September 16, 2024
Article by Allison Smith
Photos curtesy of Atlanta Falcons
Inactives for this week include, several of the draft rookies, Jase McClellan, Ruke Orhorhoro, and Brandon Dolus. Nate Landman went on injured reserve, opening up space for Kevin King to the active roster. Dane Cruikshank and Casey Washington are elevated from the practice squad.
The Atlanta Falcons won the toss and deferred to take the ball to start the second half. Bradley Pinion kicked to the 5 and the ball was returned to the 33-yard line. First play was a pass over the middle to the 47, stopped by Troy Anderson and Jessie Bates. The second play was a pass completion, quickly jammed and stopped by AJ Terrell, but was called back due to an ineligible man down field . On 1st and 15 from the 42, the running back is quickly shoved out of bounds my Mike Hughes for a 1-yard gain. Jalen Hurts on a quick throw close to the original line of scrimmage and forced out by Justin Simmons. On 3rd down, Hurts with 3 to the right from the shotgun, takes the ball himself and is quickly shut down by Anderson, leaving it at 4 and 6 for the punt.
High punt to Avery Williams and the ball drops and stops at the 8. First play is Bijan Robinson running left for 7 yards, then another 7. After an incompletion by Kurt Cousins, on 2nd and 10, Cousins finds Drake London for a 6-yard completion. Another incompletion to Robinson, forces the punt.
First at 10 from the Eagles’ 36, Hurts hands off to Saquan Barkley for 9 yards before Richie Grant made the stop. On 2nd and 1, Hurst finds his receiver on the perimeter who crossed midfield. Dee Alford missed the initial tackle and allows the first down. Another handoff to Barkley, stopped by Terrell and Bates short of the first down. On 2nd and 1, Hurts from the shotgun with a play fake and pressured, the receiver catches the ball and is rolled out of bounds by Anderson, after 4 yards, but a 1st down. First and 10 from the 36, Barkley again for the first down, stopped at the maker by Bates. From the 26, Barkley again for another 10 yards. Anderson missed the tackle at the line, but Dyland Drummund gets the stop. From the 15, another reception for 4 yards. On 2nd down, the receiver is stopped by Hughes after a couple of yard gain. Barkley comes back in the game, 3 guys to the left, Barkley in the backfield, Hurts with lots of time, but no open receivers, he finally throws into the end zone where Grant knocks the ball incomplete. The Falcons rushed 4 and had everyone tied up. On 4th and 4 from the 9, Hurts calls a time out. Barkley is in the back field with Hurts, pressured, with Grady Jarrett quickly closing, Hughes knocks the pass down.
The Falcons take over on their own 9. The single back is Robinson with Ray Ray McCloud in motion. Robinson gains a single yard along the left side. McCloud and Darnell Mooney to the right side, Robinson up the middle for 16 yards and a first down at the 25. Fully loaded pistol, Robinson along the right side for another 3 yards. Tyler Allgeier comes in on 2nd down and 7, where he goes for a couple of yards, then on 3rd and 5 from the Drake London is in motion, Cousins nearly throws a pick out of London’s hands, but the defender was out of bounds.
Pinion punts and the Eagles start on their own 25. First down, Hurts from the pistol hands to Barkley who gains a single yard, swarmed by the defense. Two tights to the left, Hurts finds a receiver, AJ Terrell was flying in and made the stop after 5 yards. On 3rd and 4, almost a 5 front, Hurts barely escapes David Onyemata with Kaden Elliss applying even more pressure forcing the errant pass that falls incomplete along the sideline with Dee Alford ensuring no completion.
After the punt, Play action fake to Robinson, Cousins finds London in the middle of the field for a 19-yard gain at the 46 as the first quarter expires.
From the 46, Cousins hands to Allgeier who crosses midfield. On 2nd and 6, a quick pass to Allgeier who gains the first down and more. From the 38, Allgeier gets the call again and he takes the ball left to the 20, barely stopped from a touchdown. Robinson gets the ball and fumbles/juggles the ball, but retains the ball at the 24. From the 25, Robinson gets the call again and gains a yard. A time out is taken by the Falcons. On 3rd and 9, Cousins can’t find a receiver and runs for a single yard gain. Younghoe Koo makes a 39-yard field goal.
