Jones saves Falcons from themselves
ATLANTA — Julio Jones hauled in a short screen pass on fourth down and took it 54 yards to the end zone with 2: 10 left, giving the Atlanta Falcons a wild 24- 20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.
A sluggish game turned thrilling in the final minutes. The Falcons ( 1- 1) blew a 17- 6 lead against an injury- plagued team that lost two top receivers, falling behind for the first time when Carson Wentz dived over from the one with 3: 13 left to give the Eagles a 20- 17 edge.
Philadelphia ( 1- 1) had a chance at the end when Wentz converted on fourth and 14 with a rusher in his chest, somehow getting off a pass that Nelson Agholor hauled in between two defenders for a 43- yard catch to the 18.
But Atlanta held on, stopping Zach Ertz less than a yard short of the marker on another fourth- down play inside the 10 to preserve a much- needed victory after a dismal performance in its opener at Minnesota.
It was Jones who really bailed out the Falcons — and became the franchise’s career leader in yards receiving with his winning score, passing Roddy White.
On fourth and three at the Falcons 46, Jones dropped behind the line to haul in Matt Ryan’s short pass, got a crunching block from left tackle Jake Matthews out on the edge and took off down the sideline, easily outrunning Rodney McLeod and Andrew Sendejo without being touched. “A big little play,” coach Dan Quinn said. Jones f inished with f ive catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, also hauling in a four- yard score that gave the Falcons their 11point lead early in the third quarter. His speed on the second score was downright stunning, reaching an estimated 20 mph.
“I’m looking around and OK, it’s a footrace now,” Jones said. “That was it. It really wasn’t like I had to try hard or anything.”
The Eagles were hampered by injuries that took out receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery. Wentz struggled to get anything going, but three interceptions by Ryan helped keep the Eagles in the game.
Wentz suddenly put it together in the fourth quarter, completing eight straight passes on a drive that ended in his one- yard plunge into the end zone with 3: 13 left. A twopoint conversion gave the Eagles a 20- 17 lead.
“What a game he had,” Agholor said of Wentz. “That’s one of the best performances I’ve seen from our quarterback.”