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Author: Jeff McLane

  • Eagles grades: Jalen Hurts is silenced in second half; Jalyx Hunt’s breakout game helps beat the Bills

    Eagles grades: Jalen Hurts is silenced in second half; Jalyx Hunt’s breakout game helps beat the Bills

    ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Instant grades on the Eagles’ performance in their 13-12 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday:

    Quarterback: C+

    Jalen Hurts does what he does best: He wins. It wasn’t a stellar outing by any measure. But Hurts didn’t turn the ball over and he avoided big mistakes. He threw for 110 yards in the first half but didn’t complete a single pass in the second, when a driving rain obviously affected the passing game. It was ugly. But he knows how to win ugly.

    Hurts short-hopped a throw to an open DeVonta Smith in the second quarter. But he rebounded a play later and knifed a pass to his receiver through a tight window to convert on third down. He later stepped up in the pocket and hit A.J. Brown for 15 yards on third-and-10. Hurts was great against the blitz in the first half, completing 7 of 8 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown, according to Next Gen Stats.

    Saquon Barkley carries the ball for the Eagles in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

    Running back: C

    Saquon Barkley was held to 68 yards on 19 carries, a 3.6-yard average. He ran hard, but often into Bills bodies. Barkley should have had more success on the ground against one of the worst run defenses in the league. He did rip off a 16-yard gain when he got skinny through an inside crease before the half.

    Tank Bigsby spelled a dinged-up Barkley briefly in the second quarter. He ran two times for 7 yards and caught a pass for 2 yards. Will Shipley had a couple of rushes on coward’s draws.

    Receiver/tight end: B-

    Wide receiver A.J. Brown was great in the first half, catching 5 of 7 targets for 68 yards. But he, like most of the passing game, was grounded in the second half. Brown eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in the first half. He has accomplished the feat in each of his four seasons in Philly. Brown got open for a 27-yard grab on a corner route in the first quarter. He should have drawn a penalty on a Hurts floater into the end zone before the half, but cornerback Tre’Davious White appeared to get away with pass interference.

    Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown splashes down after making a catch during the first quarter against the Bills.

    DeVonta Smith finished with just two receptions for 25 yards. He nearly made a tremendous grab on a jump ball in the third quarter, but a Bills challenge that he didn’t complete the process overturned the 17-yard gain. The Eagles may have gotten hosed on the replay. Smith got hurt on the play, but he returned. He picked up yards after the catch on a 14-yard reception before the half.

    Tight end Dallas Goedert scored his 11th touchdown of the season — tying a franchise mark for tight ends — when he got wide-open on a play-action pass from under center. Goedert had a poor block when Barkley was dropped in the backfield in the fourth quarter.

    Offensive line: C

    The run blocking was up and down. There were some nice combo zone blocks that helped spring Barkley into the second level, but there also were too many negative-yard rushes — again. The pass protection was mostly sound, especially in the first half.

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles in the second quarter as Tyler Steen blocks for him.

    But the Eagles kept getting into third-and-long situations in the second half and Hurts was pressured. The O-line, for instance, failed to pick up a four-man simulated pressure that resulted in Hurts having to take a sack in the third quarter.

    Fred Johnson filled in for the injured Lane Johnson (foot) for a sixth straight game. His day got off to a rough start when he ran onto the field without his helmet and had to hustle off and back on. Johnson kept Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa from wrecking the game. He also sealed the edge on Barkley’s 8-yard run to the right in the first quarter. Left tackle Jordan Mailata locked down his side in pass protection.

    Jalen Carter’s shoulder fix may be temporary, but he’s ready to help the Eagles down the stretch

    Right guard Tyler Steen failed to block a blitzing Matt Milano long enough on a fourth-quarter third down, which resulted in another Hurts throwaway. Left guard Landon Dickerson had a vise grip on a Barkley 10-yard pickup in the third quarter. He allowed an early pressure after the Bills ran a stunt.

    Cam Jurgens’ struggles on under-center runs continued. In the third quarter, the center got dusted and Barkley was dropped for a loss. Jurgens and Steen opened the hole on Barkley’s 16-yard tote up the middle.

    The Eagles’ Jalyx Hunt tackles Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the second quarter.

    Defensive line: A

    The Eagles kept the NFL’s leading rusher, James Cook, in check. He finished with just 74 yards on 20 carries. The front played a huge role in limiting Cook on the ground, but it was more impressive in harassing quarterback Josh Allen all game. He was sacked five times and did little damage with his legs.

    Jalyx Hunt had a breakout performance with two sacks and seven total tackles. He used an inside stunt to get to Allen and sack him on third down on the Bills’ opening drive. Hunt earned his second takedown when he dropped the elusive quarterback for a 19-yard loss in the fourth quarter. Hunt might have saved an Allen house-call run in the second quarter had he not tripped up the quarterback. A few plays later, he drew a holding penalty on a running play.

    Eagles outlast Josh Allen and Bills in rainy win, keep NFC’s No. 2 seed in play

    Defensive tackle Jalen Carter returned after missing three games and made an impact, despite his ailing shoulders. He completely destroyed Bills guard O’Cyrus Torrence with an inside rush before sacking Allen before the half. And Carter blocked another kick when he got a hand on the Bills’ lone extra-point try.

    Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips was credited with the sack when Allen lost the ball outside the pocket in the first quarter. Phillips injured his left leg in the second quarter, but he didn’t miss a series. He failed to set the edge on a Cook 10-yard rush in the third quarter.

    Defensive tackle Jordan Davis didn’t notch a tackle until the second half, but Davis was a beast vs. the run throughout the game. Moro Ojomo got in on the sack party by getting to Allen in the third quarter. Outside linebacker Nolan Smith had a relatively quiet game.

    Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell celebrates his recovery of a fumble by Buffalo’s Josh Allen in the first quarter.

    Linebacker: A-

    Jihaad Campbell played in place of the injured Nakobe Dean (hamstring). It was his first start since October. Campbell had tight coverage on Cook on a pass that Allen was forced to throw wide of his target. He chased down Allen’s fumble after Phillips’ strip-sack.

    Zack Baun was outstanding. He stopped a scrambling Allen short of the goal line on fourth down in the third quarter and had a number of stops on Cook runs. Baun had the flat covered when Allen was forced to throw the ball away when blitzed in the third quarter.

    Eagles just might muddle their way to another Super Bowl, thanks to the NFL’s best defense | David Murphy

    Cornerback: B+

    Quinyon Mitchell had a couple of tough breaks, but mostly locked down his side of the field. His third-down pass interference on receiver Joshua Palmer gifted the Bills 26 yards in the third quarter. Mitchell missed an early run tackle attempt but did much better the next time the Bills ran in his direction.

    Cooper DeJean was excellent and led the Eagles in tackles with nine. He blew up a third-down screen late in the game. DeJean wasn’t fooled by two early backside throws to the flat and made open-field tackles. Adoree’ Jackson had a solid day in coverage, but Khalil Shakir ran over him after a short catch in the fourth quarter.

    Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) and cornerback Cooper DeJean celebrate a stop in the second quarter.

