Two Rare Birds, Two Different Paths
The Eagles and Falcons Have Always Met for Marquee Matchups.
Now They Are Flying In Different Migrations.
This September 16th will mark the second time in 2024 that Falcons have invaded Eagles country. As a tactic to keep seagulls from disturbing vacationers at the Jersey Shore, Falcons were released and left again this summer.
Once again, in 2024, Ocean City, NJ, has extended its contract with East Coast Falcons. Dating back to 2019, the group of 14, which includes an Eagle-owl, hawks, and falcons, has protected against seagulls to provide a leisure experience to beachgoers and tourists alike enjoying the attractions along the nearly three miles of Ocean City’s gorgeous Boardwalk.
If you’ve vacationed in Ocean City, NJ beach or near the Boardwalk, then you’ve probably come into contact with the gulls that perch close to humans and love to feed on french fries and pizza — right from your unexpected waiting hands.
Philadelphia has a significant history with Falconry as well. Philly continued its tradition of sports firsts when the Peregrine Club of Philadelphia began in 1934. Seven years later, the club was suspended due to WWII. In 2013, Dwight A. Lasure, a Pennsylvanian, brought it back to life.
On the gridiron — just as in nature — the Eagles and Falcons have been going in different directions, too. While the Eagles were still reeling from the Chip Kelly Era and finding their footing in 2017 under new Coach Doug Pederson — the Falcons sideline was slowly breaking into elation with Philly native Matt Ryan and future Eagles receiver Julio Jones up 28–3 against the Patriots in the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl LI. What would happen next during the following seventeen minutes was a crushing overtime loss, 34–28, at the hands of Tom Brady, that didn’t just crush the psyche of the organization but the Atlanta Falcons franchise’s ability to recover ever since.
But what truly sent the franchise backward was a 15–10 playoff loss in the Divisional Round in the fourth quarter of the 2018 NFC Playoffs to a team that would go on to win the Super Bowl. In the decade since that loss and through stints with Marcus Mariota and Taylor Heinicke, and now finally Kirk Cousins — has been fraught with turmoil. In eight seasons, the Atlanta Falcons haven’t had a winning season since.
By contrast, the Eagles have flourished since 2017. They got their first Super Bowl Championship, which eluded the Falcons, in 2018 and should have had another in 2023. Since 2017, the Eagles have been in the playoffs four times, three under current Head Coach Nick Sirianni.
Unless Atlanta and Philadelphia meet in the playoffs in 2025, this will be the last time that the Falcons fly into the Delaware Valley this year as the last of the Jersey Shore vacationers no longer need protection during snack time until the next summer solstice season.
Oh, and that other NFC Team that beat the Falcons in the 2018 NFC Divisional Round in the final seconds and went on to win the Super Bowl?
Yep, that was your Eagles.
PHOTO: John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports
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