It's playoff time, something the Eagles are extremely accustomed to, so the tremors of excitement felt in the NovaCare Complex are measured, subtle. But noticeable. This is the time of year that every player plays for and every coach coaches for, so it IS special.

The locker room? Buzzing, but it is always buzzing. Let's get a feel for what the players are experiencing as they ramp up for Sunday's NFC Wild Card Weekend playoff game against San Francisco (4:30 PM, FOX) at Lincoln Financial Field.

Saquon Barkley: Who is going to be more detailed?

What were the lessons learned from the Super Bowl LIX 2024 postseason? Running back Saquon Barkley understands the formula, which isn't much different than what it's like in the regular season.

"I think the vibes are great. They've been great all year, but when you get to the playoffs, it goes to another level," he said. "It's probably my favorite part of playing football, outside of the Super Bowl. Win or go home. The speed increases. The plays matter more. The vibes are high and we're excited for it and we know we've got a great opponent coming in and the mindset is just winning.

"The way you win in Game 1 is the same way you win in the playoffs, is the same way you win in the Championship Game, win in the Super Bowl. The vibes can be great, the chemistry between the two teams when the whistle blows – who is going to be more detailed, who is going to make more plays, who is going to score more touchdowns? That's just how football is always going to be, no matter if it's the playoffs or not. We did a really good job of that last year and we've just got to continue what we know."

Jake Elliott: Weather is always an issue on gamedays

The weather for Sunday late afternoon and evening at Lincoln Financial Field? Hey, it's January. It's murky. It's all about handling it, and nobody does that better than placekicker Jake Elliott, who has been on top of the weather forecast since Sunday.

He checks the forecast, oh ... well ... how many times each week?

"I've gotten a lot better through the years," he said, laughing. "There is always something to consider, usually the wind. If there is something going on, I try to get over there and kick at what our game time would be and see what the conditions are going to be like."

West, northwest. That is the wind flow expected for Sunday.

"It will be a tricky day, but I've seen it a bunch and you just have to play through it," Elliott said.

This season has been pretty lousy for weather – intense wind in games against Detroit and Chicago, rain against the Raiders, cold at times. Always something.

The Eagles put new turf down early in the week and Elliott has already tested it alongside Tony Leonard, the team's Vice President of Grounds.

"He's the best and the field is really great," Elliott said. "That's not a concern at all because Tony and his staff always do such a great job. The weather? You just know there is always going to be some kind of factor and you do the best you can to mitigate that.

"It's the playoffs. It's January and we're outside in the Northeast. You get used to it after a while and I'm thankful to have been here for so long and I have become accustomed to this."

Marcus Epps: A special time to be in the postseason

Marcus Epps was here with the Eagles during their run in 2022 when the team reached Super Bowl LVII and then he was in Las Vegas for two seasons and now he is back.

There is no taking the postseason for granted.

"Not at all," he said. "It's hard to get to this point. You see 18 other teams not playing now and you understand it a whole lot better. This is just a winning culture, a great organization, and I'm glad to be part of it.

"It means a lot to be in this position. Nothing is promised to anyone in this league. We have high standards and high expectations here and we put in the work to reach those goals."

The mood is upbeat, of course. There is a definite feeling of understanding what's on the line.

"Everyone is focused and our demeanor is that we're loose like we always are, but you can tell that it's the playoffs," Epps said. "Playoffs are typically more intense and maybe a little bit more physical, so you have to be ready to bring it when the game begins. We know that and we respect the 49ers and the great offense they have. It's a big test for our defense."

Adoree' Jackson: One heck of a journey this season

All along, Adoree' Jackson has relied on his faith and his confidence as he has gone through his first season in Philadelphia.

It paid off.

Staying humble, continuing to work hard, understanding how the rest of the team showed confidence in him all year meant the world to Jackson, who has played his best football in the last half of the season.

Now the biggest test: The postseason.

"I'm excited. Everybody is excited. We have a great vibe, like we've had all season," Jackson said. "I think we're appreciative of the position we're in. We have a great work ethic here and we have great camaraderie.

"My journey this year has been one that has given me a chance to get closer to my faith, a chance to really get down to myself and my core values and beliefs. That's me. I control my path and when things hit the fan, you rely back on yourself and your experiences. It's all about how you react in any given situation. Who would you want to define yourself? You or someone else? I've kept my head down and I've just worked hard and that has all paid off."

The challenge on Sunday is considerable: San Francisco has a varied offense that is centered around running back Christian McCaffrey, who is as dangerous as a receiver as he is a runner. Jackson has played against McCaffrey since his college days when McCaffrey was at Stanford and Jackson was at USC.

"Great player, does it all, and we all know that," Jackson said. "They have weapons. Their numbers speak for themselves. It is going to be fun going up against them."