The Atlanta Falcons traveled to play the Philadelphia Eagles, and optimism was not operating excessive forward of the sport on this fanbase after a dismal preliminary effort in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. We hoped the Falcons would get off to a quick begin, and so they did…kind of.
Defensively, the Falcons smothered the Eagles till Jalen Hurts took over on a press release drive the place he ran for 50 yards within the second quarter, which resulted in Philly’s solely rating of the half. Offensively, the Falcons moved pretty properly after the preliminary gradual begin, and managed to complete the half with a pair of area objectives and a variety of spectacular operating. They left the half down 7-6.
The second half noticed an Eagles area aim pretty early the place the Falcons wanted a giant Jessie Bates play to stop a landing, however the larger story was the offense getting rolling finally. Big runs from Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier arrange a area aim drive, after which Cousins threw some good balls en path to an extended landing to Darnell Mooney, one the place the prized free agent signing obtained freed from a defender and was capable of home it. The nice occasions have been in full swing, however they couldn’t final.
An extended, clock-grinding drive by the Eagles resulted in a rating and a profitable two level conversion, after which the Falcons had the possibility to reply and made a collection of errors. Darnell Mooney didn’t run deep sufficient on a route, Kirk Cousins threw somewhat bit in need of the sticks on third down, and a fourth down run for Robinson was stuffed. That gave the Eagles the ball again, and inevitably, they didn’t relinquish it, squeaking out a hard-fought win in opposition to Atlanta. Proper?
That’s the story that we anticipated, and the story I had half-written. It’s the story these Falcons have penned over and over lately, one among a hard-fought effort that turns to bitter disappointment late. However they nonetheless had the pen of their fingers, and so they wrote one thing totally different. On the subsequent drive, the Eagles performed off the ball in concern of the massive play and Cousins ate them alive beneath, with massive catches from Darnell Mooney and Drake London organising the landing go to London with solely somewhat time remaining for the Eagles to attempt to come again. It was an eye-opening drive from Cousins and this offense, one which proved they’ve solutions they lacked in years previous, and it gave them a one level win.
There was nonetheless time to blow it, however they didn’t. As a substitute, Kaden Elliss pressured Jalen Hurts right into a barely off-kilter throw, and Jessie Bates homed in on it and intercepted it to seal the win. The Falcons received, on the highway, in opposition to Philadelphia after a hopeless Week 1 effort. They dug deep and located the resilience on offense and protection to drag it out in opposition to an NFC contender they’ve struggled with for years now. They did, briefly, all the pieces we might have requested in the long run, and their season is alive and properly. It wasn’t all the time fairly, however in the long run, it was stunning.
On to the complete drive-by-drive recap.
1st Quarter
The Falcons received the toss and option to defer. A brief kick was taken by Will Shipley to the 33 yard line. A fast first down go from Jalen Hurts to Grant Calcaterra obtained the Eagles transferring, however an eight yard go on first down was referred to as again due to an unlawful man downfield. Hurts then rolled out to attempt to achieve a few yards and was tripped up earlier than the sideline by Mike Hughes for no achieve. Then Hurts hit Britain Covey for 5 yards, organising a third and 9, and Hurts tried to run it and was rapidly taken down by Troy Andersen. Punt, and the Falcons have been pinned deep.
Bijan Robinson took the primary carry and went for seven yards. On second down, he made a pleasant lower and spin once more to select up six yards. Then Kirk Cousins threw a play motion go and had an open Darnell Mooney, however the ball was tipped on the line of scrimmage. On second down, he obtained Drake London for six yards on a ball he ripped into a decent window. Cousins threw it to Bijan on third down and obtained it to him, nevertheless it bounced off his fingers and to the turf. Punt.
Saquon Barkley obtained a gap and ran for a simple 9 yards. Jahan Dotson then obtained a primary down on a fast go from Hurts for six. Barkley obtained eight yards on the subsequent carry, too. The stress obtained nearer to Hurts on the subsequent play, however he was capable of rifle one to Calcaterra for a primary down. Barkley then a primary down once more, with very good blocking and a robust effort via contact. A missed deal with on the subsequent play led to a different Barkley first down, after which Kenneth Gainwell picked up 4 yards, and adopted that up with a two yard achieve. On third down, the Falcons dropped again, flushed Hurts out, and compelled a throw to the again of the tip zone that was damaged up by Richie Grant. Mike Hughes was on Dallas Goedert, and stress obtained there sufficient to drive a mildly off-kilter throw from Hurts. Turnover on downs.
Robinson picked up two yards, nevertheless it was powerful sledding to even get that. On second down, although, a pleasant block by London sprang him for a primary down, and he did his half by placing a defender within the floor. He then picked up three yards on first down, after which Tyler Allgeier picked up three yards up the center with Josh Sweat hitting him early within the carry. On third down, Cousins compelled one to London that was almost picked off by Quinyon Mitchell. Punt, and Bradley Pinion obtained sufficient on it to pin the Eagles contained in the 30.
