Let's go back to the Eagles' first game to offer a theory about their next 15 games. On the sixth play of the Falcons' opening possession in the Eagles' 18-12 victory Thursday, Matt Ryan completed a 33-yard pass to Julio Jones on third down. The Falcons were in business, first-and-goal at the Eagles' 6, and on the next play, Devonta Freeman burrowed forward for five yards.
Third-and-goal at the 1. Ryan, out of the shotgun, tried to hit Freeman in the right flat. The pass was high and incomplete.
Now things got interesting, because two parallel narratives were about to intersect.