Philly begins at their own 30. Hurts in the shotgun with Barkley next to him, after rolling off his own player, gains 4 yards. Matthew Judon was shoving the offensive lineman into Barkley. Hurts drops back to pass for a 19-yard gain, Alford with the immediate stop. At midfield, Hurts dancing in the pocket, Jarrett chasing him nearly out of bounds, throws out of bounds. On 2nd and 10, Hurts has single receivers on each side, hands off to Barkley and Judon was already there making the stop for a 1-yard loss. On 3rd and 11, two receivers on each side, a quick pass for 8 yards, Bates and Anderson immediately make the stop. On 4th and 3, Hurts drops back, then runs for 23 yards. Hurts gets a penalty for spiking the ball, it is first and 15 on the 23. Atlanta does not allow the running back to move, being tackled by 4 defenders. Now on 2nd and 20, two receivers on each side, Hurts runs up the middle to the 19, where Kaden Elliss then Anderson make the stop. On 3rd and 11, a 3 man look to the left, from the shotgun, Hurts runs along the right side and outruns all of the defense to get to the 4. After an incomplete pass, there is an ineligible man down field, the Eagles are backed up to the 9. On first and goal, Hurts throws across the field, Justin Simmons makes the hard stop at the 7. On 2nd and goal, Hurts with time, finds DeVonta Smith for the touchdown over the middle, covered by Bates, Grant, and Elliss. The extra point is good.
With 5:15 left in Q2, Philadelphia 7 – Atlanta 3
Williams takes the ball from the 1 up to the 23, with a flag for a block in the back, the Falcons begin this drive on the 14. Cousins is under center, with a sweep to McCloud to the right for 2 yards. On 2nd down, play fake to Kyle Pitts for 2 yards. On 3rd and 6, lots of crowd noise, Cousins finds McCloud in the middle for a big first down at the 35. Robinson gets 9 yards along the left side. After a big first down run for 15 yards by Robinson, the Falcons are at midfield. On 1st down, Cousins play fakes, double pumps, then is sacked. A flag on Philadelphia for pass interference tackling London while Cousins is still pumping and looking. Flag moves the ball to the 41, Cousins misses Mooney on the out route. On 2nd and 10, Cousins shoots it to an open McCloud for another first down with 3 defenders swarming. McCloud gets a 15 yard penalty for unnecessary roughness as the two-minute warning arrives. Clearly, many of us do not know the rules of football. He’s a receiver.
From the 38, on 1st and 10, Cousins, in the gun, Philly bringing 4, finds Robinson on the right side for 7 yards. On 2nd and 3, Robinson goes up the middle for 14 yards to the 14. Robinson goes left and right, shakes a tackle and just keeps moving. Allgeier comes in and goes up the middle for a few yards. Cousins, from the gun, back to Allgeier to the 6. After a timeout, with 26 seconds and the ball at the 6, Cousins to Robinson, who is tackled by the facemask. The ball moves to the 3. Robinson in the backfield with Cousins, goes up the middle for no gain. After taking their final timeout and 17 seconds to go, Pitts is on the field to the left, Robinson to right, Cousins throws outside of Mooney’s reach. The Eagles call a time out. Cousins cannot find an open receiver between London, Pitts, McCloud, Mooney and throws the ball out of the end zone. Koo kicks the field goal to bring the Falcons within a point right before half.
