8 things to watch when the Eagles host the Falcons

After playing their technical home opener in Brazil last Friday, the Philadelphia Eagles will play their actual home opener against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday Night Football in Week 2.

Let’s run through some of the more important things to watch out for this in matchup.

1 – Kirk Cousins’ health

We’ve already written multiple articles here at BGN detailing how Cousins does not look healthy coming off a late October 2023 Achilles injury. And how, as a result, the Falcons’ offense appears to be significantly compromised.

Maybe it’s as simple as the Falcons being screwed until Cousins can get back to full health. Maybe they have to turn to Michael Penix Jr. a lot sooner than expected? TBD.

For Week 2, at least, one would imagine Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is trying to make adjustments to work around any Cousins limitations. The latest headline from The Falcoholic: “This week’s big Falcons question: Can Zac Robinson adjust?”

We’ll never learn the reasoning behind last Sunday’s game plan; frankly, it doesn’t matter. This week, the team reiterated that Cousins is healthy and so has the quarterback. They know what the league is saying. The staff has acknowledged the failure, and they’ll be forced to show that Kirk can run the offense without any training wheels. Philadelphia will see to it.

Concerns about Cousins’ health are valid, and yes, there were clear signs of rust, but we need to see the quarterback tested before coming to conclusions. The most pressing ask is play action. Cousins showed he could go through his rollout progressions on multiple handoffs, and while he did look shaky in the pocket at times, his touchdown pass was as good as it gets in terms of Kirk Cousins mobility.

Hard to believe the Falcons won’t try something new. Vic Fangio and the Eagles’ defensive staff have to be anticipating adjustments.

2 – A better gauge of Philly’s pass rush

One of the biggest questions leaving the Eagles’ Week 1 win: is this pass rush any good?

It’s too early to say for sure since 1) it’s just one game and 2) it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen an Eagles pass rush get neutralized by a slippery field.

But now the Birds will be back on the well-maintained grass at The Linc. And they’ll be going up against a quarterback who figures to be even less mobile than he is to begin with. While playing behind an offensive line that’s far from impenetrable. From Pro Football Focus:

The Falcons’ offensive line — considered to be among the best units in the NFL — struggled mightily against the Pittsburgh pass rush. They allowed 12 total pressures, including three sacks, on just 27 dropbacks, which led to a 72.2 PFF pass-blocking efficiency score — the lowest mark in the NFL in Week 1.

Left guard Matthew Bergeron, center Drew Dalman and right tackle Kaleb McGary — who was responsible for three sacks — all earned sub-40.0 PFF pass-blocking grades in Week 1.

If the Eagles’ edge rushers can’t get to Cousins, that’s going to be pretty troubling.

3 – Slowing down Bijan Robinson

Eagles fans are certainly no stranger to Bijan after all the speculation that the Birds might take him early in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Falcons prevented us from seeing if the Eagles would actually pick a running back that high or not.

As a rookie, Robinson wasn’t utilized quite as often as expected. Probably part of the reason Arthur Smith got fired. Robinson only handled 41% of Atlanta’s carries and accounted for 17.7% of their receptions. Incredibly early on in Year 2, Robinson has accounted for 81.8% of the Falcons’ rushing attempts and 31.25% of their receptions.

Robinson’s 18 carries went for just 68 yards (3.8 average) against the Steelers; he didn’t exactly light the world on fire. His longest run gained 13. But Robinson did also pitch in with five targets resulting in five catches for another 43 yards.

Robinson’s efficiency was certainly not aided by Cousins’ limitations. If the Falcons quarterback isn’t even going to be used on play-action, well, it’s not like the defense is going to be kept honest. But, again, we could see the Falcons try to change their approach.

Even if they don’t, slowing Robinson is still a concern. As detailed by BGN’s Jonny Page, the Eagles’ defense had issues with their run fits against the Green Bay Packers. The Birds allowed 21 total carries for 163 yards (7.8 average) and one touchdown. Even taking out the Jayden Reed end around and focusing on the running backs, Josh Jacobs had 16 carries for 84 yards (5.3 average) while third-string option Emanuel Wilson ripped off 46 yards on just four attempts (11.5 average).

Running the ball a whole lot more could be one of the adjustments that the Falcons are planning to make. The Eagles need to prove they can avoid getting gashed on the ground.

Q. How well did you get to know Falcons RB Bijan Robinson in the draft process and what challenges does he present?

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, we showed some tape of him today of just how elusive he is. I think if you look, his first touchdown was like play 11 against Carolina last year, play 11 of the game of game number 1. They throw him a little swing pass and he makes the first guy miss, then he makes another guy miss, and he runs through a tackle. He’s a really good football player who can create on his own. Things can break down, and he still can make a play.

