With a 45-minute delay due to a storm in Philadelphia, the 2018 season finally began – and both teams fought a duel marked by many mistakes, penalties and defenses. In the end, the Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) take the first win, while the Atlanta Falcons (0-1) reveal well-known weaknesses in the Red Zone.
As already reported in advance, apart from receiver Alshon Jeffery, especially quarterback Carson Wentz, who has not yet received approval from the doctors due to his cruciate ligament rupture, was not yet involved. At first the stage belonged to the guests: Atlanta marched down the field on the first drive – only to not reach the end zone after four attempts. This quickly became a familiar topic for Falcons fans, Atlanta dominated the match but were not rewarded; instead of 14:0 it was only 3:0 after the end of the first quarter.
And the Eagles? Foles confirmed the uncertainties he had shown in the preseason and consequently the offense did not start at all. It took until the second quarter before Doug Pederson gave a little more security with RPOs, rollouts and no-duddle foles. But generally it became a more and more unclean game: a lot of small individual mistakes, plus an unbelievable amount of penalties, but also several very strange calls of the impartial ones especially against Atlanta.
This included the alleged first big play, a 52-yard pass to Julio Jones, who apparently clearly controlled the ball. Yet the Refs didn’t give him the catch. The first touchdown of the season belonged to the hosts, who once again reached deep into their bag of tricks: Philly actually played the trick-pass move to Foles from the Super Bowl again, only this time Foles was Under Center, handed the ball over and finally caught it again – it was exactly the trick move the Patriots had tried to Brady in the Super Bowl.
At Atlanta the injuries were already accumulating, Keanu Neal and meanwhile Desmond Trufant had to get out injured and so the holes in the zone coverage became bigger. The Eagles used it, Ajayi completed the drive from close range. Although Atlanta got a present a little later due to a serious Eagles special team mistake at the punt, Ryan ended the drive with an ugly Red Zone interception.
After Atlantas Defense also had a turnover, Coleman finally found the end zone for the guests, but Philly struck back again over Ajayi. With 18:12 for the Eagles the Falcons had their last chance and marched into the Red Zone with a few plays – just like in the playoff duel in January, however, Atlanta did not get the ball into the final zone from ten yards in five attempts (including an Eagles penalty).
Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) – Atlanta Falcons (0-1) 18:12 (0:3, 3:3, 7:0, 8:6) BOXSCORE.
In the end they couldn’t get around Darby: had several very conspicuous scenes and shone in coverage, including the last play. In a game dominated by the defenses, he was one of the best defenders. The most conspicuous player on the field was undoubtedly Julio Jones, over whom the Falcons’ entire passing game ran. Also worth mentioning: It took him a while, but in the second half, when the Eagles needed him, Ajayi woke up and played the Eagles’ run game with several physical runs.
Foles had a weak game, which had also indicated something in advance. Ryan, on the other hand, played drastically below his own level: With long passes the arm strength seemed to be completely missing, in the Underneath Passing Game his usual Accuracy was not there at all. The interception in the Red Zone at the beginning of the fourth quarter was an absurd pick, clearly in coverage, plus unnecessary sacks on the last drive. This game was without question for Atlanta to win – if Ryan had played halfway at his normal level.