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Author: Ariel Simpson

  • Eagles offseason guide: Key dates for fans to know, from free agency to the draft to opening kickoff

    Eagles offseason guide: Key dates for fans to know, from free agency to the draft to opening kickoff

    The Eagles season ended early after a wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Now, it’s back to the drawing board. Here are some important offseason dates to know, from the Super Bowl to the start of next season.

    Jan. 17 to Jan. 25: Divisional and championship round of NFL playoffs

    The Eagles may be eliminated, but the playoffs will continue with the divisional round on Jan. 17-18, followed by the AFC and NFC championship games on Jan. 25.

    Jan. 27: East-West Shrine Bowl game

    One of the two major college football showcase games, the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas features some of the top NFL draft prospects, and hosts scouts, coaches, and executives from all 32 NFL teams.

    Jan. 31: Senior Bowl game

    In addition to the Shrine Bowl, there’s the Senior Bowl, which also draws personnel from across the NFL to Mobile, Ala.

    What now for Kevin Patullo, A.J. Brown after the Eagles offense went belly up again?

    Feb. 3: NFL Pro Bowl Games

    Since 2023, the NFL has hosted Pro Bowl Games, which features flag football and other skills contests instead of a traditional football game. This year, those games kick off on Feb. 3, and so far five Eagles have been named, almost entirely on the defensive side of the ball. Center Cam Jurgens is the lone offensive player, joining defensive tackle Jalen Carter, linebacker Zack Baun, and cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Injuries, players opting out, and Super Bowl restrictions could mean more Eagles players make it.

    Feb. 8: Super Bowl LX

    This year, the Super Bowl, the NFL’s 60th, will take place on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., the home of the 49ers. Bad Bunny is scheduled to be the halftime performer.

    Feb. 17 to March 3: Franchise tag period

    Teams can place the franchise tag on players starting Feb. 17 through 4 p.m. on March 3. The Eagles haven’t done this since placing a franchise tag on DeSean Jackson in 2012.

    Eagles first-round pick Jihaad Campbell runs the 40-yard dash during last year’s scouting combine in Indianapolis.

    Feb. 23 to March 2: NFL Scouting Combine

    The NFL Scouting Combine will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Top draft prospects have their physical attributes tested, run drills, and conduct interviews with coaches, front office staff, and the media.

    March 11: Free agency begins

    Free agency begins on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, the official start of the 2026 season. Teams can begin contract negotiations two days earlier on March 9. However, they may not sign until this day.

    Will A.J. Brown be traded? Kevin Patullo fired? Is Jalen Hurts holding Eagles back? Here’s what they’re saying.

    March 29 to April 1: Annual league meeting

    Will there be more discussion centered around banning the Tush Push? This is when those kind of topics will be discussed as owners meet up in Phoenix, Arizona.

    April 20: Offseason workouts can begin

    Teams with returning head coaches can start their optional workout programs. Meanwhile, teams that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2025 regular season can start offseason workouts on April 6.

    NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell always gets a healthy dose of boos at the start of the draft.

    April 23 to 25: NFL draft

    The NFL draft will take place between April 23 to 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Eagles enter the draft with eight picks: a first-round pick, a second-round pick, two third-round picks, two fourth-round picks, and two fifth-round picks.

    May 1: Decision day for former first-rounders

    Teams will have to decide whether to exercise their fifth-year option on 2023 first-round draft picks. Carter and Nolan Smith are Eagles players who have fifth-year options coming up.

    The Eagles need to ask themselves some hard questions. Jalen Hurts should face a few of them. | David Murphy

    Early May: Rookie minicamp

    After he draft, teams will host a three-day minicamp for rookies to welcome the players into the NFL. This year, they can choose between May 1-4 or May 8-11.

    Mid-May: NFL schedule release

    In May, the NFL will release the dates of each matchup for the 2026 season. Some game times may be changed throughout the season.

    The Eagles will host several offseason workouts, including rookie minicamp following the draft.

    Late May: OTAs

    Last year, the Eagles hosted a number of optional workouts before mandatory minicamp. The workouts took place in late May and early June, beginning on May 27.

