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What happened in Falcons road win over Eagles in Week 2

PHILADELPHIA — The Atlanta Falcons squeaked out a last-minute 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Every game recap this 2024 season will be broken down by quarter for right-at-the-buzzer consumption. To get things going, Atlanta won the coin toss (2-0 in that regard) and deferred to the second half. Philadelphia received opening kickoff.

9.16.2024-GameBreakdown

FIRST QUARTER

After a full week of scrutiny, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins took his first snap Monday from under center. Then, he took his second in the same position immediately after. The first two plays in the formation were as many as Week 1 saw in total, which was two, if you include Cousins clocking the ball in the fourth quarter. Cousins switched it up from there.

What was tough about the opening 15 minutes for the Falcons was their field position. Their first two drives began at their own 8- and 9-yard line. Each consisted of five plays, too. The first went for 20 yards, then the second for 22 yards.

Another tough thing was Atlanta going 0-for-2 on third-down conversions. Cousins had an incomplete pass to running back Bijan Robinson on a third-and-4 play. Robinson dropped the pass. Then, Cousins had an incomplete pass to wide receiver Drake London on another third-and-4 play. That pass was nearly intercepted by Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, but Mitchell was unable to get a foot down in time and was ultimately rule out of bounds.

What did help the Falcons, though, is the Eagles were also unable to convert a third down. Philadelphia was 0-for-3. The Eagles had a run fall short on a third-and-10 and a pair of incomplete passed on two separates third-and-4s.

So, the scoreboard featured a pair of goose eggs when it came time to refresh the clock.

Running backs were the early highlight. Falcons' Robinson had five carries for 33 yards, with a long of 14. Eagles' Saquon Barkley also had five carries but for 40 yards, with a long of 11.

SCORING PLAYS:

None

END Q1: Falcons 0, Eagles 0

SECOND QUARTER

A different story unfolded through the next period. Each series ended with points of some sort. The Falcons were the first to put points up, though they didn't crack the end zone.

Atlanta made it to the Philadelphia 22-yard line, where a 1-yard run by Cousins was unable to convert a third-and-9. So, kicker Younghoe Koo came out to make a 39-yard field goal, giving the Falcons a 3-0 lead.

In response, the Eagles used 11 plays to pick up 70 net yards and a touchdown on their following series. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts connected on a 7-yard pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith to pull ahead, 7-3.

That scoring drive featured the first successful third-down drive between the two teams. Hurts used his own legs to do the trick, scrambling for 15 yards when he only needed 11 to pick up a first down. Prior to that moment, the Eagles were 0-for-4 and the Falcons were 0-for-3 on third downs.

The Falcons got close to answering. All the way to the Eagles' 3-yard line, in fact. But their first red-zone attempt fell flat, resulting in another field goal from Koo. This time, he was good from 22 yards out.

Here's a look at how the Falcons' red-zone visit went:

  • ATL-1-10-PHI 17: Tyler Allgeier run 4
  • ATL-2-6-PHI 13: Tyler Allgeier run 7 -- first down
  • ATL-1-6-PHI 6: Bijan Robinson run -2 … PENALTY on PHI, 3 yards, no play -- first down
  • ATL 1-3-PHI 3: Bijan Robinson run -1
  • ATL-2-4-PHI 4: Kirk Cousins pass INC to Darnell Mooney
  • ATL-3-4-PHI 4: Kirk Cousins pass INC
  • FIELD GOAL: Younghoe Koo 22-yard GOOD

That cut the Eagles' lead to one point as time expired at the halfway point.

The Falcons were outgaining the Eagles, 12-9 in first downs and 184-164 in offensive yards. The difference, though, was the Eagles' being 1-for-2 in the red zone compared to the Falcons' 0-for-1.

