In the first half, the Eagles were outgained 244-125, as the Falcons jumped out to a 20-3 lead. But when the two teams emerged from their respective tunnels for the second half, the game had a starkly different feel.
On the second play of Atlanta's opening drive of the third quarter, a corner blitz by Nolan Carroll allowed he and defensive end Fletcher Cox get to Matt Ryan for a sack to set up third-and-long. On third down, safety Walter Thurmond jumped a crossing route to intercept Ryan and take the ball back inside the Atlanta 10-yard line.
Two plays later, Sam Bradford handed off to DeMarco Murray, who ran off the right tackle and was given a wide open lane to the end zone thanks to a masterful pull block by center Jason Kelce. His 8-yard scamper into the end zone gave the Eagles their first touchdown of the night and trimmed the deficit to 20-10.
With 13:12 left in the third quarter, Matt Ryan and the Falcons took over at their own 20. Penalties and miscues ended their drive prematurely at their own 33, but a 62-yard punt by Matt Bosher pinned the Eagles at their own 5 to start their drive.
A false start call on Jason Peters moved the ball back to the two-and-a-half-yard line, but Bradford and the Eagles were able to work their way out of the jam, getting out to the 27 thanks to a short pass to Jordan Matthews that the sophomore wide receiver turned into a 19-yard gain after breaking a few would-be tacklers. Matthews was shaken up on the play but returned to the field later in the drive.
At the 4:46 mark, Darren Sproles broke off a 27-yard-run down to the Atlanta 10, thanks again to a stellar lead block from Kelce. A horse collar penalty brought the ball to the 5-yard line, and two plays later DeMarco Murray juked his way into the end zone after a short pass from Sam Bradford to cap off a 97-yard drive. That touchdown extended the Eagles' second half run to 14-0 and trimmed the deficit to 20-17 with just under four minutes left in the third quarter. The play gave Murray his fifth career game with multiple touchdowns and just his second with a receiving touchdown.
The Falcons started their next drive at their own 12, and over the next three-and-a-half minutes slowly worked the ball out to their own 40. That's where they'll take over, as they look to keep the streaking Eagles at bay in the fourth quarter.
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
