Eagles fans return to South Philadelphia tailgates for final preseason game
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Football season officially returned to South Philadelphia as Eagles fans arrived at the parking lots with grills, green jerseys and plenty of E-A-G-L-E-S chants ahead of the team's final preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"You can feel in the air everybody's excited, like I'm so hype to be here. You can feel it. It's gonna be a great year, I can feel it," said Amy Iuliucci of Atco, New Jersey.
While the game served as a final test run for the Eagles, fans also viewed it as an opportunity to get back into the tailgating routine.
"It's also the first chance for us to tailgate, ya know, get the cobwebs off, ready for regular season. We're excited," said Danny McGinn of Coatesville.
Fans were also eager to see wide receiver and first-round draft pick Makai Lemon take the field for the first time as an Eagle. A hamstring injury had kept him out of the team's first two preseason games.
"I want to see Makai Lemon score a touchdown tonight if he plays," said Max Raneiri of Reading.
And in true Philadelphia fashion, many fans had already declared the Birds a shoo-in for a winning season well before the first snap.
"We already know they're gonna dominate the whole season. So it's really just about having fun because guess what? We're not worried," said Vanessa Logan of Richmond, Virginia.
"We about to win another Super Bowl. Yes, we're gonna win another Super Bowl. Philly, we here, we bout to get it done. Game tonight - it's on like butter popcorn baby," said George Logan of Washington, D.C.
The preseason finale also carried added significance for players fighting for roster spots. By Sunday at 6 p.m., the Eagles must reduce their roster from 90 players to 53.
The team's regular-season opener and home opener is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13, at 4:25 p.m. against the Washington Commanders.
