Falcons 26, Eagles 24: Breaking down a thrilling Week 1 win

How will the Falcons be able to stop the Eagles' high-powered offense? By playing fast and physical — at least for the first half. The Falcons ultimately did win a wild one.

Let's take at a quarter-by-quarter look at Atlanta's exciting 26-24 victory:

First Quarter

The Eagles offense took the field to start the game and proceeded to go three and out. Atlanta responded with a seven-play, 52-yard drive to take a quick 3-0 lead.

After the Falcons defense forced another three and out, the offense drove right down the field, but a one-handed interception in the end zone by linebacker Kiko Alonso on a pass intended for Roddy White ended the Falcons' drive, and they walked away with no points. It was Matt Ryan's first pick thrown in the red zone since Week 16 of the 2013 season.

At the end of the first quarter, Atlanta held a 3-0 lead and the defense allowed only two first downs.

Second Quarter

A six-yard touchdown to Julio Jones gave the Falcons a 10-0 lead to begin the second quarter. Atlanta's impressive defense continued and they held a promising drive by Philadelphia to just three points.

A couple of drives later, Atlanta put three more on the board with 1:09 remaining in the half. The Falcons would get another opportunity to score after Sam Bradford was picked off by William Moore. An illegal contact penalty by Alonso wiped out a Ryan fumble and Eagles recovery, and Jones found the end zone again — this time, a 22-yard pass.

Atlanta went into half time with a 20-3 lead and set to receive the ball at the start of the second half

Third Quarter

If you thought the Falcons' third quarter woes were over, you were mistaken.

On Atlanta's first drive to start the second half, Walter Thurmond intercepted Ryan on third down and thus began the Eagles' roll.

DeMarco Murray scored on an eight-yard run two players later. After another failed Falcons drive, Murray would score again on a five-yard reception to finish off a drive that lasted 13 plays over 95 yards. The real kicker: Philadelphia had four offensive penalties on the drive.

The Falcons failed to put up any points in the third and went into the fourth quarter up just three points.

Fourth Quarter

Matt Bryant booted a 44-yard field goal to cap off the first drive of the final quarter, giving the Falcons a 23-17 lead.

But the Eagles would respond with a third straight touchdown drive to go up 24-23.

A 44-yard bomb to Jones set the Falcons up for a 47-yard field goal. The score: 26-24, and those numbers would end up staying the same for the remainder of the game.

Eagles kicker Cody Parkey shanked a 44-yard field goal with 2:32 left. Atlanta failed to pick up a first down on the next drive, giving Bradford and the Eagles a chance to construct a game-winning drive.

However, Ricardo Allen, the converted cornerback, had other plans and sealed the game with an interception off a deflection.