PHILADELPHIA – After the game, Jalen Hurts bent down to talk with Saquon Barkley, who was sitting at his locker.

The Eagles’ quarterback usually chats with most teammates after every game, whether they win or lose. Following their second match together, this was the first time Barkley and Hurts had conversed after a loss, a gut-wrenching 22-21 defeat against the Atlanta Falcons on “Monday Night Football.”

“He mentioned he’s going to trust me in that situation every time,” Barkley shared post-game.

The specific moment he referenced was a critical third-and-3 play, with the Eagles ahead 18-15 on the Falcons’ 10-yard line. Atlanta had no timeouts remaining and just 1:46 left on the clock. A conversion would allow the Eagles to run out the clock, while a touchdown would secure a two-score lead.

However, the outcome was far from ideal. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore opted for a passing play, and at first glance, it seemed to be a smart choice. Hurts took the snap and turned away from the defense. Barkley dashed to the right, having a clear path to the first down and possibly a touchdown. Hurts threw him the ball, but it slipped through Barkley’s fingers and fell to the ground.

“If I make that catch,” Barkley lamented, “the game is over.”

This misstep halted the clock. The Falcons’ offense smoothly advanced down the field, covering 70 yards in just six plays within a brief 65 seconds to seize the lead. Quarterback Kirk Cousins connected with Drake London for the tying touchdown, and Younghoe Koo’s successful extra point sealed the victory. Hurts’ interception during their last attempt solidified the Falcons’ first win under coach Raheem Morris.

Barkley reflected, “Games often come down to a few critical plays. It stings a bit more when it’s your mistake that impacts the game.”

Hurts added, “It’s a tough loss for sure. We’ll learn from it. I trust him every day to make that play, just like everyone else, so we’ll improve because of it.”

Head coach Nick Sirianni chose not to place all the blame on Barkley’s drop.

“It’s never just a single play,” he stated. “All the plays contribute to the final outcome.”

Sirianni questioned whether he made the right call in not going for the first down on a fourth-and-3 situation, especially after a successful conversion earlier in the game. He aimed to extend the lead by another six points.

“In that moment, it clearly didn’t pan out,” Sirianni acknowledged. “I’ll definitely second-guess myself when decisions don’t work out.”

“That’s part of the head coach role. I need to be ready for the consequences, whichever direction they go.”

Clarity on the reasoning behind the pass call will have to come from Moore.

“We can’t be so predictable that every third-and-3 situation means we will run the ball,” Sirianni remarked, acknowledging the complexity of the league.

Hurts had no issues with the play call from Moore.

“It’s about execution, not expectations,” Hurts stated. “We just fell short in that crucial moment.”

Sirianni noted that the play call was influenced by the Falcons’ defensive line causing chaos on the inside. The Eagles preferred to attack from the outside to secure the win. A field goal from Jake Elliott would have been adequate.

“I wanted them to be trailing by a touchdown and see if they could make the drive, which they did,” he said.

And in the end, what he wished for became a reality.

Despite the disappointment, the Eagles still had 34 seconds left and two timeouts, offering Hurts a last chance to get them into field-goal range; Elliott has successfully kicked many clutch field goals before. Unfortunately, Falcons safety Jessie Bates III intercepted Hurts’ final pass intended for DeVonta Smith, completing a surprising comeback.

Fans began booing just moments after the game kicked off, with the disappointment echoed throughout Lincoln Financial Field. Many expressed their discontent as the Eagles shook hands following the game.

The Eagles also missed having wide receiver A.J. Brown in play, who may be out for upcoming games. There were questions about why Barkley was underutilized in the second half after a strong start where he rushed for 40 yards in the first quarter. Hurts appeared to prefer running with the ball rather than making passes for much of the match.

However, during that vital moment, Hurts needed to connect with Barkley—brought in as a free agent to make impactful plays. This drop marked Barkley’s 16th since the 2021 season, leading all running backs in dropped passes, according to ESPN.

Both Hurts and Barkley stated they had practiced that play numerous times during their initial offseason as teammates. Barkley nearly scored on a similar attempt earlier in the fourth quarter, but a review determined his knee was down just short of the goal line.

Accepting the aftermath of the drop, Barkley said, “I could choose to complain and feel frustrated about it, or I can take the professional route, regroup, learn from this, and strive to improve.”