Eagles' Nick Sirianni Ripped by NFL Fans as Kirk Cousins, Falcons Stun Hurts, PHI
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVSeptember 17, 2024
It looked like the Philadelphia Eagles were cruising to a 2-0 start to the season.
Until it didn't.
The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Eagles 22-21 in stunning fashion during Monday's NFC showdown at Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia had the ball at the Falcons' 10-yard line with a three-point lead in the final two minutes but decided to throw the ball on third down even though Atlanta was out of timeouts.
Saquon Barkley dropped a catchable pass from Jalen Hurts, which stopped the clock and saved the Falcons approximately 40 seconds. After deciding to throw it instead of running in that situation, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni then elected to kick a field goal and push the lead to six.
That was a mistake in hindsight.
Kirk Cousins marched the Falcons right down the field and found Drake London for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with 34 seconds remaining. Jessie Bates III put the finishing touches on the win for the visitors by picking off Hurts on the ensuing possession, and a sure win suddenly turned into a loss for the stunned Eagles.
NFL @NFLTHE FALCONS TIE IT WITH 34 SECONDS LEFT.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATLvsPHI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ATLvsPHI</a> on ESPN<br>📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> and ESPN+ <a href="https://t.co/j2bWgkxmC4">pic.twitter.com/j2bWgkxmC4</a>
Social media questioned Sirianni after the game:
The shocking ending overshadowed what was a great game for Hurts until the final minute. He went 23-of-30 for 183 yards, one touchdown and the pick as a thrower and added 85 yards and a score with his legs as a rusher.
His touchdown on Philadelphia's patented tush push play capped off an incredible and physical 17-play, 70-yard drive that lasted more than nine minutes and gave the home team the lead in the fourth quarter.
It was a drive that could have been the talking point in the aftermath of the contest, and it would have given the Eagles plenty of early season momentum as they look to put last season's late collapse in the rearview mirror.
Instead, there was another late collapse, only this time within a single game.
The result was the Falcons' first win of the Cousins era and a Philadelphia team that will be looking to bounce back in a challenging Week 3 road game against the New Orleans Saints.