The Patriots and Eagles are in the Super Bowl after both teams earned home victories in yesterday's NFL conference title games, and the atmosphere in Philadelphia was "particularly charged." After the Eagles' 38-7 win over the Vikings, one downtown intersection was "filled curb to curb with rowdy but orderly fans estimated to exceed 2,000." Police "closed Broad Street to make space for the crowds from City Hall to Spruce Street, estimated to be 5,000 to 10,000 strong." Police officers with "cans of shortening, dubbed 'Crisco Cops,' started lathering up light poles in Center City" (
PHILLY.com, 1/21). Some Eagles fans "donned dog masks, and those won't go out of style" (
PHILLY.com, 1/21). Philadelphia had waited "more than a decade to host another NFC Championship, and based on the atmosphere in the parking lots on Sunday afternoon, it felt like most of the city had been drinking that long" (
Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/22).
Coinciding with the Pats' 24-20 win over the Jaguars, yesterday marked the "24th anniversary of Robert Kraft taking ownership of the franchise." Kraft becomes the "first owner in history to have his team in nine Super Bowls," and the 10th Super Bowl trip for the franchise overall is also a league record (BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.com, 1/21).
