one thing it won't be is easy. >> reporter: that's certainly the case jim. minnesota has the number one ranked did he first in the nfl but the eagles had the fourth ranked scoring defense in the league. >> reporter: and they take that as a challenge. they want to prove you know what, we don't care that their numbers are good, watch us. let's talk about the eagles. they took practice outside today into the elements across the street at the linc. they've been doing that every week. of course the vikings are not nearly as strong on the road. two of the three losses came on the road outside. doug pederson told me earlier this week he wishes it was going to be colder but regardless it's not about the vikings it's about the birds and with the way they've been playing, he doesn't want anything to change. >> nothing really had as to change. i mean, at the end of the day it's football and i got to make sure that, you know, my head is in the right spot. i'm blocking out the noise just like i'm telling the players to block it out. and i'm focused on my job and

helping this football team try to win a football game and i try not to get caught up in the magnitude, you know, of what this game really means. >> reporter: pederson has done judge a great job all year. we'll be here all night ducis. it's our nfc championship playoff preview party "action news" sports special tonight at 7:30 p.m. live from chickie's and pete's we'll be joined by ron jaworski and brian westbrook will be here. >> we'll be joined by several hundred of the crazest eagles fans that there are right now. they are live loud, they are proud, they are praying for a victory come sunday. for jaime apody i'm ducis rodgers channel6 "action news." jim back to you. >> thank you guys. let's switch live to lincoln financial field at "action news" reporter chad pradelli. chad, what do fans need to know before they flock to the stadium on sunday? >> reporter: jim behind me that is lot k. that lot opens at 1 o'clock on

sunday but other lots they open much earlier. here's what you need to know come sunday. lincoln financial field will be rocking come sunday night. hours earlier the festivities will begin outside. fans mike and jessica bennett are here from vancouver ready to cheer on the birds. you going to be tailgating on sunday. >> probably very early, yup. >> reporter: what are you expecting here. >> i expect probably the most insane sporting event i've ever seen in my life so -- and a big win. >> reporter: here's what they and others need to know. the party gets started early here at fdr park. tailgating begins at 6:00 a.m. the wells fargo lots open at 11:00 a.m. a half hour later, lots mn and p open and citizens bank park lots get going at 3:00 p.m. our couple from vancouver aren't sure when they'll start. >> i don't want to be too, too inebriated for game time. >> reporter: security getting into the stadium will

be tight. the motto is let's be clear. small clutches are allowed, so, too, are 1 gallon ziploc bags. other clear bags are allowed but can't exceed 12 by six by 12-inches. police are ramping up their presence. >> we have a lot of officers both uniformed plainclothes real good security inside the stadium and outside in the parking lots. >> reporter: the message from police, have fun, be safe and let the game be enjoyable for all inside the linc. the bennetts can't wait for. >> the atmosphere. the fans, the people, the -- just the excitement, the electricity in the crowd going to be amazing. >> reporter: and certain laws do -- lots do not allow tailgating. those are north of pattison and darien. chad pradelli channel6 "action news." jim. >> thank you, chad. if the eagles win on sunday, it will surprise nobody it seems like this.

break out at various philadelphia locations. this is frankford and cottman in mayfair. and police are preparing for crowd control here and elsewhere. "action news" reporter vernon odom is live at police headquarters tonight where officials have been sharing their plans for sunday. vernon, what's the story there. >> reporter: jim, they are eyeballing legendary hot spots for big victory turnouts as we go into this weekend they'll be watching them all weekend. police have been declaring themselves fit and ready for big game on sunday. they're own game plan based upon planning experience and sound judgment. jim, they have been planning for this all week. they'll have extra troops on the street all day long and more on standby if they are needed to be called out. their experience comes a lot from the 08 celebrations spontaneousus ious after the

phillies game. septa police are ready to go too. they're putting on extra trains and people. there are surveillance camera and system better than any other -- as good as any in the world so everybody's standing by, jim, and they say they are ready to go. i'm vernon odom channel6 "action news" live at police headquarters in center city, jim. >> thank you, vernon. "action news" reporter bob brooks live at city hall tonight. bob it's hard to imagine that there are fans more passionate about their football and more desperate for the ultimate prize. how is the area expressing its passion and its pride? >> reporter: jim very well. we went all over the area today. we stopped in places of work, school, senior centers. everyone is having a blast preparing for this nfc championship game. that includes support right here in center city. you'll see these overlife sized cutouts of eagles players. i'll tell you what, everyone is very excited.

