“Congratulations,” I said to Jason Kelce after the Eagles’ season finale.

“Yeah,” he said, turning, a frown drawing down the sides of his beard. “Probably the [crappiest] way to win and clinch first place in the NFC you could imagine. Try not to let today and the past couple of weeks detract from that.”

Kelce’s anxiety reflected the anxiety that festered in Philadelphia for two whole weeks. He was 23 years from being born when the 1964 Phillies collapsed, a gutting series of events that traumatized generations of Philadelphians, most of whom have no idea why they’re traumatized.

The Eagles’ postseason slogan is, “It’s a Philly Thing.” Waiting for the other shoe to drop is, indeed, a Philly thing.

The town probably will worry about whoever wins Sunday’s other divisional matchup, whether it’s San Francisco or Dallas. That worry might be warranted.

But hope should dominate. The Eagles are the best team in the NFC. They should play in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Ariz.

» READ MORE: No worries: Eagles’ 38-7 demolition of the Giants sets up a Super Bowl run

— Marcus Hayes

Eagles’ defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon spent much of last season as a convenient scapegoat for a defense that simply did not have the personnel to compete at a championship level. Against the Giants, he showed exactly why his bosses never lost confidence.

Gannon mostly relied on his players to be the players that they are. His defensive line dominated the day. On Barkley’s first rushing attempt, the Eagles had defensive tackles Fletcher Cox, Linval Joseph, and Javon Hargrave all in the game. All you saw was a wall of green going nowhere, and a cloud of white evaporating around it, and Barkley jogging in place.

» READ MORE: Dallas Goedert’s punch sets the tone in Eagles’ knockout of Giants, and other observations

— David Murphy

Before kickoff, Hurts told FOX sideline reporter Pam Oliver from the home sideline that he was “nowhere near 100%.” The 24-year-old also hinted that he was dealing with some sort of bug.

Only Hurts knows the true pain that the second-team All-Pro quarterback is dealing with. He sustained an injury to his throwing shoulder a month ago and was sidelined for two games before Hurts returned in the regular-season finale against the Giants. Leading into Saturday’s game, Hurts was omitted from the injury report, an indication that he was nearing full health. Regardless, Hurts was a clear beneficiary from the bye week, and he answered lingering questions with his performance in his second career playoff game.

Coach Nick Sirianni and offensive play caller Shane Steichen reopened the playbook, deploying Hurts in his typical form. Between a mix of run-pass options and designed quarterback runs, Hurts proved he was ready for the task.

» READ MORE: Eagles rout the Giants 38-7 and advance to the NFC championship game

— Josh Tolentino

Leonard Fontes III, 23, wore his Giants Saquon Barkley jersey to visit friends and take in the game.

Fontes had on a special ring. His grandfather, who passed away before he was born, was the defensive backs coach for the Giants in 1986 when they won the Super Bowl, he said.

“I wear it all the time but especially tonight for good luck,” he said. “It didn’t work out this time.”

Fontes said Eagles fans chirped at him all night when they saw the Jersey, “It’s all part of the game, he said. “Nothing nasty.”

Meanwhile, sitting fireside outside XFinity Live!, immediately after the victory, Temple student Abigail Race, 22, from Media, was overjoyed but tired.

“I’m 100 percent confident the Eagles are going to get to the Super Bowl and win,” she said. “You have to will it into existence.”

— Dylan Purcell

The NFC’s No. 1 seed made quick work of the sixth-seeded New York Giants, jumping out to a 28-0 lead and riding that to a 38-7 win in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Jalen Hurts was more than good enough through the air, going 16-of-24 for 154 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns. He also accounted for one of the Eagles’ two rushing touchdowns — Boston Scott had the other, because of course he did — and 34 of the team’s 268 rushing yards.

On the defensive side, Jonathan Gannon’s unit had five sacks, including 1.5 each from Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat, and an interception from former Giant James Bradberry.

The Birds will face the winner of tomorrow’s game between the Cowboys and 49ers next Sunday at the Linc.

