Philadelphia Eagles: 4 Things We Learned and How They Apply to Week 2

The Eagles entered the season with a number of questions that needed to be answered. Although Week 1 can't be relied on as a reliable source for these answers, it does give us our first official indication of what those answers might be.

Additionally, Week 1 also provides us with valuable insight regarding what the team will look like in Week 2. Next week, the Eagles head into battle with the Atlanta Falcons, owners of an NFL-best 13-3 record last season.

They got off to an ugly start against the Bears in Week 1, but that only means they'll have extra fuel in their fire when they face the Eagles on Sunday night.

Here are four lessons we learned about the Eagles in Week 1, and how those lessons might apply to Week 2 at Atlanta.

The Defensive Line Is Scary Good...

The rest of the league should be terrified. All the talk I've heard this offseason has been about Ndamukong Suh and the Detroit Lions' front four, but the Eagles might have the best unit in the league.

Under the tutelage of pass-rush guru Jim Washburn, the Eagles racked up five sacks in their opener, all of which were credited to defensive lineman. Jason Babin picked up where he left off in Tennessee with two, while Cullen Jenkins, Trent Cole, and Daryl Tapp all added one apiece.

The best Eagle defenses have always attacked opposing quarterbacks, but they usually did so by relying on Jim Johnson's blitz-happy scheme. With the revamped line using the wide-nine technique, the Eagles can get to the quarterback without sacrificing the number of players in coverage.

Dominant defensive lines have single-handedly carried teams like the 2008 Giants to Super Bowl victories, so the Eagles have to be giddy about their prospects.

How it applies to Week 2 at Atlanta:

The Falcons normally boast one of the league's strongest units up front, but they did not look good against Chicago in week one. Julius Peppers led an underrated Bears pass rush with two sacks, and the team dropped Matt Ryan five times total.

You would have to assume that upon returning home, the Falcons line will look rejuvenated, and be playing with the intent of erasing week one from people's memory. The Eagles defensive line will have to look as sharp as they did this week if they want to keep Matty Ice out of a comfort zone. 

...But the Run Defense Isn't

It didn't take long for the Eagles' biggest weakness (and potentially, their tragic flaw) to be exposed. Steven Jackson waltzed 47 yards and into the Eagles' end zone on the defense's first play of scrimmage. From there, it didn't get drastically better.

When it was all said and done, the Rams had amassed more than 150 rushing yards, despite the fact that a) Steven Jackson got injured and only carried the ball twice; b) Josh McDaniels' runs a pass-heavy offense; and c) the Rams were behind early, and eventually abandoned the run.

Whether the blame goes to the linebackers, the new scheme, or both is still left to be determined in the film room, but something's gotta change. Between the revamped lineman and secondary, the Eagles are well-positioned to shut down explosive passing offenses, but it's moot if they can't stop the run.

The worst thing the Eagles can do is allow opponents to control the clock, and keep Vick, McCoy and Jackson on the bench.

How it applies to Week 2 at Atlanta:

This could be a real problem. The Falcons boast a much better rush offense than the Rams, and assuming this game stays close, they'll be working to wear down the Eagles on the ground for four full quarters.

Even in the midst of a butt-kicking, Michael Turner ripped off 100 yards on 10 carries in Week 1. Simply put, the run defense needs to improve fast.

Nnamdi Asomugha Is Good; but He Isn't Unbeatable

The good news: Only twice was Nnamdi able to muster up the courage to throw in Nnamdi's direction.

The bad news: Both of those targets resulted in big plays.

First, Nnamdi was flagged (somewhat questionably) for a 41-yard pass interference penalty on Brandon Gibson, giving the Rams the ball on the Eagles' goal line. Later, Gibson got half of a step on Nnamdi, and laid out for a 31-yard diving reception.

Nnamdi had good coverage on both of these targets, but it isn't encouraging to see such a poor success rate against Brandon Gibson.

How it applies to Week 2 at Atlanta:

Brandon Gibson and Greg Salas are about to turn into Roddy White and Julio Jones. The Falcons have vowed to play fast on their turf this year, and they have the outside weapons to do so.

Nnamdi better be ready to see more targets than he's used to this week, if he's tasked with guarding Roddy White.

Andy Reid and Howard Mudd Have a Plan

Look, this offensive line isn't gonna win the Eagles any games. But as long as they don't cost them any games either, Andy Reid & Co. won't complain.

Andy Reid and Howard Mudd have a plan to keep the offensive line from haunting the team, and it involves a lot of gimmicky plays. This offensive line is neither talented nor cohesive enough to run a traditional offense. But by moving the line around, keeping Michael Vick outside of the pocket, and handing off to LeSean McCoy out of the shotgun, their effect is neutralized.

Eventually, the rest of the league will have enough tape on these gimmicks to be able to successfully stop it, but until then it should prove successful. And when the time comes, you can be sure Andy Reid will have another plan in store.

How it applies to Week 2 at Atlanta:

Between Jon Abraham and Ray Edwards, the Falcons have two of the most accomplished defensive ends in the NFC. They may not have looked the part against the Bears, but this defense is stingy enough to win games.

Fortunately for the Eagles, they get to play their second consecutive game in a dome, on turf. Howard's Mudd scheme is built for turf teams (like the Colts), and the fast track should benefit Michael Vick as he rolls out of the pocket, and tries to find his weapons.