How on earth did that occur? The Falcons escaped “Monday Evening Soccer” with a wild 22-21 win over the Eagles.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from a Monday night time stunner.
Falcons heard everybody’s Kirk Cousins issues
The Falcons dispelled any notion about Cousins’ well being with their opening offensive collection.
Per week after Atlanta ran 96% of its performs out of the pistol or shotgun, Cousins started Monday night time’s recreation below heart.
He handed off to operating again Bijan Robinson twice and tried a play-action cross that was batted down on the line of scrimmage.
As ESPN’s Invoice Barnwell famous on-line, the sequence felt meant to ship a message.
Cousins completed 20-of-29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. For all of the handwringing about Cousins’ Week 1 efficiency, he regarded fantastic on Monday night time.
Eagles play-calling confounds
Due to Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, operating again Saquon Barkley waited till Philadelphia’s second offensive collection to get the ball in his first recreation in entrance of the hometown crowd.
Contemplating how properly Barkley ran as soon as he bought a chance, Moore ought to in all probability characteristic him within the crew’s opening script going ahead.
The previous Giants first-round decide was electrical, gaining 39 yards on 4 carries.
Nevertheless, simply as he was getting going, Barkley did not obtain a contact after getting the Eagles right down to Atlanta’s 15-yard line. Over Philadelphia’s subsequent 4 performs, the offense gained six yards and turned the ball over on downs.
Moore did not get Barkley concerned sufficient early, contributing to Philadelphia’s gradual offensive begin.
Dropped cross spoils Barkley’s dwelling debut
For many of Monday night time, Barkley was Philadelphia’s MVP. He completed the loss with 22 carries for 95 yards and added 4 receptions for 21 yards. Sadly, it is the catch he did not make that may reside in infamy.
On a third-and-3 with below two minutes remaining and Atlanta out of timeouts, Barkley dropped a cross that hit him within the palms, which, if accomplished, would have possible given the Eagles a primary down and allowed them to expire the clock.
It was the cruelest attainable ending for a participant who sparked the Eagles offense early.
Followers possible will not let him neglect that miscue for some time. However contemplating how very important he’s to Philadelphia’s assault, Barkley cannot enable it to shake his confidence.
Eagles ought to name Jets about Haason Reddick
If Reddick refuses to play for New York, Philadelphia wants to select up the cellphone and never dangle up till it really works a deal to deliver him again to city.
Reddick led the crew with 68 pressures in 2023, whereas Eagles edge-rushers Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat mixed for 4 pressures on Monday. (h/t Pro Football Focus)
Cousins wasn’t pressured in any respect on Atlanta’s profitable landing drive with below two minutes, permitting him to select aside the protection.
NFC South is a beast
With its miraculous win, Atlanta made a stunning assertion: the NFC South may be the most effective division in soccer. That is fairly outstanding because it additionally has the league’s worst crew, the Panthers.
However primarily based on how the Saints (2-0) and Bucs (2-0) have began the season, the division that is been ridiculed because the worst in soccer for the previous two years may be robust sufficient to boast three playoff groups by the tip of the season.