PHILADELPHIA - Andy Reid is tired of going to Hawaii.

For the last three years, Reid and the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles' coaching staff have spent the week after the Super Bowl in Honolulu leading the NFC's Pro Bowl team, the result of losing the conference championship game.

Reid will gladly trade those floral shirts and leis for a trip to Jacksonville this year.

"I never thought I'd say I don't want to go to Hawaii," Reid said. "You get to this point, you really aren't that worried about what happened in the past. You are so focused in on what you need to do right now and the type of things that you are doing right now."

Playing in the past three NFC championship games gives the Eagles a significant edge over Atlanta in big-game experience. Losing all three of those games also puts all the pressure on Philadelphia to get to the Super Bowl for the first time in 24 years.

The Falcons, meanwhile, have far less to lose. A year ago, they were 5-11. Now they're a victory away from the second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history; the other was in 1999.

"We're just going to go up there and play loose and let it roll," Falcons rookie coach Jim Mora said. "We don't feel any pressure. It's house money we're gambling with. So we're just going to go up there and fling it around and see if we can't stay on the field with them for a little while."

The Eagles have traveled this road before, only to get detoured at the last stop before playing for the NFL title. They were favorites at home the last two years against teams who played in a warmer climate and had trouble winning on the road and in cold weather.

It could be downright freezing when the Eagles (14-3) host the Falcons (12-5) on Sunday afternoon, with forecasters calling for snow.

"I don't think it'll be a factor," Falcons quarterback Michael Vick said. "Football is played in all types of conditions: rain, sleet, snow or whatever. The game is not going to be called off. This is for all the marbles."

Last year, Carolina came to Philadelphia, ignored the elements and stunned the Eagles 14-3. Two years ago, Tampa Bay closed out Veterans Stadium with a 27-10 win, its first playoff victory in temperatures under 40 degrees. In 2002, the Eagles lost at St. Louis 29-24.

"This is a totally different team, different players, different philosophies," said running back Brian Westbrook, who missed last year's playoffs with an injury. "We're going in with a fresh attitude and we're ready to play.

"We have some pressure. We put that pressure on ourselves because we want to win. Anytime you expect a lot of success, you're going to put a little bit of pressure on yourself. I don't think as a team we feel any pressure from anybody else except from the people that we have inside our own locker room."

The Eagles can't afford to be uptight this time. They realize another loss would be devastating for a city that is starved for a winner. Philly hasn't celebrated a major championship since the 76ers won the NBA title in 1983, and the city hasn't had an NFL title since 1960.

Fans have pinned their hopes on the beloved football team. But considering how often teams seem to come up short around here, no one is planning a parade down Broad Street just yet.

"I want to win this for myself, but I would love to see those people have a great time after that victory, because they have definitely supported us through some real tough times when we were trying to get to the position we're in," Eagles All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins said.

Atlanta fans know a little about heartbreaking losses. The Braves have won an unprecedented 13 consecutive division titles, but only one World Series championship in that span.

The Falcons made it to the Super Bowl five years ago, with two players - Pro Bowl linebacker Keith Brooking and backup defensive lineman Travis Hall - remaining from the team's only NFC title. Atlanta upset the Vikings in Minnesota to reach the 1999 Super Bowl, before losing to Denver 34-19.

One stat working in the Falcons' favor: Since 1990, the No. 1 seed is just 8-6 in the NFC championship.

"It was great for them in '98, but that was still a long time ago and it was a different team. We want to go to the Super Bowl," linebacker Chris Draft said. "That's our ultimate goal. So if we don't get there, that's not good enough."

Same goes for the Eagles - again.