Monday Night Football “goes to the birds” when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Atlanta Falcons in the Week 2 finale.
The leaders of those two flocks are under the prime-time lights, with Jalen Hurts at the wheel of a dynamic Philadelphia attack and Kirk Cousins questioned about his health after a dud debut for Atlanta.
I look at the quarterback props for Monday Night Football and give my best Falcons vs. Eagles predictions and NFL picks for this September 16 tilt.
Kirk Cousins odds and props
My best bet:
Kirk Cousins Over 1.5 passing touchdowns (+148 at FanDuel)
My analysis:
I’ll say this is a “best lean” rather than a best bet.
The state of Kirk Cousins’ Achilles has been the focal point on gambling social media all week, with many speculating the veteran QB has not fully recovered from the injury that ended his tenure with Minnesota.
I will admit, Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons got a raw deal having to run this offense for the first time against a defense as disruptive as Pittsburgh. Miscues and penalties had Cousins forced into many passing spots, allowing the Steelers to tee off — generating the second-highest pressure rate in Week 1.
The Philadelphia Eagles' defense under Vic Fangio rarely blitzes, so Cousins will have more time in the pocket to find his form. Philadelphia showed growing pains in the opener against Green Bay in Brazil, breaking for two passing touchdowns from Jordan Love.
Player projections are right on the fence when it comes to Cousins’ TD total of 1.5, but with a negative public perception, Over 1.5 touchdown passes is paying plus money across the industry — including +148 at FanDuel.
Jalen Hurts odds and props
My best bet:
Jalen Hurts anytime touchdown (+105 at FanDuel)
My analysis:
Getting Jalen Hurts at plus-money odds to score a touchdown is a rare opportunity. But with Saquon Barkley stealing all the thunder in Week 1 (two rush TDs, one receiving TD), the market has been manipulated enough.
We almost forget Hurts was inches away from touchdown glory late into that Week 1 game, but a botched exchange between him and a new starting center — Cam Jurgens — was a rare whiff for Philadelphia’s famed “Brotherly Shove”.
This Eagles attack is going to be among the best in the NFL and will have a few red zone chances vs. Atlanta tonight. Top target A.J. Brown is out, and all eyes will be on Barkley, giving added promise Hurts could cash one on a keeper. And, of course, the “Tush Push” will be in effect on those goal line sets.
Week 2 player projections have Hurts forecasted for .68 rushing touchdowns tonight, which, when put against the TD anytime market (0.5 TDs), presents rare positive value for a guy who’s rumbled for 38 paydirt trips over his last 47 games (0.8 TDs per game) — the most in the league since 2021.
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