    Early June: Mandatory minicamp

    The team should hold a mandatory minicamp some time in June. Las year, the team hosted a one-day mandatory minicamp on June 10.

    The 2025 Eagles played not to lose. In the end, that’s why they did. | Mike Sielski

    Mid-late July: Training camp begins

    There’s no official date for the start of Eagles training camp. Last season, camp began on July 22 and the team hosted an open practice at Lincoln Financial Field on Aug. 10.

    First week of August: NFL preseason begins

    Teams will get their first taste of action in the first week of August with the start of the NFL preseason as they prepare for the next step of the 2026 season …

    First week of September: Regular season begins

    Although we won’t know who the team will be competing against until May, the Eagles will have a chance to start the season on a high note after an early playoff exit as defending Super Bowl champions.

  • Philly-area golf simulator facility is letting angry Eagles fans smash golf balls into Kevin Patullo’s face

    Philly-area golf simulator facility is letting angry Eagles fans smash golf balls into Kevin Patullo’s face

    Immediately following the Eagles’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers, a somber feeling started to take over the Golf Place. Those gathered at the Bucks County golf simulator facility to watch the Eagles while working on their swings began to pack up and go home, and co-owners Justin Hepler and Killian Lennon began to close up shop.

    But in a brief moment, an idea was developed to help Birds fans release their anger after a disappointing loss: letting them hit golf balls at offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s face — or at least an image of it.

    Earlier in the season, some fans broke the law by egging Patullo’s Moorestown home after the Eagles’ Black Friday loss to the Bears. The Golf Place’s idea keeps the flying objects far from the real Patullo, and within legal bounds.

    “It was a fun way to let off some steam, but also make it fun for everybody involved,” Hepler, 24, said. “And obviously Killian in the video is a diehard Eagles fan, so he was pretty upset. But, everybody in here has gotten a kick out it.”

    The Golf Place, located in Langhorne, has been open for a brief two-and-a-half months but is now getting more attention after the video of Lennon, 29, went viral overnight, accumulating over 200,000 views on social media and over 10,000 likes.

    Will A.J. Brown be traded? Kevin Patullo fired? Is Jalen Hurts holding Eagles back? Here’s what they’re saying.

    “We knew it had some potential because this was eight minutes after the game ended,” Hepler said. “So we thought it was pretty hilarious.”

    So why the face of the first-year coordinator? To them, the answer is simple.

    “No one’s happy with the offense this year, obviously,” Hepler said. “I’m sure you can see all the Eagles fans that related to it. You can see all the comments saying, ‘This could have been recorded any month of the year.’ We could have had this for not just a today type of deal.”

    The Eagles offense took a major step back under first-year coordinator Kevin Patullo.

    As of Monday afternoon, one person had already entered the store asking to take them up on their offer of hitting golf balls at Patullo. They said all fans are welcomed to request the same thing.

    And although Hepler isn’t an Eagles fan, he knows there’s a glaring change that needs to be made by the team this offseason.

    “Fire Patullo,” Hepler said. “That’s the answer for them. I mean, that’s what everyone says. That’s what Killian’s first response was, and I think that’s the overall message.”

    What now for Kevin Patullo, A.J. Brown after the Eagles offense went belly up again?
  • Will A.J. Brown be traded? Kevin Patullo fired? Is Jalen Hurts holding Eagles back? Here’s what they’re saying.

    Will A.J. Brown be traded? Kevin Patullo fired? Is Jalen Hurts holding Eagles back? Here’s what they’re saying.

    The Eagles’ road to repeating as Super Bowl champions ended abruptly Sunday with a 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field. Following their early exit in the playoffs, most of the national discussion centered around who’s to blame and potential offseason changes surrounding the Eagles coaching staff — and A.J. Brown, after his sideline spat with Nick Sirianni and several key drops.

    Here’s what they’re saying about the Birds following their wild-card loss to the Niners …

    ‘That was a total embarrassment’

    The Eagles offense came up short — again — continuing the theme of this year’s inconsistent unit. Despite a strong first-half performance, Kevin Patullo’s group was more conservative in the second half and mustered just a pair of Jake Elliott field goals.