— Matt Mullin

Jalen Hurts, Jason Kelce and some other starters had been pulled from the game, but that didn’t stop the Eagles from adding to the scoring.

And if that 38-7 score line sounds familiar to you, that’s because it should.

— Matt Mullin

Calvin Hill, who works for Philly Counts as a resource manager for West Philadelphia residents was literally glittering with pride for the Eagles.

His jeans jacket stood out from the crowd at Xfinity Live! The hand-painted, one-of-a-kind work is the creation of local painter Jhamal Allen, who created it based on Hill’s recommendations.

Hill, who was careful not to look too far ahead, said he feels the same way now as in 2017.

“This jacket he got to me right before we won the Super Bowl,” he said.

“This is our time to shine,” Hill said.

— Dylan Purcell

When the Eagles’ lead swelled to 21-0 late in the first half, hugs and high-fives erupted at XFinity Live! “I was happy. Now I’m very happy,” said Wes Casey, 23, of Downingtown, who waited an hour in line to get into the restaurant complex. It was worth it, he said.

The Eagles began the playoffs rested after a monster 14-3 regular-season record that secured the Birds a first-round bye and home-field advantage until Super Bowl LVII, should they reach it. Much of that advantage comes from the rabid energy Eagles fans unleash on visiting teams and their brave followers who make the trip.

Die-hard Eagles fans also have a decade’s worth of memories to back up their boasts. Despite playing here yearly as a division rival, a Giants team has not won in Philly since 2013. The Eagles also won the last two times they faced the Giants in the playoffs.

» READ MORE: Eagles fans make the Linc a haunting place for the New York Giants

— Dylan Purcell

» READ MORE: Before Eagles’ Boston Scott was a ‘Giant killer,’ he was a broke college kid clinging to a dream

Just before the end of the first quarter, former Giants cornerback James Bradberry intercepted Daniel Jones, giving the Birds a chance to go up three scores early in the game.

After being cut by the Giants, that had to feel extra sweet for the defensive back.

The Eagles hold a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

— Matt Mullin

Jalen Hurts looks pretty good so far. Some would say perfect. It’s still the first quarter, but through two possessions, the Eagles quarterback is 7-for-7 for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the second being this hookup with DeVonta Smith that put the Birds up 14-0 over the Giants.

— Matt Mullin

» READ MORE: Haason Reddick, native son, is living his dream, making his NFL playoff debut with his Eagles

Neil Yersak, 39, of South Philadelphia grew up going to Eagles games. His dad was a diehard fan and a season ticket holder since the 1980s.

“We have kept up that tradition since he passed,” Yersak said. “Never missed a game. I know nothing else, we’re fortunate now that we live in South Philly. I grew up in Bordentown, New Jersey, so my dad used to go to the games all the time.”

Yersak and his girlfriend, Victoria Lenoci, biked from their home in South Philly to Lincoln Financial Field a few minutes before heading inside ahead of the 8:15 p.m. start time.

The two already have tickets for Super Bowl LVII in Glendale Arizona.

“We’re going to see them in the Super Bowl,” Yersak said. “I think anything less than that would be a travesty.”

Player prop: The two have DeVonta Smith for Eagles’ first touchdown. “Roll Tide! Roll Tide!” Lenoci said.

— Isabella DiAmore

The Chiefs are one win from the Super Bowl, and it came at the expense of former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, whose Cinderella magic with the Jaguars ran out in Kansas City.

Despite a hobbled Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a first-half ankle injury and missed the entire second quarter, the Chiefs were able to pull out the 27-20 win against Trevor Lawrence and the upstart Jags. For Kansas City, it’s their fifth straight trip to the AFC title game.

Meanwhile, in Philly, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are getting ready for their divisional round matchup against the Giants.

