Falcons 12, Eagles 18: Score, highlights from Thursday night's NFL opener

Rudi Schuller

•
Falcons 12, Eagles 18: Score, highlights from Thursday night's NFL opener image

It wasn't pretty, but the Philadelphia Eagles kept the good vibes going.

After a lengthy weather delay, the Eagles raised their championship banner commemorating their Super Bowl victory from last season. The first game of the NFL's 2018 regular season immediately followed, with the Atlanta Falcons looking to play the role of spoilers at Lincoln Financial Field.

What followed wasn't a classic, with both teams looking more like they were just starting the preseason rather than getting the real games underway, but the choppy nature of the contest meant that neither side grabbed a decided advantage. 

With Philadelphia up by six in the dying moments, the Falcons had a chance to steal a late victory, but they couldn't find the end zone as the Eagles held on for the hard-fought victory.

SIGN UP to watch every NFL game and RedZone during the 2018 season on DAZN

Sporting News' Tom Gatto provided live scoring updates and highlights of Falcons vs. Eagles, the 2018 NFL season-opening game.

Falcons vs. Eagles: Score, updates, highlights

Falcons-Eagles score, stats

(All times Eastern)

Fourth quarter

FINAL SCORE: Eagles 18, Falcons 12

12:25 a.m.: The Eagles stop the Falcons on fourth-and-goal — until a penalty for illegal contact is called. Atlanta gets one last shot with one second remaining. A pass into the end zone is caught out of bounds and the Eagles hold on.

12:20 a.m.: Here come the Falcons. Ryan and Jones connect on a huge third-down conversion to keep the potential game-winning drive alive:

12:14 a.m.: TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES. Ajayi scores again, this time on an 11-yard run, to give Philly the lead with 2:16 remaining. He then runs in for a two-point coversion to put the champs up by six.

12:05 a.m.: The Eagles get the ball near midfield after a Darren Sproles punt return and a facemask penalty, the Falcons' 15th acccepted penalty of the game. The Eagles have been charged with 10 accepted penalties.

11:45 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, FALCONS. An exchange of interceptions (first Ryan, then Foles) leads to good field position for Atlanta. Two players after the Falcons' pick, Tevin Coleman runs 9 yards for a go-ahead score. Bryant, however, doinks the PAT attempt and the lead stays at two.

Third quarter

11:32 p.m.:  END OF THIRD QUARTER: Eagles 10, Falcons 6

11:16 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES. Philly turns its trick play into points. Jay Ajayi, who did little in the first half, scores on a 1-yard run to give the Eagles the lead. The TD capped an 11-play, 63-yard drive.

11:11 p.m.:  PHILLY SPECIAL RETURNS! The Eagles bring back the play of Super Bowl 52 to gain a chunk of yards. This time, wide receiver Nelson Agholor throws to Foles, who, once again, does not do a Tom Brady.

11:05 p.m.:  A long pass to Jones is ruled incomplete because Jones was juggling the ball on his way to the ground. Atlanta challenges (and loses). Ryan is called for intentional grounding on the next play and the Falcons punt. 

Halftime: Falcons 6, Eagles 3

Second quarter

10:20 p.m.:  And now, the first "body weight" roughing the passer penalty. Grady Jackson tackled Foles and took him to the ground in the end zone after Foles had thrown a pass. The Eagles fail to capitalize and are forced to punt. Suffice to say, the reaction to the call by media and ex-players was mostly negative:

10:13 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, ATLANTA. Bryant's leg is still strong. He connects from 52 yards to give the Falcons the lead just before the two-minute warning. 

10 p.m.:  FIELD GOAL, PHILADELPHIA. Jake Elliott sneaks a 26-yarder inside the right upright with 6:12 remaining in the quarter and ties the game 3-3.

First quarter

9:45 p.m.: END OF FIRST QUARTER: Falcons 3, Eagles 0. Atlanta comes away with just the field goal after two trips to the red zone.

9:33 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, ATLANTA. Matt Bryant hits from 21 yards after the Falcons' offense stalls at the Eagles' 3.

9:30 p.m.:  First challenge of the season: The Eagles argue that Hooper did not catch a Ryan pass inside the red zone. The call stands after a review and Philly loses a timeout.

9:15 p.m.:  We have a goal-line stand on the first drive of the season. Atlanta receives the opening kickoff and marches down to the Eagles' 1, but Devonta Freeman is stopped on a fourth-and-goal run.

9:05 p.m.: The game is underway after Boyz II Men's televised rendition of the national anthem. It was not clear from NBC's coverage whether there were sideline protests.

Pre-game

8:07 p.m.:  The game reportedly will not start on time, although no delay has been announced:

8:05 p.m.: Thunderstorms in the vicinity of Lincoln Financial Field threaten to delay the game, which is scheduled to begin at 8:20 p.m.:

7:10 p.m.: Eagles superfan (and MLB superstar) Mike Trout is in the Linc for the opener (good seats, too):

7:05 p.m.: The Falcons and Eagles have announced their lists of inactive players. Wentz and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (shoulder) are the most notable players:

If you don't know where you can catch all NFL action this season...

This is a cool lookback at one of the legends of the game.

Mamba's ready for tonight.

The City of Brotherly Love is behind the Eagles.

 

Rudi Schuller