September 16 marked the second week of Monday Night Football. And it was a showdown in the City of Brotherly Love for the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. Things got testy early. An altercation popped off in the first half between eagles Ray-Ray McCloud and C.J. Gardener-Johnson.
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McCloud, Gardener-Johnson Exchange Blows on MNF
The two players had an apparent dispute after a play was blown dead. And that is when Gardener-Johnson ripped out the mouthpiece of Ray-Ray McCloud. That led to the Falcons' defensive back throwing a punch.
However, despite both players being guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct on the play, only McCloud drew a penalty flag on the play. The altercation went viral on Twitter, drawing mixed reactions.
"Wow, being an idiot for zero reason," one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Cj Gardner took his mouthpiece off and took a punch to the head deserved," another user added.
"Ray Ray is the definition of little man syndrome," another said.
"So it's legal to rip someone's mouthpiece off? These refs make no sense on these personal foul calls," another user said.
There was a lot of pressure on both teams surrounding this matchup. For the Eagles, they started the 2023 undefeated in their first five games. But in the second half of the season, they ran out of gas. Ultimately they lost in the Wild Card round, crushing their Super Bowl hopes.
For the Falcons, they have not played a Monday Night Football game since 2020. And with a rising star in running back Biljan Robinson, they are hoping to reverse their past misfortunes this season.
Jason Kelce Returns to Philly
Monday Night's Matchup between the Eagles and Falcons also had a sentimental element. Eagles center Jason Kelce decided to make last season his last season, retiring during the offseason.
Kelce is now one of the analysts for ESPN's Monday Night Football. And the week two matchup marked his first return to Philadelphia since announcing his retirement.
Kelce didn't disappoint in his homecoming. He did everything from tailgating with fans to dancing on-stage before the matchup. It is safe to say that the former Eagles star is happy with his decision.
