Falcons rookie tight end Joshua Perkins was called for crucial offensive pass interference call than nullified a 29-yard gain in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons were down 21-15 and trying to take the lead. Devonta Freeman caught a pass from Matt Ryan and ran to the Eagles’ 30.
Instead of being in Philadelphia territory, the Falcons had a third-and-14 from the Falcons’ 31. It was basically a 39-yard penalty.
“I was just trying to come in and come back out of my route,” Perkins said. “I ran into him. I kind of tripped a little bit.”
Perkins, who made the team as an undrafted free agent from Washington, was active because of Jacob Tamme’s shoulder injury. Perkins was playing in his second NFL game.
“It was just an unfortunate play,” Perkins said. “It’s something that I’ve got to learn from. I can’t give them a chance to make that call.”
Falcons All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones had a close-up view.
“I was looking at the play,” Jones said. “I was coming from the other side. It was almost like they ran into each other type deal.”
Jones wasn’t sure if a flag should have been thrown.
“It was a late flag to me,” Jones said. “Free got down the field and made a little move and then the flag came out.”
If it was a pick play, Perkins was too obvious in wiping out the linebacker. If he’d just brushed against him, the flag may not have been thrown.
“Perk is a rookie,” Jones said. “He’s got to do a better job in those situations, especially at the end of the game when referees are looking for things like that, looking for pick plays. You just have to be careful moving forward.”
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