Falcons vs. Eagles: Score, highlights from Philly's season-opening victory

Tom Gatto

•
Falcons vs. Eagles: Score, highlights from Philly's season-opening victory image

Falcons vs. Eagles score, stats

NFL fans had to wait a little longer than expected for the 2018 NFL season to begin Thursday night, but they were eventually treated to a compelling finish.

They saw the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles rally in the fourth quarter and then hold off the Falcons on the game's final drive for an 18-12 victory after a 45-minute rain delay at Lincoln Financial Field.

IYER: Falcons need to fix Ryan, offense or else risk early exit from NFC race

Jay Ajayi rushed for two touchdowns and the Birds used a familiar trick play to spark their offense in a game marred by flags and mistakes on both sides. 

WEEK 1 NFL PICKS:
Against the spread | Straight up

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

Falcons vs. Eagles: Score, updates, highlights

(All times Eastern)

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 for a two-point conversion 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.

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 caps an 11-play, 63-yard drive. 

11:11 p.m.: PHILLY SPECIAL PHILLY, PHILLY RETURNS! The Eagles bring back the play of Super Bowl 52 and produces a 15-yard gain. This time, wide receiver Nelson Agholor throws to Foles.

And, once again, Foles 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

10:20 p.m.: And now, the first "body weight" roughing the passer penalty. Grady Jarrett wraps up Foles and takes him to the ground in the Philly end zone after Foles throws 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.

End of first quarter: Falcons 3, Eagles 0 

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.

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:

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.