    Safety: B+

    Aside from one deep breakdown, the Eagles didn’t get beaten downfield much. Reed Blankenship appeared to have vacated the deep middle when Allen hit Brandin Cooks 50 yards downfield in the first quarter. He delivered a textbook tackle after Shakir caught a check-down pass in the second quarter.

    Marcus Epps made impressive back-to-back plays in the third quarter, stopping a receiver short of the goal line and tackling Cook in the backfield. Cooks caught a 36-yard pass over Epps late in the game. Epps also had a holding penalty on an early third down.

    Special teams: A

    Kicker Jake Elliott bounced back and made all three of his kicks, including a 47-yard field goal in the rain that split the uprights in the second quarter. Elliott became the second kicker in team history to top 1,000 career points, joining David Akers. He had a good kickoff in the landing zone that rolled into the end zone for a touchback at the 20-yard line.

    Punter Braden Mann was the special teams MVP. His seven punts traveled an average of 55.4 yards and 45.4 net yards. Mann somehow got a 50-yard punt off from the back of the end zone in the third quarter. His first punt traveled 54 yards without a return. Mann also boomed a 62-yarder through the heavy rain in the third quarter.

    Britain Covey fair caught 4 of 5 punts. He got dinged when the Bills’ Sam Franklin ran into him — drawing a 15-yard penalty — after he signaled for a fair catch in the second quarter.

    Shipley averaged 24.5 yards on two kick returns.

    Kicker Jake Elliott (4) and punter Braden Mann (10) had strong games against the Bills.

    Coaching: B-

    Nick Sirianni‘s Eagles escaped Western New York with a nice win over a quality opponent. The second half was a nail-biter, partly because the offense was stagnant. But Sirianni’s defense delivered despite having to keep trudging back onto the field following one three-and-out after the other.

    Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo had a nice first half calling plays. He was too conservative at times. Patullo dialed up a nice drive after Allen’s first-quarter fumble and finished it off with yet another red zone touchdown. The rain obviously affected the play-calling, but a draw to Shipley on an early third down seemed too conservative, as did a third-down screen when the Eagles settled for a field goal before the break.

    Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio helmed another master class. He kept Allen guessing for most of the game and used a ferocious pass rush to hound the quarterback. If the Eagles are to repeat as champions it will likely be on the shoulders of their defense.

  • Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: What you need to know and a prediction

    Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: What you need to know and a prediction

    The Eagles travel to face the Buffalo Bills in a Week 17 matchup at Highmark Stadium on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. Here’s what you need to know about the game:

    When the Eagles have the ball: The Eagles have a chance to build off their recent success on the ground by facing another poor run defense. The Bills are second-to-last in the NFL in yards allowed (5.4) and expected points added per rush (0.08). They’ve allowed 63 runs of 10-plus yards, which is second worst to only the New York Giants. Buffalo coach Sean McDermott doesn’t exactly stack boxes at a high rate (20.7%), but he’ll stay in his base 4-3 front vs. heavy personnel. The bigger issue has been how his defenders have — or haven’t — handled run fits. There have been a lot of big holes for running backs to run through. Tackling also has been a problem. The Bills are last in the league in rushing yards allowed after contact (4.1).

    Eagles Week 17 film preview: What to look for against the Buffalo Bills

    Say what you will about the last two opponents, but the Eagles have improved in the run game. “Turned the corner” would be too strong a phrase, but some wrinkles have contributed to the Eagles averaging 174.7 rushing yards in the last three games. Buffalo is depleted in the interior. Defensive tackles Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, and Jordan Phillips will be out. I think Saquon Barkley could also do some damage if he gets to the second level. The Bills have corners who don’t tackle well in space, and they’ll also be without veteran safety Jordan Poyer. The Eagles didn’t dial up as many runs from under center last week vs. the Washington Commanders as they did the week before. I could see Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo using Buffalo’s weak defense as a chance to reestablish that facet of their offense.

    Joey Bosa (97) is expected back to help bolster the Buffalo pass rush this week.

    The Bills have gotten behind in games because of their inability to stop the run. They’ve allowed an average of 13.9 points in the first half, but have been better after the break (9.1). Why the disparity? It could be McDermott’s ability to make adjustments, or the Bills have benefited from their offense getting ahead, which has forced quarterbacks to throw. Buffalo has a good pass defense. It has allowed just 52.8% of passes to be completed. A lot of the Bills’ success can be traced to their defensive ends getting pressure. Greg Rousseau (14.3%) and Joey Bosa (13.8%) have above-average rates on their rushes. Right tackle Fred Johnson, who is starting again for the injured Lane Johnson (foot), will have a stiff test in Bosa. Rousseau will bounce back and forth between each side.

    Eagles vs. Bills predictions: Our writers pick a winner for Week 17

    McDermott doesn’t blitz — a 23rd-in-the-league 23.7% rate this season — as much as he once did. He’ll send any of his linebackers, but Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard are most effective in getting pressure. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith should have opportunities on the outside, though. Cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Christian Benford are beatable, especially in man coverage. McDermott’s zone-man split is about 70-30. His safeties do a good job of rotating late. Cole Bishop is solid, but Poyer’s replacement — whether it’s rookie Jordan Hancock or veteran Darnell Savage — could be exploited.

    When the Bills have the ball: Josh Allen makes the Bills offense go, but I’m going to focus first on running back James Cook. He’s been arguably the best running back in the league this season. He leads the NFL with 1,532 rushing yards and averages 5.3 yards a carry. He’s not especially big at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, but he’s fast and runs hard. Cook has great vision and can slip through creases. If he has a kryptonite this season, it’s ball security — he has lost three of six fumbles. Cook runs behind a reliable, if not spectacular, offensive line led by left tackle Dion Dawkins. The unit’s relative good health has contributed to its chemistry. The Bills also have good blocking tight ends, although Dalton Kincaid (knee) and Dawson Knox (knee) are questionable.

    Josh Allen (17) remains dangerous, but the Eagles can’t sleep on the electric James Cook (4) either.

    Allen, of course, is almost as dangerous on the ground. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady will dial up designed runs, but Allen scrambles as well as any quarterback. He often knows when running is applicable and can be hard to bring down. A foot injury limited him early in the week, but he’s cleared to go. The Eagles have to stay disciplined in their rushes. I’d imagine defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will devote a linebacker to spying Allen on obvious passing downs, especially against empty sets. The Bills have effectively used their version of the Tush Push with the 6-5, 237-pound quarterback converting 13 of 15 rushing attempts on third- or fourth-and-1.

    Allen holds the ball longer than most — a sixth-longest 2.93 seconds — because he can make big plays out of structure. He doesn’t get sacked at a high rate (8.12% of attempts), but he can take big losses or turn the ball over when playing the hero. Allen doesn’t have a group of receivers that gets much separation downfield. He has cut down on interceptions by not forcing throws into tight windows — 11.3% of the time, which is 31st among qualifying quarterbacks — vs. last season (16.8%). Brady has helped by utilizing the under-center run game to set up play-action passes. He’ll also employ misdirection and motion at the snap.

