Philadelphia Eagles vs Atlanta Falcons Picks and Predictions September 16th 2024

The Falcons and Eagles are both looking for their first win of the season as they face off on Monday, September 16th at 8:15 ET. The Eagles are favored on the money line at -288 and are -6.5 point favorites on the point spread. The game, being played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, can be viewed on ESPN, with the over/under line set at 47.5 points.

Atlanta vs. Philadelphia Key Information

• Teams: Falcons at Eagles
• Where: Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia
• Date: Monday, September 16th
• Betting Odds PHI -288 | ATL +235 O/U 47.5

The Falcons Can Win If…

Despite leading 10-9 at halftime, the Falcons lost their most recent game to the Steelers by a final score of 18-10. Atlanta’s loss dropped their season record to 0-1. The Falcons missed a good opportunity to take an early lead, but Kirk Cousins connected with Kyle Pitts for a late 2nd quarter touchdown to put Atlanta up by one at the half. However, the Falcons didn’t score at all in the 2nd half.

Atlanta was favored by -4 heading into the game, and the 8-point loss was also an ATS loss for the Falcons. The combined 28 points was well below the over/under line of 43 points.

The Falcons’ offense struggled in their 18-10 loss to the Steelers, managing only 15 first downs and 270 total yards. Kirk Cousins, filling in at quarterback, threw for 155 yards, completing 61% of his passes and ending with a passer rating of 58. He threw one touchdown and two interceptions. Atlanta’s own running game was limited to 89 yards on 22 attempts.

Ray-Ray McCloud III led the receiving unit with 52 yards on four catches. Bijan Robinson was the top rusher, with 68 yards on 18 attempts and 43 receiving yards. The Falcons also had a tough time on third down, converting just 22.2% of their opportunities.

In their 18-10 loss to the Steelers, the Falcons’ defense held Pittsburgh to just 133 passing yards. However, they struggled to stop the run, allowing 137 yards on 41 attempts. Atlanta’s defense limited big plays in the passing game, giving up only 17 completions and no touchdowns through the air.

Despite allowing the Steelers to convert on 47.1% of their third down attempts, the Falcons’ defense managed two sacks and held Pittsburgh to 270 total yards. Atlanta also won the tackles for loss battle, but their inability to stop the run played a significant role in the outcome of the game.

• Atlanta has put together a record of 0-3 in their last three games (regular season). Their record vs the spread sits at 0-3 in these matchups, while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Falcons have gone 3-7 straight up. Across these games, their ATS record was just 3-7, while posting an over-under record of 5-5.

The Eagles Can Win If…

Philadelphia came out on top in a high-scoring affair against the Packers, winning 34-29 and improving to 1-0 on the season. Despite falling behind 6-0 after the 1st quarter, the Eagles took a 17-13 lead heading into halftime on an 18-yard touchdown from Jalen Hurts to Saquon Barkley. The Eagles then had a big 3rd quarter, with A.J. Brown and Barkley both finding the endzone to take a 31-26 lead heading into the 4th quarter.

The 4th quarter saw the lead change multiple times, with the Eagles eventually coming out on top. Jake Elliot’s 21-yard field goal with 30 seconds left put the Eagles ahead for good. Josh Jacobs and Jayden Reed each had big games for the Packers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Philadelphia’s late push.

In their 34-29 win over the Packers, the Eagles picked up 25 first downs and finished with 144 rushing yards on 38 attempts. Jalen Hurts threw for 266 yards, going 20/34, and led the team with 33 rushing yards. He threw two touchdowns and was also intercepted twice. A.J. Brown was the top receiver with 119 yards and a touchdown.

Despite their success on the ground, the Eagles struggled on third down, converting only 28.6% of their chances and were sacked twice. Hurts finished with a passer rating of 80 in the game.

In the Eagles’ 34-29 win over the Packers, their defense gave up 163 rushing yards on just 21 attempts, including a 66-yard touchdown run by Aaron Jones. Despite this, they held the Packers to a 27.3% conversion rate on third down. Philadelphia’s defense also forced one interception and limited Green Bay to a 48.6% completion percentage.

