Tonight’s NFL season opener will be played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, home of the defending Super Bowl LII Champion Philadelphia Eagles as they host the Atlanta Falcons. The Eagles will be playing this game without their regular starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, just as they did when they won the Super Bowl last February in Minneapolis. Wentz, the former Bismarck Century High School and North Dakota State University product has still not recovered from his knee injury last December against the Los Angeles Rams. He has not been cleared for contact by the Eagles team doctors. However, Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles will once again be under center until Wentz receives clearance from medical staff to play.
The Eagles shall not have any trouble flying without Carson to begin this season, as Foles has plenty of prior big game experience. I expect tight end Zac Ertz to be Foles’ favorite target when the Eagles need a big play. One game will not make or break the Eagles’ season in trying to defend their title. As is the case with any defending NFL champion, injuries will be a key component in their title defense.
I expect tonight’s game to be filled with touchdowns from Falcons quarterback Matt “Ice” Ryan and Foles, with defense being optional. I feel that whoever has the ball last in their possession will come away with their first win of the season.
