Philly bleeds frosty green during Wild Card Weekend

     Philadelphia Eagles fan Shaun Young, of Springfield, Penn., shows his support (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo, file)

    Philadelphia Eagles fan Shaun Young, of Springfield, Penn., shows his support (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo, file)

    NewsWorks is gearing up for the big game with a chat with Merril Reese; an inside look at the Link’s snow- removal; an update on the Philly Police Depatment’s plan to go undercover as Saints’ fans; and a talk with a New Orleans Saints beat reporter to get a feel for the vibe in the big easy.

    It’s Wild Card Weekend and excitement is running high in Philadelphia. Game time is set for just after 8 p.m. Saturday when the Birds host the Saints at Lincoln Financial Field.

    NewsWorks is gearing up for the big game with a chat with Merril Reese; an inside look at the Link’s clean-up; an update on the Philly Police Depatment’s plan to go undercover as Saints’ fans; and a talk with a New Orleans Saints beat reporter to get a feel for the vibe in the big easy.

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    Tonight’s bitter cold, predicted in the mid-to-low 20s, could always be worse — we could be in Green Bay where on-field wind chills may fall to 30 below.

    Merril Reese, “The Voice of the Philadelphia Eagles” tells WHYY’s Jo Ann Allen that the frigid temperatures along with the New Orleans Saints less-than-perfect record on the road means the Birds have a good shot at winning this weekend.

    Clean-up began yesterday after Thursday night’s storm dumped nearly 10 inches of snow onto Philadelphia, and snow removal at Lincoln Financial Field required some hefty manpower.

    About 400 workers battled the wind and cold to clear aisles, ramps and seats at the Linc where the Eagles are set to play the New Orleans Saints Saturday night in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

    Philadelphia police will be doing many things to keep the peace at the Eagles NFL playoff game Saturday night. A few cops might even don Saints gold and black to make sure out-of-town fans don’t get abused by Iggles faithful.

    NewsWorks Tonight producer Shai Ben-Yaacov checked in with Jason Saul, Saints beat reporter for WWNO in New Orleans, to get a feel for the vibe in the Big Easy.

    Click through for the full stories here on NewsWorks.

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