Eagles vs. Falcons: Full Philadelphia Game Preview

The Philadelphia Eagles begin the regular season on the heels of an exciting preseason with a prime-time Monday night clash against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Eagles finished the season's preparations with a 24-18 loss to the New York Jets last week, but most of the starters did not suit up for the game. In the first exhibition three games, Philadelphia impressed against the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers.

There is a lot of speculation surrounding the Eagles heading into the new season with the departure of several key players from last year's roster. This year's depth chart boasts the new faces of Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell. With numerous offseason moves, the pressure is mounting on Chip Kelly to perform in his third season as head coach.

Kelly's move to trade Nick Foles for acquire Bradford from the St. Louis Rams comes with many concerns. The quarterback has a steep injury history, as Bradford will be returning from his second ACL tear.

"I don’t even know how long it’s been since I've played a regular-season game," said Bradford, according to CSNPhilly.com's Reuben Frank.

In Kelly's first two seasons, Philadelphia finished with a 10-6 record. The team earned a spot in the playoffs in his first season by winning the division but missed out on the postseason to the Dallas Cowboys last year.

As the regular season finally arrives, here's all the info you need for Monday night's game.

Location: Georgia Dome in Atlanta

Time: 6:55 p.m. ET

Television: ESPN

Preseason Week 4 Results and Recap

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The New York Jets topped the Eagles by six points last Thursday, but the important notes from the game featured competition for roster spots.

The most publicized battle showcased Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow in their fight for the third quarterback spot on the final 53-man roster. Barkley played poorly in the final preseason game, completing only four of his nine passing attempts and throwing an interception. On the other side, Tebow finished the day 11-of-17 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Although Tebow performed well in his final audition against the Jets, the Eagles decided to cut the former University of Florida star. Additionally, Barkley finds himself on a new team as Philadelphia traded the 25-year-old signal caller to the Arizona Cardinals.

To fill these roster spots, Philadelphia claimed Stephen Morris off waivers before the Jacksonville Jaguars could place the quarterback on their practice squad. Kelly pointed to Morris' impressive physical attributes to explain his decision to shuffle the deck at the quarterback position.

"He was the highest-rated guy that was available after the waiver wire went through," Kelly said, according to ESPN.com's Phil Sheridan. "We liked his arm. He's got a really, really strong arm. Quick release."

The final preseason game against the Jets also included the debut of recently acquired Kiko Alonso. The inside linebacker made a pair of tackles and helped stop Zac Stacy twice consecutively. Alonso also showed his ability to cover the width of the field when he moved across the field and hit receiver Quincy Enuwa.

The 25-year-old's start against the New York Jets was Alonso's first appearance since tearing his ACL in 2013.

News and Notes

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Bradford Contract Talks

Sam Bradford arrived in Philadelphia this past March when the Eagles traded Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams for the rights to the Oklahoma product. Bradford arrived in Philadelphia slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2016.

Throughout the offseason there were talks of Bradford and the Eagles working on a short-term contract extension. However, ESPN's Ed Werder reported that contract talks between the team and the player have ceased following the quarterback's successful preseason.

Bradford threw three touchdowns after going a combined 13-for-15 in two preseason games. If he lives up to his potential following an impressive start, the 27-year-old quarterback could command immense interest from other teams next offseason. This would force Philadelphia to reward Bradford with a long-term contract and a massive pay day if they wish to retain him.

On the other side, injuries have plagued Bradford throughout his NFL career. Delaying contract talks requires the quarterback to prove he can stay healthy, thereby protecting the Eagles from signing a player who may not be able to stay on the field.

Bradford's contract situation will be one to watch throughout the season after several quarterbacks such as Ryan Tannehill and Russell Wilson received lucrative contracts this past offseason.

Offensive Line Contracts

Philadelphia cut veteran guards Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans this offseason, which left holes on both sides of center Jason Kelce.

Allen Barbre and Andrew Gardner stepped up during training camp and preseason to earn starting spots at left and right guard. Philadelphia rewarded Gardner with a new contract worth $4.7 million over three years on Tuesday, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com).

Gardner started eight games last season for the Eagles at several different positions along the offensive line. The new contract for the 29-year-old shows commitment from the Eagles to roll with him as the long-term solution at right guard.

The Eagles also secured a backup on the offensive line, signing Dennis Kelly to a one-year extension, according to NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks.

Latest Injury News

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The Philadelphia Eagles received a boost this week, as three players returned from injury after missing the majority of the preseason.

Zach Ertz practiced for the first time Wednesday following a surgery to repair a core muscle injury on August 14, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Zach Berman. The dynamic tight end hopes to be back in time to play a role in the Eagles' season opener against Atlanta on Monday night.

"It's something I pinpointed to be back and healthy for," Ertz said, per Berman. "It was a four-to-six-week injury. We're at the tail end of three weeks, going into the fourth. So we're right on schedule."

Ertz not only has to recover from his injury, but he also has to make up for reps he missed while he was sidelined for three weeks. With a new quarterback at the helm, the 24-year-old may need time to establish a connection with Bradford.

On the defensive side of the ball, Philadelphia saw Marcus Smith return to the practice field on Wednesday after being sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring injury, according to CSNPhilly.com's Corey Seidman. In just his second season, Smith needed a strong offseason, and missing time may hinder his progression.

"I feel like with all the stuff that I've learned, I'm not behind with stuff like that," Smith said, according to Seidman. "But it's almost like when you get hurt, you kind of have to play check up, meet with the coaches more, be in the playbook. I only worry about what I can control and that's me being healthy and trying to get back out here on this field."

