Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris receives the game ball after their win over the Philadelphia Eagles

As head coach Raheem Morris stood in his postgame press conference following the Atlanta Falcons’ 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field, water was dripping from his hat.

Morris had just emerged from a bath given to him by his euphoric locker room, but he wasn’t alone. Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who entered the press box to watch Morris meet with reporters as usual, was also wearing visibly wet clothes.

“A little one,” Morris said of his watering. “I think Mr. Blank got one too, so I was pretty happy about that.”

Morris was happy for several reasons: Atlanta’s victory, Blank’s bath and the football in his left hand.

Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams gave Morris the game ball, which caused an eruption in the Atlanta locker room immediately after the game.

And for Morris, who has been in the coaching world for more than two decades, that particular ball perhaps meant more to him than any other.

“I’ve been treated to a lot of game balls in my life,” Morris said. “This one is really special, because of this team, the people that work in our building and the guys that we do it for. When you talk about Terry (Fontenot, Falcons general manager), Greg Beadles (Falcons president), Rich McKay (Falcons CEO), Arthur Blank (Falcons owner).

“You talk about all the guys that are sitting in these rooms with us and doing everything we want to do, all our limited sponsors that are here today, all these guys. It’s special in our building. We want to make this a special place for us.”

The win is Morris’ first since being hired as the Falcons’ coach on Jan. 25. He made a notable decision on the sideline Monday night, choosing to keep Atlanta’s offense on the field in a fourth-and-4 situation with the ball on the Falcons’ side.

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​found receiver Ray-Ray McCloud for an 11-yard gain and another series of downs. On the next play, Cousins ​​hit wideout Darnell Mooney for a 41-yard touchdown. Morris’ bold move effectively gave the Falcons six points.

Such a gesture – and such an occasion – warranted a match ball, which Morris received after addressing the team in a speech that has since been posted on social media.

“When we started this thing, we said pivot, we said persist,” Morris told the team. “And that’s the fucking deal. That’s how we do it. Hey man, nobody blinked. Nobody blinked. That’s who we are. That’s who we’re gonna be.”

“I know we are happy about this moment, but who is next?”

The Kansas City Chiefs (2-0), the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, are next — and the Falcons, fresh off an improbable win over the Eagles, will look for another victory in prime time at 8:20 p.m. Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

And, potentially, give Morris another bath and another play ball.