PHILADELPHIA — Donovan McNabb has watched someone else celebrate an NFC title. He has even visualized himself in the midst of such a celebration.

"Holding up the trophy, and getting hit by confetti, and having all our fans getting excited," McNabb said.

But is this the year he actually takes part in such a celebration?

After losing the past three NFC title games, McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles get yet another shot today at Lincoln Financial Field. With a victory over Atlanta, the Eagles will be in the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history and the first time since the 1980 season.

Lose, and they will become the first team to lose four consecutive conference championships. They will be to conference title games what the Buffalo Bills were to Super Bowls in the early '90s. Namely, four-time losers.

"It's unfortunate what happened to us the last three years, but it's just a different feeling this year," McNabb said. "We've had a special season, things have really been moving in a positive direction, and guys have been stepping up and making big plays for us.

"So the confidence level is definitely there. But most importantly, the energy level is there. We're a fresher team."

"Right now, we have a pretty good swagger going on," said defensive end Jevon Kearse, the former Tennessee Titan in his first year with Philly. "Just being around the locker room, and the other players, and the coaches, you would never know that they lost the last three NFC Championship Games."

Yeah, but those frenzied Philadelphia fans know.

"We've already felt the wrath of the city," running back Brian Westbrook said. "Everyone in the city has already been mad at us. And now we're going out to win a ballgame."

The problem is, they can't possibly be as loose as the Falcons, who are making their first trip to the NFC Championship Game since 1998. Only two current Falcons were with the team that season, linebacker Keith Brooking and defensive end Travis Hall. In their first year under new coach Jim Mora, nobody expected the Falcons to get this far.

"There's no pressure on us," said Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick. "This is our first trip. The Eagles, they've been in this situation before and they're in the same situation again. We all know this is a big game for them."

Vick, 24, is a fresh face on the national stage.

"I think in order to be recognized in this league, you have to get to a Super Bowl and win it," he said.