Reviewing the standout plays from the Eagles' 24-15 victory over the Atlanta Falcons (see Instant Replay):
1. First quarter: Ryan Mathews 4-yard touchdown
Mathews exploded out of Doug Pederson's dog house, and on the Eagles' opening drive, rushed seven times for 34 yards after combining for 25 yards on nine carries in his last two games.
A play earlier, Mathews bullied his way through the middle of the Falcons' D for eight yards. On the previous play, he gained six after Jason Kelce erased linebacker Deion Jones.
Pederson broke out of his Andy Reid pass-heavy haze and kept the ball out of Matt Ryan's hands with a 12-play, 81-yard drive that ate up 7:14.
2. Second quarter: Caleb Sturgis' missed 44-yard field goal
The Eagles had a chance to go up 10-0, but Sturgis' attempt sailed wide right. The miss broke a streak of 18 straight makes for Sturgis, the second-longest streak in team history behind Alex Henery, who in 2012 made 22 in a row.
Sturgis entered the day with an NFL-leading 20 made field goals (see Roob's 10 observations).
NFL
3. Second quarter: Carson Wentz's fumble
With 1:36 left and the ball on the Atlanta 43, linebacker Vic Beasley sacked Wentz, who fumbled and appeared to fall on it, but it kicked free, and the Falcons recovered.
The Falcons didn't turn it into points, however, as ageless wonder Matt Bryant — he of the 62-yard game-winner in Tampa in 2006 — missed a 53-yarder.
4. Second quarter: Jordan Matthews drop
Matthews was having a nice first half — five catches for 75 yards — but dropped a pass while wide open over the middle with 15 seconds left.
The pass was behind him, but he got both hands on it, and it may have cost the Eagles a field goal attempt.
5. Third quarter: Julio Jones 28-yard catch
This is notable because Jalen Mills was beat, but he made the tackle, and the Falcons eventually settled for a 46-yard field goal. Jones had a typical day (10 catches for 135 yards) but more importantly was kept out of the end zone.
Moments later, Ryan threw deep to Taylor Gabriel, but Leodis McKelvin ran the route better than Gabriel and almost came down with an interception in the end zone.
The Eagles' secondary, through the first three quarters, played well after last week's nightmare at the Meadowlands, especially considering the loss of Nolan Carroll, who left the game in the second quarter with a concussion.
6. Third quarter: Carson Wentz scramble for 13 yards
For a second, it appeared Wentz was going to back into a sack. But he stopped just in time and took off for 13 yards on 2nd-and-12. It helped set up ...
7. Fourth quarter: Sturgis 25-yard field goal
Had to be tough for Pederson not go to for the touchdown on 4th-and-goal from the 2 (a delay of game pushed it back five yards), but after getting burned last week, he played it safe and took the points (see report card).
8. Fourth quarter: Taylor Gabriel 76-yard touchdown catch/run
Gabriel used the oldest playground play in the book, a stop-and-go, to beat McKelvin.
Bryant missed the extra-point, nailing the left upright, and the Falcons led 15-13.
9. Fourth quarter: Kenjon Barner 52-yard kickoff return
What a way to grab the momentum back.
Barner returned the previous one 31 yards. With him and Wendell Smallwood, the Eagles should be just fine without Josh Huff.
10. Fourth quarter: No flag??
Rookie safety Keanu Neal drilled Matthews over the middle with a helmet-to-facemask pop. Somehow no flag was thrown. Caleb Sturgis attempted a 55-yard field goal, but it fell short.
11. Pass interference on Ryan Poole
On 2nd-and-3 from the Atlanta 26, Wentz threw to Matthews in the end zone, but Poole gave Matthews a little shove. On the next play, Ryan Mathews ran in a 5-yard touchdown and, after a Falcons penalty gave the Eagles a do-over, rushed for the 2-point conversion to give the Eagles a 21-15 lead with 6:49 left (see Wentz evaluation).
12. Julio Jones drop
Even great receivers drop them. On 3rd-and-12 from the Atlanta 36 with 5:36 left, Jones watched the ball — and a first down — slip through his hands. Critical drop.
13. Nelson Agholor drop
Not to be outdone ... on 3rd-and-2, Agholor ran a quick slant and dropped a first down.
14. Unnecessary roughness Najee Goode
Donnie Jones' punt bounced out of bounds, Eric Weems went to pick it up, and was hit by Goode, who gave the Falcons a 15-yard gift.
15. Leodis McKelvin drops an interception
Looking for Gabriel, Ryan threw it right to McKelvin, who turned his head and was perhaps a little stunned the ball was coming right at him and couldn't make the pick.
But he'd get another chance.
16. Gotta sell the pick
Devonta Freeman broke free for what looked like a big catch-and-run, but tight end Joshua Perkins wasn't at all subtle about picking Mychal Kendricks and was flagged for offensive pass interference.
17. 4th-and-5: incomplete to Jones
With 2:24 left, Ryan looked for (who else?) Jones, but the Eagles had him surrounded. Malcolm Jenkins had him covered, and Jones failed to make the catch.
18. Sturgis 48-yarder
On 4th-and-2 with 2:00 left, Sturgis gave the Eagles a 24-15 lead. For a minute it appeared as if the Eagles were going to go for it, but they called timeout and gave Sturgis a chance to win it.
19. McKelvin seals it
Ryan looked for Jones, but McKelvin cut in front of Jones for the interception. Game over.