>> ♪ >> fly eagles friday. >> reporter: from some of the youngest. >> ♪ >> reporter: to our seniors who are clearly still going way strong. >> ♪ fly eagles fly on the road to victory. e-a-g-l-e-s eagles ♪ >> reporter: and every fan in between. for many work, school or their typical day was a lot more fun. the eagles are bringing fans all across the area together. are the eagles going to win. >> i think so. >> reporter: you think so? >> we think so. >> reporter: and we had a blast today meeting some of the youngest well dressed and spirited fans. this was at today's child learning center in sharon hill. some of the little ones here don't know it yet but they'll be eagles fans their whole lives. nothing wrong with that. and others seem ready to play now. >> win, eagles. [cheers and applause] >> reporter: just around the corner we popped into the pep

rally at mercy wide. the seniors have been waiting a long time. how long have you been an eagles fan. >> long, long time. >> reporter: do you think this is the year they make it to the super bowl. >> yes, i do. >> reporter: this is it? >> yes. >> reporter: along with an eagles fight song cheer they had a message for the vikings. >> pain. >> reporter: pain for. >> minnesota. >> reporter: that's rightly. [cheers and applause] >> reporter: in broomall at crozer keystone they had the full spread going and they insisted i sing with them in a cheer so i did. >> ♪ fly eagles fly on the road to victory. >> reporter: i ask everyone out there to pardon my singing. i had a blast with everyone we pretty. i made a promise to a lot of those people. i said in two weeks the friday before the super bowl if the eagles win i come back and do it all over again. we certainly hope that happens. reporting live at city hall bob brooks channel6 "action news." jim. >> thank you bob.

we invite you to join "action news" beginning sunday morning. eagles game day starts with live reports from the linc on "action news" at 6:00 a.m. pregame coverage begins with "action news" at 5:00 p.m. and of course we'll have live postgame reports as soon as the final whistle blows and an extra hour of "action news" starting at 10:00 p.m. and we'll wrap up the game with extended live eagles coverage on "action news" sports sunday. and right now on 6abc.com you can find complete coverage of the eagles playoff run. analysis from our "action news" sports team and a look ahead with former eagles quarterback ron jaworski but also showing you how some of the area's biggest eagles fans are getting ready for the game. coming up on "action news" tonight new jersey senator bob menendez could be retried on corruption charges. that's not that story. what you're looking at there is a sinkhole in fishtown.

it's a problem and crews are now working to fix it. it has forced evacuations from the entire neighborhood. melissa. >> and jim, we've got a nice climb as we head into our weekend. in fact, on wednesday we had a high temperature of 33. yesterday 36. 10 degrees milder this afternoon with a high coming in at 46 degrees. and it looks like this warmer weather will continue as we head into our weekend. details coming up with the accuweather forecast. >> we will go back to ducis rodgers and jaime apody in south philadelphia for an eagles championship preview. that and more when "action news" continues. >> ♪

schumer said there was some progress and efforts to prevent a government shutdown at midnight tonight but that there are still disagreements. senate democrats say they won't vote for a short term funding bill unless it includes protection for so-called dreamers. 800,000 people brought here illegally as children years ago. world news tonight with david muir will have complete coverage of the showdown over the possible shutdown next at 6:30. the justice department says it intends to retry new jersey senator bob menendez on corruption charges. the first menendez trial ended in november with a deadlocked jury. it was a mistrial. menendez is seeking reelection to his seat next year. firefighters battled a smoky blaze that broke out inside a twin home in the frankford section of philadelphia. this is on the 4600 block of pilling street. the fire erupted at 10:30 this