    The Bills don’t often keep their tight ends or backs in to help with the pass rush. They want to give Allen underneath options to offset what he lacks on the outside. Fangio blitzes at a low rate (19.4%), so Brady probably won’t alter the formula. Receiver Khalil Shakir leads the offense with 66 catches. Most of his yards (515 of his 684) come after contact off short passes. The Eagles will need to be stout in tackling after the catch. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell could be neutralized simply by Allen staying away from him.

    Extra point: The weather could change, but it looks like rain will be a factor late Sunday afternoon. Both teams have kicker woes. Jake Elliott’s struggles over the past five games have been documented. The Eagles are sticking with their guy — for now. The Bills will be without 41-year-old Matt Prater (quad) for a second straight game. His replacement, Michael Badgley, missed an extra point and the landing zone on a kickoff last week. Buffalo tried out some kickers as a result, but Badgley will get another chance.

    The Eagles don’t have as much on the line as the Bills. I don’t think that should matter much. Sirianni’s squad wants to measure itself against one of the best. Two years ago, they outlasted Buffalo, despite an amazing performance by Allen. Elliott’s 59-yard field goal sent the game to overtime and Jalen Hurts walked it off. I just realized I didn’t mention the Eagles quarterback above. He has settled down since the Los Angeles Chargers debacle. I think he’ll hit some shots downfield as long as the offense takes advantage on the ground. The Eagles’ defense has been susceptible at times against the run, but it has tightened the hatches since the Chicago Bears game. Jalen Carter (shoulders) is back, although the front more than managed in his absence.

    I don’t feel great about my pick. My gut says the opposite. But it’s hard to pick against Allen in the penultimate game at the Bills’ longtime home, Highmark Stadium.

    Prediction: Bills, 31-27

  • Eagles roundtable: Answering some of the biggest Birds questions as the playoffs approach

    Eagles roundtable: Answering some of the biggest Birds questions as the playoffs approach

    The Eagles have clinched their second straight NFC East title and a return to the postseason, meaning much of the focus in the coming days will center on how far they can advance. With that in mind, we turned to The Inquirer’s Eagles writers, Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, and Jeff Neiburg, to discuss some of the biggest issues surrounding the team — including the injury situation, biggest 2025 surprises, and how the staff might look different beyond the postseason:

    Could Jalen Hurts and Co. be looking at an Eagles-Rams rematch in the playoffs?

    Who should the Eagles least want to see in the NFC portion of the playoffs?

    McLane: Honestly, I don’t spend my waking hours caring who the Eagles should least want to face in the playoffs, but I guess for the sake of this exercise I’ll choose the Rams. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford know what it takes to win a title and have arguably a better offense than when they won the Super Bowl four years ago. The Rams are imperfect, as their overtime loss to the Seahawks last week showed. And the Eagles have had McVay’s number, winning six of seven since he took over in Los Angeles. But the law of averages may finally benefit the coach. I’d also be wary of the peaking 49ers.

    NFL playoff picture: Eagles scenarios, two more teams clinch

    Reiner: The Rams. Yes, the Eagles are 4-0 against them under Nick Sirianni, including last year’s divisional-round game and the Week 3 victory this season. But Stafford has been playing at an MVP level this year. He has one of the NFL’s top receiving duos in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Kyren Williams is a top-10 running back. The Rams’ defensive front, led by Jared Verse and Byron Young, is among the best in the league. The Eagles have a chance against any team in the NFC, but the Rams would provide the most difficult test.

    Neiburg: I wanted to say the Rams, because I do believe they are the best team in the NFC, but the Eagles seem to have their number, and, as of right now, a playoff game vs. the Rams would be at Lincoln Financial Field. Instead, I’ll go with the Seahawks. I don’t trust Sam Darnold to win a big game, but the Eagles’ offense having to go up against that defense in front of that home crowd on the other side of the country in what would likely be the NFC title game is a daunting task.

    Jalen Carter is the Eagles’ only Pro Bowl starter. But the team has managed to get by without him at various times in 2025.

    Who’s more important to have fully healthy for the playoffs, Lane Johnson or Jalen Carter?

    Reiner: Yes. Is that an acceptable answer? Thankfully for the Eagles, they won’t have to pick, because both are expected to return in time for the playoffs. But for the sake of the exercise, I’ll pick Johnson. Fred Johnson has been solid in his absence, but the All-Pro right tackle is one of the best in the league at his position. Carter hasn’t been healthy for most of the year and the Eagles’ defensive front has fared well enough without him recently.

    Neiburg: Nothing against Carter, but the clear answer is Johnson. Right tackle is a singular position, and Johnson is a singular player, a future Hall of Famer who is still among the best players at his position. The Eagles’ defensive front has played well without Carter, and while getting him back and at full strength is a big deal, it’s not quite the same as inserting Lane Johnson in over Fred Johnson.

    Jalen Carter returns to practice and the Eagles are ‘hopeful’ that he’ll play against the Bills

    McLane: “Fully healthy” is rare for any player at this stage of the season, but assuming either is cleared to return for the playoffs, close to 90% should be good enough. Johnson has played through worse than his Lisfranc foot injury. He delayed surgery to repair a torn adductor two years ago and didn’t miss a beat. History has shown that when he isn’t in the lineup the Eagles struggle, going 15-27 since 2013. Carter’s absence hurt vs. the Giants in October, but the D-line has done a better job of covering for his loss these last three games. So I guess my answer is Johnson.

    Saquon Barkley came up well short of another 2,000-yard season while working behind a battered line that has struggled at times.

    Based on your observations of this team in training camp, what’s the single biggest surprise about the Eagles from your vantage point here in December?

    Neiburg: That an offense that returned 10 of 11 starters and hired a coordinator who had been on staff for years tailed off the way it has — especially in the running game. I knew Saquon Barkley wasn’t going to run for 2,000 yards again. I knew the Eagles were going to face stacked boxes. I didn’t expect the offensive line to struggle to run block this way and didn’t think moving the ball and getting first downs would be as much of a chore as it has at times this season.

    Reiner: The offensive line’s overall regression. Even with Landon Dickerson’s meniscus injury in camp, it seemed unlikely that the group would struggle so much, especially in the run game. The unit has been better over the last few weeks, as evidenced by Barkley’s recent surge. But for most of the season, the offensive line wasn’t the juggernaut that the Eagles have leaned on in the past.

    Saquon Barkley and the Eagles ran angry in the second half. It’s about time.

    McLane: I kind of saw the offensive regression coming, and certainly Barkley’s struggles, but not to the extent it’s been. That said, that the Eagles would have another first-time offensive coordinator come under fire for most of the season wasn’t a surprise either. So I’ll look at other phases.

    On defense, I thought Carter would be primed to take his game to another level with a contract extension potentially on the table this offseason. I know he was voted to the Pro Bowl and has been dealing with shoulder injuries, but he hasn’t had the desired impact. On special teams, Jake Elliott has hit rough patches before. But he had a great camp and first half of the season. That’s why the kicker’s late-season woes have come out of the blue for me.

    If you don’t yet know DBs coach Christian Parker’s name, you will.

