‘Monday Night Football’ schedule and results: Falcons-Eagles kick off MNF double-header

When Carlos Hyde ran over the Minnesota Vikings for 168 yards, two touchdowns and one jaw-dropping spin move Monday night, it wasn’t without the, “Yeah, but Week 1” caveat. Still, his performance seemed like more than just a flash in the pan. For the man nicknamed “El Guapo,” this was him announcing his presence as the new featured back for the San Francisco 49ers.

In 2014, Hyde entered the league with a decent amount of hype. He was a second-round pick out of Ohio State, where he became Urban Meyer’s first-ever 1,000-yard running back and racked up nearly 3,500 total yards in his four-year career. With the 49ers, Hyde was never supposed to be the starter right away, due to veteran Frank Gore’s vise-like grip of the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. But he was drafted as Gore’s heir apparent, which became clear after the longtime 49er signed with the Indianapolis Colts in the offseason.

He crumbled:

He (maybe) cried:

Bradford didn’t have a great game overall, but there wasn’t much egregiously bad. The offense didn’t look great as a whole, which is the larger issue. His timing with his receiving targets looked off, Murray didn’t get the blocking he needed and the Eagles didn’t really seem to know what they wanted to do in that opening half.

In the second half, things went a bit better for the Eagles on that side of the ball. Murray had an 8-yard rushing touchdown and Bradford found Murray for a 5-yard touchdown to bring themselves within three points of the Falcons in the third quarter. But Bradford threw his second interception on a 3rd and 8 late with the game on the line. He finished with 36-of-52 completions for 336 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Darren Sproles led the team with 50 rushing yards, while Murray had just 9 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

There is a big spotlight on Kiko Alonso this season after the Eagles gave up LeSean McCoy to trade for him. The early returns are looking great for Philadelphia.

That’s a linebacker channeling Odell Beckham Jr. and making a sick one-handed interception. He also did it in the end zone, which only adds to what might hold up as one of the better defensive plays of the season.