The Philadelphia Eagles travel to the Georgia Dome, battling the Atlanta Falcons to start the 2015 season. Expectations are extremely high for Chip Kelly and the new look Eagles after an impressive preseason. The entire nation will be watching as part of the Monday night football double header and all eyes will be on quarterback Sam Bradford, making his first start since October of 2013.
The Atlanta Falcons are a team searching for an identity after a disappointing finish to the 2014 season, falling to the Carolina Panthers in week 17 and which cost them the NFC South title and a trip to the playoffs. Former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn takes over as head coach, trying to turn around a team playing in a division where no team finished with a winning record last season.
Atlanta Offense
In 2014, quarterback Matt Ryan was forced to be a one man show, the running game was almost non- existent, and the offensive line struggled for the better part of the season. Although the offensive line added a few veterans in the offseason, rookie running back Tevin Coleman has been named the starter after barely playing in the preseason due to injury. Speaking of injuries, veteran receiver Roddy White has been nursing his own share of injuries, leaving only Julio Jones as a top end playmaker for the Falcons offense. I’d expect the Falcons to try and establish some type of run game, but also to deploy a heavy dose of three and four wide receiver packages to challenge the Eagles retooled secondary.
Philadelphia Offense
The Falcons were terrible against the pass in 2014, but defensive minded Dan Quinn is bringing a new scheme in hopes to improve one of the leagues worse overall defenses. The Eagles on offense should be just fine both with the ground game and through the air. The pass rush for the Falcons is still a work in progress, and Sam Bradford will likely have plenty of time in the pocket to make his quick read and find the open receiver. Nelson Agholor makes his NFL debut, and could certainly make an early statement, and I predict he scores his first touchdown.
Atlanta Defense
A successful defensive minded head coach does not translate into a good defense. There are some athletes on the Falcons, but how they react to the high-tempo pace of the Philadelphia Eagles offense is going to be a challenge. Dan Quinn was successful with his trip to Philadelphia in 2014, shutting down the offense for the majority of the football game. The Falcons know the starting quarterback for the Eagles hasn’t made a regular season start in almost two years. Will they elect to bring constant pressure, will the corners and safeties jam the Eagle receivers at the line of scrimmage to interrupt the timing?
Philadelphia Defense
The Eagles gave Byron Maxwell, a former student of Dan Quinn a large contract, and they did so because he is going to be asked to shut down the opposing number one wide receiver. Will Chip Kelly and Billy Davis learn from their previous prime time matchup against the Dallas Cowboys where they were embarrassed by Dez Bryant? It would make sense for Maxwell to shadow Julio Jones all game. Let Nolan Carroll match-up against the aging Roddy White. The Falcons have one of the worst tight-end units in the entire NFL; I feel the linebackers will be just fine handling them in addition to any usage of the running backs in the passing game. The starting defensive line for the Eagles should have little issue both slowing down the running game and getting pressure on Ryan throughout the night.
Prediction
For some reason, all of the hype that surrounded the Eagles after the preseason has turned into a little worry with a prime time matchup on the road to start the 2015 season.
I’m not one of those people, and I feel this game is going to be a statement, one that is going to have Philadelphia fans fired up for the week two matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Eagles 37 Falcons 24
Week 1. Win and leave injury free. Progress from there.
Eagles Jump out Fast with a Big Lead and then hang on to Win..38-27
Offensive Stars of the Game
QB Bradford, RB Murray & Sproles, WR Matthews and TE Burton
Defensive Stars of the Game
OLB B Graham, DT Bennie Logan and DB B Maxwell..
No Serious Injuries… Onto Week #2 versus the Cowboys for 1st Place in the NFC East
I actually want to see them get out to a big lead early however I am interested in seeing if Kelly adjusts his game plan for better time management to finish games and keep the defense off the field. I am hoping with this running back trio that will be the case.
28-14 Birds.
POUND THE GOD DAMN ROCK RIGHT DOWN THEIR THROATS TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am watching Eagles DC Billy Davis to see if he continues to play that “bend don’t break” Strategy or if he unleashes the Blitzing after Matt Ryan right from the get go and take a few chances… The Only way the Eagles Lose is if Davis keeps the Blitz’s to a minimum and has his LB’s play passive in pass coverage’s which will allow QB Matt Ryan to sit back and get into a rhythm and if the Eagles cough up the ball.. The Falcons Defense has little to no chance of stopping this Eagles Offense, outside of Turnovers
I think the Eagles will quickly establish their will on the Falcons defense with their tempo, running the ball, then going through the air. Shock and awe with thunder on the ground with Murray and Mathews, and lightening through the air with Bradford delivering pin point laser accurate strikes to Agholor, Matthews, Sproles and the Tight Ends. Lots of YAC with Cooper blocking downfield. Defensively, I expect the Eagles defense to disrupt the falcons with our front 7 putting constant pressure on Matt Ryan. Julio will get some, but it will not be enough to make this came competitive. Score will not be indicative to the actual game performance.
