The Eagles know that they must take advantage of the "toughest fans to play in front of in the NFL," according to a recent Sports Illustrated poll of NFL players.
Lincoln Financial Field has not been kind to the Eagles this season. The team is only 1-5 at home this year with the lone win coming against the Dallas Cowboys back on October 30. After last week's "home game" against Miami, where thousands of Eagles fans cheered their team on to victory, head coach Andy Reid expects the team's performance to carry over into this Sunday's game against the Jets.
"I'm sure you saw that down in Miami the number of fans there was tremendous. The number was astronomical and I think they outnumbered the Dolphins fans," Reid said. "We appreciate the support and we're busting our tails to make sure we represent the fans and the city in the right way. The guys have had a good week of preparation to go out and make sure we'll play well."
Cornerback Asante Samuel said that the team's lack of success at home was simply "unexplainable."
"We just all have to stick together." Samuel said, including the fans. "Everybody's out here for one common goal. I would assume the fans are. We definitely want to win and get to the big one."
Quarterback Michael Vick knows that the team can't change what happened in the past and that "it's all about what we can do in the future." Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin credited the fans for doing their part. Now, it's time for the Eagles players to step up and seize the homefield advantage.
"It has been frustrating because that's supposed to be a place where we're hard to beat, hard for teams to come in and win and we haven't done our part and the fans are always into it," Maclin said. "We definitely want to get out there and get a 'W' not only for the fans but for ourselves as well."
The Jets are 2-4 on the road this season. The Eagles will look to keep their playoff hopes alive ... and give something the fans to cheer about at the same time on Sunday.
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