PHILADELPHIA — The notoriously intense fans of the Eagles have brought their trademark enthusiasm to Lincoln Financial Field ahead of Sunday’s NFC championship game against the Washington Commanders.
Philadelphia’s fans, coated in “Kelly green,” flooded the city’s sports complex hours ahead of the bout that will send one team to the Super Bowl.
There were precious few Burgundy and Gold jerseys visible in the sea of green-clad fans in the pregame parking lots at Lincoln Financial Field.
Tailgating fans of the six-point favorites routinely erupted into “E-A-G-L-E-S” chants, always culminating with applause.
The staple chant was occasionally misspelled by fans on Sunday afternoon, presumably intentionally as a reference to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s mishap earlier this week.
“E-L-G-S-E-S, Eagles,” she said while attempting to rally fans on Monday.
Washington fans, though vastly outnumbered, made headlines this weekend for a pregame prank. Unidentified culprits, presumably Commanders supporters, draped the city’s iconic “Rocky” statue in Washington football gear.
“Yo, Adrian HTTC,” read a cardboard sign left at the statue, referencing a quote from the 1976 film and Washington’s “Hail to the Commanders” fight song.
That could be a bad omen, though, according to Philadelphia superstitions. Local fans claim there’s a long history of visiting supporters defacing the statue, only to have their team falter.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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