PHILADELPHIA − It sure seemed like the Eagles‘ new offense with the new blocking scheme and motions looked a lot like the old offense.
And that was a problem. It could be again. The Eagles faced a defensive-minded head coach in Week 1 with the Commanders‘ Dan Quinn and escaped with a 24-22 win. They’re facing another defensive-minded head coach on Sept. 20 in the Tennessee Titans‘ Robert Saleh.
This time, the Eagles are doing it without left guard Landon Dickerson, who was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 15. They’re likely replacing him with second-year center Drew Kendall, who has one NFL start under his belt. And this is after the Eagles had three straight three-and-outs to start the second half against the Commanders.
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But the Eagles do have quarterback Jalen Hurts, who practically willed the Eagles to the victory, both with his arm and legs. The Titans, meanwhile, are early in their process of building a foundation on offense behind second-year QB Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, and WR Carnell Tate, the No. 4 overall pick this year.
Ward was held to 140 yards passing in the Titans’ 23-10 loss to the Jets, while Tate had just 4 catches for 38 yards. Ward completed 59.8% of his passes as a rookie. He completed 59.4% of his passes against the Jets. He’s consistent so far, but not necessarily in a good way.
“The guy’s got very good arm talent,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “He’s athletic and mobile, like a lot of (young quarterbacks) are these days. I think he’s doing well and progressing well, and he’ll just keep getting better and better in that offense.”
Will that happen against the Eagles? Here’s how we see the game going:
Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Brad Myers (high school sports writer, Delawareonline.com), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com), Tom Rimback (sports writer, Courierpostonline.com), Brandon Holveck (high school sports reporter, Delawareonline.com)
The Titans actually have three things working in their favor. The first is the heat. It’s expected to be 95 degrees and humid. The second is that the Eagles are 0-3 in Nashville, including a 23-20 OT loss in the last meeting in 2018. The third is that Titans DT Jeffery Simmons will line up against Drew Kendall, who is Landon Dickerson’s replacement. None of that is enough to beat the Eagles. But it might not be a pretty Eagles’ win, either.
The pick: Eagles 19, Titans 6
This could be a trap game, but probably not. Sure, there’s that any given Sunday idea, but basically, the Titans aren’t good. The Eagles have way too much talent to lose.
The pick: Eagles 27, Titans 10
The Eagles had their struggles against the Commanders, but this Titans team may be the worst in the NFL and couldn’t keep it competitive at home in a double-digit loss versus the Jets in Week 1. It’s the Birds in a three-score rout here as Philly easily moves to 2-0.
The pick: Eagles 31, Titans 10
Look for the offense to take a big step forward this week as the running game shifts into high gear. Saquon Barkley will reel off 145 yards and two touchdowns and Jalen Hurts continues to protect the football. The Birds’ defense should also feast against a struggling Tennessee offense.
The pick: Eagles 34, Titans 9
A team cannot do better than a 2-0 start to the season.
The pick: Eagles 31, Titans 13
These Titans were no match for the Jets. Next!
The pick: Eagles 41, Titans 5
The offense came in fits and starts against DC and the defense was hardly as consistent. Still, the current iteration of NFL preseasons mean that September is nothing more than a preseason that counts. Keep an eye on the Landon Dickerson spot in the offensive line, which will have a new face.
The pick: Eagles 25, Titans 17
There were more encouraging signs than discouraging signs in the Eagles’ nail-biting season-opening win. The most important one? Jalen Hurts looks spry and capable of carrying the team when needed. This week, however, facing one of the worst teams in the league, the Eagles shouldn’t need him to be a superhero.
The pick: Eagles 31, Titans 14
The Titans’ status as one of the NFL’s worst teams held up in its 23-10 opening-day loss to the previously also-hapless Jets, who fired Robert Saleh as their coach two years ago then enjoyed beating him and his new team. The Eagles certainly are in no position to take the Titans lightly, and will need to play well here to prevail, which they should.
The pick: Eagles 23, Titans 16
The road to Tennessee has not been kind to the Eagles, going 0-3 in Nashville since the franchise relocated from Houston in the late-’90s. However, the Birds are visiting a very bad Titans squad and, despite their offensive line concerns, will leave Music City with an easy win.
The pick: Eagles 34, Titans 17
1-0: Frank, Giesen, McGurk, Moore, Jordan, Bainbridge, Haines, Tresolini, Ganassi, Rimback, Holveck
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the “Eye On The Eagles” newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles‘ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles vs Titans expert predictions. Can Jalen Hurts, offense break out?
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