Seeking to soar

Falcons have even more motivation to fly high; the Super Bowl is at home.

PHILADELPHIA — One of the most anticipated seasons in Atlanta Falcons history is underway.

Rarely have the Falcons entered a season with such lofty expectations and clearly a unit that is widely considered a Super Bowl contender in the rugged National Football Conference.

The offense boasts a quarterback in Matt Ryan who’s in his prime at 33 and the former league MVP, and a young defense full of emerg- ing talent.

After two consecutive trips to the playoffs and a run to the Super Bowl after the 2016 season, the Falcons, under coach Dan Quinn, will find out right away where they stand after facing the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to open the season Thursday night.

In the mostly tortured history of the Falcons, the team has been to the playoffs in three consecutive years once (2010-12).

Before the game, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff stood at the 35-yard line of Lincoln Financial Field with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman discussing the teams’ respective approaches.

Quinn came by and chatted with the general managers. A few minutes later, Eagles coach Doug Pederson checked in.

“I can’t wait to get the season started,” Dimitroff said afterward.

“I’m glad the preseason stuff is over with.”

If the Falcons can make it back to the playoffs, they would tie the three-year playoff streak. With Super Bowl LIII set for Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Feb. 3, there would be some added postseason pressure on the team.

In the Super Bowl’s 52-year history, no team has played in its home stadium.

The last time the Falcons were riding so high was in 2013, the season after playing in the NFC Championship Game.

Former coach Mike Smith guided the Falcons to the playoffs in 2010-12. The 2012 team was on the verge of going to the Super Bowl but blew a 17-0 lead to Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers.

The Falcons coaxed tight end Tony Gonzalez out of retirement to chase the Super Bowl title that eluded the franchise one more time. The plan backfired as the rebuilt offensive line failed miserably, and the team was beset with several season-ending injuries early in the season. They ended up going 4-12.

Decades ago, two teams did reach Super Bowls that were played in their home markets, but not in their home stadiums. The 1979 Los Angeles Rams played in Super Bowl XIV at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and the 1984 San Francisco 49ers played in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium.

The Minnesota Vikings came within one win of playing in last season’s Super Bowl in their home venue, U.S. Bank Stadium, but they lost at Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game. The Vikings were the first team to reach a conference title game in the season its stadium hosted the Super Bowl.

The Falcons’ journey is underway.

TIM DONNELLY / ASSOCIATED PRESS Fans watch fireworks at Lincoln Financial Field before the Eagles and Falcons kick off the NFL season on Thursday. The game was delayed by weather and finally started around 9 p.m.

MITCHELL LEFF / GETTY IMAGES The weather delay made Philadelphia fans wait a little longer than planned before the Eagles unveiled their Super Bowl championship banner.

MITCHELL LEFF / GETTY IMAGES QB Matt Ryan led the Falcons down the field to open the game, but a fourth-and-goal run failed, and the Eagles took over on downs.