Falcons hold off Eagles in a compelling NFC battle

By Hugo Guzman | Tuesday, September 13, 2005 | ( 0 )

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The Atlanta Falcons held on to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 14-10 in what looked to be a battle of the top two teams in the NFC. Most of the scoring was done early in the game, but there was plenty of action throughout. There was even some action prior to the game when the Eagles' Jeremiah Trotter got into a fist fight with the Falcons CB Kevin Mathis prior to kickoff. Both were ejected from the game.

The Atlanta Falcons jumped out to an early 14-0 in the first quarter thanks to the arm and legs of Michael Vick. The Falcons fleet footed quarterback threw an interception to Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, but bounced back to lead Atlanta on two touchdown drives. The first was a 58-yard drive that was capped off by a 7-yard designed run that Vick took into the endzone without even being touched. The second was a lightning fast 64-yard drive that was capped off by a T.J. Duckett 1-yard touchdown run. The key play in that drive was a 58-yard strike from Vick to second-year wide receiver Michael Jenkins.

The Philadelphia Eagles answered in the second quarter with a touchdown drive of their own. Donovan McNabb, who took a tremendous shot to his ribs early in the first quarter, stayed in the game and battled valiantly all night long. He drove his team 78 yards on the first possession of the second quarter, hitting Brian Westbrook on a 9-yard touchdown pass to finish off the drive.

Neither team scored again until the fourth quarter, when Philadelphia's place kicker David Akers booted a 44-yard field goal. It is important to note that Akers, who is the second most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed two important 49-yard field goals earlier in the game.

The two teams battled all evening long and the game was in contention throughout. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles stopped the Falcons on third-and-one with about four minutes left to play. After an Atlanta punt, the Eagles took over on their own 24-yard line. Philadelphia was able to get a couple of first downs, but their drive stalled at about midfield. On fourth down, Donovan McNabb was heavily pressured and threw an incomplete pass to Terrell Owens. The throw was hurried and off the mark, but it didn't really matter. DeAngelo Hall had Owens blanketed. Hall had a solid night against the All-Pro receiver. The Falcons took over on downs and promptly ran out the clock to secure the victory.

Both defenses were out for blood tonight. The Eagles racked up four sacks, two fumbles, and one interception as well as holding the Falcons to 3 for 15 on third down conversion attempts. Atlanta forced two sacks, two fumbles, and one interception while holding Philadelphia to 3 of 12 on third down conversion attempts.

Michael Vick ended up 12 of 23 for 156 yards but threw one interception. He added 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Warrick Dunn added 117 yards on 21 carries. Michael Jenkins led the Falcons' receiving corps with three receptions for 80 yards. TE Alge Crumpler added four catches for 54 yards.

Donovan McNabb threw for 257 yards with one touchdown and one interception on 24 of 45 passing. Brian Westbrook ran for 47 yards on 12 carries and added seven catches for 64 yards. Terrell Owens also snagged seven catches for 112 yards, but could not get into the endzone as is his custom on Monday nights. He also had several dropped passes.

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