Extra Points: Eagles, Phillies leave fans excited
There must be something in the "wooder" in Philadelphia.
The Fightins and Birds just provided the greatest weekend in recent local sports history. The bell was ringing at Citizens Bank Park on Friday and Saturday while the Phils advanced to the NLCS for the first time since 2010 by eliminating the Braves behind Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and Aaron Nola.
Then fans got to celebrate at the Linc Sunday night. The Iggles are 6-0 for the first time since 2004 and did so at the expense of their hated rivals. Jalen Hurts and C.J. Gardner-Johnson led a 26-19 victory over the Cowboys.
"Great job, fans," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. "It was rocking in there. It just carried over all week from Game 3, Game 4 in Philadelphia with the Phillies."
It's been a while since both franchises enjoyed simultaneous success.
In 2017, when quarterback Nick Foles and coach Doug Pederson delivered the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history with "Philly Special," the Phils finished in last place in the N.L. East at 66-96 behind manager Pete Mackanin, first baseman Tommy Joseph and shortstop Freddie Galvis.
The Phillies last made the playoffs in 2011, when Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins ended their magical run. That same year, Michael Vick, Vince Young, Nnamdi Asomugha and the rest of the Eagles' infamous "Dream Team" went 8-8.
You have to go all the way back to 2008 to find the last time both teams made deep playoff runs in the same year. Harper was a 16-year-old junior at Las Vegas High School when the Phils, in the words of Utley, became "World (Bleeping) Champions" by beating the Rays in five games.
That was considered the definitive Philly victory speech until Eagles center Jason Kelce donned a Mummers Costume at the Philadelphia Museum of Art after the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII at the end of the 2017 season.
"We're from Philly, (bleeping) Philly, No one likes us, we don't care."
Hurts was a 10-year-old fourth-grader in Channelview, Texas in '08 when coach Andy Reid, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, quarterback Donovan McNabb and safety Brian Dawkins reached the NFC Championship game, losing 32-25 to quarterback Kurt Warner, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals.
This year has the potential to be extra special.
The Phils enter the NLCS against fellow wild card San Diego starting Tuesday amidst a magical postseason run. They seem to have a different hero almost every game. Harper, Hoskins, centerfielder Brandon Marsh and others have delivered in the clutch for new skipper Rob Thomson.
The Eagles go into their bye week as the top team in the NFC. Sure, they have flaws - their second-half letdowns could come back to bite them - but they continually find a way to win.
It's much too early to be dreaming of a perfect season, but Bob Griese, Larry Csonka and the 1972 Miami Dolphins have to be feeling at least a little nervous.
Both teams have made a believer out of this skeptic.
I picked the Eagles to lose their first three games. I thought both the Cardinals and Braves would eliminate the Phils.
That's what I get for drinking Tequila instead of water.
Or should I say wooder?
25 Atlantic County Burgers You Have to Try!
More From 97.3 ESPN