The Falcons held Barkley to a single yard on the subsequent carry, which was superb. DeVonta Smith was the goal on the subsequent play, and A.J. Terrell flew in and hit him after a 5 yard pickup. Hurts was pressured by David Onyemata on the subsequent play and needed to drive a low throw on the run that was damaged up. Punt, and Avery Williams obtained 12 yards on the punt return.
Cousins threw a play motion go on the subsequent play, and although it was low Drake London managed to scoop it out of the dust for 19 yards.
2nd Quarter
Allgeier picked up 4 yards on first down. Cousins then hit Allgeier over the center for 12 yards, after which some good blocking and a few acquainted Allgeier burst obtained the Falcons 15 yards. On the subsequent carry, Bijan didn’t get the handoff and managed to fall on it for a lack of one. Robinson then tripped somewhat bit on second down and managed a few yards. On third down, the Falcons referred to as a timeout simply earlier than the snap. Cousins didn’t see wherever to go along with the ball and managed to scramble for a yard. Younghoe Koo banged the sector aim residence to make it Falcons 3, Eagles 0.
4 yards for Barkley on first down, however then Hurts was capable of loft one to DeVonta Smith for 19 yards. Grady Jarrett then obtained freed from a block and compelled Hurts to throw it away. On second down, Matthew Judon blew into the backfield and took Barkley down for a lack of one. Goedert then caught on because the Falcons blitzed on third down, however he solely obtained seven yards. The Eagles elected to go for it, and Hurts was capable of evade stress after which scramble for a giant achieve, however he was referred to as for a delay of recreation which value the Eagles 5 yards however didn’t end in a lack of the primary down. A toss to Barkley was eaten alive by the Falcons protection for a lack of 5, however then Hurts was capable of scramble for 9 yards. On the subsequent play, he obtained unfastened once more and the Falcons didn’t deliver him down for an additional first down. Hurts’ go was incomplete on the subsequent play, and an ineligible man downfield penalty backed the Eagles up 5 yards. A fast go to Covey resulted in simply two yards, however then Hurts was capable of hit Smith for a landing. Eagles 7, Falcons 3.
The Falcons solely obtained a brief return from Avery Williams, and a penalty backed them up additional. A handoff to Ray-Ray McCloud resulted in simply two yards. With a rusher in his face, Cousins removed the ball to Kyle Pitts, who solely managed two yards on the play. McCloud then caught a primary down over the center. Robinson then obtained a carry and rolled for 9 yards, after which Bijan took it for shut to fifteen yards and a possible holding name on Drew Dalman was picked up. Cousins then pump faked, seemingly seeing contact within the secondary, and obtained sacked by Brandon Graham. That was fortunately worn out by an unlawful contact name on Nakobe Dean, giving the Falcons a primary down and 5 yards. Then Cousins went to Mooney and there simply wasn’t sufficient zip on the ball, because it was low and damaged up. Then he completely zipped one on the subsequent play for a primary right down to McCloud over the center. Sadly, McCloud was then referred to as for an unsportsmanlike conduct name and that resulted in a 15 yard backup. Bijan obtained about seven yards on a fast go from Cousins, after which Robinson stored going via contact and picked up 14. Allgeier was capable of take it about 5 yards on first down, after which Allgeier went proper up the center for seven yards and a primary down. Cousins hit Robinson for a fast achieve that went nowhere, nevertheless it went nowhere partially as a result of Brandon Graham obtained flagged for a facemask. Robinson went up the center and was bottomed up for a one yard loss on first and aim. Cousins tried for Mooney on second down, however threw it somewhat too far to the sideline for Mooney to get to. Cousins then needed to hearth it on third down out of the again of the tip zone for an absence of choices. Koo hit the sector aim to make it Eagles 7, Falcons 6.
The Eagles kneeled it out.
third Quarter
After the touchback, Cousins threw a low ball that Bijan was capable of scoop it up for a seven yard achieve. Bijan then kicked it outdoors for a 19 yard carry. Bijan then went up the center for an additional 5 yards achieve on first down. Robinson then took a display go from Cousins, who was underneath stress, and good blocking helped him to get 14 yards. Allgeier took it 10 yards on first down on the very subsequent carry, after which picked up one other 5 yards on the subsequent play. The toss play was much less productive as Allgeier ran out of room, however he did decide up a yard. Cousins then dropped again to go, however obtained sacked rapidly by Milton Williams, who blew via Chris Lindstrom with alarming quickness. Koo hit the sector aim attempt, although. Falcons 9, Eagles 7.
