The Philadelphia Eagles will be facing off against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in an important Week 1 matchup. These teams are both on the cusp of becoming playoff contenders, as they each could be in the running to participate in the postseason. It's time to continue our NFL predictions series with an Eagles Week 1 prediction.
Philadelphia plays in a wide-open NFC East, which grants them a real opportunity to be in the playoff hunt later in the season. Their season opener against the Falcons is a nice opportunity to start the year 1-0, as Atlanta doesn't have the best roster on paper. Even so, this game should come down to the wire, as these two franchises are relatively even.
The Falcons' passing game might be on full display, as the Eagles have the potential to completely shut down the run. As for Philadelphia's offense, we could see a new face make a strong debut in the backfield. Additionally, Dallas Goedert will look to serve as a consistent pass option for Jalen Hurts, as they could air it out throughout the game. With that said, here are four bold predictions for the Eagles' week 1 matchup against the Falcons.
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Eagles Week 1 Predictions
4. Eagles defense shuts down the Flacons run game
The running back situation in Atlanta is one of the most concerning aspects of their offense. Mike Davis serves as the starting running back, with Cordarrelle Patterson and Wayne Galman serve as the backups. This might be a nice mismatch for the Eagles to exploit, as Philadelphia has a decent front seven on their roster. Look for the Eagles to take away the run and force the Falcons to throw often.
3. Kenneth Gainwell makes an explosive rookie debut
Miles Sanders is the starting running back for Philadelphia, but there are some solid backups on the team. Kenneth Gainwell is an exciting rookie who has the potential to become a legitimate satellite back like James White or Nyheim Hines. Boston Scott is getting up there in age, so now might be the time Gainwell takes over in passing situations. Look for the Eagles to potentially feed Kenneth Gainwell the ball in two-minute drills, as he's their best weapon in those situations.
2. Dallas Goedert is the best pass option for the Eagles
The front office has brought in a plethora of young prospects to the receiver room. In fact, Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins have been lights out throughout the offseason, while there is a ton of hype surrounding DeVonta Smith. However, Dallas Goedert might be the most reliable pass option on the Eagles' offense. He'll look to prove himself on Sunday, as Hurts could target the young tight end frequently.
1. Jalen Hurts goes bonkers for 400+ yards and 4 total touchdowns
Atlanta has a terrible defense right now, making this a perfect opportunity for Jalen Hurts to show off his skill set. He's a dual-threat quarterback that gives the Eagles versatility in the backfield. Whether he's throwing it or running it, we should see Jalen Hurts have a bonkers game to kick off the 2021 season. If that's the case, it could turn into a long day for the Falcons.
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