    The NFL coaching carousel is about to start spinning. Which members of the Eagles staff would you expect to garner outside interest for head or assistant roles? Any future head coaches on this staff?

    McLane: Vic Fangio has the best pedigree and should get another chance to be a head coach. But he’s 67 and has said he has no desire to be in that chair again, which is good news for the Eagles. I think special teams coordinator Michael Clay could be a CEO-type head coach some day. Of the assistants, defensive backs coach Christian Parker is likely to get poached to head a defense sooner rather than later.

    Reiner: The 33-year-old Parker has become a rising star in the league, getting the most out of young cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in their first two seasons in the NFL. He has a long career ahead of him, and it might not be possible for Fangio to keep him around for much longer.

    Neiburg: If I had to guess one coach from this list who gets a promotion next year, it’s Parker. Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt has already been a coordinator (with the Seahawks in 2022-23) and could do it again. Clay has a bright future in this league. And Kevin Patullo — yes, that one — might be a head coach one day. Just not this next coaching cycle.

    Dallas Goedert (88) and DeVonta Smith (6) have both demonstrated their value to an offense that has struggled at times.

    Who would be No. 1 on your ballot for offensive MVP, if the season ended today?

    Neiburg: This one was tough, and it feels like we’re just giving out a participation trophy. You don’t need me to tell you that the Eagles’ offense hasn’t been very good this season, despite the amount of money the team dedicates to offensive players. A few weeks ago, I’d have said DeVonta Smith, but he’s sort of tailed off a little. I’ll go with Dallas Goedert, who has been a major red zone weapon and has more touchdowns (10) than he had in the last three seasons combined.

    Handing out credit for the Eagles’ record playoff run, also what NFL refs got right and DK Metcalf did wrong in Week 16

    McLane: Smith has slipped some since we last had this question at the bye. But that’s more circumstantial than anything related to his performance. Smith’s success in the first half of the season led to defenses clouding him more, which has created space for fellow receiver A.J. Brown. Smith has still delivered when called upon and is on track to have the third 1,000-yard season of his career. He’s also a willing blocker as he showed on Saquon Barkley’s 48-yard run vs. the Commanders.

    Reiner: Goedert. He’s been the star of the Eagles’ top-ranked red zone offense, leading the team with nine touchdowns inside the 20 (10 touchdowns on the season overall). For a player who didn’t look like he was returning to the Eagles this offseason, he’s had one of the better seasons of his eight-year career.

    Quinyon Mitchell (left) and Cooper DeJean (right) have both been vital to the defense’s success.

    How about defensive MVP?

    Reiner: Quinyon Mitchell. In his second season, he earned more responsibility in Fangio’s defense, whether he’s traveling with opposing teams’ top receivers or lining up on the boundary side. He’s risen to the challenge. Mitchell leads the league with 17 pass breakups. He’s also conceded catches on just 42.3% of his targets, the lowest rate among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps.

    Neiburg: Jordan Davis. Has he been the overall best performer on the defense? Probably not, but we sort of already knew what to expect out of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Zack Baun, and Co. But with Davis, the talk in the offseason was about a transformed body and how he was ready to take the next step. He walked the walk.

    McLane: This may be controversial, but I’m going with Cooper DeJean. Mitchell is also deserving — quarterbacks have stayed away from testing him and when they have, he’s often answered the bell. But DeJean has a more difficult job in the slot, in my opinion. It’s why Fangio has refused to move him exclusively to the outside. The second-year corner has to match up vs. faster receivers and bigger-bodied tight ends, while also supporting the run defense from an inside position.

  • The Day After: Are the Eagles really playing their best?

    The Day After: Are the Eagles really playing their best?

    Are the Eagles really playing their best football of the season? That was their head coach’s claim following the team’s solid performance against Washington last weekend. But despite the Eagles outscoring the opposition by a combined 60-18 margin in back-to-back wins, trends are emerging with both promising and cautionary implications. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg highlight these developments, and address whether they agree with Nick Sirianni’s current assessment of the defending Super Bowl champs.

    00:00 Nick Sirianni says the Eagles are playing their best football. Is he right?

    10:20 Shades of 2024 – Saquon Barkley and the run game are looking great

    18:40 Handing out three defensive stars

    27:17 Should the Eagles start looking for another kicker?

    unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.

  • Saquon Barkley and the Eagles ran angry in the second half. It’s about time.

    Saquon Barkley and the Eagles ran angry in the second half. It’s about time.

    LANDOVER, Md. — Saquon Barkley had rushed for just 52 yards on 14 carries when he came to the sideline late in the third quarter. The Eagles had taken a 14-10 lead after a 17-play, touchdown-scoring drive, but they did so in spite of the struggles in the running game.

    It’s been a season-long slog on the ground, but there have been glimpses of hope in recent weeks. And Barkley, who’s had to run into more stacked boxes than ever in his eighth year, felt that he wasn’t taking advantage of opportunities against a weakened Commanders defense.

    “We got a little fired up on the sideline, but it was good,” Barkley said. “It’s all out of love, let’s say that. We want to do what’s best for the team when we’re winning games and hold each other accountable. But thank God it happened for me, to be honest, because it put me in my bag, as people would say.”

    It was a 12-yard touchdown run off left tackle. The stat sheet account of the play doesn’t do Barkley’s seventh rushing score of the season justice. Jordan Mailata gave perhaps the best description.

    “That was an angry run by Say,” the Eagles left tackle said. “Kind of expected that from him by the way he was acting on the sideline. He was just very adamant, being very positive, like, ‘Hey, we’re gonna get it.’”

    Barkley’s touchdown wasn’t exactly the final nail. But he drove the last spike with a dazzling 48-yard run two drives later. And backup Tank Bigsby buried the Commanders with a 22-yard bolt into the end zone of the Eagles’ eventual 29-18 win at Northwest Stadium on Saturday.

    Eagles grades: Defense sound, offense fine, special teams shaky vs. Commanders

    Most important, the victory clinched the NFC East for a second straight year — the first time that’s happened in the division in 21 years. But in terms of the bigger picture, stacking strong performances on the ground in consecutive weeks suggests the Eagles might have a chance in the postseason.

    The last two opponents — the Raiders and Commanders — might not have provided playoff-caliber competition. But the offense needed glimmers after a three-game losing streak, and really, a whole season of never looking quite right.

    But diversifying the calls, and involving quarterback Jalen Hurts more in the running game, has opened the playbook some for offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

    “O-line blocking well. Saquon running well. Jalen faking well and being a threat to carry it as well,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “Tank coming in, giving good carries. The receivers block, tight ends … Kevin’s doing a good job calling it and putting the guys in position.

    “So, yeah, I think there’s a lot to be encouraged on. We’ve got to build on it.”

    It may be no coincidence that the offensive improvement came after Sirianni asserted more of his authority on that side of the ball three games ago. There were bright moments in the overtime loss to the Chargers, but Hurts had five turnovers.

    Actually, there were improvements in run design the week before against the Bears. But the Eagles defense didn’t meet its usual standard and the offense couldn’t compensate. The numbers in the last four games, though, suggest that Barkley and Co. are doing something better.

