Fans will sing many, many choruses of “Fly Eagles Fly.”

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The last time the Eagles opened a season as NFL champions , it was 1960 and, well, who remembers what folks did then in Philadelphia?What they’ll certainly do Thursday night at the Linc when the Falcons come to town is roar with approval at the site of the Lombardi Trophy and the championship banner. And then the guys on the field will get down to business, defending the title they took away from New England last February.That defense will be difficult, particularly in the NFC, a stronger conference than the AFC.“Quite honestly , it’s going to be a great night from that standpoint,” coach Doug Pederson says of the season opener. “The fans that are in attendance are going to be crazy and they’re going to be excited. It’s going to be great for the banner to be dropped in Lincoln Financial (Field). It’s going to be a great atmosphere.“I think with this football team, though, they understand this is a different season, it’s a new team, new year. We’re sitting here 0-0 with a great opportunity against a great opponent — a playoff/Super Bowl-caliber team coming in here. Quite honestly, that’s their focus.”It had better be , because the Falcons barely lost in Philly in the divisional round last winter, and they’ve upgraded on both sides of the ball. Atlanta, No. 8 in the AP Pro32, comes in as a 2½-point underdog to top-ranked Philadelphia.Pro Picks goes out on a limb early.UPSET SPECIAL: FALCONS, 22-20KNOCKOUT POOLWe didn’t stick around for too long last year, so consider that when we choose the SAINTS to win this weekend.No. 15 San Francisco (plus 6) at No. 3 MinnesotaJimmy Garoppolo is undefeated as a starting quarterback. Streak ends Sunday.BEST BET: VIKINGS, 27-16No. 5 Pittsburgh (minus 5 1-2) at No. 31 ClevelandThe Browns are defeated in 17 straight. That streak continues , even if Le’Veon Bell is a no-show.STEELERS, 23-20No. 29 Tampa Bay (plus 9 1-2) at No. 6 New OrleansAlmost went with this as BEST BET. Saints have Super Bowl-level talent.SAINTS, 33-16No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (minus 5) at No. 21 Oakland, Monday nightThe return of Jon Gruden to the Black Hole. Raiders could struggle after Chucky traded his best player.RAMS, 27-25No. 28 Chicago (plus 7 1-2) at No. 9 Green BayKhalil Mack surfaces in Chicago. More significant: Aaron Rodgers is back at QB for Packers.PACKERS 27-13No. 13 Kansas City (plus 3) at No. 10 Los Angeles ChargersLots of people like the Chargers in the AFC West. So do we.CHARGERS, 21-13No. 12 Houston (plus 6 1-2) at No. 2 New EnglandIf healthy, the Texans could be ready for special season. But they rarely play well in Foxborough.PATRIOTS , 30-20No. 26 Buffalo (plus 7) at No. 14 BaltimoreSean McDermott didn’t want inexperienced Josh Allen at QB against this defense. Smart man.RAVENS, 18-7No. 24 (tie) Cincinnati (plus 3) at No. 30 IndianapolisAndrew Luck returns at last. He doesn’t have much surrounding him.BENGALS, 22-14No. 7 Jacksonville (minus 3) at No. 20 New York GiantsHow satisfying will this win be for Tom Coughlin?JAGUARS, 20-19No. 17 Tennessee (minus 1) at No. 27 MiamiNot feeling good vibes about the Titans right now.DOLPHINS, 21-20No. 16 Dallas (plus 2 1-2) at No. 11 CarolinaNot feeling good vibes about the Cowboys right now.PANTHERS, 30-24No. 22 Washington (pick-em) at No. 24 (tie) ArizonaTwo of the NFL’s most mysterious teams this year. Go with the hosts.CARDINALS, 24-20No. 18 Seattle (plus 3) at No. 23 DenverTwo more of the NFL’s most mysterious teams. Go with the … you get the drill.BRONCOS , 20-13No. 32 New York Jets (plus 6 1-2) at No. 19 Detroit, Monday nightSam Darnold’s debut gives this game some intrigue. So does Matt Patricia’s as Lions coach.LIONS, 23-19 Colts head coach Frank Reich had planned to play his starters in the team’s third preseason game of the summer, but he said on Wednesday that he’s had a change of heart.The team already ruled quarterback Andrew Luck out this week and Reich said at a Wednesday press conference that he’s decided to hold out most of the team’s other starters against the Bears as well.Reich said that having so many players back for a second year in the same system influenced his thinking about playing starters for a limited number of snaps. Reich also said that he spoke to Bears head coach Matt Nagy and said that Nagy’s plan to sit his first-stringers also played into the decision to change his approach this week.With more teams adopting the less is more approach to playing starters in the preseason and a new Collective Bargaining Agreement being negotiated, one would imagine that lowering the number of exhibition games will remain a popular talking point around the league.

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