» READ MORE: Chiefs, led by hobbled Patrick Mahomes, beat Jags 27-20 in playoffs

— Matt Mullin

» READ MORE: Dallas Goedert hopes to exploit the Giants’ tight end problem

» READ MORE: Fun facts about the Giants, from Dexter to Wink to Adoree’

» READ MORE: He’s back scrambling: Eagles defense knows it must keep Daniel Jones contained

Sean and Melissa Hoffman of South Philly are attending their first Eagles’ playoff game tonight, after Sean won tickets yesterday through his work in transportation.

Sean’s step bother, Brian Keefer, along with Keefer’s son, Trevor, tagged along since they bought tickets a week in advance. The bunch joined the tailgaters around 4 p.m. and said it’s been an environment like no other.

“I love it, man,” Trevor, of Pocono Mountain, said. “There’s nothing like Eagles culture anywhere in the world. You can not find a more dedicated sports fans, more passionate sports fans than the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Sean, wearing a classic black Brian Dawkins jersey, and Brian, repping DeVonta Smith, both dyed their beards green to get a bit further into the Philly spirit. Melissa said her husband always goes all out before the games, even when watching from their home.

When asked for a prediction for tonight’s game against the Giants, Trevor quickly said, “Birds by 60 — Easy.”

“Jalen Hurts is healthy,” he added. “He’s coming back, he’s going to put up at least 30. I have no doubts about this game.”

Spoken like a true fan. And for fun, the group was asked a player prop: Which Eagle will get the first touchdown tonight?

While Brian patted on his chest, referring to No. 6 himself, Trevor is going with ‘Giant Killer’ Boston Scott.

— Isabella DiAmore

» READ MORE: Eagles activate safety Anthony Harris from the practice squad for Giants game

Monsters in Midnight Green.

That is how the New York Post portrayed Eagles fans this week. The tabloid’s back cover on Friday called Lincoln Financial Field a “house of horrors” for the Giants, with a picture of CryptKeeper, the jokester skeleton from Tales From The Crypt, dressed skull-to-toe in Eagles gear. One headline said to “expect a fight” from Eagles fans who won’t make it easy for the visitors.

But on Saturday, Philly fans who arrived at the Linc ahead of the game were focused on celebrating the home team, not trash-talking their New York rival.

“We’re no worse than anybody else,” said Brian Market, 40, of Northeast Philadelphia, as he mingled with fellow fans in a parking lot in the shadows of the Wells Fargo Center. “I’m inviting Giants fans to our tailgate, though there might be a little ribbing.”

Market and his family have held season tickets since he was 6 years old, a tradition started by his father. ...

Six hours before the 8:15 p.m. kickoff, many of the lots surrounding the stadium were already filled with tailgaters grilling, chanting, dancing and pacing for a long night. The early start was made possible by a loophole that allowed pre-game celebrations to begin ahead of the official tailgating start time of 4 p.m. for those who purchased tickets to the Wings lacrosse game just to grab a parking spot.

» READ MORE: Eagles fans make the Linc a haunting place for the New York Giants

— Dylan Purcell

After initially playing through what appeared to be a painful leg injury and having his ankle taped, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was seen heading to the Kansas City locker room right around the time his team’s defense forced a Jaguars punt.

And he didn’t look too happy about it.

Enter backup Chad Henne.

[UPDATE, 5:29 p.m. — The Chiefs have officially listed Mahomes as questionable to return with an ankle injury. We’ll drop in another post if he returns to the game.]

— Matt Mullin

Late in the first quarter of a 7-7 game against the Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down with what appeared to be an ankle or knee injury when a pair of Jacksonville defenders rolled up on his right leg.

The Chiefs called a timeout to look at Mahomes, but he returned to the game without any additional medical help and was clearly hobbled. At the end of the quarter, trainers were seen wrapping Mahomes’ ankle, but the QB returned to the game to finish a field goal drive for the Chiefs, who took a 10-7 second quarter lead.

After the score, Mahomes could be seen on the sideline standing and talking with coaches and trainers. It appears as if he’ll remain in the game, but how the apparent injury impacts his mobility could be a key to the game. Stay tuned ...

