Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Local News
PREVIEW – Week 2: Classic Matchups for These Rare Birds – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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For the Eagles and the Falcons — It’s Nothing Short of Amazing Matchups.
In the wild, deep, and largely untouched expanse of America’s wildness — Falcons and Eagles sometimes entangle. For the Eagles and Falcons in two different NFC Divisions, playing against each other hasn’t been an annual tradition. It has, however, brought us some of the best moments for both franchises. On Monday night, as the Eagles look to continue a path to the Super Bowl — Lincoln Financial Field will once again be electric for another chapter in a history that already runs deep between these two franchises.
Since Atlanta entered the NFL in 1966 — the teams have played 37 times, including four postseason matchups. The Eagles lead the series 21–15–1 going into Monday night — another opportunity for another great chapter to be told.
In the 1978 NFC Wildcard Round, an up-and-coming Eagles playoff team under Coach Dick Vermeil traveled to Atlanta. After a 13–0 Eagles lead, Atlanta would come back to win the game 14–13 thanks in part to a controversial call where Falcons wide receiver Wallace Francis and Eagles Safety Herm Edwards both went caught the ball at the same time. The ruling went in the Falcons’ favor.
When Andy Reid’s Eagles were fast becoming contenders in the early 2000s, the Eagles would again meet the Falcons in the post-season. The much-billed matchup between Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick featured McNabb’s first game back from a broken ankle in the 2003 NFC Divisional Playoffs at the Linc. The Eagles would win that game 20–6.
Two years later — Vick and the Falcons would return to Lincoln Financial Field for the 2005 NFC Championship Game. In a game when the Eagles offense wouldn’t be denied and a genius scheme from Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson — flipping defensive ends Javon Kearse and Derrick Burgess and not letting the elusive Michael Vick escape to his left in the 27–10 victory.
Then, in January of 2018 — in one of the most memorable games in Eagles history — Nick Foles and the Eagles would beat the Falcons 15–10. It was a game that featured an Eagles goal line stand against Julio Jones and Matt Ryan with only seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. It was the first post-season victory in the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning, magical season of 2017-2018.
In the wild — bald Eagles of the Accipitridae family dominate the skies against any other flying mammal in the region.
On Monday night, the Eagles will undoubtedly dominate the South Philly skies once again, with the Falcons in their territory.
PHOTO: John David Mercer/Imagn Images
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Michael Thomas Leibrandt
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