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Joe Buck was never as “shocked” by the NFL final as he was by the collapse of the Eagles
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Joe Buck was never as “shocked” by the NFL final as he was by the collapse of the Eagles

Joe Buck has seen it all from his vantage point as a commentator of NFL games for more than three decades.

Well, almost everything.

The 55-year-old, who is now in his third season as host of ESPN and ABC’s “Monday Night Football” with Troy Aikman after the two left their longtime jobs at Fox, has never been so “shocked” by how quickly a team collapsed as the Eagles did at home on Monday night, when the Falcons marched down the field on a 70-yard drive in 1:05 to take a lead with 34 seconds left and secure a 22-21 victory.

“I think you have to give the Atlanta Falcons a pat on the back,” Buck told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt during the postgame show. “I’ve been attending NFL games for 31 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever been as shocked as I was tonight at the way this game ended. It was a landslide win over Philly.”

Joe Buck (r.) and Troy Aikman (l.) during the postgame show “Monday Night Football” on September 16, 2024. ESPN

That landslide victory began when 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-and-3 at Atlanta’s 10-yard line, setting up a path for the first down.

The decision to pass the game was controversial because the Falcons had no timeouts left and the Eagles could have played down the clock, but Barkley had the chance to decide the game.

Instead, Jake Elliott kicked a 28-yard field goal to give Philly a 21-15 lead.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Falcons safety Jessie Bates (3) and cornerback AJ Terrell (24) on September 16, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Kirk Cousins ​​then made the decisive drive, completing 5 of 6 passes for 70 yards and capping it off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London.

London then received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct in connection with an apparent firearms celebration, forcing kicker Younghoe Koo to attempt a 48-yard extra point attempt, which he converted and gave Atlanta the lead.

On the Eagles’ second play, Jalen Hurts threw an interception, ending the game.

Buck also pointed to a questionable decision by Eagles coach Nick Sirianni in the first quarter that contributed to their undoing when they went all out on fourth-and-4 at Atlanta’s 9-yard line with the game tied 0-0 and Hurts threw an incomplete pass intended for Dallas Goedert on an aborted play.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni reacts during the team’s loss to the Falcons on September 16, 2024. Getty Images

“(Aikman) and I looked at each other like it was going to be a chip shot field goal, but they went for it,” Buck said. “It’s a different time in the league.”

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.”

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