PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley had at the least a primary down, possibly even a landing, in his grasp that might have sealed the Eagles’ win of their house opener.
Barkley as an alternative bobbled a reception and couldn’t maintain on to Jalen Hurts’ brief go. It was one large drop on third down at Atlanta’s 10-yard line with 1:39 left within the recreation that stopped the clock late and compelled the Eagles to accept a discipline aim.
Barkley’s botch was the opening the Atlanta Falcons wanted to tug off the stunner with the sort of flawless drive the Eagles couldn’t duplicate. Kirk Cousins capped the successful drive with a landing go to Drake London and Atlanta shocked Philadelphia 22-21 in its house opener on Monday night time.
“I dropped the ball,” Barkley mentioned plainly. “I believed it was a fantastic play name. I simply must catch it.”
Barkley and Hurts, who had put the Eagles (1-1) forward 18-15 on a 1-yard tush-push landing within the fourth, had a short post-game dialog within the locker room.
The message was easy: Hurts nonetheless had Barkley’s again.
“He’s going to belief me each time in that scenario,” Barkley mentioned.
After Barkley’s drop, Jake Elliott kicked a 28-yard discipline aim reasonably than the Eagles going for the rating on fourth down.
“We wished to go up six factors. It didn’t work,” coach Nick Sirianni mentioned. “I wished them to be down and landing and see if they might drive the sector. They usually did.”
With a three-year deal for $26 million assured, Barkley is the highest-paid operating again in franchise historical past. The 27-year-old former New York Large did have a knack for dropping the ball when he performed for the NFC East rival.
“I belief him on daily basis of the week to make a play,” Hurts mentioned. “Similar to all people else. We’ll be higher for it.”
Perhaps subsequent time, the Eagles will merely belief Barkley sufficient to only rush for the primary down.
Even after London scored, the Eagles nonetheless had 34 seconds to at the least drive into discipline aim territory for Elliott. Hurts as an alternative had his go picked off by Jessie Bates III that ended all hope of Philadelphia’s personal wonderful comeback.
“The intent of that play was to go down the sector,” Sirianni mentioned. “He took an opportunity and the man made an excellent play.”
Barkley ran for 95 yards in his house debut at week after every week after he rushed for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns in opposition to Inexperienced Bay. Eagles followers booed when the opening drive of the sport ended with out Barkley touching the ball. Led by Hollywood star Bradley Cooper, Eagles followers went wild when he had consecutive 9-yard runs to open the second drive.
Barkley’s regular success wouldn’t stick.
The defence couldn’t smother the lengthy play in opposition to Cousins and the defence for all 60 minutes.
Underneath new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Eagles established an early knack for permitting lengthy drives that finish with three factors as an alternative of seven. Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo kicked discipline targets of 39, 22 and 34 yards, the final one sufficient for a 9-7 lead within the third quarter. Of their opener, the Eagles held the Packers to only three discipline targets after they drove contained in the 20.
Cousins, signed to a four-year, $180 million contract within the low season, got here alive within the second half. Cousins related with Darnell Mooney on a 41-yard TD go that gave Atlanta a 15-10 lead. Cousins later hit Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on consecutive performs throughout the decisive drive.
“We may be beat, particularly if we don’t benefit from our alternatives,” Eagles defensive finish Brandon Graham mentioned.
With No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown out with a hamstring harm, DeVonta Smith led the Eagles with seven catches for 76 yards and a rating. Sirianni mentioned he wasn’t certain how lengthy Brown can be out.
“In fact, he’s positively missed,” Hurts mentioned. “It doesn’t change the belief I’ve in all people else to step up. We simply didn’t meet the second. It wasn’t for us tonight.”