Matt Ryan's family goes incognito at Eagles game

Philadelphia Eagles fans wouldn't really harass an 87-year-old World War II veteran, would they?

Not wanting to take any chances, 60 assorted friends and family members of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, including his grandfather Sam Lougherty, decided not to tempt fate when they assembled at Lincoln Financial Field Sunday to watch Ryan decimate the Eagles.

According to CBS Philly, the Exton, Pa. raised quarterback's cheering section made sure to conceal their black and red colors and jerseys once they entered the stadium, although they did manage to emit some cheers as Ryan threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-17 win against the hometown Eagles.

"I've been an Eagles' fan and Philadelphia sports fan my whole life, but when Matt was drafted by the Falcons, they say blood is thicker than water, and that's what the whole family roots for today," Lougherty told the station. "I'm still an Eagles' fan and will always be an Eagles' fan, except when they play my grandson, and when the Falcons play."

The fact that Lougherty has been a Philly sports fan his entire life and didn't want to boldly advertise his support for his grandson, a locally raised star athlete, pretty much says all it needs to about just how inhospitable the Linc can be for fans and family members of opposing teams.

Then again, as linebacker Casey Matthews found out last season, it's not always the opposition's family that gets targeted. With the chants of "Fire Andy!" cascading through the stadium as the struggling Eagles were booed off the field after the game, maybe it's best for family members of both the home and visiting teams to keep a low profile for the time being.

(Thanks to Pro Football Talk for alerting us to the story)