Ryan’s Defense Shuts Down Falcons, 16-0 : Eagles Get Their Second Win in Row Under New Coach

Buddy Ryan seems to have a knack for turning in shutouts when he faces the Atlanta Falcons.

The first-year coach of the Philadelphia Eagles got another one Sunday, a 16-0 decision that gave the Falcons their first loss in five NFL outings this season.

The Falcons had scored in eight consecutive games since dropping a 36-0 decision to the Chicago Bears last year, a defense that was headed by Ryan.

“I thought we’d be up for this game, and we were,” Ryan said after his defense turned back four Atlanta scoring opportunities in the first half.

The Eagles’ offense was struggling during that time, having netted only 23 yards before Junior Tautalatasi and Ron Johnson turned short passes into long gains to set up a touchdown and field goal late in the first half.

Garry Cobb was the defensive leader with four sacks among his nine tackles. He also recovered one fumble and caused another.

Terry Hoage said the secret was keeping Atlanta quarterback David Archer in the pocket.

“Buddy pointed out Archer is 40% successful in the pocket and 60% outside the pocket,” Hoage said. “He stressed all week to our linemen and containment men that you’ve got to keep him inside.”

It was the first shutout by the Eagles (2-3) since they downed St. Louis, 38-0, in 1981. It was the first time the Falcons had been shut out at home since the Dallas Cowboys did it, 24-0, in the 1974 season opener.

The loss ended Atlanta’s six-game winning streak over two seasons, while the Eagles got their second victory in a row.

The Falcon offense was hurt when Gerald Riggs, the No. 2 rusher in the NFL going into Sunday’s game, left after getting hit on the head early in the second quarter.

“I think they had bricks hidden in the grass and I hit one of them,” said Riggs, who had only 22 yards in 11 carries when he left the game.

“Really, I took a hard lick from the ground. I tried to shake it off, but I still have double vision. The X-rays were negative, but we decided the best thing was for me was to sit the rest of the game out. That way there’s a chance I’ll be back next week.”

After netting only 23 yards on their first four possessions, the Eagles broke a scoreless tie on Ron Jaworski’s eight-yard pass to Mike Quick, who made a diving one-handed catch in the right corner of the end zone with 4:12 left in the first half.

The score was set up when Tautalatasi ran 56 yards to the Atlanta 18 after taking a short pass from Jaworski.

Johnson raced 39 yards to the Atlanta 26 after his reception set up Paul McFadden’s 31-yard field goal that gave the Eagles a 10-0 lead two seconds before halftime.

The Falcons (4-1) had early opportunities to take control, but failed to score despite two trips inside the Philadelphia 10 and two others that reached the 26.

After Atlanta reached the five on the first possession of the game, Archer fumbled and Cobb recovered at the 11.

The Falcons reached the six on their next possession, but Mick Luckhurst’s 23-yard field goal try hit the left upright.