Eagles 34
Falcons 20…late score.
GO EAGLES!!!!
E-A-G-L-E-S- EAGLES!!!
EHL what are your thoughts on Thurmond at safety. IMO i think Eric Rowe was brought in to be the safety and Thurmond was a project gamble they were going to move into the slot….then Thurmond took to the position and it changed the whole look of what they were trying to do.
IJ, with the way the Eagles like to use their safeties in the pass game I think Thurmond will be the better choice. I was not high on Eric Rowe prior to draft and did not want the Eagles to take him. With that now being water
under the bridge, I think Rowe’s natural physical ability allows him to be more of a natural safety than corner. The Eagles were adamant that Rowe was brought in to play corner, now they have switched him to safety. Could it be that they are seeing the transition may not be one he is ready to make physically…Rowe has stiff hips and is not fluid with transitioning with his feet.
If Rowe can step up and play safety, then Thurmond would better serve the defense being the slot corner.
ANYTHING LESS THAN 31 POINTS BY THE EAGLES AGAINST THIS SHIT DEFENSE IS A FAILURE.
a win scoring 14 points, is a win! not a failure! I care less about how Eagles get wins this year….Just win!
I agree RealTalk. Win be injury free progress from there. Its week 1. You dont win or lose the SuperBowl week 1.
Hey henski im glad u brought back the all caps….im ready to knock atlanta on their ass
kickoff weekend thoughts
desean jackson is a pussy – great cut by chip’
lesean mccoy – he may play for the pink team, parading around like a scored woman. he cant get chip off his mind
giants are awful
cowboys LMFAO @ DEZ
peyton manning cant throw at all anymore
bucs made a HUGE mistake not taking YOTA over crab legs.
foles gonna foles
travis kelce is a damn animal and the best tight end in the nfl. yes better than gronk. he just has a bum throwing him the rock
cam newtown is awful
russell wilson is the most overrated qb in the game
matt stafford is awful and a natural loser
Agreed on Stafford…another guy with “talent” that just stinks. Bad body language…the stink of impending doom just can’t be lifted…you KNOW the collapse is coming, a-la Cutler.
Newton IS terrible, and yet is still the most seen player in every NFL network promo. Too funny.
Manning has been finished for 2 years, talking heads slowly beginning to begrudgingly recognize it.
Raiders and Jags…just when you thought there was a little promise, they immediately revert to what they are.
Who didn’t know that Wash and Chic were going to give up the leads they had? Cutler. He was showered and on the bus before the 4th began.
Desean – anyone actually surprised that that me-first clown is “hurt”. How long did he last? 3 plays and then the “hamstring strain”. Please. Guy got paid and wants no part of that mess. Quitter.
McCoy 17 for 41. Unknown Karlos Williams 6 for 51. He should shut up already.
Saints done? I think so. Fading since the big Brees contract….teams have to be careful about $$ like that to 33 year olds…..
Johnny Football. I mean its laughable.
I disageree on Wilson….that guy has moxie in him. He played a good game yesterday. Wasn’t his fault.
I am wondering if Luck may be becoming the most overrated.
Does Bradford have the same kind of moxie in him that the Eagles’ traded away? Its the #1 question on everyone’s minds….not how he plays when things are going well, I’m convinced he’ll thrive in that scenario…..but can he drop a perfect ball in overtime like the bane of Koolidiot’s existence did last night?
2 years ago peyton had 55 tds. last year had 39 but started sucking bad late
This qualifies as the dumbest post of this new NFL season…mhenski you are a certified idiot even Vinniedafool recognizes Russell Wilson’s greatness.
The overrated guy is Andrew Luck. Everyone has him penciled in for greatness while Wilson keeps winning playoff games and taking his team to the Super Bowl…
Another overrated QB is Cousins in Washington…he sucks…glad the Redskins has him starting…
Tonight is the beginning for loyal Eagle fans….the jackasses, flip-floppers like Vinniedafool, mhenski and others have all hedged their bets…ready to pounce. Here is what you will hear….they will be howling about Fumbling Foles if Bradford doesn’t play well or gets off to a shaky start. If Bradford is impressive they have tried to cover their flip-flopping ass with stuff like…”I hope Bradford plays well” so they can claim they are true fans.