— Matt Mullin

Only an Eagles fan would subject the doctor delivering her grandchild to his kind of stress …in an already stressful situation.

Considering the doctor is a Giants fan, some might say this is warranted. You’ll need your sound on for this one…

— Kerith Gabriel

Judging by the chatter on social media and that many of Eagles fans have even asked members of The Inquirer Sports Desk where to find one, it would appear the mania behind the Eagles’ signature playoff t-shirt is real.

Upon making a call to any of the three Eagles Pro Shops located in Cherry Hill, Lancaster, and at Lincoln Financial Field, a recording announces the “extremely limited quantities” of It’s a Philly Thing merchandise even before speaking with a live customer service representative. The series, featuring a sweatshirt and t-shirts in both men’s and women’s cuts aren’t even listed on the homepage of the Eagles Pro Shop and the Cherry Hill location specifically suggests calling in to order.

However...

The last stand to get your hands on something your size might be the mad dash to the Eagles’ main Pro Shop inside Lincoln Financial Field when the gates open later this evening.

Good luck.

— Kerith Gabriel

After multiple reports Saturday morning that the Giants were without water at their team hotel in Philly due to a burst pipe — a situation some on Twitter were referring to as “Woodergate” — it appears the hotel in question has fixed the issue and shower time can resume.

On last week’s “ManningCast,” during the Cowboys-Buccaneers wildcard game, Eli Manning, who tended to have a rough go of it during his career when playing in Philly (and went 10-21 overall against the Birds), said he was hoping to never return to the city for a game. But when his Giants got matched up against the Eagles, well, he knew he had to return.

“I said when I retired I’d never go back to a football game in Philly,” Manning said. “But I think I have to break that promise. I can’t wait to see the amount of double birds I get. Could break a record.”

As it turns out, he got the biggest double birds imaginable, although the somewhat subtle messaging may have been lost on the former quarterback.

There’s a good chance that’s the nicest thing he hears all day, double birds or not.

— Matt Mullin

We all thought the Eagles would be pretty good this year, but Super Bowl contenders? Not many saw that coming. And yet, thanks to the Birds’ multidimensional offense and relentless defense, the road to Super Bowl LVII runs through Philly.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights, and lowlights, of this memorable season....

The Eagles are 14-1 when Jalen Hurts plays and 0-2 when he doesn’t. He’s thrown just six interceptions, but has combined for 35 total touchdowns, tied with Randall Cunningham for the most in Eagles history. His 13 rushing TDs are tied for the most by a quarterback in NFL history (Cam Newton, 2011).

In Week 13, Brown catches eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns against the Titans, his former team. Two days later, the Titans fire Jon Robinson, the general manager who traded him to the Eagles in April.

The Eagles set a new franchise mark and lead the league with 70 sacks, tied for third most in NFL history. Four players finished the regular season with at least 10 (Haason Reddick, Javon Hargrave, Josh Sweat, and Brandon Graham). Nine of those sacks came in their two previous matchups against the Giants. Sleep tight, Daniel Jones!

» READ MORE: An illustrated recap of the Eagles' road to the 2023 playoffs

— Steve Madden, Thomas Bassinger, Matt Mullin, and John Duchneskie

The Eagles activated safety Anthony Harris from the practice squad for Saturday’s NFC divisional-round game against the New York Giants.

Harris was a regular starter during the 2021 season. He recorded 72 tackles, three passes defensed, and one interception. The Eagles took a new direction at safety this season when they traded for C.J. Gardner-Johnson just a couple of weeks before the regular-season opener at Detroit. Soon after the Eagles acquired Gardner-Johnson, they released Harris.

Harris, 31, had a brief stint with the team’s practice squad before he and the Eagles ultimately parted ways ahead of Week 1. The eight-year veteran joined the Broncos practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in November and then released in December. Following midseason injuries to Gardner-Johnson and rookie Reed Blankenship, the Eagles re-signed Harris to the practice squad last month.