morning. fire crews got it under control within an hour. and fortunately nobody was injured. the cause is under investigation. all right we showed you this picture a minute ago. a large sinkhole prompted the evacuation of six homes today in the fishtown section of philadelphia. the view from chopper6 shows a section of the street and sidewalk collapsed along the 2200 block of taggert. crews from the water department, pgw, l and i and peco responded to the area at 11:30 this morning. there is no official word yet whether a broken water main caused the sinkhole. a sign of changing times in downingtown, chester county. chopper6 was overhead as demolition crews leveled part of what was once the sunoco paper mill at the intersection of boot road and route 322. local officials hope that it will be the future site of a new downingtown amtrak septa train station. the hanging group purchased

the property with plans to build a massive retail and reasonable project. the 13 member panel tasked with creating philadelphia's new board of education met today for the first time. the group presented legal requirements for board membership at city hall this morning. it also outlined the nomination process and ethics guidance for candidates. earlier this month governor tom wolf approved dissolving the school reform commission and returning the district to local control. heads up for commuters. septa will no longer be selling tokens at the market frankford and broad street line stations come monday. it is the latest step as the transit agency transitions to a septa keycard. they are free with a $10 minimum load.

>> an entire section of the sun country have a single pulse? if it can it's quickening for sure.

>> fly eagles fly will be sung over and over again sunday night at the linc everyone is getting ready to roll anxious nervous name the emotion eagles are feeling it as they get ready for the biggest game of the season sunday against the vikings for the right to go to the super bowl. doug pederson admitting he's trying to focus and stay level headed. let's go live to ducis rodgers and jaime apody at chickie's and chickie's and pete's in south philadelphia hosts of our nfc championship pregame show tonight. guys. >> reporter: say, there, jeff. the excitement is certainly in the air throughout the city, certainly here at chickie's and pete's and it will be that way at the linc sunday 6:40. this eagles team i would never bet against them. they have overcome so much this season including a number of injuries. >> think about that. jason peters darren sproles, jordan hicks, subsequent, carson wentz that's an entire starting team right there and also it features the most unlikely of mackups case keenum against nick foles. it's uncanny that he's at this

point. of course he led the eagles to the playoffs the last time they were here in 2013. but he's been a journeyman backup since and also decided to retire before fate brought him back to philadelphia to back up carson wentz. his teammates say there's nobody else they want to lead the team right now. foles wants to win it for this city. >> right now we're just focused on the moment but this fan base is amazing. that's coming back here philly wherever i've been when i wasn't playing for the eagles it's always had a special place in my heart and to be a player that's fortunate enough to come back and play for the team that he was drafted by and has such strong ties to the city that doesn't happen often and just to be here in this moment to go play the game with these guys to play in front of these fans it's a great honor and we're going to give everything we have sunday to give us that opportunity. >> reporter: like foles, vikings quarterback case keenum began this season as a

backup. he's done an excellent job guiding his team. chris long was keenum's teammate in saint louis. long knows how tough he can be. >> i call him like a little mini brett farve like he's like a little gun player. i've played with him before. i know what he's about. he's a great competitor. he can make a lot of throws in tight spots. you know, out of anyplace in the pocket and he is tough to bring down. >> reporter: we will have much more from the eagles coming up tonight at 7:30 here on 6abc for our playoff preview party, ron gentleman jaworski, jeff skversky, brian westbrook and jamie will be here. >> what do you travel with a band. >> reporter: right on cue. >> reporter: the crowd is so pumped up. they love the disrespect. it continues ducis. the nfl's facebook page they were promoting a contest to win trips to the super bowl. they've got the matchup as the

patriots and the vikings. i think these fans would have something to say about that. >> yeah. >> e-a-g-l-e-s, eagles. >> reporter: if you don't believe them the picture is on 6abc.com ducis. >> reporter: for jaime apody i'm ducis rodgers i'm ducis rodgers. >> tom brady is questionable with a hand injury. the the patriots quarterback will be a game time decision against jacksonville sunday. the eagles could potentially be facing one of those two teams next in the super bowl. >> all right. coming up on "action news" accuweather when we continue in just a moment. >> ♪

