It was an eventful Monday night for the Eagles as they opened their 2015 season. After a slow first-half start, the team rallied and began a comeback in the third. Unfortunately, the team's rally fell just short despite a 21-point second half. The Eagles ultimately fell to the Falcons, 26-24, in the opener.
As the team began the first quarter, opening-game rust was apparent. The offense was held scoreless, and although Atlanta's only points were from a field goal, the defense struggled out of the gate as well. Kiko Alonso's interception in the Eagles' end zone proved to be one of the only highlights. It was clear that showing was not how the Eagles planned to open the year.
After a Cody Parkey 29-yard field goal in the second quarter, the Eagles went into the locker room trailing Atlanta, 20-3. Thankfully, the short break may have been just what Philadelphia needed. The team that emerged for the second half was clearly ready to play.
The Eagles put up 14 points in the third quarter on two DeMarco Murray touchdowns. The first was an 8-yard run into the end zone, and the second was off a short pass from quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford ended his first regular season game with 36 for 52 for 336 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The defense held Atlanta scoreless in the third, and Walter Thurmond tacked on an interception, the defense's second of the game.
The fourth quarter proved to be the defining point of the matchup, as the two teams battled back and forth throughout the final 15 minutes. First, the Falcons added to their lead with a 44-yard field goal from kicker Matt Bryant.
However, in merely six plays, Bradford led the Eagles on another scoring drive. Receiver Jordan Matthews and tight end Zach Ertz, who made his return after preseason surgery, both played big roles on the drive that ended in a Ryan Mathews 1-yard touchdown run and the team's first and only lead of the night.
The Falcons' offense kicked another field goal to regain a two-point lead, 26-24.
Unfortunately, a missed Parkey field goal minutes later gave Atlanta the ball with 2:26 remaining in the game. The Eagles' defense, however, was not ready to throw in the towel. On a third-and-1 play, Malcolm Jenkins stuffed running back Tevin Coleman, giving the Philadelphia offense the ball back at its own 14-yard line with 1:49 to play and one timeout remaining.
Sadly, the comeback would end there. On third down, a pass intended for Matthews was intercepted by Ricardo Allen and sealed the Eagles' fate.
The team will return home and prepare for the Lincoln Financial Field opener on Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys come to town.
The #Eagles began Week 1 of the regular season in Atlanta for Monday Night Football. View the full gallery here...
RB Ryan Mathews turns it up
RB DeMarco Murray defends on the run
It's time for #PHIvsATL
DB Randall Evans stretches during pregame
G Brett Boyko warms up
The #Eagles prepare
LB Bryan Braman is focused during pregame
FlyEaglesFly!
Philly fans have made it!
Ready to fly!
Mike Quick meets some dedicated #Eagles fans during pregame
It's almost game time!
Defensive Coordinator Bill Davis waits for game time
RB DeMarco Murray gets ready for #PHIvsATL
QB Sam Bradford makes his debut
QB Sam Bradford takes snaps during pregame
RB Darren Sproles warms up in Atlanta
TE Zach Ertz is ready for Week 1
WR Riley Cooper and Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur are locked in
QB Sam Bradford warms up with a few throws
WR Nelson Agholor warms up
Ready for the throw
QB Sam Bradford makes the throw
The #Eagles Defense makes the stop
LB Brandon Graham makes the tackle
DE Taylor Hart goes up for the block
LB Brandon Graham holds on for the tackle
Excitement after LB Kiko Alonso's interception
WR Josh Huff runs the ball
QB Sam Bradford finds the open receiver
DT Bennie Logan makes the stop
CB Byron Maxwell breaks up the pass
The line goes to work
The coin toss
RB Darren Sproles holds onto the ball
WR Riley Cooper finds his route
WR Jordan Matthews tries to break free from the tackle
QB Sam Bradford makes the throw to his receiver
TE Zach Ertz works for the yards
RB DeMarco Murray changes direction
K Cody Parkey kicks one in
DB Walter Thurmond with the stop
QB Sam Bradford scrambles
Eagles Defense
DE Fletcher Cox forces the fumble
RB Darren Sproles moves to the outside
Breaking free
K Cody Parkey goes for the extra point
P Donnie Jones congratulates K Cody Parkey
S Chris Maragos gets in on the tackle
CB Nolan Carroll defends the play
RB Darren Sproles tries to run through the tackle
LB Brandon Graham closes in
DE Cedric Thornton gets up for the block
LB Connor Barwin goes for the fumble
DE Fletcher Cox is fired up
T Lane Johnson goes for the block
Fired up!
WR Miles Austin pushes for more
TE Zach Ertz protects the ball
QB Sam Bradford in the spotlight
RB Darren Sproles runs from the traffic
RB Ryan Mathews braces for the hit
RB DeMarco Murray scores a touchdown
Congratulations all around
DT Bennie Logan stops Atlanta
RB DeMarco Murray scores his second touchdown of the night
The #Eagles defense is putting up a wall
Keep pushing through!
TE Zach Ertz moves around the tackle
On fire!
RB DeMarco Murray shows what he's got!
CB Byron Maxwell gets ahold of the runner
T Allen Barbre gives RB Ryan Mathews a little extra help with the touchdown
The #Eagles celebrate RB Ryan Mathews' touchdown
High-fives all around!
We love #EaglesNation!
RB Ryan Mathews steers through traffic
S Malcolm Jenkins comes through with a huge stop
WR Jordan Matthews is in the clear
Teamwork!
WR Jordan Matthews is off to the races
QB Sam Bradford has time to make the throw
RB Darren Sproles makes them miss
WR Riley Cooper moves quickly
RB Ryan Mathews finds the opening
S Malcolm Jenkins holds on to make the big stop
LB Kiko Alonso congratulates S Malcolm Jenkins on the stop
