Aim for this combination for “MNF”

The Eagles look to join nine teams already off to a 2-0 start and will play their second consecutive prime-time game when they host the Falcons on “Monday Night Football.”

The Falcons, on the other hand, want to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start.

Since 1990, when the league introduced the wild card, only 32 of the 279 teams (11.5%) that started the season 0-2 made the playoffs.

The challenge for Atlanta this season will be to navigate offseason changes that have resulted in a complete overhaul of the coaching staff and a new quarterback with a torn Achilles tendon.

Kirk Cousins ​​​​didn't look particularly comfortable in the pocket in Week 1, throwing passes for just 155 yards and two interceptions.

Atlanta finished with just 10 points in an eight-point loss to the Steelers, and given Cousins' struggles in prime time, we've put together a plus-money parlay bet on the same game to take advantage of this matchup.

Combination bet Falcons vs. Eagles (same game)

• Stage 1: ALT total below 49.5 points (-180)
• Stage 2: Eagles win (-250 ML)

ALT total below 49.5 points (-180)

The Eagles started as four-point favorites and moved to -5.5 despite the news that they will be without All-Pro wide receiver AJ Brown.

Therefore, the Falcons do not get much respect after their poor home performance in Week 1.

One thing is clear about the Falcons' new head coach, Raheem Morris: his strong pedigree as a defensive coordinator.

While Morris could potentially help Atlanta make some improvements on defense, his biggest challenge will be getting the offense up and running.

During his previous stint as head coach at Tampa Bay from 2009-2011, the Buccaneers' passing offense ranked 22nd or worse in two of his three seasons.

In other words, Morris is not the kind of passing guru you can expect to roll up his sleeves and get involved in the offense.

Instead, he will likely provide more of the structure and function of a CEO, similar to what we see with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.

According to Pro Football Reference, Cousins ​​had the fourth-fewest intended air yards (5.3) on his passes in Week 1. According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, Cousins ​​also averages a throw time of 2.55 seconds, the sixth-worst mark among quarterbacks.

The point total for this game is down three points to 45.5 after starting at 48.5. While this line change may have more to do with Brown not playing, I don't expect Atlanta's offense to do much to help this game exceed an alternate point total of 49.5 points.

Eagles win (-250 moneyline)

Playing in the primetime spotlight has never been particularly comfortable for Cousins. According to Action Network, Cousins ​​is just 12 of 19 in singles games that start at 7 p.m. or later.

And the more details you look at, the worse the numbers become:

• As a guest at this point, his record is 4-11.
• As an underdog he is 2:10.
• As an underdog on a away tour, he has scored 5.5 or more points and is now 0-5.

For this reason, Cousins ​​is not the quarterback we would expect to succeed in this underdog role.

As for Atlanta's defense, I'm not sure we can make any definitive statements considering they faced an unimaginative Steelers offense. Pittsburgh is the only 2-0 team in the league that averages fewer than 16 points per game.

Morris inherited an Atlanta squad that finished the 2023 season ranked 24th in FTN's Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) metric.

Betting on the NFL?

Although Cousins ​​was the Falcons' big offseason signing, they received a C- grade from Pro Football Focus due to their failure to improve their defensive line and cornerback position.

Given the threat the Eagles offense can pose in the air and on the ground, Monday night will be an even greater challenge.

Best bet: Parlay for the same game (+130, BetMGM)

• Stage 1: ALT total below 49.5 points (-180)
• Stage 2: Eagles win (-250 ML)

Why you can bet on the New York Post

Michael Arinze handicaps most major sports for the New York Post. In his betting career, he has won two 15-leg teasers and a 12-leg parlay that covered eight games of the Little League World Series. More recently, he has accurately picked the finalists for the 2024 Euros and the Copa America.