    What now for Kevin Patullo, A.J. Brown after the Eagles offense went belly up again?

    The regression of the Birds offense has been a main topic of discussion throughout the season. So, for ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, it wasn’t surprising to see the team’s downfall on Sunday night.

    “That was a total embarrassment from Philly, offensively,” Orlovsky said Monday on Get Up. “And we all saw it coming. We talked about it all season long. The fact that they didn’t see it coming is concerning. Yes, there’s going to be changes. But, Howie Roseman, their general manager, has got to be sitting back going, ‘Wait, wait, wait, wait, this is a roster that I put together that should no question have contended for another Super Bowl.’ …

    “We all saw this embarrassing performance coming and it still happened. And it was allowed to happen.”

    On X, Orlovsky, a former NFL quarterback, also broke down the Eagles’ final drive Sunday night, posting the video with a one-word caption: “Ugly.”

    To former NFL quarterback Cam Newton, Sunday’s performance revealed all the flaws the Birds “tried to mask” throughout the season.

    “The Philadelphia Eagles were who we thought they were,” said Newton on First Take. “And yesterday’s performance was a microcosm of that. We’ve seen insufficient play. We’ve seen ups and downs and the downs and the ups. … What we’ve seen is nothing new. They tried to mask it. They tried to put lip balm. They tried to put eyeliner. They tried to put mascara on it and they tried to challenge the status quo of you’ve been doing this all year.”

    Shell-shocked Eagles locker room emotional after losing to the 49ers: ‘It’ll never be the same team again’
    Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown can’t pull in a deep pass from Jalen Hurts during the second quarter. He dropped several passes in the loss.

    Will the Eagles trade A.J. Brown?

    The most action Brown saw all night was when the broadcast caught Nick Sirianni yelling at him on the sideline. The receiver recorded three receptions for 25 yards; he missed a potentially big first-half reception and had a costly third-down drop later in the game. After the loss, Brown didn’t speak to media.

    Former tight end Shannon Sharpe believes it’s time for the Eagles to move on.

    “Me, personally, I think it’s the best if the Eagles just go their separate ways,” Sharpe told Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson on the Nightcap podcast. “He needs to go somewhere where he feels like he’s going to get — he’s looking at it, Ocho, like I need to be getting the Puka Nacua type targets.”

    Former NFL safety Ryan Clark also believes Brown won’t be in Philly next season.

    “A.J. Brown is getting traded,” Clark said on ESPN’s First Take. “He wants out and they need to want him out. That relationship is over. That relationship is done and part of it is the Philadelphia Eagles, but a lot of it is on A.J. Brown. … A.J. Brown this year was more problems than he was worth.”

    The 2025 Eagles played not to lose. In the end, that’s why they did. | Mike Sielski

    If the Eagles do move on from Brown, however, it might not happen until later in the year. According to Spotrac, trading him before June 1 would cost the Birds a fortune.

    “If the Eagles were to bite the bullet and trade Brown early this offseason,” Michael Ginnitti writes, “they’d be taking on the 4th largest single season dead cap hit in NFL history (and making a heck of a lot more financial trouble for themselves as well).”

    Jalen Hurts and the Eagles scored a pair of touchdowns in the first half, but settled for just two field goals in the second.

    ‘Jalen Hurts is holding them back’

    Although most of the finger pointing has been directed at Patullo, former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy said a lot of the Eagles offensive struggles could be because of the team’s starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts.

    “Jalen Hurts, I need you to be special, make plays,” McCoy said on The Speakeasy show. “I did a lot of digging, man, and I won’t throw them under the bus here. But I know some people, right. And the problem is, we can’t do different exotic looks, different formations, different motions because I’m hearing that [Hurts] can’t really do it. So, we get to a game like this, we got to have it. We’re playing against the Niners. They’re with their second unit. …

    “I look at the quarterback, like, if we have all these special players, Hall of Fame-type running back, Hall of Fame-type wide receiver, top three dual wide receivers with A.J. [Brown] and [DeVonta Smith] and a really solid tight end with Dallas [Goedert] and we can’t move the ball? … We got to make some big decisions next year.”

