Image: Eagles’ Jalen Hurts from Flickr (photo by All-pro Reels)
In a closely contested Monday night matchup, on Sept. 16, the Philadelphia Eagles suffered a narrow defeat, losing 22–21 to the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the offseason acquisition of Saquon Barkley, who showcased his skills with 22 carries for 95 yards and four receptions for 21 yards — totaling 116 yards from scrimmage — the Eagles couldn’t secure the win. The absence of star wide receiver A.J. Brown, sidelined with an injured hamstring, was felt significantly throughout the game.
Barkley’s efforts were complemented by fourth-year wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who stepped up in Brown’s absence, recording seven receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown.
The game took a pivotal turn in the fourth quarter when the Eagles executed a crucial stop on a fourth down at Atlanta’s 39-yard line. This defensive stand allowed Philadelphia to take over in enemy territory, setting them up to potentially seal the game with just a few first downs. However, in a moment that would prove critical, Barkley missed a key first down catch, leading to a Jake Elliott field goal that gave the Eagles a 21–15 lead with just 1:39 remaining.
“The game comes down to a few plays,” Barkley said in their postgame interviews. “It hurts a little more when you’re the one who’s making a mistake on that play.” Hurts said “obviously, it’s a tough loss. We learn from it. I trust him every day of the week to make a play just like everybody else, and so we’ll be better from it .”
Despite the offensive contributions, the Eagles’ defense faltered again in the closing moments. Newly acquired Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who entered the game with a 3–10 record in primetime, went 20 for 29 with 241 yards and two touchdowns, targeting wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Drake London. With time running out, Cousins quickly moved the Falcons into the red zone, ultimately connecting with London for the go-ahead touchdown, beating cornerback Darius Slay on a corner route.
With just 34 seconds left and the Eagles down by one point, Hurts aimed for a game-winning field goal. However, the drive ended abruptly with an interception thrown to Falcons safety Jessie Bates, sealing the victory for Atlanta.
The Eagles’ defensive back unit continues to face challenges, echoing struggles from last season. Fans are hopeful that rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, drafted in the first and second rounds respectively, can help address these late-game issues moving forward. The Eagles now stand at 1–1 following their loss to the Falcons and will look to rebound against the undefeated New Orleans Saints, who are coming off a commanding 44–19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Brandon Bond is a fourth-year Media and Culture major with a minor in Digital Marketing. bb972523@wcupa.edu