Joe Buck has seen it all, having called NFL games for more than 30 years.
Well, almost everything.
The 55-year-old, who left his longtime job at Fox to begin his third season as the play-by-play announcer for ESPN and ABC's “Monday Night Football” alongside Troy Aikman, wasn't “shocked” by the Eagles' quick collapse at home Monday night. The Falcons drove down the field in 1:05 on a six-play, 70-yard drive to take the lead with 34 seconds left in the game and secure a 22-21 victory.
“I think you have to give credit to the Atlanta Falcons,” Buck told ESPN's Scott Van Pelt during the postgame show. “I've been covering NFL games for 31 years, and I don't think I've ever been more shocked by the way a game ended than I was tonight. Philadelphia won in a big way.”
The dominance began after Saquon Barkley, who left the Giants as a free agent this year to sign a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles, dropped a pass on third down and 3 at the Atlanta 10-yard line despite having a clear path to get a first down.
The passing decision was debatable, as the Falcons had run out of timeouts and the Eagles were able to buy time, but Barkley had a chance to seal the game.
Instead, Jake Elliott kicked a 28-yard field goal to give Philadelphia a 21-15 lead.
Kirk Cousins then orchestrated the game-winning drive, completing 5 of 6 passes for 70 yards and finishing with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London.
London was then fouled for unsportsmanlike conduct for an apparent firing of the gun, prompting kicker Young-ho Koo to attempt a 48-yard extra point, which he converted to give Atlanta the lead.
On the second play of the Eagles' next drive, Jalen Hurts threw an interception to end the game.
Buck also addressed Eagles coach Nick Sirianni's questionable decision that doomed the Eagles in the first quarter when Hurts threw an incomplete pass to Dallas Goedert on fourth down and 4th at the Atlanta 9-yard line with the score tied at 0-0.
“[Aikman] “Me and I looked at each other and it looked like a chip shot field goal was called, but they went for it,” Buck said. “It's a different time in the league now.”
The Eagles (1-1) visit the Saints (2-0) on Sunday, while the Falcons (1-1) host the Chiefs (2-0) on “Sunday Night Football.”