    McCoy wasn’t alone.

    “They certainly could be more creative on the offensive side and we know that. But, Jalen Hurts is holding them back in that department,” Chris Simms, a longtime Hurts detractor, said on Pro Football Talk Live. “I know these things. He doesn’t want the offense expanded, to a degree. So, that kind of handcuffs them a little bit.

    “And then, when you’re an offense, you can’t go to do advanced geometry when you brought up a minute ago that you can watch the film and go here’s a basic play and the guy’s open and he doesn’t throw it. That doesn’t give the coaches the confidence to go, ‘Let’s go deeper into the playbook.’”

    The Eagles need to ask themselves some hard questions. Jalen Hurts should face a few of them. | David Murphy
    Nick Sirianni lost a home playoff game for the first time Sunday.

    ‘There’s enough blame for everybody’

    Former Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner believes Sunday’s loss was a team effort.

    “There’s enough blame for everybody,” he said on The Seth Joyner Show. “Wide receivers dropping balls, not catching balls, not giving maximum effort. Players on the defensive side standing around not necessarily ready. … They got out-coached, out-played, and they got out-willed today.”

    However, another former Eagles linebacker, Emmanuel Acho, narrowed it down to three individuals he would like to blame for the loss — and perhaps there’s no surprise that it’s Brown, Patullo, and Hurts.

    “A.J. Brown given how talented you are and how much dust you kicked up throughout the course of the season, you have to show up in the biggest moments,” Acho on The Speakeasy talk show. “So, A.J, first person I’m looking at is you because you’re capable. Second person I’m looking at is Kevin Patullo.

    “And then lastly, Jalen Hurts. I just need you to be more special. … So, really if I’m going to look at three people: A.J. Brown, got to look at you in the eye. Kevin Patullo, got to look at you in the eye. Jalen Hurts, got to look at you in the eye. Those are the three people that start with the blame.”

  • Darius Slay returns — so does George Kittle’s favorite giant middle finger — and more from Eagles tailgate lots

    Darius Slay returns — so does George Kittle’s favorite giant middle finger — and more from Eagles tailgate lots

    When it comes to tailgating, Philly is among the best to do it. Whether it’s grilling camel or belly dancing in the snow, Eagles fans know how to step it up for the playoffs — and this year’s pregame tailgate for the Birds’ wild-card matchup with the San Francisco 49ers didn’t disappoint.

    Here’s what you missed from the tailgating lots …

    Darius Slay back in Philly

    Darius Slay may no longer be part of the Eagles — but that’s not stopping him and his wife Jennifer Slay from supporting his former team, appearing on the sideline before the game and even in the parking lots.

    The former Birds cornerback posed for photos with fans at the 4th and Jawn tailgate ahead of Sunday’s game. Standing beside his wife, Slay looked at the crowd of Birds fans and smiled as they yelled out “Big Play Slay” and erupted in Eagles chants.

    Although Slay was released last offseason before signing with the Steelers, he still means a lot to Eagles fans after spending five seasons in Philly, capped off by a Super Bowl victory in February.

    “Darius Slay means everything,” said 30-year-old Chris Mallee. “He’s kind of a blue-collar guy like all the people coming to the games. He’s someone that keeps his head down and works really hard, family oriented, he’s a really solid guy.

    “We definitely miss him here but we’re glad he’s doing well.”

    Slay was released by the Steelers last month, and subsequently claimed by the Buffalo Bills. However, he informed the Bills he was considering retirement and did not report to the team.

    At the same time Slay was hanging with Birds fans Sunday, the Bills were in Jacksonville for their own playoff game. They came back in the final minutes to beat the Jaguars, 27-24, and advance to the divisional round.

    John Hirschbuhl and Doug Steinbrecher’s Philly Football Finger caught the eye of George Kittle during his rookie year.

