Philadelphia Eagles (0-0) vs. Atlanta Falcons (0-0)
September 12, 2021 1:00 pm EDT
The Line: Atlanta Falcons -3.5 / Philadelphia Eagles +3.5; Over/Under: 46.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Atlanta Falcons meet the Philadelphia Eagles in week 1 NFL action from Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta.
The Philadelphia Eagles come into the 2021 season looking to rebound from a forgettable 2020 campaign that saw Philly finish 4-11-1 in the basement of the NFC East division. It’ll be the first season without Carson Wentz since 2016 after he was shipped to the Colts in March, leaving the keys to the offense with Jalen Hurts. Joe Flacco is an experienced backup and Gardnew Minshew is another option for first-year head coach Nick Sirianni under center. Miles Sanders will lead the running back group, while the likes of Jalen Reagor and rookie DeVonta Smith will be tasked with providing Hurts the options that are needed to succeed full time in the NFL. The Eagles have an intimidating pass rush with Fletcher Cox, Ryan Kerrigan and Brandon Graham all coming for opposing QBs and with the way that injuries played a big role in the NFC East last year, with some favorable spots, the Eagles could return to the postseason if all goes right.
The Atlanta Falcons will also be looking to escape the cellar of the NFC South, finishing 2020 with a 4-12 mark, leaving the Falcons searching for answers as the time runs out on Matt Ryan. The Falcons did their best to give Ryan and first-year head coach Arthur Smith a chance to succeed, making Kyle Pitts the highest selected tight end selected in NFL history, taking the Florida Gator 4th overall in the draft. An option was needed as Julio Jones was traded to the Tennessee Titans, leaving the receiving group to be led by Calvin Ridley and the likes of Tajae Sharpe and Russell Gage. The Falcons defense definitely needs work going forward, but hopefully Dante Fowler can regain some of his all-pro form in the linebacking level to give this Falcons defense some grit that was definitely lacking last season.
Philadelphia is 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games and 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games in September while the under is 7-3 in their last 10 games overall. Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 week 1 matchups and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 September games. The underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings between these two teams.
The underdog has had a lot of success in this matchup, and with lines like this, it’s not hard to see why. I’m not understanding how the Falcons are favored here. Sure, the Eagles had one fewer loss last year, but I trust Jalen Hurts and what the Eagles are building offensively than I do Atlanta. Matt Ryan is getting older and adding Kyle Pitts when you really only have him and Calvin Ridley as your two main threats, doesn’t make you a hard team to figure out once this guys are locked down. I think the wrong team’s favored here, but I won’t complain. Give me Philadelphia and the points.
