20 Eagles Stories To Get You Hyped For The Super Bowl

PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the first time since the Flyers made it to the Stanley Cup in 2010, a major Philadelphia sports franchise has reached their league's finals. The Eagles, however, have been absent from the Super Bowl for 13 years, and are the only one of Philly's four major franchises to never win on their sport's biggest stage.

The Delaware Valley has, fittingly, erupted.

As you prepare for the big game on Sunday, here's a look at some of the biggest stories from the past two weeks in the lead up to the Super Bowl.

Predictions

Fiona the Nile hippo was born six weeks premature and was never expected to survive. In fact, she's the smallest hippo to ever survive. So she knows a thing or two about underdogs. And when it came time for her to pick a Super Bowl winner, she didn't hesitate. Read more here: 'Underdog' Fiona The Hippo Picks Eagles To Win Super Bowl

The Patriots are 4.5 favorites to win, but in addition to not deterring Fiona, it also didn't deter a bettor who placed one of the largest bets in recent Super Bowl history. Who could it be? Read more here: Someone Made A Multimillion Dollar Bet On The Eagles To Win The Super Bowl: Report

In the media

Dozens of celebrities have weighed in on the big game. It's no secret that President Trump and Matt Damon are Patriots fans, just like everybody knows Will Smith and Pink are Eagles fans. But where do other politicians, actors, musicians, and luminaries line up? Read more here: Eagles Vs. Patriots: Notable Celebrities Choose Sides

Is there a non-celebrity in your life that's on the fence about the Eagles? Rooting for these Birds is about more than just hating the Patriots. We put together 10 good reasons why you should become a fan. Read more here: 10 Reasons Everyone Should Root For The Eagles In The Super Bowl

If you're an Eagles fan heading to the Super Bowl, you should be wary. You'll be in Vikings country, and they probably haven't forgotten all those beer cans that were hurled at Vikings fans and the Vikings team bus. Read more here: After Hostile Weekend, Eagles Fans Should Be Wary In Minnesota

The Patriots' soulless pursuit of winning blinded them to Aaron Hernandez's murderous capabilities, a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist said. A Boston Patch writer offers his take. Read more here: Philly Writer Fires First, Dumb Shot At Patriots

Eagles tackle Lane Johnson said In August if the Birds win the Super Bowl that he'd give out free beer and Bud Light chimed in on the deal. He's sticking to it. Read more here: Bud Light Still Offering Free Beer Deal For Eagles Super Bowl Win

Public Wagers

Public wagers between Boston and Philadelphia institutions have been all the rage over the past two weeks. One of the more unique bets? The Philadelphia Zoo and the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston are gambling naming rights for their next born goats. Read more here: A Goat Named Brady, A Goat Named Foles?

The governors of Massachusetts and Philadelphia made a more food-centric wager, promising each other iconic eats from each city in the event of their team's loss. Read more here: PA And Massachusetts Governors Place Delicious Super Bowl Wager

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney put the Rocky Statue on the line in a gamble with Brockton, Massachusetts Mayor Bill Carpenter. Read more here: Super Bowl LII Bet Is The Battle Of The Rocky Statues

Fandom

North Penn High School went big this week, gathering 13,000 students from across their district to simultaneously sing the Eagles fight song. Read more here: 13,000 North Penn Students Sing Eagles Fight Song...In Unison

As if 13,000 singing children didn't show enough Eagles, uh, patriotism, check out this startling display from Eagles fans after the NFC Championship victory over the Vikings. The fight song was heard three miles away from the stadium. Read more: You Could Hear The Eagles Fight Song Heard 3 Miles From Lincoln Financial Field

About a year ago, one local family had enough faith in the Eagles and quarterback Carson Wentz to name their daughter after him. Given all the good that Wentz had done on and off the field in the 12 months since, it seems like they made a good choice. Read more here: Chesco Family Names Baby Girl After Carson Wentz: Report

Nearby at the Chester County Library branch in Exton, the Bard himself was decked out in Eagles gear. And if you think about it, it makes sense. What affinity would the poet and playwright from Stratford-upon-Avon truly have for a placed called "New" England? Read more here: Chesco Library's Shakespeare Statue Decked Out In Eagles Green

The Eagles' Chris Maragos has been imparting the wisdom of his first Super Bowl trip to teammates while having fun along the way. Read more here: Eagles' Chris Maragos Super Bowl Week About Team, Fun And Family

After the Eagles drubbed the Vikings in the NFC Championship - and Philly fans were less than hospitable to visiting Minnesotans - it's even more touching that one Vikings fan reached out to a young Eagles fan, who also happened to be a cancer survivor. Read more here: Vikings Fan Gives Young Eagles Fan, Cancer Survivor Super Bowl Tickets

Celebrations

Philly police infamously covered south Philly street poles in Crisco to prevent climbing after the NFC Championship. That's not a part of their post-Super Bowl plans, though. Read more here: Crisco Not Part Of Philly Police Dept's Post-Super Bowl Plans

Police are prepared for apocalyptic scenarios should the Eagles win on Sunday, and those wild celebrations might not be contained to the city. Some suburbs are warning fans to ensure their end zone dances don't destroy public property. Read more here: West Chester Police Will Not Accept "Purge"-Style Behavior If The Eagles Win

After all, things got pretty serious after the NFC Championship. And that's just the NFC Championship. Read more here: Philly Explodes After Eagles Win: Crisco Poles, Wild Celebrations

On-field

One of the most important pieces of the Patriots offense outside of Tom Brady will be ready to go for Super Bowl Sunday. Read more here: Rob Gronkowski Clears Concussion Protocol

Looking for game time, odds, halftime show details, and more? Read more here: Super Bowl 52: Philadelphia Eagles Vs. New England Patriots

AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File