiving yards in 18 video games and he has caught 63 passes. The Falcons are going to work to get him the ball within the passing sport.

However the Eagles additionally must deal with higher on this sport. Their tackling struggled within the opener and 50 of his 68 dashing yards in opposition to the Steelers got here after contact.

As for Kyle Pitts, he has by no means lived as much as his draft standing as a first-round choose since his Professional Bowl rookie season, he nonetheless has the flexibility to make some performs. He had simply 3 for 26 and a landing within the opener.

Quinyon Mitchell vs. Drake London

Quinyon Mitchell, the rookie from Toledo, has an extremely encouraging first NFL sport in opposition to the Packers. Going in opposition to a extremely good offense in a loopy setting, Mitchell made loads of performs and didn’t again down. It’ll be enjoyable watching him go in opposition to an enormous receiver like Drake London. The 6-4, 213-pound London is in Yr 3 and has had a fairly stable profession thus far. Can this be a breakout season for him?

The Falcons’ different high receivers are Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McLoud. McLoud had 4 for 52 within the opener and will get a lot of the snaps inside. After the Packers appeared to focus on Avonte Maddox within the first sport, it’ll be fascinating to see what mixture the Eagles put on the market in Week 2.

Eagles vs. Kirk Cousins in primetime 

In his profession, Kirk Cousins has began 11 video games agains the Eagles and has a 6-5 report with 26 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. However in his 4 primetime video games in opposition to the Eagles, Cousins is 1-3 with three straight losses.

In Week 1, Cousins didn’t have an excellent efficiency. He accomplished 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards with 1 landing and a pair of interceptions. His passer ranking was 59.0. Cousins is coming off an Achilles damage that ended his 2023 season early and he didn’t seem like himself in Week 1. Perhaps he’s not totally wholesome or possibly he’s simply not trusting his surgically repaired ankle however every part was in shotgun or pistol and it actually wasn’t enjoyable to observe.

Eagles move rushers vs. Falcons OL

Cousins was eliminating the ball extraordinarily shortly in Week 1 with a median time to throw of two.51 seconds, in accordance with ProFootballFocus. That was the fifth-fastest time to throw within the NFL final week. So it may not be straightforward to get to Cousins on this sport however that’s the place Vic Fangio’s disguises on the again finish would possibly matter. If Fangio can confuse Cousins sufficient to make him maintain the ball a tick longer, it may actually matter.

The Eagles had 2 sacks within the opener and each got here from off-ball linebacker Zack Baun. That’s not superb. In fact, the sector circumstances at Corinthians Area in São Paulo weren’t superb and that led to some slipping for the move rushers. There have been nonetheless some good particular person performs from Josh Sweat and Jalen Carter however the Eagles want a greater group rush beginning with Week 2.

Though Cousins was eliminating the ball shortly in Week 1, he was nonetheless sacked a few instances and the Falcons surrendered 12 complete pressures on this sport. The Steelers have been throughout them. Right here’s the place these pressures got here from, in accordance with PFF:

C Drew Dalman: 3
LG Matthew Bergeron: 3
RG Chris Lindstrom: 3
RT Kaleb McGary: 2
LT Jake Matthews: 1

The Falcons have been thought-about to have an excellent offensive line. PFF ranked the Falcons because the No. 6 OL within the NFL getting into 2024.

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