A lot of things remind me of when we used to — it felt like today in the team meeting when I’m showing those, it felt a little bit like, ‘Hey, these are the clips I was showing when we were getting ready to play the Giants and Saquon [Barkley].’ He’s really elusive and really fast, got good hands.

Yeah, enjoyed my pre-draft process with him. I always enjoy meeting good guys, good football players, and spending time with them, and he’s a heck of a football player that’s done a nice job so far in this league. We’ll have to be ready to tackle. We need to tackle better than we did last game, and it’s going to be a big deal in this week’s game, as every game is.

4 – Is the Falcons’ defense actually any good?

The Falcons only allowed 18 points in Week 1. They did not allow the Steelers to score a touchdown! (And yet they still lost, lol.)

So, is the Falcons’ defense any good?

They’ve certainly got some recognizable players.

It starts up front with Grady Jarrett, who logged 1.5 sacks and three quarterbacks last Sunday. He could cause some problems for the Eagles’ interior. Out on the edge, Matthew Judon has 32.5 sacks, 33 TFLs, and 63 quarterback hits in his last 39 games played.

At linebacker, Kaden Elliss — brother of former Eagles players Christian and Noah (revenge game looming?!) — is a nice player who’s posted strong coverage numbers and low missed tackle rates in addition to providing pass rush production.

The Falcons’ secondary features Jessie Bates and Justin Simmons at safety. Those two playmakers have combined for 19 interceptions over the past two seasons alone.

Atlanta’s defense is coordinated by Jimmy Lake, who worked with head coach Raheem Morris on Sean McVay’s staff. Morris is obviously an experienced defensive mind.

While the Falcons might have enough going for them to believe their defense isn’t a joke, it’s not like they shut down a top-tier offense in Week 1. Justin Fields isn’t good and he didn’t even attempt a single pass over the middle:

Not utilizing an entire section of the field is pretty big handicap to play with. I can’t imagine the Eagles take the same approach that Arthur Smith did.

Further, the Steelers like to pretend that Najee Harris is their best running back when Jaylen Warren has clearly proven to be a more efficient option. Harris had 20 carries (for only 70 yards) in Week 1 while Warren had just two. Saquon Barkley, who looked awesome in his Eagles debut, figures to provide a much bigger test.

5 – Jalen Hurts’ decision-making

Dating back to Week 1 last season, Hurts has 23 giveaways in 19 games played. That’s just too many. He had just nine giveaways in 18 games during his excellent 2022 season.

Hurts needs to get back to taking care of the football. The Falcons probably can’t come to Philly and flat out impose their will. The Eagles can lose, however, if they beat themselves.

6 – The Eagles’ nickel cornerback situation

Now that Isaiah Rodgers is fully participating in practice, how are the Eagles going to deploy their cornerbacks?

Last week, Quinyon Mitchell was the full-time outside option with Avonte Maddox lining up in the slot. Do they go with that same setup this week with Mitchell looking good out there? They might not want to mess with that.

Then again, Maddox struggled against the Packers; it was clear they were picking on him at times.

Maybe the Eagles give that configuration another shot. Falcons slot receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III, who actually led the Falcons in targets in Week 1, is 5’9”, 190 pounds. On paper, he seems like a more suitable matchup for Maddox than some of the bigger slot players on the Packers.

The Eagles will also likely be using nickel less than they in did last Friday, when Maddox played 90% of the snaps. The Falcons used 12 personnel at the third-highest rate in the NFL in Week 1.

Still, it’ll be interesting to see if it’s Maddox in the slot or if the Eagles shift Mitchell inside and bring in Rodgers to play on the outside.

7 – What’s Devin White’s role?

White is fully participating in practice after missing Week 1 due to an ankle injury. Both Vic Fangio and Nick Sirianni confirmed that Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean are the starting linebackers, however. Will they play all the off-ball linebacker snaps? Or will we see White rotate in? Is White definitely going to be active considering he’s never been a big special teams contributor?

8 – Can the Eagles dominate a team for once?!

It’s been too long since the Eagles have had a comfortable win.

Beating the Packers by any means necessary in Week 1 was important. They’re a high quality opponent and it felt good just to see the Eagles actually win a game again after being so bad towards the end of last year.

But if we’re to believe the Eagles are closer to their 2022 version than the team we saw in 2023, it’s time for them to step up and dominate lesser competition. The best teams in the NFL beat up on the bad ones. Style points do matter.

Case in point: the 2023 Eagles won a lot early in the year but they often had to get by on the skin of their teeth. “A win is a win” sounds nice until inevitable regression arrives.

Sizing up this matchup, it just feels like there’s no good reason for the Eagles to not leave with a decisive victory. Cousins isn’t healthy and he stinks in prime-time even when he is 100%. The Eagles’ offense can cook. Nick Foles is being honored at halftime. It’s the home opener in Philly. Everything seems to be working in the Eagles’ favor.

No need to mess around. Go out and dominate.