The Philadelphia Eagles open their NFL regular season this evening at the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons. This is the first game on the 2015 ESPN Monday Night Football schedule. Game coverage starts at 6:55 p.m.
This marks the 32nd time the two teams will meet. Three of those previous games were in the playoffs. Overall, the Eagles are 17-13-1 against the Atlanta Falcons. On the road, the Eagles are 8-7 against the Falcons. In the Georgia Dome, the Eagles are 3-5 all time.
Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has never led a team against the Falcons. On the other hand, Falcons rookie head coach Dan Quinn has never led an NFL team against anybody. Quinn has been the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks the last 2 seasons.
Against the Eagles last year, Quinn’s defense limited the Eagles to just nine first downs, 139 total offensive yards, and 14 points. The Eagles were just 2-for-11 on third down and the Seahawks forced two turnovers, both fumbles.
Quarterback Sam Bradford is 0-2 in his career against the Falcons, including a loss in Atlanta in 2013. This will be Bradford’s first start as a Philadelphia Eagle and is, perhaps, the most anticipated start for a new Eagle QB ever.
If Bradford is healthy, the Eagles offense should produce on a scale that has not been seen under this regime. He has the innate talent to make Nick Foles 2013 season look pedestrian.
It is not a question of inborn ability, it is a question of durability. If the Eagles get the guy that showed up against the Packers in the preseason, watch out.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is 2-2 against the Eagles as a starter and won his only game at home against Philadelphia. Tonight will mark Ryan’s 111th start in the NFL. At his disposal is, perhaps, one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL right now. Julio Jones and Roddy White will test the Eagles new-look secondary.
Revamping the secondary was an obvious, and necessary, offseason priority for Philadelphia. The additions of cornerback Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond — now playing safety for the first time in his career — will hopefully add stability to a unit that has been the defense’s weak-link since 2009. Tonight will be their first opportunity to prove the organization paid the right guys.
Injury Report
Falcons
Out
WR Devin Hester (toe)
LB Brooks Reed (groin)
Probable
LB Joplu Bartu (quad)
RB Devonta Freeman (hamstring)
T Jake Matthews (back)
DB Robenson Therezie (groin)
WR Roddy White (elbow)
Eagles
Questionable
TE Zach Ertz (groin)
LB Marcus Smith (groin)
Where To Watch
- TV: ESPN @ 6:55pm (Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden & Lisa Salters)
- Radio: 94WIP (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick, & Howard Eskin)
Michael Q. Coggin is a contributor to Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @MQCoggin.