Frauds…
KOOLBREEZE I WISH YOU WELL THIS SEASON. I HOPE YOU FIND GREAT JOY THIS FOOTBALL SEASON.
LOTS OF FIST BUMPS
LOTS OF DANCING
LOTS OF FUN MAN
BOTTOM LINE IS THIS YOUR HATED QUARTERBACK IS GONE AND WE GOT A NEW ONE. MY HATED QB IS GONE. LOOKS LIKE WE BOTH GOT WHAT WE WANTED DONE – YOU FOLES ME VICK. IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE QB. LETS SEE WHAT THIS DUDE BRADFORD GOT
YOU WANNA CARRY ON WITH YOUR MISERABLE POSTS RATHER THAN JUST ROOT WITH THE MASSES GO FOR IT. BUT MYSELF ALL LOVE THIS SEASON TOWARDS ALL EAGLES FANS
ME MYSELF IM DOING SOME PALE ALES, SOME BOB MARLEYS (IF YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN), SOME HIGH FIVES, AND SOME ROOTING.
BIRDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS 2 HOURS 49 MINUTES.
I DONT KNOW IF LIGHTING UP SOME GREENS RIGHT NOW WILL MAKE THE WAIT WORSE OR BETTER
Stafford has that jay cutler in him…..lol…..crab legs
If what I am reading is true…If Rashad Jennings was told not to score near the goalline the entire coaching staff of the NYG should be fired today.
Also tonight Vinny Curry at OLB. I think Curry is the best pure pass rusher on the team and will supplant Brandon Graham in a short period of time. If he gets the amount of playing time Brandon Graham got last year as the 3rd OLB he has the chance to change the entire face of the defense. I think he can be that dominant on the edge.
Curry and Bennie Logan are going to be a PROBLEM.
Eli might be most overrated QB in league while Romo is maybe most underrated. Either way both of the teams suck IMO. Chip is going to blow them off the field.
The redskins are garbage too. Team full of losers who will never win shit the league.
Rest of NFC is wide open
Saints and Brees are done
Lions will never win with Stafford
Chicago is not a contender
GB is nowhere near the same without Nelson
Panthers and Newton are trash and don’t belong on the same field as the Eagles as Chip showed them last year on Monday night
SF lost too much on defense
ST louis has a ridiculous Defense even tho they gave up some points. Foles looked good considering what he has to work with. I would love to See Tavon Austin in a Chip Kelly offense. But if we stay healthy we should be able to beat them too
Cards always give us problems but right now we are the better team
STUPID FUCKING CLOCK CANT YOU MOVE A LITTLE FASTER????????
IM READY FOR SOME PALE ALES, HIGH FIVES, SOME EAGLES TDS AND A DUBBYA
LETS GET THIS BITCH GOING BIRDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
NO HUDDLE NO MERCY
LMFAO AT DEZ I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE WORKOUT HIS STRAP ONS GONNA BE GETTING THE NEXT MONTH OR 2. HAAAAAAAAAA WHAT AN ANKLE GRABBER
GIVE THIS LOOOOOOOOOOOZA MATT RYAN A WEDGIE, STEAL HIS LUNCH MONEY AND SHOVE HIM IN THE LOCKER!!!!!!!!!!!
WHO GETS INJURED FIRST JULIO OR BRADFORD?
It’s the sport of Kings better than diamond rings
F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L…
Are you ready for some Football !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Game day is here, Yeah!!!!!!!!!
Biggest week one shocker — Tyrod Taylar looking like a champion and dropping a 50 yarder in the air TD. beautiful pass. I expected him to get walloped like Manziel did. Bills look like a serious Challenger for the AFC East division and a guarantee playoff team. That is a good football team.
Tyrod Taylor is the real deal…he looked strong in the pocket, excellent mobility…excellent throws
I’ve been talking Tyrod Taylor Up all Summer..
Actually I liked him last Summer too when he was with the Ravens..
He reminds me of a “Poor Man’s” Russell Wilson
40-42 Eagles
Xbox One Commercial ..Funny As Isht Bruh I been here the whole time !!
Xbox One Commercial ..Funny As Isht Bruh I been here the whole time !!
Skittles says that line very naturally and is convincing. He is either an untapped good actor, or used to say that line to his teachers/profs all the time!
Eagles have to place five players on inactive list for game. My guess :
QB Stephen Morris, OG Josh Andrews, WR Miles Austin, OLB Marcus Smith, and ILB Jordan Hicks
My 5 Inactives for Eagles
QB S Morris, OL Josh Andrews , DL Brandon Bair , LB Brad Jones & LB Marcus Smith II
Ertz will be inactive tonight more than likely. I see no reason for him to be playing this week.
