Super Bowl Champs Open Title Defense With Win After Being Booed at Halftime

The boo birds were out in Philly, but the Eagles clipped the Falcons.

Jay Ajayi #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with Nick Foles #9 after rushing for a 1-yard touchdown during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field on September 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Jay Ajayi #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with Nick Foles #9 after rushing for a 1-yard touchdown during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field on September 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Mitchell Leff

During a halftime of the NFL’s opening night game between the Eagles and Falcons, there was a third bird in the stadium at halftime: the boo bird.

Shortly after Philadelphia fans cheered as their team’s Super Bowl banner was raised, they booed the Eagles off the field at the end of the first half thanks to a lackluster showing.

Trailing 3-6 to open the second half, Philadelphia came out flying and turned the tables after getting momentum from a play that may look a bit familiar. Instead of the “Philly Special,” this one was called “Philly, Philly.”

Buoyed by that play, Philadelphia drove the rest of the way down the field and their drive ended with Jay Ajayi scampering into the end zone for the first of his two second-half touchdowns.

The drama wasn’t over as the Falcons did have a chance to win with seconds left in the game, but Matt Ryan’s pass to Julio in the left corner of the end zone on the final play from Philadelphia’s five-yard line fell incomplete.

It wasn’t pretty, but the champs opened their title defense with the 18-12 win.

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