Running back DeMarco Murray scored two touchdowns on his debut, but could not prevent his Philadelphia Eagles side losing 26-24 to the Atlanta Falcons in their 2015 NFL season opener on Monday evening.
Both sides struggled to take control of the game in the first quarter, with just a 41-yard field goal by Matt Bryant giving the Falcons a 3-0 lead.
Atlanta asserted their dominance in the second quarter though, as veteran quarterback Matt Ryan found Julio Jones, who ran through the Eagles defence to score the game's first touchdown and give the side a 10-point lead after the conversion.
Cody Parkey scored a 29-yard field goal to put the Eagles on the scoreboard, but the Falcons added to their advantage with another field goal, before Ryan found Jones at the corner to score his second touchdown of the game with just 45 seconds remaining before half time.
After the break the Falcons looked to be in complete control with a 20-3 lead, but the Eagles responded well in the third quarter as Murray ran in his first touchdown, before the former Dallas Cowboys man was found by quarterback Sam Bradford for his second. Both were converted by Parkey, and the deficit was reduced to just three points.
In the fourth quarter Atlanta responded with a 44-yard field goal from Bryant, but Philadelphia running back Ryan Matthews scored a touchdown to level the game, before the conversion by Parkey gave the visitors a one-point lead.
The Falcons appeared to have the momentum, but with 6:27 remaining, Bryant scored his side's fourth field goal to seal a 26-24 victory.