Your probably right IJ, I forgot about Ertz..
He Sits and Chip Activares LB Brad Jones
So the 5 Inactives – QB Morris, OL Andrews,DL Bair, LB MSII & TE Ertz
Kenjon Barner to handle the Kick-Offs and Punt Returns ..
Josh Huff needs to start Producing of may end up being Inactive in Future Games..
Zach Ertz is cleared to play and is active for the game.
84% of tonights bets on eagles and line hasnt moved. this game gonna be close
1% of NFL bets are able to be tracked — It is the wild wild west out there in gambling land. The rules are there are no rules. NFL, MLB, NBA and NCAA fear transparency of bet flows which would expose the obvious corruption of their employees.
Kenyon Barner is not active and Raheem Mostert was taken off our practice squad and signed in Miami.
So many compelling story lines to watch .Im like a hyper active kid in a sugar factory and its 3:26 in Arizona…I need to pace myself.Ill be watching the reconstructed O line and watch wether they’re more proficient at run blocking or pass protection.Either way the ball will be moving on the carpet at a frenetic pace.I will also be watching intently to see how the linebacker unit plays as a unit for the first time this season.Will Bill Davis learn from his crash and burn at the end of the season ,and get after Ryan with A gap up the middle pressure .The nickel corner ,who will it be and what will he do ? Will we come out of this game not only healthy ,but with the regression of two teams Vegas predicted would be in the super bowl hunt ,Dallas,and Seattle ,will we be in the national conversation as the co-favorites with Green Bay as the NFC team to beat.Why not expect special teams to score ,putting pressure on the Falcons offense to play from behind ,and try to protect there QB.MHenski make sure ,the Marley is Reggae Good..get up stand up!BIRDS
FLY EAGLES FLY!!!
Desert dude im so pumped im literally shaking…..I luv football
Z ..let’s go DEE…Dominate
Bill Davis. Wet. Dream spoiler
Bend but don’t break ..first series ..cmon BILL ..your killing me
DAmm…catch the ball…interception right there~!!!!
No pass rush thus far.
Just as we spoke about all weekend, “Bend don’t Break” makes you lose versus Pocket, Rhythm QB’s like Matt Ryan
Malcolm Jenkins got decked by their FB on a Ruuning Play and then Drops a sure Int costing the Eagles 3 Points
Ertz turned the wrong way on that 3rd Down Olay in the 1st Series
Now a Holding and Murray stretched to the outside which is not his strength
Not a good start for the Eagles.
Falcons HC Dan Quinn knows the Eagles Schemes and has his defenders ready and prepped for the up-tempo…
Wait… It’s not suppossed to be like this
One thing is very clear,
Dan Quinn has toughened up these Falcons who are pushing the Eagles around at the line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball which is very disappointing to see and could be a very bad omen for the 2015 Season..
KIKO!!
KIKO!!!!
Can anyone say KIKO!!!!!!
GREAT PLAY BY KIKO!! He bailed our ass out there!!
OMG KIKO WITH A ONE HAND INT LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Wow, what a Play by Kiko Alonson bailing out the Birds and quite possible Saving their 2015 Season… If the Eagles go onto Win the Super Bowl, you can thank Kiko Alonso with that ain’t right there ..
Are the Eagles going to pass to their WR’s this Game
If Billy Davis isn’t going to bring pressure its going to be a long night for the defense. Don’t know how much more Davis has to see that they have no pass rush.
Puerto Rico what! Puerto Rico what! Puerto Rico what!
These weak ass receivers
C’mon…we gotta get the running game going!!
Eagles Reeivers are letting Sam Bradford down…
What’s happens when the Eagles Face better Defenses like the Cowboys, Patriots,Bills, Jets, Dolphins,Panthers, Lions, Cardinals & Redskins?
Sending Miles Austins old slow ass down the seam doesn’t seem like a good option.
So far…underwhelmed with the offense, which is supposed to be the strength. Dan Quinn knows how to stifle Kelly offense??? Does that make him a genius?
My god… Dan Quinn has our freakin number again this year…
Bradford is looking very shaky
Better try running the ball more
THATS WHAT THE HELL IM TALKING ABOUT MAXWELL!!!
TAKE IT TO THE FREAKIN MAX, TAKE IT TO THE MAX! STAY IN HIS SHIRT ALL NIGHT!!!
Eagles just had to weather the early storm. They will been fine.