Half Time: Atlanta 6 Philadelphia 7
After half time, the Falcons begin on their own 30. McCloud, London, Mooney to the left, play fake by Cousins, to Robinson for 7 yards. Mooney was streaking across the field open. On 2nd and 3, Robinson gets across midfield quickly. Robinson gets the ball again and falls to the 39. Mooney to the left, London and McCloud move to the left, Robinson gains 13 yards. Cousins hands to Allgeier who gains 12 yards to the 14. On 1st and 10, Mooney in motion, Allgeier pushes down to the 10. On 2nd and 5, Charlie Woerner to the left, Allgeier around the left corner knocked out of bounds at the 8. It’s 3rd and 4 from the 8, Cousins in the gun, looks left and is sacked at the 18. Chris Lindstrom could not hold his block. Koo for a 34-yard field goal.
Falcons take the lead 9 to 7 over the Eagles
After the kickoff, the Eagles begin on their own 30. Hurts hands off to Barkley for a quick 9-yard gain, stopped by Anderson. On 2nd and 1, another run up the middle for an easy first down. From the 43, Hurts drops back and then starts to run when JUDON sacks him spinning. After a loss of 4 yards, Hurts drops back again, finds a wide open receiver for a first down, stopped by Alford and Ellis. From the Falcons 49, Hurts finds Barkley over the middle for another first down, stopped by Ellis at that point. On 1st down, Hurts hands to Barkley left for 4 yards, stopped by Anderson, with Jarrett clogging up the middle and limiting the run. On 2nd and 6, Hurts has 2 tights to the left, runs to the right with Bates in his face, slings the ball down to the receiver at the 18. Simmons and Terrell in coverage. Barkley up the middle for a 4-yard gain. From the 9, Hurts finds a reviver along the left side, shoved out by Terrell. From the 5, Hurts throws into the end zone, Bates knocks the ball out saving the touchdown. Philly starts to kick a field goal, then the kicker goes up to the line, then as time expires, they get a delay of game. Falcons’ field goal block team is not fooled and do not move. The field goal is good.
With 4:28 to go in the 3rd quarter, Eagles 10, Falcons 9.
After the kickoff, the Falcons begin on their own 30. Cousins in the pistol, with Allgeier, London in motion, London gets the ball makes 3 defenders miss and is finally taken out after 9 yards. Allgeier, the lone set back, gets the first down on along the right side. First and 10 from the 41, play fake to Robinson, chased way back under pressure, Cousins throws out of bounds over McCloud. 2nd down, Cousin flips to Robinson behind the line, defense swarming and the Falcons lose 2 yards. On 3rd and 12, pressure coming, Cousins finds Pitts who is 4-yards shy of the first down. The offense stays on the field, Cousins looks hard to the right at London and Pitts, then finds McCloud cutting across the field for a big first down. McCloud dumped upside down for no penalty.
Then immediately lined up, Cousins going backward finds Mooney, who refuses to go down and flips into the end zone for a touchdown! Counts as a 42-yard touchdown, but Mooney caught the ball at the 25 and made the rest on YAC. Falcons attempt the 2-point conversion, Cousins shoots it to London who is double covered and the ball is knocked out.
With 1:21 to go in Q3, Falcons lead 15 to Eagles 10.
The Eagles begin on their 30 again with 3 receivers and Barkley in th backfield. Hurts looks to throw, then runs to the left for 3 yards. Arnold Ebiketie blocked the line of sight not allowing a pass. An ineligible man down field negates the second play as he is holding/blocking/tackling Anderson. On 2nd and 13 from the 28, Hurts finds a receiver at the 36 who is tackled by Elliss.