Touchback. Saquon Barkley picked up 9 yards on first down, after which plunged over the center for an additional three or so yards and a primary down. The following play, Matthew Judon obtained residence and took down Hurts for a sack and a 5 yard loss. Sadly, he had time and located DeVonta Smith for a primary down working in opposition to Dee Alford. A fast go to Barkley resulted in one more first down. Barkley obtained three yards on his subsequent carry, after which Hurts rolled out and was capable of finding Smith for a sideline first down. Barkley then obtained about 5 yards. A fast go to Covey obtained a few yards, after which an finish zone shot was damaged up by Jessie Bates flying in with physicality. The Eagles lined up for a area aim after which tried somewhat motion-based trickery to drive Atlanta offsides, however they didn’t chew. Jake Elliott transformed the brief area aim attempt, and it was Eagles 10, Falcons 9.
Touchback. Drake London caught the brief first down go and bullied his option to near a primary down. Allgeier then picked up a few yards and the primary down. Stress got here for Cousins rapidly and he removed it, exhibiting somewhat motion talent alongside the way in which. A fast display to Robinson went completely nowhere on second down. Pitts caught it for about an eight yard achieve, which left the Falcons about 4 yards in need of a primary down. The Falcons went for it on fourth down and managed to maintain Cousins clear lengthy sufficient for him to seek out Ray-Ray McCloud over the center for a primary down. On the very subsequent play, Cousins discovered Mooney over the center, and Gardner-Johnson couldn’t get him down as Mooney stayed alive and scored the landing. Falcons 15-10, and so they went for 2 factors and didn’t get it.
Touchback. Hurts scrambled for a few yards on first down, after which Covey obtained a giant pickup and a primary down…earlier than an ineligible man downfield name backed issues up. DeVonta Smith obtained 9 on the subsequent play to arrange a manageable third down.
4th Quarter
Hurts had all day, was capable of roll away from a pursuing Judon, and accomplished it to Covey for a primary down. One other fast hit to Covey picked up three yards, after which Barkley obtained one other three via the air. Yet one more strike from Hurts to Smith was simply in need of a primary down, and so they obtained the fourth down attempt. Barkley obtained about 4, however the Falcons made him work for it. Covey obtained about three yards earlier than Terrell wrecked him, after which Hurts ran up the center for a simple first down. Barkley then took it eight yards on first down, and Hurts was capable of evade one deal with and decide up a primary down once more. Barkley obtained away from a would-be deal with for a primary down, however a holding name backed it up 10 yards, fortunately. An enormous run from Hurts obtained the Eagles shut but once more. Barkley obtained a yard to arrange third and three, after which Hurts swung out a go to Barkley and obtained a primary down simply shy of the tip zone. Inevitably, the Eagles and Hurts pushed it in. Eagles 16, Falcons 15 and the 2 level attempt was dominated good regardless of a despondent Jason Kelce “oh no” within the sales space, making it Eagles 18, Falcons 15.
The Falcons took the touchback. Bijan obtained a yard or so on first down operating outdoors, after which Cousins took a deep shot to Mooney, however he had stopped operating full bore in some unspecified time in the future and the ball sailed manner over his head. On third down, Cousins hit London simply in need of the sticks, and the fourth down attempt by Robinson was stuffed. Turnover on downs.
A primary down run by Barkley was referred to as again attributable to a holding penalty. Barkley was then hit by James Smith-Williams and Jessie Bates for a lack of a yard. Hurts then obtained Goedert for 16 yards, organising third and brief. A fast go to Barkley resulted in a primary down. Barkley was introduced down for no achieve by Grady Jarrett, after which powered via for what the officiating crew deemed a primary down. They wound up calling it, nonetheless, after which Hurts obtained a primary down on the tush push once more. A fast run to Barkley, one other run to Barkley, and the Falcons had burned their timeouts. On third down, Barkley in some way dropped the go in his fingers, and the Eagles transformed the sector aim attempt to make it 21-15 Eagles.
Cousins hit Pitts for a primary down over the center on the beginning of the subsequent drive, after which he aired one out to Mooney for 21 yards. Mooney then caught one other one on the sideline for a giant chunk achieve and obtained out of bounds. Then London reeled one in for a 5 yard achieve with 43 seconds left on the clock. Cousins took an finish zone shot at McCloud, and the officiating crew declined to name a go interference on the Eagles nook, provided that it was borderline, nevertheless it hardly mattered. Cousins dropped it in for Drake London and a landing on the very subsequent play to tie issues up, however a penalty for a celebration on London backed up the additional level attempt 15 yards. It didn’t matter, as a result of Koo knocked it residence. Falcons 22, Eagles 21.
The Eagles had time and timeouts, and so they obtained a fast first down. However issues change instantly, and stress from Kaden Elliss obtained residence as Hurts launched an off-kilter one to a ready Jessie Bates, who intercepted it to seal the win on the highway. The Atlanta Falcons are 1-1 with a shocking upset victory, and I couldn’t be happier.
