Imagine this, there’s two minutes left in your football game, and you have a 98% chance of winning, basically guaranteeing your win. You’re 15 yards away from scoring again as you lead by three, as you look to make it a two score game. You’re the quarterback and you see your all pro running back open in the flat, ensuring you have what you need to win, until he drops the ball after it hits both his hands, leaving the door wide open for the other team to come back after settling for a field goal. Well, this wasn’t made up, this was the Philadelphia Eagles reality last night.
You gotta love Monday night football, no matter who is playing, I feel like the action is always interesting and I never thought the Atlanta Falcons would triumph and rally like they did in Philly. If you watched, then you know the game started at a slightly slower pace than usual, with the first score being a field goal by Atlanta, four minutes into the 2nd quarter. They would land another field goal later in the quarter, but you know you can’t win off field goals, unless you’re playing the Giants. Jalen Hurts of the Eagles used his legs to create an 80 yard drive capped off by a Devonta Smith 7 yard touchdown.
Jalen Hurts ripped this throw to DeVonta Smith. Whizzed it by three Falcons defenders.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/eluuk6WZTf
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) September 17, 2024
I was pretty unamused with how the first half went, no turnovers, just Ray-Ray McCloud throwing a punch, for getting his mouthguard snatched, you have to admit, that’s pretty entertaining. The game was relatively even throughout the rest of the matchup, with the Eagles protecting and proving themselves, holding a lead in a once again close game, as they just barely edged the Packers last week, only winning by 5.
Eagles have the ball in the red zone and are in the closing moments of starting the season off at 2-0, all you need to do is throw it to Saquon Barkley, you’d think that would be easier than it actually was, as Saquon butterfingers drop the pass as it hits both hands. If you know Kirk Cousins, you know you can’t leave time on the clock against him, and the Eagles royally screwed up with that one. Cousins drove down the field with authority, finding Darnell Mooney for a pair of 20 yard receptions, winding up to Drake London being open in the endzone, and now the Falcons lead after having a 2% chance of winning earlier in the game.
Jalen Hurts would look to prove himself, but if you didn’t know, Hurts has led the league in turnovers since 2023, so you kinda know where this is about to go, Hurts drops back and make a braindead decision to go deep almost immediately in their drive, throwing a perfect pass, but to the wrong team. Jessie Bates would pick him off, sealing the win for the Falcons. This wasn’t just any normal victory, as whether you believe it or not, this is the first time that Atlanta has beaten the Eagles in Philly, since 2012, as the Falcons fly free in Philly.