Who plays on Monday Night Football? Breaking down Week 2 matchup
NFL Week 2 is winding to a close with a "Monday Night Football" matchup between two NFC teams hopeful to win their divisions.
The Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the Atlanta Falcons in a matchup that will have a big impact on the teams that hold the early season edge in both the NFC East and NFC South races.
The Eagles are fresh off a 34-29 Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFL's first-ever Brazil game. Philadelphia's offense hummed in that contest, as wide-out A.J. Brown posted 119 yards and touchdown on five catches while running back Saquon Barkley racked up up 134 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 26 touches in his Eagles debut.
Philadelphia's defense wasn't quite as strong on the slippery field in Sao Paolo, but Vic Fangio's unit should fare a lot better at home against an Atlanta offense that struggled in Week 1.
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The Falcons scored just 10 points in their season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their defense limited the Steelers to 18 points, but Kirk Cousins didn't quite have the impact many Atlanta fans were hoping to see in his debut.
Cousins completed 16 of 26 passes for 158 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in a shaky outing. It looked like he was still recovering from the torn Achilles he suffered last season, and it appears that the 36-year-old's mobility is going to be a question mark early in the 2024 season.
Here's everything to know about the "Monday Night Football" matchup for Week 2.
Who plays on Monday Night Football tonight?
- Matchup: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Penn.
The Falcons (0-1) are traveling to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles (1-0) for the Week 2 edition of ESPN's "Monday Night Football."
The Eagles figure to have the advantage in this matchup. They boast a strong pass rush and the Falcons just struggled to contain T.J. Watt and the Steelers' defense, which got seven hits on Cousins. Philadelphia may have more vulnerabilities in its secondary – where it is relying on a combination of veterans in the twilight of their careers and recent draft picks – Atlanta can exploit, but Cousins isn't guaranteed to have the time needed to get the ball downfield.
The Falcons don't have an easy job in defending the Eagles either. Atlanta just allowed 127 rushing yards to Justin Fields and Najee Harris, and Philadelphia's offensive line is in much better shape than Pittsburgh's. Add in that Jalen Hurts is a more consistent downfield thrower with better weapons than Fields, and it's fair to wonder if the Eagles could have another 30-point outburst against the Falcons.
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That said, the Falcons may be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start, especially with a Week 3 matchup with the Chiefs on deck. If Atlanta comes out with energy and Philadelphia is sluggish after the long trip to and from Brazil, the Falcons could find a way to beat the Eagles and keep pace in the wide-open NFC South.
As such, NFL fans can look forward to a tense battle to close out Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season.
What time is the NFL game tonight?
- Date: Monday, Sept. 16
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
The Eagles vs. Falcons game will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET, the usual start time for ESPN's "Monday Night Football" games in 2024. Fans wanting extra coverage of the game, or those who want to hear Jason Kelce's thoughts about the Eagles, can tune into the network's "Monday Night Countdown" program beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
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What channel is Monday Night Football on tonight?
- TV Channel: ESPN | ESPN2 | ABC
- Live stream: ESPN+ | Fubo
ESPN and ABC will both broadcast "Monday Night Football" in Week 2 and throughout the 2024 NFL season.
Peyton and Eli Manning will host the "ManningCast" on ESPN2 this week.
Cord-cutters will be able to watch the game by using either ESPN+ — ESPN's streaming app, which can be bundled with Hulu and Disney+ — or with Fubo, which comes with a free trial.
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