The Philadelphia Eagles head into Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans looking primarily healthy, and the matchup screams blowout on paper. Jalen Hurts, the Eagles offensive line, and Vic Fangio’s defense all have favorable matchups against a Titans team that looked like a disaster in Week 1. But this is the NFL, and trap games exist. The key for Philadelphia is simple: come out fast, dominate the trenches, and don’t let Tennessee hang around.

The injury front looks encouraging heading into the weekend. Jalen Carter told the media his wrist injury happened on a punch-out attempt and said he’s good to go. He was limited at practice but expects to play. Cooper DeJean was listed with calf and abdomen injuries, saying he got hurt trying to tackle Stefon Diggs, which might explain why he looked so rough in the second half of Week 1.

Hopefully he can get his legs under him, because I’m not worried about Coop long-term. He’s that good. Jonathan Greenard is dealing with something, and Andrew Mukuba popped up on the injury report on Thursday with a knee injury and didn’t practice, which was terrifying. But Dave Zangaro reported that Mukuba returned to practice on Friday, a great sign for Sunday. All of the limited players from Thursday returned to the field on Friday. On the Tennessee side, linebacker Cedric Gray remains questionable after a UTV accident before Week 1.

Sean Mannion’s motion usage is a massive early indicator

Nobody is talking about this enough. Sean Mannion called motion on 62.5% of snaps in Week 1, the most of any game in the Sirianni era. We’ve been saying it forever: use pre-snap motion, disguise coverages, throw the defense off. Mannion comes in Week 1 and does it right away. It wasn’t a perfect product, but the signs of potential are there. Jalen Hurts with motion in Week 1: 10.2 yards per attempt, two touchdown passes, 127.8 passer rating. That is a really good start, and I like Mannion up in the booth where he can see everything unfold.

And speaking of Hurts, Jeffery Simmons of the Titans had something to say.

“We just need to make Jalen be a quarterback, stop his runs, make sure he doesn’t get out of the pocket and make plays,” Simmons said.

I don’t think that was a direct shot at Jalen, but there was a slight in there. Just sprinkle it out into the universe and see what people say. Jalen will absolutely use this as motivation. My problem is two simple things. First, the Titans need to worry about more than Jalen Hurts. Tennessee might not win a game this year. That’s how bad they are. Second, the numbers don’t support Simmons’s claim at all. Hurts had three touchdown passes from the pocket in Week 1. He posted a 106.9 passer rating, fourth in the NFL since 2024 when operating from the pocket.

He’s much better in the pocket than outside of it. And the last time the Eagles played the Titans, Hurts went 27-of-33, 370 yards, and three touchdown passes. That was the game where A.J. Brown literally had their GM fired for trading him. So where is Simmons coming from with this? It feels disrespectful, and I think the Eagles are going to use it as bulletin board material. Jalen is going to shred this defense. You woke up a beast, and sometimes things are better left unsaid. Simmons is a great player, but that was unnecessary.

The matchups that will decide this game

The biggest matchup is the Eagles’ offensive line against Jeffery Simmons. He had 11 sacks last year and is probably the best interior defensive lineman in football. With Landon Dickerson out, Drew Kendall steps in as a second-year player who is essentially a rookie. That’s a tall task. Dickerson being out is a double-edged sword: bad because of the consistency and camaraderie he brings, but also a relief because he was obviously injured and a liability in Week 1. Chris Kuper did a solid job in Week 1 given the circumstances, and there was mic’d up footage from the Eagles this week where he looked like he was commanding respect on the sideline.

If the offensive line is healthier and Kuper can help negate Simmons, that completely shuts down what the Titans are trying to do. Robert Saleh is a defensive-minded coach, but outside of Simmons, Tennessee’s defensive line features John Franklin-Myers and a couple other average players. There’s no second threat.

The Eagles need to establish the run game early, especially in the heat. Saquon Barkley had that big 42-yard run in Week 1, but outside of that, he had nothing because the holes weren’t there. The offensive line has to open lanes.

Hurts also has to protect the football the way he did in Week 1. Even if it isn’t pretty, even if you’re throwing behind the line of scrimmage, just find a rhythm. Keep the defense on the field and wear them out. You don’t want five three-and-outs back to back with your defense gasping for air like they were late in Week 1, giving up points at the end.

I also like the Cooper DeJean vs. Wan’Dale Robinson matchup. Robinson had over 1,000 yards last year, and if Coop is healthier, he should be able to lock him down. Beyond Robinson, the Titans have rookie Carnell Tate, Calvin Ridley near the back end of his career, and Tony Pollard, who they didn’t even run much in Week 1. Not a lot to fear there.

On the other side of the ball, the Eagles’ defensive line needs to generate pressure. Tennessee’s offensive line is rough. Peter Skoronsky was a first-round pick a few years ago, JC Latham was a first-round pick in 2024 and hasn’t panned out, and they have a fifth-round rookie mixed in. The Eagles need big performances from Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Jalyx Hunt. Put Cam Ward on his butt. He’s not a runner, and he gets flustered under pressure. I’m not calling him a bust yet, but he needs a better system around him, and Brian Daboll hasn’t figured it out. If the Eagles get pressure, Ward is going to throw the ball up in harm’s way and give away some interceptions.

I think DeVonta Smith should feast against Cor’Dale Flott, and we could see another big game from Dontayvion Wicks. The Titans’ secondary is not good.

Prediction: Eagles 27, Titans 6

This game is going to look ugly for the first quarter and a half. It’ll be hot, the Eagles might go three-and-out early, and they’ll need time to acclimate.

But once they get rolling, they’re going to run away with it. I’m putting them at a conservative 27 points. The Titans score six because I don’t believe Tennessee has any idea what they’re doing on offense. Cam Ward doesn’t have the playmakers or the system around him, and Vic Fangio is not going to let a second-year quarterback do anything against his defense.

The biggest key remains that offensive line holding up against Jeffrey Simmons with Kendall in for Dickerson. If the Eagles can dominate the trenches and Hurts can keep making throws without turning the ball over, this game is over by the middle of the third quarter. Eagles win 27-6 in a convincing fashion and advance to 2-0.