    Kittle’s favorite middle finger

    Most players who have played in Philly have had at least one memorable interaction with Eagles fans. And George Kittle is no different. The veteran tight end was one of several 49ers players to discuss his relationship with the fan base, and even shared his favorite story, which had to do with a giant middle finger he saw his rookie year.

    “There were like four 10-year-old kids holding a seven-foot-tall papier-mâché middle finger that had a rotating thing on it that made the middle finger come up,” Kittle told reporters. “That was the coolest thing, I’ll never forget it. That was my rookie year and I was like, this is excellent.”

    That middle finger was back on Sunday.

    John Hirschbuhl and Doug Steinbrecher have been building the Philly Football Finger for 25 years. The finger gets displayed for every home game and they bring it with them on the road twice a year.

    “George Kittle happened to see it, enjoyed it, sent a police officer over to tell us how he appreciated coming to Philadelphia and how the fans are a little bit nuts here,” said. “We all love football. That’s what it comes down to.”

    Kittle was carted off Sunday after suffering what was later reported to be an Achilles injury.

    ‘Walking the dog’

    Walking through C Lot, you’ll likely find fans playing cornhole, grilling, and throwing a football around as they prepare for the day’s game. You may also see a grown man wearing a beak on his head as he drags a 49ers helmet through the parking lot with a leash.

    That’s 64-year-old David Schofield, also known as “Beak.” He has been “walking the dog” for 21 years.

    “The rescues, we just like to bring them out here in the sun and get them some exercise,” Schofield said of his “helmet dog.”

    Schofield has made this into a pregame ritual, and owns a helmet for each NFL team.

    “It started with a road trip in Buffalo when we took a helmet home to smash,” he said. “But, it was a good helmet so it didn’t smash too easily. So, I ended up putting it on a dog leash. Hence the birth of the helmet dog.”

  • The 49ers know the Eagles — and their fans — but downplay history in Philly: ‘They hate all of us equally’

    The 49ers know the Eagles — and their fans — but downplay history in Philly: ‘They hate all of us equally’

    The Eagles will host the San Francisco 49ers to open the first round of the playoffs on Sunday. The last time both teams met was on Dec. 3 of the 2023 regular season, when the 49ers avenged an NFC championship loss to the Eagles a year prior.

    Now, the Eagles enter as 4.5-point favorites. Will quarterback Brock Purdy lead the 49ers to a win in the postseason? Or will the Eagles back-to-back hopes stay alive?

    Here’s what the 49ers players and coaches are saying about the Eagles …

    ‘Obviously, we know Philly’

    Almost three years ago, the 49ers and the Eagles met in the NFC championship game. The Eagles dominated the 49ers at home in a 31-7 victory to secure their spot in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.

    In the loss, Purdy tore his UCL in the first quarter, but returned to the field after the team’s backup quarterback, Josh Johnson, suffered a third-quarter concussion. Entering Sunday’s game, Purdy isn’t focused on his past encounters with the team.

    “More than anything, it’s our 2025 season and we’re trying to finish strong and compete against a new team, scheme, kind of feel,” Purdy told reporters. “That’s where my mindset is at with that. Obviously, we know Philly, being there, their environment, their fans, all the things. It’s about getting prepared for that right now, rather than having flashbacks or anything like that.

    “I already went in there in 2023 and played after what had happened in 2022. So, I feel like that’s out of the way and we’re ready to move on.”

    Eagles officially list Lane Johnson as questionable for wild-card round

    The following season, the 49ers traveled back to Lincoln Financial Field during Week 13 and avenged the NFC championship loss with a 42-19 win over the Birds.

    “Two completely different outcomes,” George Kittle told reporters this week. “They whooped up on us the first time. Then we did it the next year. I try not to think too much about that. I try not to hold onto grudges or anything like that because I think that just kind of clouds your judgment and you’re thinking about all this stuff that doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters to us is beating the Eagles who we haven’t played in two years.”

    Although both teams have history with one another, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is only focused on one thing.

    “We have history with the team, but this is about executing, it’s about controlling what you can control, and going out there and playing extremely hard,” McCaffrey said.

    Eagles fans can be hostile, but some 49ers players prefer it that way.

