The Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats from Monday Night Football will go down in NFL lore after Atlanta staged a virtually impossible comeback at Lincoln Financial Field. Trailing with under two minutes left and facing a 99.3% chance of defeat, the Falcons somehow snatched a 22-21 victory on September 16, 2024.
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99.3% Chance of Losing? Falcons Said “Nah”
Zero point seven percent.
Those were the Falcons’ odds of winning with 1:56 left in the game, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Not seven percent. Not even one percent. 0.7%.
The NFL ranks this as the seventh most unlikely comeback since they began tracking win probability in 2016.
Philly controlled the ball for over 35 minutes. Atlanta had it for just 24 minutes.
Clock domination meant nothing. Making plays when it counted meant everything.
Game Facts
- Date: Monday, September 16, 2024
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Attendance: 69,879
- Final Score: Atlanta Falcons 22, Philadelphia Eagles 21
- Game Time: 2 hours, 57 minutes
Quarterback Battle: Cousins Comes Up Clutch
Both signal-callers posted good numbers, but with wildly different endings.
Cousins: The Comeback King
Kirk Cousins wasn’t perfect all night, but he was absolutely money when Atlanta needed him most.
Cousins’ Stat Line:
- 20/29 completions (69.0%)
- 241 passing yards
- 2 touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
- 117.2 passer rating
- 7.8-8.3 yards per attempt
- 1 sack for 8 yards
The big story? That final drive. Cousins went 5-for-6 for 70 yards and the winning TD in just 65 seconds.
After a so-so first half, Cousins caught fire late, hitting on 13 of his final 16 throws for 166 yards and both TDs after halftime.
Never one to gloat, Cousins kept his focus on improvement: “I didn’t feel like I was sharp enough today, accurate enough. I gotta be better.”
Hurts: Solid Until The End
Jalen Hurts was cooking for 59 minutes before one fatal throw changed everything.
Hurts’ Stat Line:
- 23/30 completions (76.7%)
- 183 passing yards
- 1 passing touchdown
- 1 interception
- 88.6 passer rating
- 5.8-6.1 yards per attempt
- 13 rushes for 85 yards (6.5 avg)
- 1 rushing touchdown
- 1 sack for 4 yards
For most of the night, NFL.com analysts called Hurts’ performance “excellent” and a “masterpiece.”
Then came that final minute.
Down by one with 27 seconds left, Hurts forced a deep shot toward DeVonta Smith that Jessie Bates III picked off. Ball game.
Box Score Breakdown: The Tale of Two Styles
The raw numbers reveal two teams with completely different approaches:
| Statistic | Atlanta Falcons | Philadelphia Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Total Net Yards | 385 | 365 |
| Plays | 58 | 68 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.6 | 5.4 |
| First Downs | 22 | 22 |
| Rushing First Downs | 9 | 10 |
| Passing First Downs | 11 | 12 |
| Penalty First Downs | 2 | 0 |
| Rushing Yards | 152 (28 att) | 186 (37 att) |
| Rushing Average | 5.4 yds/att | 5.0 yds/att |
| Passing Yards (Net) | 233 | 179 |
| Completions – Attempts | 20-29 | 23-30 |
| Yards Per Pass Attempt | 7.8-8.0 | 5.8-6.0 |
| Time of Possession | 24:21 | 35:39 |
| Penalties – Yards | 3 – 40 | 9 – 53 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 2/9 (22.2%) | 6/13 (46.2%) |
| 4th Down Efficiency | 1/2 (50.0%) | 2/3 (66.7%) |
| Red Zone TD Efficiency | 1/3 (33%) | 2/5 (40%) |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
The time of possession gap jumps right out. Philly held the ball for over 11 minutes more than Atlanta.
