Football Season Is HERE!!!
Philadelphia Eagles fans get to see a sight tonight that many could never conceive of – a Super Bowl banner flying over Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles hadn’t won an NFL championship since 1960 until they smacked the mighty New England Patriots down 41-33 in Super Bowl LII … and with backup quarterback Nick Foles leading the way and earning MVP honors.
As the old joke goes, tonight’s the night. The NFL season kicks off in Philadelphia on Thursday night (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), where the Eagles take on the Atlanta Falcons, but not until that championship banner goes up. That’s a moment that will be teary and, knowing Philly fans, beery.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” says Eagles coach Doug Pederson. “This football team, though, they understand this is a different season. It’s a new team, new year. We’re sitting here 0-0 with a great opportunity against a great opponent. Quite honestly, that’s their focus.”
Do it again? Nine teams have repeated. That would be a stunner if the Eagles, so often disappointed in the Super Bowl era, could stack up a second title.
The Falcons will be a worthy opponent. In the divisional round of the playoffs in January, they came up two yards short of knocking off the Eagles, instead dropping a 15-10 decision. They are another team that hasn’t won a Super Bowl despite getting there (including an overtime loss to the Patriots after blowing a 28-3 lead).
So the NFL returns. And with an appealing matchup and Foles still the Eagles quarterback with Carson Wentz (knee) not yet cleared for contact.
Let the games begin.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
-
The nameless team will receive its new moniker next month. Back in 2020, Washington’s official NFL team, the Washington...
-
The Dolphins have had both a winning streak and losing streak in the same season. Yesterday’s Monday Night Football...
-
The Broncos QB was removed from the game after a nasty fall. During the third quarter of Sunday’s game...
-
The Lakers coach thinks the team’s eye isn’t on the ball. Last night saw a close game between the...
-
Hill injured his finger on an incomplete pass. Yesterday was a rough day for the New Orleans Saints as...
-
The Sacramento Kings are coming off a nasty losing streak. Yesterday, the Sacramento Kings, the official NBA team of...
-
Sandy Alderson is looking for new staff. At the beginning of October, the manager for the New York Mets,...
-
Smart is tired of standing in the corner. The Boston Celtics have had a less-than-stellar start to their season,...
-
Brady set an NFL record during last night’s game. Should we pretend to be surprised that the very first...
-
The Packers QB was quick to shut down the idea. Despite a rocky start to the 2021 NFL season,...
-
Brady will take on his old team this Sunday. This coming Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on their...
-
The Buccs are on a good streak, but Brady thinks they can do better. It’s something of an unwritten...