    ‘They hate us all equally’

    And when it comes to traveling to the Linc, the 49ers are just as familiar with the Philly fan base. On Thursday, Kittle reflected on his past experiences in the city.

    “The one thing that’s really unique about Philly is that they don’t really — I mean, maybe like a division rival is different, but any other road team that comes in there, they hate all of us equally and I just appreciate that,” Kittle said. “It’s incredibly loud, they flip you off, they moon you on your bus ride in.

    “But, they do that to everybody. It doesn’t matter if you’re the 49ers, if you’re the Jacksonville Jaguars. It doesn’t matter. They just give you that no matter what and I appreciate that because you can tell how much they love their team.”

    The veteran tight end has played four times in Philly, including that 2023 playoff game, but appreciates each one. “I just thoroughly enjoy it because it’s so unique every single time,” Kittle said.

    Philly bar Ladder 15 turns away 49ers fans who were planning a playoff takeover: ‘We were backing our city’

    However, there was one moment that really stood out to the seven-time Pro Bowler.

    “I’ll never forget my rookie season, the year they won the Super Bowl, it was my first time playing in the Linc,” Kittle recalled. “There were like four 10-year-old kids holding a seven-foot-tall papier-mâché middle finger that had a rotating thing on it that made the middle finger come up. That was the coolest thing, I’ll never forget it. That was my rookie year and I was like this is excellent.”

    Playing on the road in the postseason may be a tough challenge for the 49ers, but it’s one that fullback Kyle Juszczyk is ready to take on, especially in Philly.

    “It’s more difficult [going into a hostile environment] but the payoff is better,” Juszczyk told reporters. “There’s nothing like that feeling of going into a hostile territory and getting a win. Yeah, it’s a little bit more difficult but it’ll be worth it in the end.”

    A rowdy Eagles-49ers game led to Eagles Court, where the hardest part was ‘keeping a straight face’
    Vic Fangio’s defense allowed the fifth fewest point in the NFL this season.

    ‘It’s a big challenge’

    Sunday’s game likely hinges on Vic Fangio’s Eagles defense vs. Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers offense. Shanahan spoke earlier this week about how much respect he has for Fangio — and how he’s tried to hire him multiple times — but he’s not the only member of the Niners who appreciate the test they’ll face Sunday.

    “I feel like Kyle does a good job at making sure we all understand what kind of game it’s going to be,” Purdy said. “If they’re going to load the box, what our answer is. If they’re not, let’s do our job — whether it’s still throwing the ball or running the ball efficiently.

    “I feel like the Eagles do a really good job at switching things up and making it hard to run the ball with the front that they have and dropping guys back in coverage. So, we respect the heck out of what they do. But, we also have to be on top of our job and have success in what we’ve always done.”

    To the Eagles, Vic Fangio is a savvy defensive mind. To Dunmore, he’s a former umpire, bartender, and much more

    The Eagles defense has been dominant this season, especially down the stretch, and 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak credits much of its success to coaching — and a physical defensive line.

    “It always starts with the players,” Kubiak told reporters. “They’re super talented on defense, up front especially. It starts with 98, he’s one of the most talented interior players that we’ve gone against. All three levels, they’re talented. Extremely well coached and coordinated.

    “Vic [Fangio] knows how to identify what you’re trying to do and take away those things that your offense is trying to exploit. That’s why they’re a top defense. We’re going on the road. So, the environment is going to make it harder. So, it’s a big challenge.”

    On the opposite side of the ball, the Eagles have struggled to find an identity. But 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is well aware of the threat that Saquon Barkley still possesses.

    “I still think he’s elite,” Saleh said. “I know his production isn’t what it was a year ago. But he’s still a damn good football player. He’s still a threat to break it anytime he touches the ball. [Jeff] Stoutland is still one of the best O-line coaches in all of football, creating good angles and creating space for the backs. They can still run the ball as good as anybody.”

