Many fans believe the Eagles played their Super Bowl when they beat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship. When they got to New Orleans for the big game against the Oakland Raiders, it was pretty much a blowout. Here is the story that appeared in the Jan. 26, 2981 edition of the newspaper.

Eagles fail to land title, but fans stay high on Birds

PHILADELPHIA (UPI) - By midnight, Philadelphia was as quiet as a snowflake hitting the sidewalk.

The enthusiasm building through the day Sunday in the city’s bars and taverns, and in many private homes, was abruptly quashed by the Philadelphia Eagles’ 27-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV.

In Octover, when the Phillies nabbed the World Series, the city was flooded with thousands of fans, rocking the walls with the shouts. Now, the victory parade planned for today will not take place. It will be a day for paying off bets.

Only a handful of youthful fans gathered Sunday at the tratitional reveling spot − Kensington and Allegheny under the El − to shake a few green and white pompoms and shout, “We’re No. 1!”

Said Tom Bannan, 17, “In the eyes of Philadelphia, the Eagles will always be number one.”

That was the feeling amoung many of the Eagles faithful, who readily point out that, at least, the Eagles had made it to Super Bowl XV in New Orleans, something they had never done before.

At Dirty Frank’s bar in center city, “everybody cheerind for the Eagles anyway,” said a bartender. “They were just happy they got there and they’re looking forward to Super Bowl XVI.”

“Just waitn until next year,” said Patrolman Charles Dougherty.

But overall there was sadness. When the NFL championship game was over, “everyone left kind of in dismay,” said the bartender at Kyber Pass Pub.

“I’m sick,” said Joan Bodden, who wore an Eagles cap and whistle, and a jersey with “Jaworski” across the shoulders.

“They beat themselves,” said a Philadelphia policement who watched the game on television at the police headquarters.