Errant pass to Julio Jones on the right.
Errant pass to Jones on the left.
For the second time in eight months, the Atlanta Falcons came just a few yards shy of upending the Eagles in enemy territory; and both setbacks concluded on roughly the same play.
Back in January (Divisional Playoff round), the Falcons' season ended on a floating end-zone pass attempt to Jones on fourth down, a catchable ball that went through the receiver's fingertips and fell harmlessly to the turf on the game's last meaningful play.
On Thursday night, with Atlanta down six in the final seconds and stalking the same end of Lincoln Financial Field, compared to the January setback, quarterback Matt Ryan once again sought the potential greatness of his favorite target (Jones)—but this time from the left corner of the end zone.
The result: Another incompletion ... and another gut-wrenching defeat to the defending Super Bowl champions.
WEEK 1 GALLERY: Eagles 18, Falcons 12
It's easy to spotlight the foiled final pass when breaking down Atlanta's 18-12 defeat in the season opener; but in reality, the Falcons might have lost this game in the first quarter, after a pair of ball-moving, clock-chewing drives netted just one field goal.
This inefficiency coincided with a time when the Eagles produced little offense in their inaugural three drives, a slow start that might have had something to do with a long weather delay, or the typical pomp and circumstance which accompanies championship teams ringing in the new season.
Either way, the Falcons (0-1) were consigned to mere field-goal attempts, a deflating trend that would continue until the fourth quarter, when tailback Tevin Coleman's 9-yard touchdown run momentarily breathed life into Atlanta's victory hopes.
Philly would respond in kind, though. At the 2:19 mark of the second quarter, Eagles tailback Jay Ajayi notched his second touchdown of the evening, which proved to be the game-winner.
