The Atlanta Falcons scored on their first six possessions as the Falcons embarrassed the Eagles 30-17 to remain the NFL’s lone unbeaten team at 7-0 for the first time in team history.
The Falcons went on top early and took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with DJ Davis hauling in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Ryan and running back Jason Snelling taking it in from three yards out. At the end of the first quarter the Falcons had outgained the Eagles 108-5.
The Eagles finally answered back, cutting the lead in half when LeSean McCoy scored on a 2-yard run. But the Falcons would quickly strike back when Ryan connected with Julio Jones over Nnamdi Asomugha on a 63-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-7 before going into halftime with a 24-7 lead after Matt Bryant connected on a 43-yard field goal.
Matt Ryan torched the Eagles defense led by new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles by going 22-of29 for 262 and three touchdowns, winning in his hometown for the first time in three tries.
“We like to have a lot of fun,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We have a very mature group. We have a bunch of guys who are mentors. We’re good at focusing on the task at hand. We’re on point when we kick off and guys have done a good job focusing all season.”
Falcons Coach Mike Smith became the winningest coach in team history as he set a franchise record with his 50th win, moving passed Dan Reeves with 49.
The Eagles have now lost three in a row since starting the season 3-1 and Andy Reid lost his first game ever coming off the bye week after going 13-0 previously. The switch to new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles did nothing to improve the team’s defense while the offense continued to sputter despite not turning the ball over.
“I did what I did and what I thought was right at the time,” Reid said about the switch. “We need to get better there.” The defense surrendered 392 total yards of offense to the Falcons.
With the crowd chanting “Fire Andy” during the second half of the game, Andy Reid is no doubt on the coaching hot seat after team owner Jeffery Lurie stated before the season that he would not accept another 8-8 season.
“That was an embarrassing performance,” Reid said. “I’m stating the obvious. We need to get better. I need to do a better job. This is fixable. We have the talent. I take full responsibility for that performance right there. So however you write it or perceive it, that’s my responsibility to make sure they play better than that. We didn’t play well enough.”
It seems every week Andy Reid is constantly stating “We need to do better, I need to do better,” but have yet to show any improvement in both areas. Reid did not rule out making more changes, including a change at quarterback, a change that if made, Michael Vick would support his coach.
“Whatever decision coach makes, I support it,” Vick said when asked about possibly being benched for rookie Nick Foles. “I know I’m giving it everything I have when I’m out there.”
One problem Reid seems stubborn about is not running the ball and putting the ball in the hands of the team’s best player in LeSean McCoy. Despite McCoy’s two touchdowns, McCoy only had 16 rushes for 45-yards and three receptions for 22-yards. The Eagles are 10-1 when McCoy has 20 or more carries.
We will see what more changes the Eagles will make as they take their 3-4 record to New Orleans where the Saints are improving while the Falcons take their unbeaten record back home to host the Cowboys.
Game Notes:
- The Falcons won in Philadelphia for the first time since 1988, when the beat the Eagles 27-24.
- WR DeSean Jackson (263) surpassed Fred Barnett for the second-most receptions ever by an Eagle in his first five seasons. He trails Mike Quick (273) for the record.
- Neither team committed a turnover.
- The Eagles got their first sack in four games since Week 3.
- Julio Jones finished the day with 5 receptions for 123-yards and a touchdown.
- K Alex Henery has made 11 field goals in a row. He tied Chris Boniol for ninth on the team’s all-time list with 36 career field goals.