  • Eagles vs. 49ers predictions roundup: Local and national media picks for wild-card weekend

    Eagles vs. 49ers predictions roundup: Local and national media picks for wild-card weekend

    After finishing the regular season with an 11-6 record, the Eagles are preparing for the first round of the NFL playoffs, where they’ll will host Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers in what is expected to be a windy wild-card matchup.

    Here’s how those in the local and national media are predicting Sunday’s game …

    Inquirer predictions

    As always, we start with our own writers. Here’s an excerpt from Jeff Neiburg’s prediction:

    To see what our other beat writers are expecting from this NFC playoff matchup, check out our full Eagles-49ers predictions here.

    The Eagles’ toughest playoff opponent won’t be the 49ers or Rams or Seahawks | Mike Sielski
    Eagles safety Sydney Brown (left) tackles 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey during the two teams’ last meeting at the Linc in 2023.

    National media predictions

    Here’s a look at who the national media is picking for Sunday’s game …

    • ESPN: Six of nine panelists are picking the Eagles to win and advance.
    • CBS Sports: CBS Sports is also leaning toward the home team, with four of seven experts choosing the Birds.
    • USA Today: In a clear sweep, all six panelists like the Eagles Sunday.
    • The Athletic: They turned their picks over to a panel of 11 NFL insiders — coaches and high-ranking executives — and the majority (six) think the 49ers will upset the Eagles.
    A rowdy Eagles-49ers game led to Eagles Court, where the hardest part was ‘keeping a straight face’
    • Bleacher Report: Bleacher Report picks against the spread, and their crew is leaning toward the 49ers, with five of seven analysts taking the away team and the 4.5 points they’ll be getting from the Eagles.
    • Yahoo! Sports: Frank Schwab has the Birds beating the Niners, 20-14.
    • Sporting News: Vinnie Iyer is picking the Eagles to win, 23-20.
    • Sports Illustrated: Six of the 10 MMQB writers have the Eagles advancing past the 49ers, and two (Gilberto Manzano and Andrew Brandt) have the Birds advancing to the Super Bowl, with Brandt picking them to win.
    With Mike McDaniel and Kliff Kingsbury looming, Kevin Patullo needs to have himself a big postseason | David Murphy

    Local media predictions

    Here’s what other local media members from both sides think will happen on Sunday …

  • Flyers’ first Phish night had DIY Gritty costumes, Phish trivia, and more: ‘A dream come true’

    Flyers’ first Phish night had DIY Gritty costumes, Phish trivia, and more: ‘A dream come true’

    Hundreds of fans gathered at Stateside Live! ahead of the Flyers’ home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night to celebrate the franchise’s first Phish Night.

    Whether they were dressed in Flyers gear, wearing Phish merchandise, or custom Trey Anastasio Flyers T-shirts, they danced to the sounds of Philly’s Phish tribute band, Rift, as they performed their 90-minute pregame set to get fans excited for what was in store for the rest of night.

    Phish Night was a highly anticipated event for 45-year-old Doylestown native Brett Erpel and his brother Aaron. After the official announcement, Brett received a text message from his 47-year-old brother that read “Let’s go to this.”

    Scott Laughton scores in his return to Philly as the Maple Leafs beat the Flyers, 2-1, in overtime

    The brothers have been fans of the band since 1995 after watching them perform for the first time at the Mann Music Center. Brett’s fandom has stretched over three decades.

    For diehard fans like Brett and Aaron, Thursday night was the perfect combination of three things they love the most: Philadelphia, the Flyers, and Phish.

    “I’m a huge Phish fan,” said 23-year-old Andrew Singer, a Philadelphia native. “The Flyers are an integral part of our city, especially during the winter time. I love Phish, the city of Philadelphia, and the Flyers. I just wanted to come out and support that.”

    The Flyers and the band have had long connection. Phish’s first-ever performance at the Spectrum took place on Dec. 15, 1995, which saw their guitarist and singer Anastasio perform in a No. 10 John LeClair Flyers jersey. And before that performance the band visited the team in their training center.

    Flyers fans listen to Philly Phish tribute band Rift, at Stateside Live! on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

    Since then, Phish had historic performances at The Spectrum which became immortalized on the album The Spectrum ’97.

