September 15, 2024
Curtis Compton/SIPA USA
The Eagles' goal line stand that put them on a path to Super Bowl LII.
The Eagles host the Falcons on Monday Night Football this week. Matchups with the Falcons have led to some of the biggest games in franchise history over the years. Before Jalen Hurts faces Kirk Cousins in primetime yet again, let's take a stroll down memory lane and look at the best Eagles-Falcons moments of the 21st century...
In a season where the Eagles would reach the playoffs for the first time in four years, veteran Brian Mitchell went off against the Falcons. Mitchell totaled 290 all-purpose yards as a runner, receiver and returner. He had an 89-yard kick return touchdown that iced the game in the fourth quarter and quickly followed that up with a 85-yard TD run.
The win moved the Eagles to 3-2, eventually giving way to an 11-5 record as the team advanced to the Divisional Round of the postseason.
In the Eagles' final win at the Vet, they had a ferocious defensive performance against Michael Vick and the Falcons. Atlanta was fresh off an upset win over the Packers at Lambeau Field the week prior, but the idea of an upset in South Philadelphia quickly evaporated when Pro Bowl cornerback Bobby Taylor had a 39-yard first quarter pick-6 to give the Eagles a lead they would never relinquish.
The defining moment of the game, however, is likely a crushing blow that All-Pro Brian Dawkins laid upon Vick:
Hit by Brian Dawkins on Michael Vick (2002 Playoffs NFC Divisional Gm) pic.twitter.com/SfYVKMXnQ6
— FACTUAL OPINIONS OF DRED (Habitual Line Stepper) (@FACTUALOPINION0) July 25, 2022
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For the first time in 24 years, the Eagles would go on to play in the Super Bowl. For the second time in three seasons, they'd take down Vick and the Falcons in the playoffs. Chad Lewis played the game of his life, hauling in two touchdown passes in the three-score win, though he did suffer a Lisfranc injury on his final one that kept him out of Super Bowl XXXIX.
The play that the game will most be remembered for, of course, is Dawkins' hit on Falcons tight end Ale Crumpler:
Today for your viewing pleasure. Here is Brian Dawkins hitting Alge Crumpler
— The Tape Don’t Lie📽️ (@eaglesfilmstudy) July 13, 2024
pic.twitter.com/CXpKj6Vd3Z
Snow had set in across the Delaware Valley the day prior. Schools were closed that Monday. Idyllic.
In a key win during a shaky run to the postseason, Brian Westbrook led the way for the Eagles with over 200 yards from scrimmage and two TDs. Lito Sheppard also had a huge moment, intercepting Penn Charter grad Matt Ryan when Atlanta was on the Eagles' one-yard line going in during the third quarter. Huge swing in a season where the Eagles needed every single win on their unexpected path back to the NFC Championship Game.
The lone loss I'm including on here! How could I not mention the Kiko Alonso play, though?
Also on the subject of Kiko Alonso let's remember that the best play of his career is an interception of Matt Ryan pic.twitter.com/T2iihCw934
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) September 1, 2019
He peaked a half-quarter into his Eagles career. He was invisible the rest of that dreadful 2015 season, perhaps the most detestable Eagles team of the young centuryn.
In a season full of sliding doors moments, none felt more random in the moment than a pass Nick Foles fired near the end of the first half in this playoff game.
A shoulda/coulda/woulda interception goes off Atlanta safety Keanu Neal's knee and into the arms of Eagles wideout Torrey Smith, who scatters for a 20-yard gain. If Neal catches that easy INT, there is no parade down Broad Street to the Art Museum. There is no Nick Foles statue outside the Linc. Smith's timely catch put the Eagles into a position to kick a field goal at half's end, cutting the Falcons' lead to just a single point. Atlanta would not score in the second half, especially with the iconic goal-line stand from the Eagles' defense late in the fourth quarter:
The play that sent the @Eagles to the NFC Championship game!
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) January 14, 2018
What a moment for Julio Jones to slip over 😱😱😱#NFLPlayoffs | #FlyEaglesFly | #ATLvsPHI pic.twitter.com/bi3Sym0ptX
People have always wanted to slight Jalen Mills. They've said he did nothing on this play. What are you talking about? A seventh-round cornerback threw one of the best receivers of his era off his route, made him uncomfortable and helped force the incompletion. If it was a couple years prior, I can assure you the likes of Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams were not making that stop!
Eagles players left the field in dog masks after the underdog win and the rest was history...
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The most annoying talking heads around complained that Eagles fans (deservingly) booed the team at halftime as they ran off the field in their first game after their first-ever Super Bowl win. Don't ever stop being you, Philly.
The Philly Special redux that the Eagles ran was hilarious, too:
Did y'all know about the Philly Special: PART 2? 👀 pic.twitter.com/WNlOo6MD0b
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 13, 2024
In their most recent matchup and in the first game of the Nick Sirianni era, the Eagles opened the 2021 season in Atlanta. After a train wreck offense in 2020, the Eagles put up 32 points on the Falcons that afternoon. Jalen Hurts had the best game of his young career up until that point, throwing three TDs and rushing for 62 yards. In his first pro game, DeVonta Smith was excellent as well, putting up a 6-71-1 stat line:
DEVONTA SMITH IS ALREADY SCORING TOUCHDOWNS. #FlyEaglesFly
— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2021
📺: #PHIvsATL on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/7fqYOfvTmA
The Sirianni era was a rebirth for this team. The Eagles have a .673 winning percentage under him even with that infamous 2023 flameout.
Let's see what Monday night brings...
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