The Eagles allowed 414 total yards, but Green Bay was unable to take advantage of their opportunities, as they finished with just 29 points. Philadelphia gave up 251 passing yards, with two passing touchdowns allowed. The Eagles’ defense managed two sacks in the game.

• The Eagles have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. Against the spread, they have gone 1-2 and logged an over-under record of 3-0 in these games.
• Philadelphia has put together a record of 7-3 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record against the spread in this stretch is 4-5-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 9-1.

Falcons Seek First Win with Kirk Cousins in Primetime Matchup Against Eagles

The Atlanta Falcons, led by new quarterback Kirk Cousins, are looking to recover from a season-opening loss when they face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field. Cousins, who signed a $180 million contract with the Falcons this offseason, struggled in his debut, but head coach Raheem Morris is confident the veteran QB can deliver against a familiar foe.

Cousins Aims for Redemption After Week 1 Struggles

In the Falcons’ 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, Cousins threw for just 155 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Despite the tough start, Morris remains optimistic about his new quarterback, who has had success against the Eagles in the past.

Cousins has historically fared well against Philadelphia, boasting a 6-5 career record and more passing yards (3,341) and touchdowns (26) against the Eagles than any other opponent. However, as the Falcons look to avoid an 0-2 start, Cousins will need to overcome his primetime struggles from recent years and perform well against an aggressive Eagles defense.

“We didn’t have a good game,” Morris said. “But we know what he’s capable of, and we expect him to bring everything he has to help us get the result we want.”

Cousins, coming off an Achilles injury last season, will be looking to bounce back and guide Atlanta to its first win of the 2024 campaign.

Eagles Look to Build on Week 1 Victory

The Eagles enter the game after an impressive 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers, played in Brazil, where they were able to rest during a 10-day break. Philadelphia’s defense, under new coordinator Vic Fangio, was instrumental in the win. Zack Baun had a standout performance with two sacks and 15 tackles in his Eagles debut.

Despite allowing over 400 yards to the Packers, the Eagles’ defense held firm in the red zone, giving up just one touchdown in four trips. The defense will look to stifle Cousins and the Falcons, focusing on disrupting his rhythm early.

On offense, running back Saquon Barkley powered the Eagles with 132 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in Week 1, and he will be a key player again. However, quarterback Jalen Hurts needs to clean up mistakes after throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble in the opener.

Key Matchups and Players to Watch

For the Falcons, Bijan Robinson is emerging as a critical weapon on offense. The dynamic running back posted 111 scrimmage yards in Week 1 and has drawn comparisons to Barkley for his ability to create plays even when situations break down.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged Robinson’s talent and highlighted the need to contain him:

“He’s a really good football player who can create on his own. He’s definitely someone we have to keep an eye on.”

On the defensive side, the Falcons impressed in Week 1, keeping the Steelers out of the end zone and forcing them to settle for six field goals. Atlanta’s defense will need to bring that same energy against Hurts and the Eagles’ potent offense.

Injury Updates

The Eagles are dealing with a few injury concerns. Defensive tackle Milton Williams (foot) was limited in practice, while linebacker Devin White (ankle) and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (hand) are expected to play after missing Week 1.

For the Falcons, injuries to key players include linebacker Nate Landman (calf, quad), cornerback Antonio Hamilton (groin), and right tackle Kaleb McGary (groin). Their statuses remain uncertain for Monday’s game.

What’s at Stake

Both teams are eager to keep their momentum going early in the season. The Eagles are aiming to stay undefeated, while the Falcons are looking to notch their first win of 2024. With Cousins’ historical success against the Eagles and a talented supporting cast in Robinson, Atlanta has the potential to surprise. However, Philadelphia’s defense and their ability to create turnovers could be the deciding factor.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Eagles to cover as 6.5-point favorites in this week two matchup against the Falcons. Our score prediction is 32-23 in favor of Philadelphia.

For the over/under, with the line sitting at 47.5 points, we have these teams combining for 55 points, making the over a great pick in this one.