Week 2 of the NFL season ends with a “Monday Night Football” duel between two NFC playoff contenders.

Curiously, Kirk Cousins ​​is in Philadelphia for a prime-time game in Week 2 for the third year in a row.

Can the Eagles beat the quarterback this time around like they have the last two seasons?

Let’s dive into the encounters and find an advantage.

When the Falcons have the ball

Cousins ​​had a rough debut for the Falcons in Week 1, finishing 26th in adjusted EPA/game and throwing two ugly interceptions. He also had a turnover-worth-play rate of 9.1 percent, which ranked second that week, according to PFF.

There was a lot of talk about his poor health while recovering from the Achilles tendon injury, as he lacked mobility and had trouble putting his foot down on his right foot.

Cousins ​​is at his best when he’s under center and running play-action, but in Week 1 he attempted just one pass from under center and didn’t run a single play-action dropback.

Whether it’s because he’s not healthy enough to run Zac Robinson’s offense or because the new offensive coordinator lacks the drive to run an offense with versatility and creativity, there were warning flags.

The Falcons’ offensive line was a major problem in Week 1, ranking 27th in pass block win rate. Going up against TJ Watt and the Steelers can make any offensive line look bad, but Cousins ​​was pressured on 39.3 percent of his dropbacks, even though Pittsburgh only managed a 14.3 percent blitz rate.

The interior play was particularly rough and Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis of the Eagles were able to take advantage of this on Monday night.

When the Eagles have the ball

Eagles fans should be encouraged by Kellen Moore’s offense in Week 1, especially when it comes to movement.

Against the Packers, Philadelphia used movement on 48 of 73 plays (65.8 percent), the team’s highest in a game since 2020. Last year, the Eagles used the lowest movement rate in the NFL (35.1 percent), according to Next Gen Stats.

Betting on the NFL?

Jalen Hurts seemed to love the new offense, completing 15 of 21 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns when the team used motion, and just 5 of 13 for 66 yards and two interceptions without motion. As the season progresses, the partnership between Hurts and Moore should continue to pay off.

Saquon Barkley had a great debut with the Eagles, finishing with 132 yards from the offensive zone and three touchdowns. His presence in the backfield is another weapon of concern for Atlanta.

Falcons vs. Eagles tip

Much of the discussion surrounding the Falcons this week has revolved around Cousins’ health, but equally concerning may be the team’s poor play in the trenches.

In Week 1, Atlanta ranked 29th in pass rush win rate and 27th in pass block win rate, according to ESPN. But that’s not enough against Philadelphia’s strong offensive and defensive lines.

Hurts had a rough first week with some poor turnovers, but even when he’s not at full speed, the Eagles’ offensive talent is overwhelming. With Moore’s play being a massive improvement over last year, I don’t see any way the Falcons can get consistent stops in this game.

It may be on the conservative side, but I’m rooting for Philadelphia on Monday Night Football.

The Eagles are the more talented, better coached team with a huge home field advantage and are working on two extra days of rest.

Expect a clear victory for the home team in prime time.

Recommendation: Eagles -6.5 (-110, Caesars)