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