Monday Night Football Season 36 Episode 2 Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons
- September 12, 2005
The highly anticipated Monday Night Football game of season 36 episode 2 features the Philadelphia Eagles traveling to Georgia to face-off against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both teams are coming into this game with something to prove, as they both fell short of playoff aspirations last season.
The Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, are looking to build upon a solid start to the season after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 32-6 in Week 1. Hurts proved to be a threat both on the ground and in the air, racking up 264 total yards and three touchdowns. He will be going up against a Falcons defense that struggled to contain a potent offense from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their opening game.
The Falcons, on the other hand, are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 32-6 loss to the Eagles in Week 1. Quarterback Matt Ryan will be looking to get back on track after a game in which he threw for just 164 yards with a pair of interceptions. He will face an Eagles defense that has some question marks after allowing 23 points to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, and will need to get some help from wide receiver Calvin Ridley and tight end Kyle Pitts.
The matchup between the Falcons offense and the Eagles defense will be a key battle to watch in this game. The Eagles defensive line with Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, and Derek Barnett will look to rattle Matt Ryan and force him into mistakes. The Falcons, on the other hand, will need to find a way to protect Ryan and give him time to throw to his young weapons.
Another key matchup in this game will be the Eagles offensive line against the Falcons pass rush. The Eagles have one of the best offensive lines in the league, led by Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce. They will be going up against a Falcons pass rush that includes Dante Fowler Jr. and Grady Jarrett, who combined for 15 sacks last season.
The game will also feature the return of Falcons head coach, Arthur Smith, who previously served as the Titans' offensive coordinator. It will be interesting to see how he matches up against his former colleague, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, who is making his debut this season.
The teams have a storied history, having faced each other 34 times over the years, with the Eagles winning 20 of those meetings, while the Falcons have won 14. The last time these two teams met was in Week 2 of the 2019 season, where the Falcons earned a 24-20 victory.
Overall, the Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons game promises to be a thrilling matchup between two teams looking to prove themselves. With an exciting young quarterback in Jalen Hurts and a new head coach in Nick Sirianni, the Eagles will be looking to continue their momentum from Week 1. Meanwhile, the Falcons will be hoping that Matt Ryan can get back into his 2016 MVP form and lead them to victory.