Cody Parkey is also expected to be fully ready to resume the regular kicking duties for Philadelphia this weekend after sitting out the end of the preseason action because of a groin injury he suffered during practice.

"I kicked today and felt real good. I’m feeling really good about Monday,” Parkey said, according to Julie Bacanskas of PhiladelphiaEagles.com. “I could have gone in the last few weeks obviously if it was the regular season when it really counts. I just got dressed for each preseason game, and the coaches told me to just take it easy. I was ready to kick if I had to.”

Philadelphia was lucky to avoid the injury bug throughout training camp and preseason, and now the Eagles enter the first week of the preseason just about fully healthy.

Key Matchup

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Byron Maxwell vs. Julio Jones

Philadelphia's struggles in pass defense last year have been well-documented after wide receivers such as Dez Bryant and Jordy Nelson torched the Eagles secondary last season.

After finishing the season with the second-worst pass defense in the NFL, the Eagles got rid of their top three cornerbacks and safety Nate Allen. To help replenish the ranks, Philadelphia brought in Byron Maxwell, the top cornerback option on the market.

With the ink still fresh on his six-year, $63 million contract, Maxwell has to prove his worth against one of the best receivers in the league, Julio Jones.

Maxwell played primarily as the second corner on the opposite side of Richard Sherman during his time in Seattle. Now as the top corner in Philadelphia, he has to prove that he is worth his contract by locking down the opposition's primary targets.

On the opposite side, the Atlanta Falcons will try to rebound from a 10-loss season, and they will rely on their passing game to carry the offensive load. Matt Ryan will likely look early and often for Jones against Philadelphia. Since Atlanta's offensive intentions are fairly obvious, the Eagles will have to limit the 26-year-old wide receiver's impact.

"Got to make sure we have somebody on No. 11," head coach Chip Kelly said, according to ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure. "That's our game plan."

The Alabama product caught 104 passes for 1,593 yards and six touchdowns last season in 15 regular-season games. Kelly understands the threats Jones provides, and he considers him one of the best receivers in the NFL, per McClure:

"

We think Julio is an elite receiver in this league, obviously. He presents a lot of problems because of his combination of size and speed. Usually guys that are 6-foot-2-plus, 6-3, 220 don't run as fast as Julio. So, he's a tough matchup just from the speed standpoint. Then when you add on that he's 6-3, 220, it's a tough deal. He's got great range, outstanding hands, very disciplined route-runner in what he does. We think he's one of the elite receivers in this league.

"

Maxwell will be tested early in his Eagles' career and will look to improve on his impressive preseason campaign. He intercepted a deep pass from Joe Flacco in the second preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. That shows wells for a cornerback who had only two interceptions last season in 13 games.

The Eagles' defensive backs looked much improved this offseason, but they still need to prove their ability to limit the big play in games that count. The defense's ability to get off the field starts with Maxwell's coverage of the opposition's primary weapon.

Matchup X-Factor

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Eagles X-Factor of the Week: Darren Sproles

A lot changed for Philadelphia this offseason, but Darren Sproles remains a devastating weapon for Chip Kelly's offense heading into this season.

The 32-year-old running back now sits third on the depth chart due to the arrivals of DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews. However, the veteran tailback will still make an impact in this offense.

In the first game of the 2014 season, Sproles hit the ground running, carrying 11 times for 71 yards and a touchdown against the Jaguars. With Murray and Mathews working on defenses with their downhill style, Sproles can come into the game and use his quickness against a tired opposition.

Sproles is all about versatility. The undersized running back (5'6", 190 lbs) caught seven passes for 152 yards in the second game of the year last season against the Indianapolis Colts. Kelly will likely move Sproles around the field to put him in favorable positions. On top of that, Sam Bradford's accuracy and ability to hit players in stride give playmakers the chance to make the most out of open space.

The tailback showcased his ability to create matchup problems for defenses with his touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the third game of the preseason. The linebacker tasked with the responsibility of covering Sproles did not stand a chance as he ran a wheel route and cruised into the end zone for six points.

The veteran out of Kansas State University will not see a high volume of carries, but expect Sproles to make a few key impact plays Monday night against the Falcons.

Prediction: Eagles 31, Falcons 23

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This Monday night showdown is set up to be a shootout, as two of last year's worst defenses face off with a lot to prove.

The Eagles revamped their secondary but still have questions at cornerback. Byron Maxwell will occupy the primary starting spot, but the other outside cornerback has yet to be named. Nolan Carroll has impressed so far this offseason, but he will start in the slot for the Eagles this weekend.

The Falcons will look for veteran Roddy White and company to exploit the lack of depth in Philadelphia's secondary.

On the other side, Atlanta finished dead last in the league in overall and passing defense last season. The Falcons brought in former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in an attempt to turn around their defense.

Quinn implemented his 4-3 defensive scheme and addressed the lack of pass rush in the offseason by selecting sack specialist Vic Beasley in the first round of the draft.

"It's a work in progress," Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant said, according to ESPN.com. "But I like where we're going."

Atlanta's defense may be improving, but this task may be too tough and too soon for the Falcons on Monday. Following Sam Bradford's impressive preseason campaign, the Eagles should be able to overrun the Atlanta defense. Chip Kelly's Eagles will start the season with a win and begin to validate the head coach's offseason overhaul of the roster. 

Prediction: Eagles 31, Falcons 23