6 NFL Teams in need of a Week 2 win

Philadelphia Eagles

Week 2: vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Battle of the Birds did not go as expected, and suddenly Chip Kelly’s Eagles are in an 0-1 hole that is deeper than their record makes it appear.

The Eagles entered into 2015 as the primary challengers to the Cowboys for NFC East supremacy; all they needed to do was shore up their pass defense and find reliable producers at the skill positions.

As for the latter, they did well. Awful drop-turned-interception aside, Jordan Matthews looks like he’ll ease into the role vacated by Jeremy Maclin. The group of running backs featuring DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and the perpetually forgotten but always dangerous Darren Sproles tired out the Falcons all day with sweeps.

As for the former, it looks like the Eagles may have chosen to pay Byron Maxwell $10 million per year to get roasted worse than Saint Lawrence. At least San Lorenzo was martyring himself; Maxwell was just bad at football. Julio Jones went bonkers on Maxwell and the Eagles secondary, particularly during the game’s first half. Even with the Eagles starting to pressure Matt Ryan, Ryan was able to convert third downs with ease.

The Eagles came in and played a sloppy game, enduring turnovers and penalties, but because of mistakes on the Falcons side were still in the game late. Cody Parkey shanked a field goal, the next Eagles drive ended on the Matthews drop/interception, and the Falcons were able to come away with an unlikely 26-24 victory.

Now the Cowboys are the only team in the NFC East with a win, and they can make good distance on the Eagles with a win in Philadelphia next week. This looks like a far more dire situation for Philly than in Week One

The Eagles matched up well with the Falcons; the Eagles offense is built on taking advantage of mismatches and attacking weaknesses, and the Falcons were prone to finding themselves in situations where a player like defensive lineman Kroy Biermann is on a receiver. The Cowboys defense has its share of struggles, but they aren’t because of scheme. The Cowboys won’t be caught out of position nearly as much as the Falcons.

It’s never a good look to cheer the injury of another player, but the Eagles are in a much better position to handle the Cowboys offense with Dez Bryant out. Tony Romo will be reliant on Terrence Williams to be the team’s primary receiver, and Maxwell won’t be as vulnerable as he was with Jones. Still, the Eagles won’t be able to take advantage of a poor offensive line, and Romo could have a field day.

The Eagles looked better as the game went on, and they’ll be more cohesive on defense against the Cowboys, but they’ll fall 28-20 at home. They then have to take on the difficult Jets front seven before finally facing the Washington Redskins. A likely 3-1 start becomes a 2-2 or possibly even 1-3 start.

Next: Indianapolis Colts