    The Eagles have averaged 4.96 yards per carry over that span. In their first 11 games, they averaged only 3.91 yards.

    They’ve done it various ways. Last week, they ran from under center more than normal. This week, it was mostly from the shotgun. In the former, Barkley and Bigsby combined to rush 77 yards on just five totes. In the latter, it was 20 carries for 93 yards.

    It was from under center, with six offensive linemen, that the pair broke off their two long runs late in the game. Barkley’s 48-yarder put him at 132 yards on 21 carries for the day. He went over 1,000 yards on the season earlier in the game and has 1,072 yards total through 15 games.

    Saquon Barkley picks up yards during the fourth quarter vs. the Commanders.

    It’s not quite the 2,000 yards he gained last season in 16 games. But considering all the angst over the running game this season, breaking the thousand mark for a fifth time in his career is still an accomplishment.

    “I mean, 1,000 is great every time, but I can’t even say it’s a slog,” Barkley said. “Most importantly, I’m all about winning. And even when I was rushing for 2,000 yards, the message and the mindset was the same.”

    But maybe for the first time this season, Barkley looked his 2024 self for a brief period. He spun out of would-be tackles, shed defenders, and picked up yards after contact. He’s been trying to find the balance between when to be flash and when to be power.

    “There’s so many ways you can do it,” Barkley said. “A mindset this game was run like I’m 230, 235. That’s what my coach said. There’s times I don’t. I have games where I rush for 200 yards because I’m able to be more like a scat back.”

    He squirted out of two tackle attempts on the 12-yard touchdown run and carried a Commander across the goal line. On the 48-yard scamper, he twirled away from a defensive lineman who shot into the backfield untouched, stiff-armed the safety, and picked up an extra 30-plus yards thanks to a downfield block by receiver DeVonta Smith.

    “Apparently, Smitty said I’ve got to [expletive] score, so I’ve got to go back and watch it,” Barkley said.

    The house-call touchdowns haven’t been as prominent this season. And maybe that skewered Barkley’s numbers from 2024, or more likely, expectations for this season. But there isn’t another player on the roster whom the Eagles feed off more than the 28-year-old running back.

    Even Hurts conceded as much.

    “It was good to see him out there earning those yards like he did,” Hurts said. “He was very physical. He ran very hard today. Very hard. He had a hell of a game. I think it always has a component to energize a team. I think it energizes him.”

    Bigsby might have had the exclamation point after the 48-yarder, but Barkley came out and converted the two-point attempt with another tough carry. A melee that got right guard Tyler Steen and two Commanders ejected from the game followed the conversion.

    A late brawl involving Eagles guard Tyler Steen could have implications when the teams meet again in two weeks.

    Washington coach Dan Quinn’s response to a question about the fight suggested that his players didn’t like the Eagles going for two.

    “I can only answer from my side and what I would do,” Quinn said. “But hey, man, like that’s how they want to get down then. Like, all good. We play them again in two weeks.”

    Sirianni said the Eagles’ analytics suggested the risk to have a 19-point lead vs. 18 with a little over four minutes left was worth the try.

    “To go up one more point is, in my mind, not running up the score,” Sirianni said.

    It’s quite possible the season finale will be meaningless for the Eagles, who are now locked into at least the No. 3 seed. They face a stiff test next week at Buffalo. A step back there might negate some of the positive from the last two games.

    Hurts had some impressive throws in the passing game, but he also had his share of shaky moments. He brought a dynamic that’s been missing for most of the season with five scrambles for 40 yards. His lone non-Tush Push designed run went for zero yards.

    Let us raise a glass to the Tush Push. It’s dead, and the Eagles have to find an alternative.

    But Hurts’ legs, Barkley’s characteristic strong December, better blocking schemes, and Bigsby as the second punch could be the recipe for the Eagles in the postseason. They need their running game to be successful — 2,000-yard season or not.

    “I know personally, would love to have gotten [Barkley] back to 2,000, but I think it’s cool,” Mailata said of eclipsing 1,000 yards. “I think we just have high standards, and don’t want to rain on the parade, but we wish we got the running game going earlier.

    “I wish we were executing at a higher rate early in the year, just to help him get closer to the goal that we set in the year.”

    But teamwide goals are still attainable.

  • Eagles grades: Defense sound, offense fine, special teams shaky vs. Commanders

    Eagles grades: Defense sound, offense fine, special teams shaky vs. Commanders

    LANDOVER, Md. — Instant grades on the Eagles’ performance in their 29-18 win over the Commanders:

    Quarterback: B

    Jalen Hurts got it done with his arm, legs and mind and has looked more like the “triple threat” quarterback he once described himself as. In the passing game, Hurts completed 22 of 30 throws for 185 yards and two touchdowns. As a runner, he gained 40 yards on seven carries. And with his mind, he operated the offense efficiently and avoided turnovers.

    There were some misses, and moments when he held the ball too long. Hurts overthrew a wide-open A.J. Brown on a 15-yard out in the second quarter. And before halftime, he fumbled in the pocket and took a sack. But he more than got the job done against one of the lesser defenses in the NFL.

    Hurts had a beautiful touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert in the third quarter. After the Eagles shot themselves in the foot with multiple penalties after starting at the 1-yard line, the quarterback stepped up on third down and hit his tight end on the move for a 15-yard score. Hurts didn’t have much success on his one designed non-Tush Push run, but he scrambled five times for 40 yards.

    Running back: B+

    Saquon Barkley went over 1,000 yards rushing for the fifth time in his career. It’s been a slog, but he deserves credit for perseverance. Barkley finished with 132 yards on 21 carries. He broke three tackles and carried a defender into the end zone on his 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

    Barkley had maybe his best run of the season on a 48-yarder that cemented the outcome. But there were again too many rushes that netted little to no yards for various reasons. His blitz pickup was inconsistent, but he got enough of Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner on a third down that Hurts converted with a scramble.

    Tank Bigsby scored from 22 yards out in the fourth quarter.

    A.J. Brown continued his strong second half of the season against the Commanders.

    Receiver / tight end: B

    Brown was again Hurts’ favorite target and caught 9 of 12 attempts for 95 yards. In the first half, he matched a career high with eight grabs for 86 yards. Brown picked up yards after the catch on his first two receptions on the Eagles’ opening scoring drive. He also made a fingertip grab over the middle in the second quarter that resulted in a 24-yard pickup.

    DeVonta Smith caught 6 of 8 targets for 42 yards and a touchdown. He couldn’t pull in a pass on a fade route in the end zone, but he rebounded later on the same first-quarter drive and scored a 5-yard touchdown on an out route. Smith also dove for a 9-yard grab in the third quarter and drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone in the third quarter.

    Goedert didn’t see a pass come his way until the first drive of the second half. Later, he drew an illegal contact penalty on fourth down that negated a Commanders interception. And Goedert capped the drive with his team-high 10th touchdown catch.

