When the Philadelphia Eagles were mowing through the NFC en route to a Super Bowl championship last year, they came to fully embrace the underdog role by wearing dog masks as their backup quarterback led them to win after win. They’re hoping to do that again this season by using a different kind of mask for motivation.
Before his team’s big upset win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, injured safety Rodney McLeod was shown pumping up his teammates by holding up a black ski mask. The message was that Philly was going to steal the game, hence the mask that is often worn by robbers. McLeod said the team wants to see fans embrace the new movement.
“We say it’s robbing season. It’s thievery. Hopefully the fans come out next week and wear the masks with us in the stands,” he said after the win, via Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice. “That’d be cool. It’s just something to motivate us as a defense, and the entire team.”
The idea actually came to life during the Eagles’ game against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago, though they lost that one. Malcolm Jenkins was spotted on the telecast wearing a ski mask at the beginning of the game.
Jalen Mills wore a ski mask in team huddle talking about stealing the away
Malcolm Jenkins wearing a ski mask, stole on the first play!
Steal the division in Dallas!#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ZWBznwM8rF
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 9, 2018
Both McLeod and Jenkins made reference to the mask on Sunday.
MASK ON until we get everything we came here for. #thievery #skimaskseason #ganggreen #stayhungry #doordie https://t.co/RW9iR00WOS
— Rodney McLeod (@Rodney_McLeod4) December 16, 2018
“I get mine the fast way, the ski mask way” ?? #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/mEEr3Sw4J4
— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) December 17, 2018
The Eagles had a great reason for breaking out the dog mask after their first-round playoff win a year ago, and they still have some work to do if they want to qualify for the postseason again this year. Perhaps the ski masks will help, but we’re not sure how stadium security will feel about a bunch of people showing up to games looking like they’re about to knock off a bank.
