There was nothing else. A blanket of slate clouds shrouded the sun and blue sky. The misty fog which enveloped Lincoln Financial Field veiled most of the already irrelevant outside world. For those fans like myself sitting in the lower levels, not even the parking lot or other newly constructed sporting venues were visible. There was just this. No worrying about grocery shopping; no fantasizing of love interests; no wallowing in thoughts of returning to work the following morning. None of that mattered to those who had convened upon the stone sanctuary at 3501 South Broad Street. It would be sacrilegious for disciples of the Eagles to divert even an ounce of energy away from the game.

It was my first pilgrimage to the most sacred 120 yards of grass (endzone inclusive) in Philadelphia city limits. A light rain beat steadily on a volatile sea of emerald green and white jerseys, prone to erupt with even the slightest provocation—good or bad. I was crowded and wet, just like my fellow 69,142 game-goers who disregarded the forewarning of showers to watch the Eagles do battle with the division rival Washington Redskins.

I was overwhelmed. To watch the game at a Philly sports bar is to witness a reformed sect of a religion. To journey to the holy ground was to witness the devout perform their cultish rituals as they were originally conceived. It was joining the tediously repetitive sitting, then standing for the play, then sitting again. It was learning the sacred touchdown celebration song, “Fly Eagles Fly,” after Donovan McNabb connected with Donte Stallworth for a dynamite 84-yard score in the first quarter. It was seeing over 100,000 arms synchronously thrust in the air to the screaming chant of “E-A-G-L-E-S—EAGLES,” after Correll Buckhalter ran teammate Reggie Brown’s fumble-lateral into the endzone, extending Philadelphia’s lead to 17-0.

At that point, the game was already over. The Redskins All-Pro running back Clinton Portis had left the game in the first quarter after suffering a broken hand. Philadelphia’s defense managed the rest of Washington’s hindered run game, and shut down the pass attack, highlighted by Sheldon Brown returning an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Meanwhile, a more balanced Eagles offensive attack under the play-calling of offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg saw McNabb throw for 222 yards and one touchdown, with Brian Westbrook contribute 113 yards on the ground. David Akers added two field goals in what ultimately ended in a 27-3 Philadelphia triumph.

With the win, the Eagles move back above the .500 mark to 5-4, and Coach Andy Reid remains undefeated at 8-0 in games following bye weeks. Looking to remain in playoff contention, the Birds now prepare to host the lowly Tennessee Titans, who nearly upset another group of birds, the AFC North leading Baltimore Ravens, before falling 27-26.

I will be rejoining the patrons of Cavanaugh’s Restaurant and Bar for that game.