In a clash of offensive struggles, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons put up a measly 13 total points despite racking up 348 yards of offense, with 203 of those yards coming on the ground. Both teams struggled in the red zone, combining for a 1-for-3 conversion rate.
At halftime of Monday Night Football, the Eagles held a slim 7-6 lead over the Falcons. The first half was marked by missed opportunities and defensive stands on both sides of the ball.
Philadelphia made a bold decision in the first quarter when they opted to go for it on fourth-and-four from the Falcons’ 9-yard line instead of settling for a field goal. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Jalen Hurts’ pass fell incomplete, squandering a golden scoring opportunity. However, Hurts redeemed himself later in the half by orchestrating a 70-yard scoring drive.
Hurts showcased his dual-threat ability by gaining 47 yards on the ground during the drive, highlighted by a crucial 23-yard scramble on fourth down and a 15-yard run to convert on third-and-11. The drive culminated in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Hurts to DeVonta Smith, giving the Eagles the lead.
On the other side, the Falcons relied on kicker Younghoe Koo to put points on the board, as he connected on field goals from 39 and 22 yards out. Despite moving the ball effectively, Atlanta struggled to finish drives in the red zone, settling for field goals instead of touchdowns.
Tempers flared towards the end of the half when Falcons receiver Ray-Ray McCloud received a penalty for throwing a punch at Eagles defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who antagonized McCloud by pulling out his mouthpiece. Fortunately for McCloud, he avoided an ejection. The Falcons had a chance to seize the lead before halftime, but a series of incompletions from Kirk Cousins and a negative run by Bijan Robinson ended their scoring threat.
As the game progressed, Robinson established himself as a key contributor for the Falcons, racking up 72 yards on the ground and adding one reception for 7 yards. Quarterback Kirk Cousins, benefiting from solid protection, completed 7 of his 13 pass attempts for 75 yards.
Hurts continued to lead the Eagles offense with his dynamic playmaking ability, accumulating 51 rushing yards on six carries and throwing for 70 yards and a touchdown on 9-of-13 passing. Running back Saquon Barkley chipped in with 37 rushing yards on eight carries, adding another dimension to the Eagles’ offensive attack.
Notably absent from the action was Eagles’ leading receiver A.J. Brown, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Brown’s absence forced other players to step up and fill the void left by his absence, showcasing the depth of the Eagles’ receiving corps.
As the second half gets underway, both teams will look to capitalize on their scoring opportunities and tighten up their red zone efficiency to secure a much-needed victory. Stay tuned for more hard-hitting action in this Monday Night Football showdown.
