ATLANTA, Sporting Alert – The Week 1 fixtures of the NFL new season will conclude with two games in Monday Night Football.
Live on ESPN and the WatchESPN app at 6:00 PM CT will be the battle between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Monday Night Football continues at Levi’s Stadium where the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers face-off at 9:15 PM CT, and this will also be live on ESPN and the WatchESPN app.
All eyes will be on the Eagles and what is expected to be another exciting Chip Kelly offense, which will be guided by Sam Bradford, who many believe will strive in the Kelly quick tempo system.
After constantly being setback by injuries during his time with the St. Louis Rams, Bradford, who is now fit again after a knee injury, is ready to feature and his new teammates can’t wait to see him get going.
There is no doubt that if protected properly, Bradford and the Eagles offense will keep the scoreboard ticking.
“Sam is the man,” linebackers DeMeco Ryans said, according to the Associated Press. “… He’s an outstanding quarterback and we just have to protect him and keep him healthy.
“But, I think he can really shred some defenses.”
The Falcons splits its four preseason fixtures and enter their season opener hoping to build from what they learned about their strengths and weaknesses during those warmups.
Atlanta must find a way to slow down the Eagles offense, but they too can cause problems for Kelly’s defense if they can protect Matt Ryan, who has thrown for seven touchdowns in the last two meetings between these two side, including four in 2011.
Ryan threw three touchdown passes in the last meeting in 2012 and he finished the game without an interception.
The Philadelphia Eagles head into the contest as a 3-point favorite, with the total being set at 55.5.
In looking at the team news heading into the battle, the Eagles have listed TE Zach Ertz as questionable due to a groin injury, but linebackers Marcus Smith, Ryans and Travis Long are expected to be good to go.
For the Falcons, wide receiver Devin Hester has been ruled out of the contest with a toe injury, with linebacker Brooks Reed also missing because of a groin problem.
In the second game on Monday night, Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings will visit the San Francisco 49ers, hoping to get the season off to a winning start.
Sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had an impressive preseason for the Vikings, who went 4-1 during those warmups and it will be interesting to see if the former Louisville-man can carry over that form into the season opener.
Monday Night Football Schedule
Week 1: September 14
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome
Live on ESPN and WatchESPN at 5:55 PM
Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium
Live on ESPN and WatchESPN at 9:15 PM CT
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