The Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) overcame a double-digit second-half deficit for the second straight week, defeating the Indianapolis Colts (1-1) 30-27 on a Cody Parkey 36 yard field goal as time expired.
In the first half, the Eagles offense moved the ball up and down the field for 233 yards, but couldn’t finish drives. Two red zone drives resulted in two Parkey attempts, one made from 31 yards and one missed from 38 yards.
Indianapolis only had 159 yards of offense, but was able to use its running game duo of Trent Richardson (13 carries for 57 yards) and Ahmad Bradshaw (5 for 45 yards). On their second possession, the Colts offense went nine plays for 72 yards, ending in a one-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck to Bradshaw on fourth and goal to take a 7-3 lead with 5:18 left in the first.
After Indianapolis and Philadelphia exchanged field goals, Luck drove the Colts 58 yards in 10 plays, ending in a Luck pass to tight end Jack Doyle to make it 17-6 at halftime. Indianapolis added an Adam Vinatieri 27 yard field goal with 6:42 left in the third quarter to take a two touchdown lead, 20-6.
Finally, Nick Foles got the up-tempo Eagles offense rolling, finding tight end Zach Ertz on a key third down and driving Philadelphia 80 yards in seven plays in just over 2 minutes, ending in a one-yard touchdown run for LeSean McCoy. The Eagles got the ball back soon after, as Richardson fumbled the ball on the second play of the next drive, with Philadelphia recovering on the Colts’ 26 yard line.
After a 3rd down and 15 was converted by LeSean McCoy on a 21 yard draw play, Darren Sproles ran the ball in on 2nd and goal from the 19 to tie the game at 20 with 2:44 left in the third quarter. But Luck would answer right back on a 12 play, 80 yard drive that included three passes to T.Y. Hilton, ending in a 7 yard touchdown pass to Bradshaw with just under twelve minutes left in the fourth quarter to make it 27-20.
After a spot by the Indianapolis defense, the Colts were driving inside the 30 yard line when Luck was intercepted by safety Malcolm Jenkins with 5:08 remaining. The play was not without controversy, as it appeared cornerback Brandon Boykin held Hilton, who fell as Luck threw the ball.
After a questionable horse-collar tackle call on safety LaRon Landry gave the Eagles a first down, Foles found Sproles on a screen pass, and Sproles literally pushed one of his blockers forward on the way to a 51 yard gain to the six yard line. Foles then found receiver Jeremy Maclin for a six-yard touchdown to again tie the game with 3:25 remaining.
After forcing a three-and-out on defense, Philadelphia had the ball on its own 40 yard line with a chance to win at the two-minute warning. Foles found Ertz and Sproles for first downs to get the ball to the 18 yard line, where Parkey nailed the game-winning field goal to defeat the Colts with no time left on the clock.
With the win, the Eagles became the first NFL team to start 2-0 after trailing by 14+ points in the second half of both games. Foles had his second straight game of over 300 yards, going 21 of 37 for 331 yards, a touchdown and an interception, finding Sproles seven times for 152 yards.
The 5’7”, 190 pound running back put up 203 all-purpose yards, and passed Henry Ellard for No. 20 on the NFL’s all-time all-purpose yards list. Luck was 20 of 34 for 172 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while Richardson (21-79) and Bradshaw (13-70) combined for 191 yards of total offense.
Philadelphia will return home to play the Washington Redskins (1-1) on Sunday, while the Colts will go back on the road to play the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2).
