NFL Week 1 Review - 8 Points & Plays Everyone Is Talking About
5. The Eagles Have Landed
Fresh from their spectacular win against the Patriots in February, many people questioned if the Eagles would reappear this season with a Superbowl hangover. With starting quarterback Carson Wentz’s ACL injury not fully recovered as expected and playing against the Atlanta Falcons, a win seemed a big challenge.
From start to finish, the game was ugly. A penalty rich, sloppy game really highlighted the nervousness between two teams that couldn’t afford to lose, Atlanta being seen as a deep playoff contender, and Philadelphia defending the precious Lombardi trophy.
There were glimpses of class - Julio Jones had a great night, having 10 receptions for 169 yards, and Jay Ajayi burst into the end zone twice - but the game really came alive in the last few seconds. The Eagles managed to defend their lead when Julio Jones seemingly caught the ball in the end zone in the dying seconds, only to be ruled as a no-catch - a questionable call. The end of the game goes to show even in the most dull and sloppy of games, it can all come down to the wire.
To be a champion, you must win ugly.
The real worry from the game is the fact the NFL has been away for over seven months, and when the first whistle blew, ratings had dropped 13% from the previous year.