After a long offseason, football has finally returned to Philadelphia and the Eagles came out ready to play. Following the first quarter, the team leads the Indianapolis Colts, 13-3.
The Eagles' defense went to work at the start of the game, allowing only 22 yards on the Colts' opening return. Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck immediately completed three passes to move his team to its own 41-yard line, but the Colts' offense would stop there. On a third-and-seven, Luck threw an incomplete pass intended for Coby Fleener.
Following a 59-yard punt, the Eagles offense began on its own 20-yard line. Mark Sanchez's opening play could have moved the Eagles into Colts territory, but a deep pass up the right side of the field was just out of the reach of Trey Burton. A 9-yard run by Riley Cooper brought up a third-and-1, but the team was unable to convert and punted the ball from its own 29-yard line.
Indianapolis' next drive resulted in the first points of the game. On first-and-10 from the 28-yard line, the Colts were unable to move the ball after Fletcher Cox took down Zurlon Tipton, but on third down, Luck completed an 18-yard pass to Phillip Dorsett, brining Indianapolis to the 48-yard line. Another short pass three plays later added an additional 12 yards. Nolan Carroll was able to bring down Andre Johnson following the catch, but another third-down conversion play brought up a first-and-10 for the Colts at the Eagles' 18-yard line. A run play and two incomplete passes resulted in the fourth down. Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri kicked a 32-yard field goal. In total, the 58-yard drive was completed in 6:01.
The Eagles responded immediately, setting off on their own 80-yard, eight play scoring drive. Once again starting from their own 20-yard line, the Eagles were quickly faced with yet another third down situation. Sanchez ran the ball, picking up 10 yards and a first down. Ryan Mathews also got the running game started, gaining 13 yards and taking the team to its own 48-yard line. The very next play, Sanchez threw his first completed pass to Jordan Matthews, good for 18 yards. Aiming to not feel left out, rookie Nelson Agholor caught his first NFL pass shortly thereafter. Simply catching the pass, however, was not enough for Agholor. The receiver ran the ball 34 yards into the end zone, scoring the team's first touchdown of the season.
Following the Colts' first three-and-out of the game, the Eagles' Kenjon Barner returned the ball 15-yard before being taken down by Clayton Gathers. Quarterback Matt Barkley entered the game for the Eagles' third drive, marking the end of Sanchez's day. Barkley quickly got to work, with three big passes. The first pass to Jordan Matthews moved the team to the Colts' 49-yard line. The second, caught by Miles Austin, was a 39-yard bomb that brought the team into the red zone. One final run by Barner resulted in an additional six points. Barkley completed 5 of his 6 pass attempts during the drive.
The Colts have possession of the ball and will begin from their own 29-yard line in the second quarter.