» READ MORE: Eagles activate safety Anthony Harris from the practice squad for Giants game

— Josh Tolentino

On the Wednesday before the Eagles’ divisional playoff game vs. the New York Giants, C.J. Gardner-Johnson was talking trash to Jalen Hurts and Quez Watkins at practice.

Gardner-Johnson was lined up at slot cornerback opposite the quarterback and wide receiver. His mouth had been running throughout team drills — some may say it hasn’t stopped since he first joined the team last summer — and Hurts had heard enough.

“He was talking [bleep],” third-string quarterback Ian Book said, “and Jalen signaled to a route so he could throw it on him.”

Watkins ran a fade, got behind Gardner-Johnson by a half-step, and Hurts hit him in stride, several players said. Many other defensive backs might have shut their traps after getting beat. But the Eagles, after nearly five months of living with the former New Orleans Saint, know better.

“Yeah, we got him good, but he was still yapping,” Watkins said afterward. “If he’s locking you up and he’s winning the reps and he’s talking, it’s going to [tick] you off. He made us better there. But he’s also pumping himself up, too.”

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman traded for Gardner-Johnson, first and foremost, for his prodigious ability. But every team needs a hype man. Defensive end Brandon Graham has occupied that role for years. The 25-year-old Gardner-Johnson has been a younger, brasher version in the secondary — often at his own teammates’ expense.

» READ MORE: ‘Can’t stand this heat, get out of my way’: Trash-talking C.J. Gardner-Johnson remade himself with the Eagles

— Jeff McLane

It seems like nearly every pundit expects the Eagles to defeat the Giants on Saturday and move on to the NFC Championship game. That includes all three of the Inquirer’s beat writers.

Mike Florio is an outlier.

The NBC NFL insider who is also the co-owner of ProFootballTalk, predicts the Giants will upset the Birds at the Linc Saturday night.

Here’s what Florio wrote:

ESPN’s Seth Wickersham also picked the Giants to win. But just about everyone else at the popular sports network — including NFL analyst Mina Kimes and First Take host Stephen A. Smith — went with the Eagles.

» READ MORE: NFL divisional playoff picks: Eagles-Giants predictions from the local and national media

— Rob Tornoe

» READ MORE: An illustrated recap of the Eagles’ road to the 2023 playoffs

— Rob Tornoe

Former Eagles linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who is currently the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, interviewed for the Houston Texans vacant head coaching position, the team announced Saturday night. He also interviewed for the Denver Broncos job.

The Denver Post described Ryans, 38, as “one of the hottest candidates in this year’s head coaching cycle.” He’s also drawn interest from the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.

In just two years as defensive coordinator, Ryans has developed the 49ers defense into one of the toughest in the league. He was hired in 2017 by the team as a defensive quality control assistant, and has spent the past two seasons as defensive coordinator.

Ryans spent four of his 10 seasons with the Eagles, and quickly became one of the team leaders. He led the Birds in tackles in 2012 and 2013, but was ultimately derailed after tearing his Achilles’ tendon in a 2014 game against the Texans. Ryans sued the Texans and the NFL after the injury, blaming the poor field condition at NRG Stadium, but the Texas Court of Appeals ruled the lawsuit fell within the scope of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, and dismissed the case.

— Rob Tornoe

The Eagles are the NFC’s No. 1 seed, but the team is getting Fox’s No. 2 booth.

Calling the Birds’ divisional round playoff game against the Giants on Saturday night is Joe Davis, who most Philly sports fans will remember as the voice of the Phillies’ World Series run on Fox. He should sound very familiar to Eagles fans, since he called three of the Birds final five games this season, including their blowout win against the Giants in Week 14.

Alongside Davis in the booth will be veteran broadcaster Daryl Johnston. Reporting from the sidelines at the Linc will be Pam Oliver and Kristina Pink.

» READ MORE: Eagles-Giants: Game time, channel, how to watch and stream NFL playoffs

— Rob Tornoe