We’re finally here. It’s gameday.

Falcons-Eagles, just like January, but in the season opener. Tonight at 8:20 on NBC. Banner gets raised, Eagles play football. Probably will be warm. Season pump-up video is out. Bud Light unveiled the Philly Special statue. We can stop with people (media) hating on Doug Pederson despite some normal people loving him. It’s time to play the God damn game. Let’s get it, even without Carson Wentz, Alshon Jeffery, and Mack Hollins, amongst others.

Despite celebrating the Super Bowl tonight, Malcolm Jenkins and the rest of the team are focused on this season.

“Looking around at the guys that we have, we definitely have a talented team that can match up with anybody,” Jenkins said. “That’s as far as it goes. Hopefully, we can take our potential and do something with it. I feel comfortable with the guys that we have fitting into the scheme. This is definitely a confident bunch of guys.

“The team last year was the closest I ever played with — on and off the field. All of the adversity forced us to come together and either sink or swim. We have to work on that unity that we had last year. Last year, we brought in character guys that had a winning pedigree and are unselfish. Guys like LeGarrette Blount, Chris Long, and Torrey Smith. We had guys playing roles that no one complained about. No one cared about touches.

“We had young players like Derek Barnett, like Corey Clement, like Nelson Agholor buy into what the leaders on the team were doing. Then there were guys that kept making plays, like Agholor, Carson [Wentz], Nick [Foles] and Zach Ertz all year. We had everybody contribute, when Jake Elliott hit a 61-yard field goal, Kamu [Grugier-Hill] filling in as a kicker in a game, Trey Burton playing long snapper. No one ever doubted. Everyone expected everyone else to execute. I knew as a teammate that everyone cared enough to prepare. So when something happened, we were able to keep going.”

Dallas Goedert will also be making his Eagles debut. It’ll certainly be a different environment from his days at South Dakota State.

We’re still double-digit hours away from playing the damn game as of posting, and waiting for this one absolutely sucks. If I’m a fan, I’d be tailgating as close to Lot K as possible right now, then move the tailgate there when all lots open and get wild.

And there’s still a way to get in to tonight’s game! It might cost you a good amount but there’s only one Super Bowl LII celebration season-opening game.

Finally, Brian Dawkins will be given his Hall of Fame ring later this season when the Birds take on the Panthers.

The Roundup:

Start your day off with a new episode of the Crossing Broadcast.

Ah yes we still have the Phillies to deal with. At least not tonight, thank God.

Despite Atlanta choking to the Red Sox yesterday afternoon, the Phillies could not cut their deficit to two games and lost to the God damn Marlins 2-1. Their lone run came off a single by Asdrubal Cabrera in the top of the eighth that scored Jose Bautista.

The Phils only got six hits, despite loading up the top of the order with Carlos Santana, Justin Bour, Cabrera, Rhys Hoskins, and Nick Williams. Half of their hits came from Jorge Alfaro, who was in the seven hole.

Nick Pivetta only lasted four innings and gave up two runs off three hits with four strikeouts. Tommy Hunter and Seranthony Dominguez pitched the other four innings and gave up only one hit to go along with four strikeouts.

They’re off today thank god, but have a weekend series in Queens against the Mets. Aaron Nola, who’s schedule got adjusted again to start in two games against the Braves later this month, will start.

Take a listen to the latest edition of Crossed Up as well, if you want to hear more depressing Phillies talk.

In other sports news, Le’Veon Bell still hasn’t reported to Steelers camp.

Trevor Story launched three home runs last night, including one measuring at 505 FEET.

Nike released their commercial featuring Colin Kaepernick that will air during tonight’s Birds game.

The Players Coalition is tired of the same damn questions.

Meek Mill and Sixers owner Michael Rubin showed up on The Tonight Show.

In the news, a search warrant is out at the house of the New Jersey couple that defrauded a homeless man of $400,000. They’ll also have to appear in court.

The New York Times posted an anonymous editorial from someone inside the Trump Administration.