After a preseason full of questions about who would be the team's nickel back, the Eagles pulled out a new personnel package that hadn't been used in the preseason. Safety Malcolm Jenkins moved to nickel and Chris Maragos came in at safety.
Defensive coordinator Bill Davis explained the move following the Eagles' 26-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
"Because we stay in base versus 11-personnel (one running back, one tight end) so much, both of our safeties are down playing the slot, so they've gotten work at it," Davis said. "I've told you all along that I have a lot of confidence in Jenkins and (Walter) Thurmond, and I thought Jenkins did a great job in the nickel spot tonight.
"We just thought that was our best combination right now for who we were playing on Monday night with a great quarterback and a passing game coming in."
Jenkins perfectly read a pair of Matt Ryan passes, nearly intercepting them both. After the game, Jenkins explained that he was comfortable moving back inside, but he knows those two plays could have been made.
"There were plays I would have liked to make, and obviously one of those probably changes the game a little bit," Jenkins said. "When you look at how close the game was, you start looking at those plays and you see where the game could have been won in different areas, but at this point, you just go back to the drawing board and come back the next week."
After allowing 20 points to the Falcons in the first half, the defense battened down the hatches in the second half, holding Atlanta to a pair of Matt Bryant field goals. While the Eagles weren't able to finish the comeback, Jenkins saw the game as a solid starting point for the new-look secondary.
"I think we started out pretty strong," Jenkins said. "We loosened our grip a little bit, and they made some big plays ... They got a couple of big plays that we want to eliminate, but other than that, we battled a good offense."
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
