PHILADELPHIA — When Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ ultimate cross left his hand, the cheers had been hopeful, rising in quantity because the ball flew towards its supposed goal of large receiver DeVonta Smith deep in Atlanta Falcons’ territory.
Too unhealthy for the house crowd, security Jessie Bates III swooped in for an interception as a substitute.
The roar of Lincoln Monetary Subject shortly light as actuality set in. The Eagles would not get to try a game-winning area aim. The Falcons would win, 22-21.
Bates’ decide got here with 27 seconds remaining. It was the ultimate exclamation level on a wild Monday Evening Soccer fourth quarter.
“It felt nice,” Bates mentioned. “I did not care who had it. It did not matter if it was me or (Justin Simmons). Or even when was a sack fumble. Something. I simply needed to win.”
The victory marked the Falcons’ first of 2024. Atlanta misplaced, 18-10, to the Pittsburgh Steelers within the season opener.
For the second sport in a row, the protection confirmed up. In Week 1, the unit didn’t quit a single landing. The entire Steelers’ factors got here from area objectives. In Week 2, the Falcons allowed two touchdowns however compelled Philadelphia to settle two drives with area objectives.
Hurts and Smith related on a 7-yard landing cross within the first quarter. Hurts then had one in all his infamous 1-yard landing shoves up the center within the fourth quarter. Operating again Saquon Barkley transformed on a two-point run after the rating.
“A few of that tush-push stuff that they do is hard,” Bates mentioned. “Actually, it is powerful. You see we tried to leap offsides and simply attempt to give them the primary down, however they declined it. Nice teaching there. However yeah, it is powerful to take care of that. However you bought to have the ability to have a brief thoughts, reset and play one other set of downs.”
The Eagles totaled 365 internet offensive yards, cut up 186 speeding and 179 passing.
Hurts accomplished 23 of his 30 passes. Smith was Philadelphia’s main receiver with seven catches for 76 yards. Barkley led the bottom assault with 22 carries for 95 yards.
“All people needed to be tremendous disciplined, man,” Falcons defensive sort out Grady Jarrett mentioned. “I feel we did a superb job. Can at all times be higher, proper? However on the finish of the day, we did simply sufficient to get the win.”
The end result was actually determined within the closing quarter-hour. The Eagles added 11 unanswered factors and held a 21-15 lead with 1:39 remaining. The Falcons efficiently ran their two-minute offense, taking the lead with a 7-yard landing cross between quarterback Kirk Cousins and large receiver Drake London.
What occurred subsequent has already been defined, the Falcons protection got here by way of.
“Initially, the group was wonderful,” Falcons working again Bijan Robinson mentioned. “I like to play in these sorts of environments. However then, when Jessie had that decide, I went to their followers and was shushing them. It was the very best feeling ever, figuring out that they had been bringing the vitality all sport, however when it is all mentioned and performed, we acquired the win and it was silent.”
Attendance was recorded at 69,879 individuals.
Monday marked the Falcons’ first prime-time sport since 2022, whereas the Eagles already had one this yr and 6 final season alone. Philadelphia is used to the highlight extra so. Its followers included.
“Driving on this place, you are getting flicked off,” Bates mentioned. “Little youngsters flicking you off. It is a loopy environment. It is a playoff environment. For us to look again at this, perhaps once we are within the playoffs, it exhibits one another we will do it. We are able to stick collectively, have a variety of grit, a variety of psychological toughness and are available out with a win.”
It was Bates who assured the end result, too.
After his interception, Bates recalled the less-than-warm welcome. His farewell was extra acceptable, however acquired the same level throughout nonetheless.
“I hit the Soiled Chook,” Bates mentioned. “That is my flicking them again off.”