Philadelphia soars as Eagles kick off new NFL Season

The reigning Super Bowl champions are preparing for opening night.

(NBC)- The reigning Super Bowl champions are preparing for opening night, and fans across the region say the excitement hasn’t faded since their championship run. “Oh man, that Super Bowl was amazing,” said Eagles fan Amir Johnson. “Everyone from all the way to New Jersey to Philadelphia, we all just celebrated. It was a very beautiful thing to the city.”

Shops are packed with green-and-white gear as fans get ready to cheer on the Eagles. Some are even rearranging their lives to make sure they don’t miss a snap. “If I have to work, I call out to watch the game. I’m that big a fan,” said Javed Dudha.

The new NFL season kicks off on NBC with a classic NFC East rivalry: the Eagles versus the Dallas Cowboys. For many fans, there’s no better way to start the season than by beating the team Philadelphia loves to hate.

“You know, one thing you look for in another team coming off the Super Bowl is if they’re still hungry. And I think the Eagles have that hunger in them,” said Jeffrey Beres, general manager at Geno’s Steaks, a local landmark where food and football passion run deep.

Former coach and NBC Sports analyst Tony Dungy says the first weeks of the season are always a telling sign. “It’s always exciting,” he said. “That’s when we’ll find out what the NFL is really all about.”

Categories: Across the Nation, Featured