So how’d the Eagles blow it? Two factors stand out:
- Chunk plays: Atlanta averaged 6.6 yards per play compared to Philly’s 5.4
- Laundry on the field: Philadelphia got flagged 9 times (53 yards) to Atlanta’s 3 (40 yards)
Ground Game: Robinson Runs Wild vs. Barkley’s Volume
Falcons Backfield: Explosive Efficiency
Atlanta’s rushing attack picked up fewer yards but created more damage per touch.
| Player | Attempts | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | 14 | 97 | 6.9 | 0 | 19 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 9 | 53 | 5.9 | 0 | 15 |
| Kirk Cousins | 4 | -1 | -0.3 | 0 | 1 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 |
| TEAM TOTAL | 28 | 152 | 5.4 | 0 | 19 |
Robinson was an absolute beast, ripping off 6.9 yards per carry. That’s elite territory.
Curiously, Atlanta never found the end zone on the ground, which kept this game tight.
The biggest running play that didn’t happen? Robinson got stuffed on 4th-and-1 with 5:38 left when C.J. Gardner-Johnson made a huge stop at the Atlanta 39. That play should’ve sealed Philly’s win.
Eagles Backfield: Ground and Pound
Philly stuck to their identity: control the clock by pounding the rock.
| Player | Attempts | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | 22 | 95 | 4.3 | 0 | 11 |
| Jalen Hurts | 13 | 85 | 6.5 | 1 | 23 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | 4 |
| TEAM TOTAL | 37 | 186 | 5.0 | 1 | 23 |
Barkley’s home debut looked solid but lacked that home run play, with his longest run just 11 yards.
Hurts remains a nightmare for defenses with his 6.5 yards per carry and signature “tush push” TD from the 1-yard line.
For Barkley, though, one slip-up outweighed his 95 yards. With 1:46 left and Philly up 18-15, his third-down drop killed a potential game-sealing drive.
Barkley didn’t dodge responsibility: “I dropped the ball, let my team down today. Shouldn’t have put the defence in that position, make that catch and the games over.”
Pass Catchers: Big Play Artists vs. Possession Receivers
Falcons Receivers: The Vertical Threat
Atlanta attacked through the air with a clear big-play mentality.
| Player | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darnell Mooney | 7 | 3 | 88 | 29.3 | 1 | 41 |
| Drake London | 7 | 6 | 54 | 9.0 | 1 | 19 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | 5 | 3 | 42 | 14.0 | 0 | 18 |
| Bijan Robinson | 5 | 4 | 25 | 6.3 | 0 | 13 |
| Kyle Pitts | 4 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 | 11 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 0 | 12 |
Darnell Mooney was a straight-up game-breaker, averaging 29.3 yards per catch. His 41-yard TD in the third quarter left C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the dust according to CBS Sports game coverage. His huge catches (21 and 26 yards) during the game-winning drive broke Philly’s back.
Drake London played the reliable role perfectly, hauling in 6 of 7 targets including the game-winning 7-yard TD where he got separation from Darius Slay.
One blunder nearly cost them: London’s 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag after his TD turned the extra point into a 48-yard adventure.
Eagles Receivers: Missing Their Big Gun
Philly’s passing game clearly felt A.J. Brown’s absence (hamstring).
| Player | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeVonta Smith | 10 | 7 | 76 | 10.9 | 1 | 19 |
| Dallas Goedert | 4 | 3 | 38 | 12.7 | 0 | 16 |
| Britain Covey | 6 | 6 | 23 | 3.8 | 0 | 9 |
| Saquon Barkley | 5 | 4 | 21 | 5.3 | 0 | 10 |
| Grant Calcaterra | 2 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 0 | 15 |
| Jahan Dotson | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 | 6 |
DeVonta Smith stepped up with Brown sidelined, grabbing 7 of 10 targets for 76 yards and Philly’s first TD.
Britain Covey caught everything thrown his way (6-for-6) but barely moved the chains, averaging just 3.8 yards per catch.
The Eagles clearly missed Brown stretching the field, settling for short throws that showed up in their paltry 5.8-6.0 yards per attempt average.
