Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

By the numbers: Matt Ryan crumbles as the Eagles defeat the Falcons

Some of the statistics from the Falcons vs. Eagles NFL season opener are so bad, they’re impressive.

Atlanta Falcons v Philadelphia Eagles
Atlanta Falcons v Philadelphia Eagles
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

The 2018 NFL season kicked off — after a 45 minute weather delay — on Thursday night with the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Atlanta Falcons. If you watched the first half, you wouldn’t know these were two of the NFC’s best teams in 2017. Penalty flags were constantly flying and both teams’ quarterbacks were shaky at best. In fact, Matt Ryan was downright bad. In the end, it was the Eagles who came away with the 18-12 victory.

Let’s take a look at some of the key numbers and stats from the first game of the NFL season.

57.4: Matt Ryan’s passer rating in a terrible opening performance for the Falcons quarterback. He finished 21 of 43 for 251 yards passing, no touchdowns and 1 interception. Yikes!

117: Passing yards for Nick Foles. The Eagles mustered up just 245 yards on offense in the game.

4: The number of red zone downs on the Falcons’ opening drive that did not include Julio Jones on the field. The Falcons failed to score after going for it on fourth-and-one. We missed you, Steve Sarkisian!

3: Points scored in the first quarter of the season. They came on a 21-yard Matt Bryant field goal for the Falcons.

0: The total yardage produced by the Eagles in the first quarter.

16: The number of penalties in the first half of the game.

16: Rushing yards by all Eagles players combined in the first half.

Unknown: The number of boos sounded by Eagles fans as the team ran into the locker room trailing 6-3 at halftime.

2: Catch rule debates and challenges in the game. Here’s why Julio Jones’ juggling circus catch didn’t count.

40 minutes and 19 seconds: How long it took for the first touchdown to be scored. It was a one-yard rushing score from Jay Ajayi.

1: Number of PATs missed after Bryant saw one doinked off the uprights. He was perfect on extra points last year.

169: Receiving yards from Julio Jones, who shined despite his team’s miserable play.

5: Falcons trips to the end zone, despite the team scoring only 12 points.

1-0: The Eagles’ record after a rough season opener. They’ll be hoping for Carson Wentz to heal up as quickly as possible.


Featured Stories

5 fearless predictions for the 2018 NFL season

Is this finally the year age catches up with Tom Brady? Can the Bears make the playoffs? And who will Jerry Jones sue?

The Eagles and Falcons need to fix their red zone problems

Both teams are too talented to be underachieving in the most critical area of the field.

What roster balance and the salary cap can tell us about this year’s top NFL teams

Have any Super Bowl favorites over-played their salary cap hand?

The situation between Le’Veon Bell and his Steelers teammates is more complicated than it seems

Geoff Schwartz explains why it’s a unique ordeal that can’t be boiled down to simple conclusions on Twitter.

Nobody is talking about the NFL’s new catch rule. That’s a really good thing.

There were no controversial catch rulings in preseason. Though, that changed on Thursday night.


What Fans are Talking About

The Falcons offense lost Atlanta the game

NFL Quarterback Tiers, Week 1: Where does your QB rank?

Win or lose, the Steelers are better off without Le’Veon Bell and his antics

Fans do not like the NFL’s new helmet rule

Why the Cowboys no longer need Dan Bailey as their kicker

Bills GM shares why WR Corey Coleman was cut

The Saints need to “pay” attention to their rising stars

NFL insider says Carson Wentz may be out until October

Cowboys center Travis Frederick gives an update on his medical condition

Patriots place 2018 second round pick Duke Dawson on IR


Tweet of the Day

While we waited through the rain delay for Thursday night’s game to begin, this exchange was too perfect.


Rise ‘n Grind

Get the latest NFL news straight to your inbox

Subscribe here!

More in NFL

NFL
Kyle Shanahan’s car accident has transformed into the NFL’s biggest mysteryKyle Shanahan’s car accident has transformed into the NFL’s biggest mystery
NFL

A routine traffic accident has become something entirely surreal.

By James Dator
NFL
Aaron Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf take part in training camp toilet pactAaron Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf take part in training camp toilet pact
NFL

If it’s yellow, let it mellow.

By James Dator
NFL
Bills release alternate uniforms so ugly that even die-hard Bills fans hate themBills release alternate uniforms so ugly that even die-hard Bills fans hate them
NFL
The Panthers had a nightmare opening to training campThe Panthers had a nightmare opening to training camp
NFL

A lot went wrong in a short period of time.

By James Dator
NFLFromBaltimore Beatdown
Critics keep moving the goalposts on Lamar JacksonCritics keep moving the goalposts on Lamar Jackson
NFLFromBaltimore Beatdown
By Femi Ayanbadejo
NFL
61 NFL predictions ahead of the 2026 season61 NFL predictions ahead of the 2026 season
NFL

From Week 1 to the Super Bowl and beyond, we give a comprehensive layout of what the 2026 season will look like.

By Jarrett Bailey