Both the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles will come into their matchup with title aspirations as The 2018 NFL season gets underway on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
The season kicks things off with the Falcons traveling to Philadelphia to take on the Super Bowl champs. Here’s what to expect from this year’s opener.
A Big Game Comes Early
It might be the first game of the season, but make no mistake about it– this is an important matchup for both teams. The Eagles want to start out on the right foot during their title defense, while the Falcons want to avenge last year’s loss in the divisional playoffs. Throw in the fact that the game pits the last two NFC Super Bowl entries against one another and you have all the makings of an intriguing game.
The end of last season was a contrasting tale of two cities. The Eagles’ season ended with the Lombardi Trophy and a huge parade, while the Falcons walked off Lincoln Financial Field devastated for the second year in a row. Whoever wins this Thursday night will give their fans great reason for optimism as the NFL’s latest season starts off with a bang.
The Particulars
Despite the loss of offensive coordinator Frank Reich, the Eagles come into the season much as they ended the last one– with effective schemes and playmakers on both sides of the ball. Backup QB Nick Foles will be the starter as burgeoning star Carson Wentz continues to heal from last year’s ACL tear, but we all know how that ended up last year.
The Falcons look to be in a dogfight in the NFC South all year. But if they can overcome last season’s heartbreak, they certainly have the horses to contend. And while they’ll need to score more than the 10 points that led to their playoff exit, the triumvirate of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Mohamed Sanu poses a formidable challenge for any defense.
The fireworks look to begin early, as platinum recording artist Shawn Mendes will perform during the pre-game show. All in all, Thursday night looks to be a red letter day for NFL fans all over the country.
photo via @NFL