Defensive Standouts: Bates Steals The Show
Falcons D: Bend, Bend, Bend, Don’t Break
Atlanta’s defense gave up yards but made the big plays when absolutely necessary.
| Player | Tackles (Total) | Solo | Ast | Sacks | TFL | PD | INT | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessie Bates III | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| A.J. Terrell | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaden Elliss | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matthew Judon | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jessie Bates III was absolutely everywhere, racking up a game-high 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 passes defended, and the game-sealing pick. His presence loomed large all night, including a touchdown-saving breakup earlier.
After grabbing that interception, Bates savored shutting up the Philly crowd: “It was the best feeling ever, knowing that they were bringing the energy all game, but when it’s all said and done, we got the win and it was silent.”
Matthew Judon’s timely sack disrupted Philly’s rhythm, showing Atlanta could bring pressure when needed.
Eagles D: Collapsed When It Mattered Most
Philly’s defense made several huge plays but folded in the final minute.
| Player | Tackles (Total) | Solo | Ast | Sacks | TFL | PD | INT | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reed Blankenship | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nakobe Dean | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C.J. Gardner-Johnson | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Milton Williams | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Reed Blankenship held down the back end with 9 tackles, consistently appearing around the ball.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson made what should’ve been THE play, stuffing Bijan Robinson on fourth-and-1 with 5:38 left. That stop shot Philly’s win probability to 86% according to Next Gen Stats via NFL.com. Gardner-Johnson put it bluntly: “It’s do or die, him versus me.”
Rookie Quinyon Mitchell nearly had a momentum-shifting pick in the first quarter. That missed opportunity grew larger as the night wore on.
The fatal flaw? Philly’s defensive collapse on Atlanta’s final drive. Seventy yards in 65 seconds with NFL analysts calling their pass rush “nonexistent” and coverage “soft” during the game-deciding sequence.
Kicking Game: Koo’s Clutch Boot
Both kickers were money, but one had to hit under extreme pressure.
| Player | Team | FGM | FGA | LNG | PATM | PATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Younghoe Koo | ATL | 3 | 3 | 39 | 1 | 1 |
| Jake Elliott | PHI | 2 | 2 | 29 | 1 | 1 |
Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo nailed all three field goals (39, 22, and 34 yards) plus his lone extra point. But that PAT was no chip shot.
After London’s TD, his unsportsmanlike conduct flag turned a gimme PAT into a pressure-packed 48-yarder. Koo drilled it, giving Atlanta the decisive one-point edge.
Philly’s Jake Elliott matched Koo’s perfection (2-for-2 FGs, 1-for-1 PAT), including what seemed like a game-clincher from 28 yards with 1:39 left.
Five Plays That Flipped The Script
In a one-point thriller, five moments completely changed the outcome:
1. The Fatal Drop (1:46 left)
With Philly up 18-15, Barkley couldn’t haul in a pass on 3rd-and-3 that would’ve likely iced the game. The incompletion stopped the clock and forced a field goal, keeping Atlanta’s slim hopes alive.
NFL Next Gen Stats showed this drop knocked Philly’s win probability from 99% to 94%. Those five percentage points proved fatal.
2. Mooney Goes Off (Final Drive)
Cousins found Mooney twice for explosive gains of 21 and 26 yards on the final drive. These bombs quickly moved Atlanta from their own 25 into scoring range in mere seconds.
3. London Beats Slay (0:34 left)
London’s precise route against Eagles corner Darius Slay resulted in the 7-yard TD that capped Atlanta’s miracle comeback.
4. Koo From 48 (0:34 left)
After London’s flag pushed the extra point back 15 yards, Koo stepped up under immense pressure. His 48-yard conversion provided the one-point margin.
5. Bates Seals It (0:27 left)
With Philly desperately scrambling for field goal range, Bates picked off Hurts’ deep ball intended for Smith. Game over.
Win Probability Madness
According to NFL.com’s official game analysis, this comeback stands as the seventh-most improbable in the Next Gen Stats era.