>> folks all over the delaware valley and the tri-state area are getting ready to cheer the eagles on to victory. physical education teacher jeff yakel and his second graders at whitemarsh elementary school exercising their singing voices today. >> ♪ fly eagles fly on the road to victory. e-a-g-l-e-s eagles. >> pretty good. share your eagles pride with us throughout the weekend. just send your photos and videos by using the #6abcaction on instagram and twitter. going to be kind of a warmish weekend. >> yeah. >> for the game and whatever else you have planned. >> yeah, temperatures will be nice and mild, even for kickoff in the lower 40's jim. we've got you covered with that. we'll show you what's going on. we'll show you the picture outside sky6 live in hd from

our temple university camera looking at a beautiful shot of the center city skyline, the buildings lit up in eagles green as we are getting ready for the game day forecast on sunday. looking at some of the weather headlines it's nice for the eagles at the linc on sunday and then we're talking about four straight days with temperatures in the 50's. a soaking rain however is headed our way as we get into tuesday morning. right now in philadelphia, still pretty comfortable at 40. it's 31 in allentown, 39 in trenton, 38 in dover and 40 degrees in atlantic city at the airport. the big picture showing you high pressure is dominating with satellite6 along with action radar. you can see we've got a mostly clear sky but a southwesterly wind will be heading in our direction as we go throughout the rest of our weekend so pretty quiet conditions for the next 12 hours. in fact, we've got a mostly clear sky, not as chilly. we'll fall down to 24 in the suburbs and 30 degrees in philadelphia for the overnight low with that west to southwesterly wind at four to 8 miles per hour.

the setup for us on our saturday, sunshine, a few afternoon clouds, it is a nice day a high temperature coming in at 54 degrees in philadelphia. that's 14 degrees above average, 52 in reading, 47 in cape may, 53 in dover and 52 degrees in trenton. here's the setup as we get into sunday, though. 11 o'clock in the morning, some sunshine still along the i-95 corridor, points to the south and east but clouds are starting to drift in from a westerly direction. so, it will not be raining on sunday but the clouds will be making a comeback especially by 6:30 in the evening. 10 minutes before kickoff at the linc so we've got you covered, the eagles taking on the vikings. all eyes will be there. rather cloudy southwesterly wind at three to 6 miles per hour. first quarter that temperature not bad 4 degrees above average at 44 and once we get into the fourth quarter, we've got a temperature coming in at 42. the skiers want to get some action in as well and certainly a good weekend to do so. the past two weekends are pretty wet and pretty mild.

sunny and comfortable tomorrow high temperature at 43. sunday it's partly sunny with a high coming in at 41. the exclusive accuweather 7-day forecast showing you on saturday it's nice and mild, a high temperature up to 54. on sunday, it's mild with sunshine and clouds sharing the sky, more clouds drifting in as the day wears on. otherwise a high temperature of 50. on monday, mostly cloudy with some patchy fog developing and the high temperature of 51. tuesday we're tracking the system that's going to move on through so we're wet for the first half of the day. a good soaking on the way, a high by then coming in at 56. and in the wake of that on wednesday it is brisk and colder with a high of just 43. then on thursday, sunshine a few clouds around at 39 for the high. next friday mostly cloudy with a high temperature coming in at 46 degrees. so, temperatures, jim, well above average as we head into the weekend. the eagles at least the fans should be okay. it will not be as cold this go

round as it was last weekend at the linc. >> all right, thank you. abc's "world news tonight" next with david muir on channel6. "action news" continues at 10:00 on phl 17 with brian taff, sharrie williams, adam joseph and ducis rodgers. then please join us for "action news" at 11:00 here on channel6. for cecily tynan melissa magee ducis rodgers jaime apody jeff skversky and the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner. we hope you'll join us for "action news" at 11:00. >> ♪

tonight, breaking news as we come on the air. will there be a government shutdown? we take you inside the last ditch negotiating at this hour. and the president inviting democrat chuck schumer to the white house. what schumer revealed right after. one republican aide telling abc, "we're terrified trump is going to hose us." inside the courtroom tonight, one of america's olympic stars face to face with doctor larry nassar, saying, quote, the tables have turned, larry. and what she said next. the deadly flu. the 8-year-old girl who died just hours after arriving at the hospital. the 27-year-old who went home from urgent care, and then died. and can you catch the flu from simply breathing in the air? new tonight, the las vegas massacre. what the girlfriend has now revealed. and never-before-seen pictures