    Offensive line: B

    The Eagles didn’t lean as much into the run game with the Commanders just as susceptible through the air. It was an up-and-down 60 minutes in terms of O-line run blocking. Right guard Tyler Steen had a good block to the second level on a Barkley 9-yard run to the right in the second quarter. He later tossed Washington defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to the side when Barkley gained 8 yards up the middle.

    Fred Johnson and Tyler Steen were involved in a brawl against the Commanders late in the game but were solid for the bulk of the contest.

    Left guard Landon Dickerson led the way on a Barkley 8-yard rush in the fourth quarter. On Barkley’s first carry, which resulted in no gain, it looked like left tackle Jordan Mailata and Goedert messed up their blocking assignments.

    Right tackle Fred Johnson continued to fill in for the injured Lane Johnson (foot). He failed to sustain a block when Barkley was dropped for no gain in the third quarter and held on third down in the red zone later in the series. Center Cam Jurgens had a nice win at the point of attack on a Barkley 10-yard bolt up the middle.

    The pass protection, as usual, was mostly sound. Dickerson and Barkley were late to pick up the blitzing Wagner, who sacked Hurts in the third quarter. Dickerson and Johnson each had false starts on Tush Push tries near the goal line. It may be RIP time for the play.

    Defensive line: A-

    Commanders running backs averaged just 2.8 yards on their first 20 carries — some late meaningless runs improved their numbers — and the Eagles’ front had a lot to do with that. Jordan Davis was a monster in the middle and led the Eagles with six run stops. He had several run tackles near the line and almost kept running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt from crossing the goal line from the 1-yard line, until reinforcements helped push him across. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo had a relatively quiet game but got good push up the middle.

    Jordan Davis and the Eagles front seven left very little room for the Commanders running backs.

    Nolan Smith appeared to step on Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota’s right hand, which knocked him out of the game. The Eagles probably would have won anyway, but backup Josh Johnson had no chance vs. the Eagles defense. Jalyx Hunt had a strong second series. He dropped into coverage, defended a swing pass for a minimal gain, and drew a holding penalty while rushing the passer on third down.

    Brandon Graham continued to play inside with Jalen Carter still nursing shoulder injuries. He picked up his third sack in two games — thanks to tight coverage on the back end — on a third-down rush late in the first quarter. Defensive tackle Byron Young picked up a late sack.

    Eagles use big second half to overwhelm Commanders, become first repeat NFC East champs since 2004

    Linebacker: A-

    Nakobe Dean left during the second possession with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Jihaad Campbell. Campbell played solidly in his first extended action in some time. He was targeted on a Deebo Samuel choice route that resulted in a 14-yard catch and run. But he later drew a holding penalty when he blitzed on third down in the third quarter.

    Zack Baun led the Eagles with nine tackles. He gets a share of credit for the run defense.

    Cooper DeJean had one of the big plays for the Eagles defense on Saturday.

    Cornerback: B

    Adoree’ Jackson had a few leaky moments. He got toasted by Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin on the outside for a 40-yard catch. And early in the second half, Treylon Burks caught a 24-yard pass over the middle and in front of Jackson. But once Mariota left, the Commanders had no chance through the air.

    Quinyon Mitchell stayed on the boundary side of the field and didn’t trail McLaurin. Mitchell broke up a pass to Samuel in the third quarter.

    Cooper DeJean was in coverage when Samuel caught a third-down toss over the middle for 20 yards in the third quarter. But DeJean bounced back as he often does with a stellar play, this time an interception of Johnson. It was his second pick of the season.

    While he might have gotten away with pass interference on Mariota’s third-down throw into the end zone on the Commanders’ first drive, DeJean had a breakup on the next series.

    Safety: B

    Reed Blankenship and Marcus Epps weren’t tested much on deep routes in the middle, but they kept everything in front. They both assisted in stopping the run and finished with a combined five stops. Blankenship missed an open-field tackle on a 13-yard run up the middle in the first quarter.

    Concerns about kicker Jake Elliott only intensified on Saturday.

    Special teams: D

    Kicker Jake Elliott had a brutal first half. The stat sheet will say he missed only two field goal attempts, but Elliott hooked three wide left: from 43, 57, and 52 yards when a Commanders offsides penalty gave him a second chance. He did make all three of his extra points, though.

    Elliott has made just 17 of 24 field goal tries this season for a career-low 70.8%.

    Punter Braden Mann averaged a solid 43.5 net yards on two punts. Britain Covey had an 11-yard punt return and fair caught three others. Will Shipley fumbled the opening kickoff when Mike Sainristil stripped the ball. The Eagles defense had his back and forced a field goal, thanks in part to 4-10 Dan Quinn’s inexplicable decision to not go for it from the 4-yard line. Shipley had another goof when he hesitated coming out of the end zone, which resulted in a short return.

    Coaching: B

    Coach Nick Sirianni‘s team won back-to-back NFC East titles — the first time that’s been accomplished in 21 years. Despite a topsy-turvy 3½ months, Sirianni’s Eagles prevailed. They’ve made the playoffs in all five of his seasons at the helm.

    Nick Sirianni guided the Eagles to another playoff appearance.

    The Eagles aren’t close to perfect, as a sloppy first half against an inferior opponent indicated. Sirianni again had some questionable game management moments. On the first possession, he tried to get the Commanders to jump on fourth-and-1 at his own 41. The Eagles took a delay and punted instead. Before the half, Sirianni letting the clock drain down and taking another unnecessary timeout after another fake attempt to draw the defense offside was aggressively passive.

    Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo had a solid day. He shifted quickly from run-heavy play-calling and used empty backfields to make the Commanders’ pass coverages more predictable. He never got too far away from the ground attack, and in the end, was rewarded when Barkley broke off big gains.

    Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio‘s unit was stellar once again. It held Washington to a field goal after Shipley’s fumble and the first unit allowed only one touchdown. Mariota’s exit made his job that much easier, but the Eagles mostly dominated.

  • unCovering the Birds: Can the Eagles keep Nakobe Dean?

    unCovering the Birds: Can the Eagles keep Nakobe Dean?

    Nakobe Dean’s value to the Eagles is as clear as the team’s improved defense performance since his return to play. Coming off his best game of the season in last week’s shutout win over the Raiders, the linebacker has made a remarkable turnaround from a serious knee injury that knocked him out of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX championship run. But what’s Dean’s future in Philadelphia beyond this season? The 25-year old is an unrestricted free agent, and for the first time in what feels like forever, the Eagles have depth in the linebacker rotation. With only three games left before the playoffs, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane looks at the likelihood of the Eagles keeping Dean, as well as several other players whose contracts expire whenever this season ends.

    00:00 Can the Eagles keep Nakobe Dean? Should they?

    14:30 Tiering other key unrestricted free agents on the roster, like Dallas Goedert, Jaelan Phillips, and Reed Blankenship.

    unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.

  • Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Commanders in Week 16: What you need to know and a prediction

    Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Commanders in Week 16: What you need to know and a prediction

    The Eagles travel to face the Washington Commanders in a Week 16 matchup at Northwest Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. Here’s what you need to know about the game:

    When the Eagles have the ball: I feel like I keep referring to various Eagles opponents as having one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but that label once again applies this week. The Commanders have been poor for most of their now-lost season. Coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling last month, and there’s been marginal improvement, but this is an old and battered unit that lacks elite talent at almost every position. The Eagles should have the chance to build some offensive momentum and do so against a scheme that has similarities to last week’s opponent, the Raiders. Quinn has evolved some since working under Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll in Seattle, but he won’t sacrifice numbers in coverage, even if his defense has struggled to stop the run.

    Saquon Barkley gave Washington big problems in three meetings with the Commanders last season, collecting 414 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

    The Eagles bullied the Commanders on the ground last season, rushing for 668 yards and 12 touchdowns in their three meetings. Washington’s front office addressed its deficiencies up the middle, but the initial criticism directed at signing free agent Javon Kinlaw has proven to be warranted. The defensive tackle hasn’t done much to improve a run defense that’s allowing 4.7 yards per carry and ranks 26th in the league in expected points added (EPA) per rush. The Eagles clearly should lean into the run game, especially more from under center to further establish an identity that the offense has been lacking for most of the season. That might mean more two- and three-tight end sets, and more of the overwhelmed Grant Calcaterra. But it would force Quinn into more base personnel — something he doesn’t want. Also, an uptick in snaps for blocking stud Cameron Latu (stinger) would be a net positive, assuming he’s active.

    The Eagles didn’t throw much from under center vs. the Raiders. But when Jalen Hurts did, he was effective, completing all four passes for 66 yards. The offense has been at its best when the play-action game has been featured. Coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo need to increase their usage because Hurts can’t operate consistently in the straight drop-back world. The Commanders are actually worse vs. the pass than the run, at least statistically. They rank last in EPA/per drop-back and 29th in success rate. Injuries haven’t helped. Three of Washington’s edge rushers (Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste) and two of its cornerbacks (Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos) are on injured reserve.

    Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner remains one of the top players on the defense.

    The Commanders’ two best defenders might be their two oldest players: edge rusher Von Miller and linebacker Bobby Wagner. Miller still lines up predominantly over the right tackle, but he won’t see longtime foe Lane Johnson. Fred Johnson gets his fifth straight start as the Eagles slow-play the other Johnson’s return until likely the playoffs. Wagner may be Washington’s only above-average run defender. But the future Hall of Famer has clearly lost a step and is exploitable in coverage. Linebacker Frankie Luvu is just as susceptible through the air. He’s allowed 34 catches on 36 targets for 294 yards and four touchdowns. Luvu, who knocked Hurts out of last year’s meeting in Landover, Md., also has a 19.3% missed tackle rate, per Pro Football Focus. It could be another red-letter day for Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert.

    When the Commanders have the ball: Washington has been more competent on offense than on defense, even without quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was officially shut down for the season. Replacement Marcus Mariota may be only 2-5 as a starter with wins over the lowly Raiders and Giants, but he’s more dangerous than the backup the Eagles faced last week, Kenny Pickett. Mariota’s legs present a challenge to a defense that hasn’t handled the quarterback run game that well. He’s rushed 49 times for 298 yards, with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury dialing up long gains on designed runs. Mariota can scramble, too, so the Eagles will need to contain their rush and spy him at times.

    The Commanders don’t go three-and-out much, partly because they have an efficient ground attack. Mariota helps open lanes for a triumvirate of running backs — Jacory Croskey-Merritt (4.5 yards per carry), Chris Rodriguez, Jr. (4.6), and Jeremy McNichols (5.3) — who are better than the league average on their rushes. Vic Fangio’s defense has been better against the run since the Bears disaster, despite having the highest light box rate (60.4) in the NFL, per NextGen Stats. He may need to employ his base five-man front more than normal vs. Washington’s heavy sets. But tight end Zach Ertz’s season-ending knee injury might decrease the Commanders’ 12 and 13 personnel usage.

    Ertz (50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns) was having another solid season. His absence creates a void over the middle. The Commanders still have two receivers — the versatile Deebo Samuel and the always-dangerous Terry McLaurin — who will command attention. Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has been lining up more on the boundary (or short) side of the field, but it may make sense to have him trail McLaurin. If you think the Eagles offense doesn’t utilize under-center enough, just look at the Commanders. They do it less than anyone in the league (8%) and barely throw off it (14%). Kingsbury does use a lot of play action from the pistol, though.

    As former Eagles backups go, give 2023 backup Marcus Mariota the edge over 2024 backup Kenny Pickett.

    And that’s typically when Mariota takes his shots downfield. He airs it out as much as any quarterback (10.2 yards per attempt), but ranks only 28th in 20-plus yard success rate. He might not have as much time in the pocket with left tackle Laremy Tunsil, Washington’s best offensive lineman, out for Saturday. Brandon Coleman will step back into the position he lost when Tunsil was acquired last offseason.

    Extra point: I’m not ready to say that the Eagles have solved all their offensive issues, especially after demolishing the woeful Raiders, but they have made strides since Sirianni stuck his beak more into the overall operation two weeks ago. Receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith may not love the return to run-heavy play-calling. But having Hurts drop 70% of the time, as he did over a five-game stretch since the bye, wasn’t sustainable. More under center, diversity in the plays, and Hurts on designed runs should be the formula.

    That doesn’t mean the pass offense should be dormant. Quinn doesn’t use as much Cover 3 as Carroll, but he will play a fair amount of single-high safety-man coverage. And he will blitz about 26% of the time. Brown and Smith should have opportunities vs. cornerbacks Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene, and Antonio Hamilton. I expect early success on the ground will lead to shots won downfield.

    As for Washington’s offense, it turns the ball over at a high clip (20 total turnovers), and the Commanders are last in the NFL in fumble rate. Mariota has three lost fumbles, and the running backs collectively have four. I think the Eagles will take the ball away a few times. And as long as they win the turnover battle, I see a victory. It might not be the cakewalk some have predicted, but despite all the outside dissatisfaction about the team this season, the Eagles exit FedEx with a second straight division crown.

    Prediction: Eagles 30, Commanders 20

  • The Day After: Stock report after blowing out a bad team

    The Day After: Stock report after blowing out a bad team

    For a game, at least, the Eagles looked like world-beaters, not the hardest thing to do these days when facing the lowly Las Vegas Raiders. The real question, however, isn’t if the 31-0 shutout win is going to be a cure all for the issues that ailed the Eagles during their three-game losing streak; it’s whether the progress the team showed Sunday can ultimately translate to the postseason, which arrives next month. Possible? Perhaps, but with two of their final three games coming against a weakened opponent, the Eagles might not know exactly what they’re capable of until the playoffs get here. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Marcus Hayes scrutinize changes that surfaced in the Eagles’ victory over Vegas, starting with the performance of none other than quarterback Jalen Hurts.

    00:00 The Eagles did what they were supposed to do

    01:23 Assessing schematic changes and their impact on Jalen Hurts

    10:45 Getting the run game going

    20:14 Can this defense get the Eagles back to the Super Bowl?

    25:49 The truth about “outside noise” and human nature

    unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.