The win probability swings happened at warp speed:
- Before Barkley’s drop: Eagles sat at 99% win probability
- After their field goal: Eagles still had 85% chance to win
- Final result: Falcons flipped 99.3% odds against them in just 89 seconds of game time
QB Stats Comparison
The box score tells a surprising story about which QB delivered more bang per throw:
| Metric | Kirk Cousins | Jalen Hurts |
|---|---|---|
| Passer Rating | 117.2 | 88.6 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 7.8-8.3 | 5.8-6.1 |
| Completion % | 69.0% | 76.7% |
| TD-INT Ratio | 2-0 | 1-1 |
Hurts hit a higher percentage of passes (76.7% vs. 69.0%), but Cousins created way more damage per attempt. His 117.2 passer rating crushed Hurts’ 88.6, while his yards per attempt advantage (about 8.0 vs. 6.0) showed Atlanta’s superior downfield passing attack.
In a thriller decided by one point, those efficiency gaps made all the difference.
Red Zone Struggles
Neither team capitalized inside the 20:
| Team | Red Zone Trips | TD Conversions | TD % | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 3 | 1 | 33% |
|
| Eagles | 5 | 2 | 40% |
|
Philly’s five red zone trips generated just two touchdowns, well below league average. Better execution could have built an insurmountable lead.
Atlanta’s 1-for-3 red zone conversion rate kept the game within reach, setting up their frantic comeback.
Postgame Reactions
Falcons Locker Room
Kirk Cousins stayed humble after his heroics: “I didn’t feel like I was sharp enough today, accurate enough. I gotta be better.”
Jessie Bates III relished silencing the Philadelphia crowd: “It was the best feeling ever, knowing that they were bringing the energy all game, but when it’s all said and done, we got the win and it was silent.”
Head Coach Raheem Morris praised Cousins’ clutch gene: “He went out and played important in the biggest moments in the biggest times. Those are things you want to have happen when you have a chance to go out there and get wins.”
Eagles Locker Room
Saquon Barkley owned his critical drop: “I dropped the ball, let my team down today. Shouldn’t have put the defence in that position, make that catch and the games over.”
Jalen Hurts backed his teammate: “I trust him everyday of the week to make a play… We’ll be better from it.”
Head Coach Nick Sirianni took the hit: “They made a couple more plays than we did down the stretch. We made some plays, they made more. That’s on all of us, it starts with coaching and goes to the players.”
Takeaways & Outlook
Atlanta just proved they can win in the most hostile environments under maximum pressure. The Cousins signing looks brilliant after his ice-in-veins performance in exactly the pressure-cooker situation they brought him in for.
Philly has some soul-searching ahead. Despite controlling the clock and the flow for most of the night, they collapsed when it mattered most. A.J. Brown’s absence revealed how much they rely on his deep-threat ability.
The Eagles’ defensive meltdown will require immediate fixes from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Their pass rush vanished when the game was on the line, giving Cousins clean pockets to pick them apart.
Quick Hits: Top Stats & Facts
- Bijan Robinson averaged a blistering 6.9 yards per carry, outgaining Saquon Barkley (97 to 95 yards) on eight fewer attempts
- Kirk Cousins tossed two TDs, including the game-winner to Drake London with 34 seconds left
- The Falcons faced 99.3% odds against them with under two minutes remaining, making this the seventh most unlikely comeback since 2016 according to NFL Next Gen Stats
- Drake London caught the decisive 7-yard TD pass, finishing with 6 catches for 54 yards
- Jalen Hurts threw a backbreaking interception with 27 seconds left when Jessie Bates III picked him off
- Despite Philadelphia dominating time of possession by over 11 minutes, they lost
- Darnell Mooney averaged a ridiculous 29.3 yards per catch on his three receptions
- Without A.J. Brown (hamstring), Philadelphia’s passing attack lacked the vertical element needed to keep Atlanta’s defense honest
The Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats show a game where efficiency beat volume and clutch execution trumped clock control. Cousins proved why elite quarterback play matters most in crunch time, while Bates showed how a single defensive play can erase nearly 60 minutes of offensive dominance.
Football is all about moments, and the Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats will forever remind us that no lead is truly safe until the final whistle.
