Something terrible happened to the Eagles last weekend.
No, it didn't have anything to do with their splendid comeback in the second half to beat the Redskins in the season opener.
It happened about a thousand miles away, in Minnesota, where the Vikings were pounding the Falcons.
Yes, those same Falcons that will line up against the Birds in an early-season prime time matchup Sunday night.
The Falcons are not nearly as bad as they looked against the Vikings.
They will be at home playing in front of their fans.
And they will be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start that could jeopardize their season before it gets rolling.
That does not mean the Eagles can't win this game. But people who make their pick based on last week's games are likely making a mistake.
Then again, those who watched Case Keenum dissect the Eagles' defense might be thinking about what Matt Ryan and Julio Jones might do to the Birds.
Look for this one to be a shootout, a showdown between two very good offenses and two defenses still struggling to find their footing.
THE PICK: Make it Falcons 29, Eagles 27. Wentz should have another good night, although the Eagles would be wise to use the recipe the Vikings did against Atlanta. That is run the ball, something head coach Doug Pederson is sometimes loathe to do. The longer he can keep Ryan and Jones off the field, the better the result will be for the Eagles.
LAST WEEK: The Eagles looked very much like a team that sleepwalked through the preseason, as did so much of the league. It took a half for many starters to shake off the rust. That includes Pederson, who made some very odd moves. But the Birds turned on the jets in the second half, powered by the miracle legs of DeSean Jackson. It's now clear that with Jackson running deep, Alshon Jeffery roaming the middle, and Zach Ertz providing an All-Pro security blanket, Wentz and the Eagles' offense will be very hard to stop. Look for a breakout game from Penn State product Miles Sanders. With a win in the opener, we're off and running. Both the Birds and the Nest come out 1-0. One of those will give this week in Atlanta.
GAME BY GAME: Eagles 32, Redskins 27. (My Pick: Eagles 27, Redskins 13)
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