With 1:46 left in Week 2's Monday Night Football matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, on 3rd down & 3, running back Saquon Barkley dropped a wide open pass, that would have ended the game.
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The ball was on the 10-yard line, Eagles were up by three (18-15), and the Falcons had no timeouts left, so all the home team needed was a first down to run out the clock.
In view of the play call, quarterback Jalen Hurts did a play action rolling out to his left, as he threw it to Barkley wide open in the flats with a lot of green ahead.
Saquon Barkley has 16 drops since the 2021 season.
No other NFL running back has more.
A costly one tonight in Philly. pic.twitter.com/oacjBr3wFa
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) September 17, 2024
That is to say, to the surprise of every fan inside Lincoln Financial Stadium the 27-year-old had butter fingers, somehow dropping the ball, which gave the Falcons a chance to win the game.
To note, this might have been the most costly drop of Barkley's career, and even more, he now leads the NFL for most dropped passes (16) by a running back since 2021.
Costly drop! @saquon Barkley can’t haul in the pass from Jalen Hurts.
The drop stopped the clock and the Eagles are forced to go for the FG.
HUGE MISTAKE BY 26. pic.twitter.com/JshkQPBdGK
— DIE-HARD 🦅 REALTOR® (@Eaglesfans9) September 17, 2024
Following this, the Eagles kicked a field goal to go up 21-15 with 1:39 left.
Ultimately, Kirk Cousins had just enough time to march down the field and lead a heroic comeback game-winning drive, capped off by a Drake London touchdown catch, as the Falcons ended up winning 22-21.
The entire game-winning drive from Kirk Cousins and the @AtlantaFalcons. #ATLvsPHI pic.twitter.com/7ms5Esas7b
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2024
This drop by Saquon Barkley cost the Eagles that game.
Wow.
pic.twitter.com/YXQh1Jhtq4— Luke Sawhook 🪚🪝 (@lukesawhook) September 17, 2024
"I let my team down today," Barkley said following the Eagles' loss. "I shouldn't have put the defense in that position. If I make the catch, the game is over."
Saquon Barkley blames himself for the #Eagles loss:
“I dropped the ball. I let my team down today.” pic.twitter.com/gdmAFVccvL
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 17, 2024
Taking into consideration the decision to pass it on third down, head coach Nick Sirianni explained the reason behind the call.
"They were running a certain defense and were junking it up in the middle so we were trying to go around on the outside and it didn't work," Sirianni said. "Fourth-and-3... with them not having any timeouts, I wanted them to be down a touchdown and see if they could drive the field, and they did. Hats off to them."
To point out, per ESPN analytics, the Eagles had a 97.6% chance to win the game before the dropped pass, and a 96% chance to win if they would have just ran the ball and got zero yards on third down, as the clock would have wounded down to be under one minute, whether they decided to kick the field goal or go for it. Nevertheless, the incomplete pass stopped the clock, which all in all decided the game.
While some blame the coach's decision, others put it all on Barkley's shoulders, holding the superstar running back accountable for dropping such an easy catch.
Hurts also weighed in on this, while citing that he trusts Barkley to make that play, as well as adding, "We'll be better from it."
Jalen Hurts on Saquon's drop:
"I trust him every day of the week to make the play."
🎥: @RalphVacchiano pic.twitter.com/xyYUAhjwnb https://t.co/cuoVwTUWQp
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) September 17, 2024
This heartbreaking play will be remembered for a while, as it comes just one week after Barkley won NFC Player of the Week honors for scoring three touchdowns during his Eagles' debut vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Related: Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni Has Comeback For Giants Fans: 'We've Got Your Best Player'