SCORING PLAYS:

Falcons: Younghoe Koo 39-yard field goal … 3-0, ATL
Eagles: Jalen Hurts 7-yard pass to DeVonta Smith; PAT good … 7-3, PHI
Falcons: Younghoe Koo 22-yard field goal … 7-6, PHI

HALFTIME: Eagles 7, Falcons 6

THIRD QUARTER

The Falcons started with the ball to open the second half and used the early advantage to steal the lead back. Nine plays and 54 net yards was concluded with a 34-yard field goal from Koo. That gave Atlanta a two-point lead.

The third-down play that led to the field-goal attempt saw Cousins get sacked for a loss of 8 yards. The series' peak was a 19-yard run from Robinson.

The Eagles responded with a 29-yard field goal of their own, though, to pull back ahead by one. Their drive consisted of 11 plays for 59 net yards. Hurts had an incomplete pass to draw up fourth down. Falcons safety Jessie Bates III was in coverage.

Atlanta finally made it past the goal line on their next drive. It took seven plays and 70 nets yards. Cousins connected a deep pass up the middle to wide receiver Darnell Mooney. It was a 41-yard scoring reception that Mooney capped off with a front flip into the endzone.

An important play to remember during that scoring drive was Cousins' 12-yard completion to wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III. It was a fourth-and-4 play and kept the Falcons' series alive.

After the touchdown, instead of settling for a point-after attempt, the Falcons tried for a two-point conversion. Cousins aimed for London, but the two failed to convert.

Therefore, the Falcons had a five-point lead heading into the final stretch of the game.

SCORING PLAYS:

Falcons: Younghoe Koo 34-yard field goal … 9-7, ATL
Eagles: Jake Elliott 29-yard field goal … 10-9, PHI
Falcons: Kirk Cousins 42-yard pass to Darnell Mooney; 2-point pass fail … 15-10, ATL

END Q3: Falcons 15, Eagles 10

FOURTH QUARTER

The Eagles ran 17 plays for 70 nets yards and used up nine minutes and 34 seconds to reclaim the lead with 6:47 remaining in the game. They had to convert a fourth down in the process, and did so successfully. At the Falcons' 46-yard line, Hurts ran for three yards to easily cover the one yard needed for a fresh set of downs. From there, Philadelphia then made its way in the Atlanta rent zone.

On a third-and-3 at the Falcons' 5-yard line, Barkley caught what was at first a 5-yard pass for a touchdown. But then, upon further review, Barkley was deemed a yard short. So, he got the first down but not the touchdown.

Well, Hurts finished the job with his notorious tush-push play. It went down as a 1-yard touchdown run.

Philadelphia then went for two points rather than one. Barkley was successful in the attempt, running up the middle and breaking the plane.

That gave the Eagles' a three-point lead, meaning the Falcons could tie with a field goal or pull ahead with a touchdown.

When Atlanta's offense returned to the field, it did neither. The Falcons ran four plays in a row, ultimately turning the ball over on downs. Robinson was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 run play.

Philadelphia took over with 5:38 left. It milked a good chunk of that time, not giving Atlanta much time to try a rally. The Eagles added a 28-yard field goal to put them six points ahead, so the Falcons would need a touchdown. Atlanta had 1:39 to make something happen.

The Falcons did indeed make something happen. They went from their own 30-yard line to the Eagles' end zone via Cousins' 4-of-5 passing. Cousins hit London with a 7-yard dart for the game-tying touchdown. Koo then inched the Falcons ahead with a good point-after kick.

Atlanta held a one-point lead with 34 seconds to go.

It would keep it, too. As Bates picked off a deep Hurts pass to seal the deal.

The Falcons move to 1-1, as do the Eagles.

SCORING PLAYS:

Eagles: Jalen Hurts 1-yard run; 2-point run good … 18-15, PHI
Eagles: Jake Elliott 28-yard field goal ... 21-15, PHI
Falcons: Kirk Cousins 7-yard pass to Drake London; PAT good ... 22-21, ATL

FINAL: Falcons 22, Eagles 21

Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field during Week 2, presented by Grady.

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