End of Q3 – Atlanta 15 – Philadelphia 10
From the Philly 36, Hurts is chased right under allot of pressure, finally passes short right for a 9-yards gain, stopped by Alford. Hurts throws again after a yard gain, another Alford tackle/shove out of bounds. Elliss and Anderson make a quick stop after a 3-yard gain up the middle. On 3rd and 6, Hurts finds the receiver short of the first down marker, tackled behind the line by Terell. On a very short 1, Hurts, under center, shoves under the defense and gets the first down. A long count trying to draw the defense offsides, unsuccessful. From the 43, Barkley tries the right side, Alford, Hughes, then a swarm of defenders join to maintain him. On 2nd and 6, Hurst quickly passes to the receiver who is caught by Terrell immediately. It is 3rd and 2, Hurts stacks the left side, he runs up the middle, stopped by Bates after another first down. Barkley runs up the middle for 9 yards. Hurts tries to dodge, is almost sacked, but gains the first down – stopped by Ebiketieand Onyemata, gaining the 2 yards needed but not escaping. On 1st and 10 from the 12, 3 receivers left, Barkley gets the ball to the right down to the 4, but there is a holding penalty (tackling the defender) backing the Eagles up to 19 with a 1st and 16, Hurts gets to the perimeter and is stopped at the 6 by Terrell. From the 6, on a 2nd and 4, Barkley is tackled at the 5 by Eddie Goldman. Third and 3, overload on the left side, Hurts throws to Barkley on the right for the touchdown. After the review, Barkley’s knee was down before the ball crossed the plain. From the ½ yard line, Hurts drives the pile for the touchdown. The two point conversion attempt is to Barkley who tries to hurdle the defense, a Falcon comes up with the ball, with the replay it is decided Barkley got the ball across the goal line before his knee hit the ground.
With 6:47 remaining in the game, Eagles 18 Falcons 15
Beginning at their own 30 again, Cousins hands to Robinson who gains a single yard along the right sideline. Cousins under center with 3 wide receivers to the left, drops back and throws a bomb, but Mooney slowed down and the ball went over his head. Several players from both sides got a little jumbled up and knocked off their stride. A free Philadelphia time out due to an injured player that was off the field and the defense scrambling, but the officials called it an injury time out. On 3rd and 9 from the 31, Cousins finds London close to the first down marker, measured ½ a yard short. Robinson gets the ball and is shoved back, a flag is thrown but picked back up. A Philadelphia player is running around the entire field with his helmet off, but no penalty. A TV time out and time to review the spot of the ball.
With 5:38 to play, Philadelphia has the ball at the Falcons’ 39. Barkley gets a quick first down, but called back due to offensive holding. The ball is at the 46 with a 1st and 17. Hurts hands to Barkley who is stopped in the backfield by James Smith-Williams. 2nd and 18, Hurts drops back and finds a receiver 3 yards short of the first down. Barkley to the left, Hurts with an empty set, throws to Barkley who turns the corner and got 4 yards and another first down. On 1st down, Barkley is stopped behind the line by Jarrett. On 2nd down, Barkley up the middle for another first down.
Two Minute Warning. Falcons have all 3 of their time outs. Philadelphia has the ball at the Falcons’ 18 with a 3rd and 1.
A Falcon jump offsides, they decline the penalty and get the first down. Atlanta takes their first time out. From the 17, Hurts hands off to Barkley who gets to the 14. Another Falcon time out. On 2nd and 6, Barkley gains another couple of yards and the final Falcons’ time out. On 3rd and 3, the Eagles take a time out. Barkley drops the pass which forces a 4th and 3 and stops the clock. The Eagles kick another field goal, with 1:39 to go in the game, the Eagles lead 21 to 15.
From their own 30, Cousins drops back and finds Pitts at the first down marker in the middle of the field. Cousins then throws to Mooney close to the sideline inside the 40. At the Philly 38, Cousins finds Mooney at the 14 and he takes a couple of yards then goes out of bounds. From the 12, Cousins passes to London who steps out at the 8. With 43 seconds to go, Cousins throws to McCloud in the end zone – no flag or PI with lots of contact, including being hugged as the ball is in the air. Now, on 3rd down, Cousins finds London in the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN. Tying the game with 34 seconds to go. London celebrates the touchdown, his first in a LONG time, but that is a penalty and the extra point is going to be a 49-yarder, but for Koo, that is day.
With 26 seconds to go, the Falcons lead by 1.
The Eagles begin at their 30 for a 13-yard gain, stopped by Kevin King. After their timeout, from the 43, Hurts goes deep and the ball is intercepted by none other than JESSIE BATES at the Atlanta 32.
The Falcons take the knee to win the game. The Falcons are now 1-1.
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