NEW ORLEANS — Nearly three hours before kickoff between the Eagles and Saints, 80 or so Saints season-ticket holders picked up their handful of Old Glory and began to unfurl the flag across the Superdome field.
Commonly at NFL games, the pregame entertainment rehearses at least once before the fans are allowed in the doors. But during this dry run, Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner didn’t play in that moment—the Saints’ other anthem did.
“Choppa style, chop chop Choppa style” screamed from the Superdome speakers. The 2002 song by rapper Choppa has become the victory song for the 2018 Saints, popularized by Teddy Bridgewater’s “bike style” dance moves, and the audio group at the Superdome was preparing to play it early and often as New Orleans hosted Philadelphia.