Week 2 Sunday Night NFL Picks: Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons Odds and Predictions – Free NFL Picks 9/18

Week 2 Free NFL Picks: Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons Sunday Night NFL Week 1 Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on NBC 9/18/11: For the first time in his NFL career, quarterback Mike Vick will start an NFL game in the Georgia Dome for a team other than the Atlanta Falcons. A lot has happened to both Vick and the Falcons’ franchise since the two parted ways in light of Vick’s prison sentence on charges related to dog fighting, and when the Philadelphia Eagles visit Atlanta Sunday night, two of the top teams in the NFC will be on the field. The Falcons have blossomed under young quarterback Matt Ryan, and are coming off a year when they recorded the best record in the conference. Meanwhile, Vick has the Eagles thinking Super Bowl on the heels of the best season of his NFL career. In fact, Philadelphia is a 2 ½-point favorite on the road for Sunday night’s meeting.

Atlanta will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing opening week loss to the Chicago Bears, while the Eagles will be trying to build on the momentum that allowed them to pull away from the St. Louis Rams in the second half last weekend. Neither team looked all that sharp in Week 1, but in a loaded NFC, the pressure is clearly on the Falcons. Starting 0-2 could be disastrous, and allowing Vick to be the reason would be adding some serious salt to the wound.

For football fans that love offense, it’s tough to imagine a better matchup. Vick and receiver DeSean Jackson form arguably the best big play combination in the NFL, while running back LeSean McCoy and receiver Jeremy Maclin have plenty of speed to burn as well. Ryan has a lot of weapons at his disposal as well. From last year’s league leader in receiving yards Roddy White and veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez to rookie deep threat Julio Jones and bruising rusher Michael Turner, the Falcons have the arsenal to match the Eagles point for point.

For all the talent at the skill positions that both teams boast, Sunday’s game will likely come down to the play of the offensive and defensive lines. Philadelphia was gashed by the run last week against St. Louis, and the Falcons bring an even more potent rushing attack to the table. However, they have to take advantage of it. In the loss to Chicago, Atlanta gave the ball to Turner just 10 times despite the back averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. Ryan and company have to remember that all of the success last season came when the Falcons were a run-first team, and getting away from the winning formula made for a disastrous Week 1.

While the Falcons must capitalize on the Eagles’ weak run defense, Atlanta’s defensive front has to take advantage of a young Philadelphia offensive line as well. Defensive ends John Abraham and Ray Edwards are two of the best in the NFL, and both players must pressure and contain Vick on a regular basis. The Falcons failed to apply much heat on Jay Cutler last weekend, and the secondary got picked apart. If Vick has time in the pocket, Atlanta could be in for a long night.

McCoy could do some serious damage as well for Philadelphia. Chicago’s Matt Forte was able to use his versatility to pile up more than 150 yards from scrimmage against the Falcons, doing a lot of damage in the passing game. No back was better at getting involved in the passing game last season than McCoy, and he could be in store for a monster game if Atlanta doesn’t make some corrections.

Last week’s loss to the Bears should have served as an eye opener to the Falcons. They had the look of young, cocky team that thought last year’s success was going to entitle them to a repeat performance this season. They got a reality check, and Atlanta should respond by getting back to the basics and winning in the trenches. Expect plenty of touches for Turner, who should be able to batter the Eagles’ weak defensive front, and plenty of pressure on Vick. Playing at home in a must-win type of atmosphere should allow the Falcons to survive the big plays from Vick and company to win the game. 

Prediction: Atlanta Falcons (+2 ½) Cover the Spread

Free NFL Football Picks and Predictions: Atlanta Falcons +2.5

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