I suppose we can assume more than one bird went into each of the engines. Although it isn't absolutely neccessary. But the flock was obviously big enough to hit two engines. The report will no doubt clarify how many went in to each engine.
It is true that where it hits is an important factor. I saw a bird strike engine where a single fan blade was snapped. It wasn't a CFM56 though. That blade did most of the damage as it or parts of it made it's way into the engine.
It is fair to say you cannot cover all the risks. You cannot design an engine impervious to all kinds of birds, not economically anyway. In many cases a bird strike means an engine shut down even if it doesn't fail. What was unique about both the Rome and NY incidents is that both engines failed or at least were developing insufficent thrust to keep them in the air. How unlikely is that? You might reasonably expect one engine, though damaged to keep running. Yet in two separate incidents, both engines were sufficiently damaged causing them to fail. That is quite a coincidence.