With an impending hurricane expected to pound the East Coast over the next few days, it was the Atlanta Falcons who stormed out of the gate on Sunday.
Matt Ryan tossed touchdown passes on Atlanta's first three possessions in the Falcons' 30-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
The Falcons remain as the NFL's lone unbeaten team, while Philadelphia lost its first game coming off a bye week during the Andy Reid era. Reid had been 13-0 in his career coming off the idle week.
"That was an embarrassing performance," Reid said. "I'm stating the obvious. We need to get better. I need to do a better job. This is fixable. We have the talent."
Ryan, who was 17-of-20 for 197 yards in the opening 30 minutes, finished the day with 262 yards on 22-of-29 efficiency for the Falcons (7-0), who are off to their best start in franchise history.
Julio Jones had five receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown, while Asante Samuel, who made his return to Philadelphia, had two passes defended and no tackles in the win.
"We're 7-0 over here baby," Samuel said. "If I was over there now, they have to go to work."
Samuel recorded 25 interceptions and went to three Pro Bowls in four years with the Eagles. He was traded to the Falcons for a seventh-round pick in April.
"I love the fans," Samuel said of his return. "They can boo me. They can cheer for me. Doesn't do anything but add fuel to the fire."
Atlanta finished 7-of-13 on third down against the Eagles, who were third in the NFL (29 percent) in third-down defense coming in.
Michael Vick, who didn't turn the ball over, was 21-of-35 for 191 yards and a score in the setback.
"Whatever decision coach makes, I support it," Vick said when asked about the Eagles possibly making a quarterback change. "I know I'm giving it everything I have when I'm out there."
LeSean McCoy had a rushing and receiving score for Philadelphia (3-4), which fired Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator two days after the Eagles blew a 10-point lead late in the fourth quarter and dropped a 26-23 overtime decision against Detroit two weeks ago.
It was Philadelphia's second blown fourth-quarter lead in as many weeks.
Castillo came under fire last year in his first season in charge of the defense after 13 years as the Eagles' offensive line coach. Reid stuck with Castillo despite widespread speculation of a potential change in the wake of an 8-8 season.
Bowles, meanwhile, was in his first season as Philadelphia's secondary coach. He joined the team in January after spending four years with the Miami Dolphins, including the final three games of the 2011 campaign as interim head coach.
The switch, however, didn't pay off initially.
Castillo's defense had allowed 20.8 points per game over six contests. The Falcons tallied 21 points over the first 24 minutes of the game.
Atlanta outgained the Eagles, 252-94 in the first half.
The Falcons converted five third downs during their methodical 16-play, 80- yard opening drive.
A holding call on defensive end Jason Babin on a 3rd-and-10 kept the trek alive and Ryan found a wide-open Drew Davis in the back right corner of the end zone to get Atlanta on the board.
Following an Eagles three-and-out, Atlanta concluded an 8-play, 51-yard drive with a 3-yard TD reception by Jason Snelling on a slip screen. A pass interference penalty on Mychal Kendricks on 3rd-and-goal kept the possession alive.
McCoy capped a 13-play, 66-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run on Philadelphia's ensuing trek, but the Falcons answered just four offensive snaps later.
Julio Jones ran past cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and Ryan hooked up with the fleet-footed Jones in stride down the left sideline for a 63-yard score and a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
After a Philadelphia punt, Ryan led the Falcons down to the Eagles' 25-yard line and Matt Bryant nailed a 43-yard field goal with six seconds to play in the half.
Alex Henery split the uprights from 33 yards out on Philadelphia's opening second-half drive, but Matt Bryant made field goals of 29 and 30 yards, respectively, to make it 30-10 early in the fourth quarter.
Vick's 7-yard TD pass to McCoy midway through the final frame concluded the scoring.
Atlanta, after scoring on its first six possessions, didn't punt until 5:35 showed on the clock.
Game Notes
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