  • ‘That was amazing:’ Return of Jalen Hurts as a runner — and run-heavy offense — is the Eagles’ winning formula

    ‘That was amazing:’ Return of Jalen Hurts as a runner — and run-heavy offense — is the Eagles’ winning formula

    When Jalen Hurts and the first-unit offense took their well-earned rest early in the fourth quarter of an eventual 31-0 blowout over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Eagles had a run-pass ratio of 32 to 17.

    There were myriad reasons for a ground-heavy attack on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field: from wintry weather conditions and schematic improvements to situational play-calling with a lead and rebuilding Hurts after a disastrous performance vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.

    But mostly the Eagles ran the ball because it’s what they need to establish if they want to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Coach Nick Sirianni would never cop to looking that far ahead, nor should he, but the hapless Raiders offered the opportunity to give his directionless offense a compass for the future.

    Eagles grades: High marks for the defense as the three-game skid ends in a big way

    The run game wasn’t exactly efficient or close to explosive, especially on traditional handoffs to running back Saquon Barkley. The 2025 offense is unlikely to become the 2024 version of itself.

    But a formula closer to that of a year ago — and, really, for most of the five years of the Hurts-Sirianni partnership — is the Eagles’ best hope. That meant, obviously, more carries for Barkley and backup Tank Bigsby, but also more diversity in the calls, more runs from under center, more up-tempo, and perhaps most importantly, more of Hurts on designed keeps.

    “These are things that have been staples in our offense for a long time, and we’re just continuing to use things that we think fit for that week,” Sirianni said. “I haven’t watched anything on Washington, but next week we could come out and it could be a completely different game.

    “We have core philosophies and visions of our identity, but we’ll see.”

    It’s no coincidence that the Eagles’ preceding three-game slide came with Hurts dropping to throw more than he ever has, with a 70-30 ratio away from the run. That’s additional pressure for any quarterback, but Hurts has repeatedly shown that he’s most effective when he doesn’t have to shoulder the offense in the drop-back game.

    Can he do it at times? Absolutely. But analytics favor more balanced play-calling for the Eagles. That’s not an endorsement for the “just run it” crowd. Modern NFL offenses have to be adaptable. There have to be pre-snap checks at the line and options at the snap to counter defenses.

    But the Eagles didn’t operate that way on Sunday, even though the Raiders continued their tendencies of staying in base personnel and stacking the box. Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll often dared Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo to pass. And they did at times.

    Hurts had key first-half throws against single coverage on the outside, one resulting in a 44-yard pass to receiver DeVonta Smith and two others that attracted defensive pass interference penalties against receivers A.J. Brown and Darius Cooper.

    But most of the first 45 minutes featured Barkley, Bigsby — and occasionally Hurts — running, no matter what.

    “I think the most important thing was we did a better job on earlier downs of being more consistent in the run game,” Barkley said. “And got to get credit to [Patullo] and those guys for sticking with it … even though we [had] some negative runs.”

    Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley embrace before the Eagles game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

    The Eagles also had the luxury of knowing their defense would stifle one of worst offenses in the league. The Raiders crossed the 50 only once in the first half and averaged just 2 yards per play.

    Barkley wasn’t much better on the ground with 2.3 yards per carry on 15 first-half rushes. Bigsby was a little better at 4.7 on three carries. But there were positive moments from under center and even in the shotgun, where they’ve struggled the most.

    Hurts was more productive with four runs for 25 yards. There was a draw that converted a third down, but three zone-read keeps — while not picking up significant yards — were important because they seemingly created space in the second half.

    “I think he did a really good job,” Barkley said. “Some of them [were] read, some of them [were] a feel, but it helps open stuff up.”

    In the second half, Barkley had seven carries for 44 yards, even though the trailing Raiders knew the Eagles were already in salt-the-game-away mode. They added wrinkles, like having left guard Landon Dickerson pull from the back side on a Barkley 17-yard scamper.

    ‘Ridiculous’ indeed: Jalen Hurts is nearly perfect in an Eagles bounce-back blowout

    They even used three-tight end sets from under center and ran counter and duo runs with success. And going no-huddle helped keep the Raiders defense from switching personnel and getting set. The pains of the first half paid off in the second.

    “With the changes that we made last week, I think we’re just more comfortable in it,” Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata said about the Eagles’ run blocking schemes. “We were able to execute, able to get to fundamentals, the basics that we do well, especially with that on-the-ball [tempo] stuff.”

    Hurts, meanwhile, ran seven times total for 39 yards. One was a scramble. Another was on a successful Tush Push. But five carries on designed runs were a season high and significantly higher than his average of 1.6 per game in the first 13 games.

    “Just think the flow of how it went every week is the same in terms of going out there and trying to execute what’s called,” Hurts said. “That’s just how the cookie crumbled today.”

    He ran with obvious conviction, though. Much has been made of Hurts’ reluctance to take off as much this season. His last two injuries that led to missed games came on designed runs in December. It briefly seemed like there might be a third when his leg bent awkwardly on a late third-quarter keep.

    Jalen Hurts ran the football with conviction in Sunday’s win over the Raiders.

    But Hurts stayed in when the Eagles switched sides to open the fourth quarter. And on the next play, he tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Brown. All told, Hurts completed 12 of 15 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked only once.

    And most significantly, he didn’t turn the ball over after his five giveaways at Los Angeles. Last week was an uncharacteristically sloppy outing for Hurts. But games in which he’s asked to throw more have produced sloppy games at times.

    The Hurts who manages the offense, the one who protects the ball, and the one who runs with authority is the one who has shown he’s championship-caliber.

    “Aw, man, that was amazing, wasn’t it?” Mailata said about Hurts running more. “I thought it was great. It was a great reminder that we have a dual-threat quarterback back there that can pull the ball and run the ball. And if you don’t respect that, we took advantage of that today.

    “Speedy Gonzalez out there.”

    The Eagles haven’t solved all their issues on offense. There will come a time when Hurts and the drop-back passing game will need to deliver. There will be a defense that, for instance, takes away run-pass option plays, or an opposing offense that can actually score.

    It’s difficult to place much weight in beating one of the lesser teams in the NFL, and the subdued responses from several offensive players suggested they knew as much. Brown and Smith weren’t even in the locker room to answer questions from reporters.

    Hurts’ terse answers were probably in response to outside criticism he’s recently faced. He showed more emotion than usual after his touchdown toss to Brown.

    “It was just a natural reaction,” he said afterward.

    The quarterback showed his resiliency once again. He benefited from a run-heavy offense, a dominant defense, and an inferior opponent. But that’s not to diminish his performance.

    Hurts earned his sentiment and more than that. The same could be said for the entire offense.

    “We just haven’t been playing good ball, just call it how it is,” Mailata said. “We just haven’t been, so you’ve got to celebrate the moments that we do, that we do execute, that we do, third-down touchdowns, especially big ones like that. Like, we’ve got to celebrate that.

    “I’m glad that he’s showing emotion.”

    Teams often take on the personality of their quarterback. The position has that much importance. But the Eagles are often their most joyous when they win running the ball.

    Have they turned a corner or was Sunday just a blip?