    “Tonight is sort of like the culmination of this long dating process,” said Ike Richman, who owns a communications company and is long-time friends with Phish. “Tonight’s their wedding day. The Flyers and Phish are finally getting married because we’ve had this parallel for so many years. The Flyers fans know about Phish and the Phish fans know about the Flyers. But, tonight they get to all come together in this beautiful night that features their music and celebrations.”

    Anastasio has been a lifelong fan of the Flyers. Some have even made the connection that Anastasio and Flyers mascot Gritty look very similar, leading to some fans dressing up as the NHL mascot for a DIY Gritty costume contest, including Frank McGannon.

    Flyers to host Phish Night in January, featuring T-shirts and a pregame concert

    “I’m 50-years-old and dressed like this,” McGannon said. “I was invited to the concert being that it was Phish Night tonight. … And I was nominated to dress up for the Gritty contest. I guess I have that spirit, and here I am.”

    McGannon made his way to the Xfinity Mobile Arena after the concert to get his one-of-a-kind, co-branded Phish and Flyers T-shirt, which features the band’s logo decorated in Gritty’s orange fur with the bubbles replaced by popcorn. The line for the shirt stretched across 11 sections, starting at the Sales and Service table, located across from Section 112, and ending at Section 101.

    Flyers fan Greg McGannon listens to Phish tribute band Rift at Stateside Live! in a DIY Gritty costume.

    “The shirt is great,” McGanon said. “I’m not going to lie, it’s the only reason I’m here.”

    Along with the exclusive merchandise, fans could grab special menu items only available on Thursday night — including a Fishman doughnut from Federal Donuts & Chicken, a Split Open and Melt cheesesteak, a Poor Heart burger, a Ruby Waves vodka cocktail, and a Scent of a Mule vodka mule with a hint of mint.

    Throughout the Flyers-Maple Leafs game, there were singalong moments from some of the band’s greatest hits, and Phish trivia questions which resulted in a fan winning a signed vinyl record from the band.

    “It’s like a dream come true to see this happen,” said Richman, who presented the Flyers with the idea over the summer. “I’m grateful, again, that the Flyers are doing this and Phish is doing this. But, this is really for the fans and we want the fans to have a real good time. And as they say, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and let’s get this show on the road.”

    A portion of the tickets sold from the event will benefit The WaterWheel Foundation, which supports causes in the Phish community.

  • Eagles are slim favorites over 49ers in wild-card round; plus, updated Super Bowl odds for every playoff team

    Eagles are slim favorites over 49ers in wild-card round; plus, updated Super Bowl odds for every playoff team

    The Eagles will host the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of the playoffs after they missed out on the No. 2 seed in the NFC Sunday.

    From Philly’s chances against the Niners to their odds of repeating as Super Bowl champs, here’s a look at where the Birds stand at two of the biggest sportsbooks …

    Eagles vs. 49ers odds

    The Eagles ended the regular season with an 11-6 record and an NFC East title. Meanwhile, the 49ers finished with a 12-5 record after their recent loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and had to settle for a wild-card spot. Now, both teams will meet at Lincoln Financial Field as they try to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

    The last time these teams met was during Week 13 of the 2023 season, a 42-19 win for the 49ers that featured the altercation between Big Dom DiSandro and linebacker Dre Greenlaw. The game also marked the start of the Eagles’ infamous 2023 collapse. Heading into that matchup, the Birds were 10-1, but went on to lose six of their last seven games, including a playoff loss to Tampa Bay.

    Former coach, others rip Nick Sirianni’s decision to rest Eagles’ starters: ‘Makes no sense’

    That regular-season loss to the Niners came 10 months after the Eagles eliminated San Francisco in the NFC championship game, knocking Purdy and backup Josh Johnson, who beat the Eagles Sunday, out of the game.

    As both teams prepare for the wild-card matchup, the Eagles are early favorites over.

    FanDuel

    • Spread: 49ers +3.5 (-105); Eagles -3.5 (-115)
    • Moneyline: 49ers (+176); Eagles (-210)
    • Total: Over 46.5 (-108); Under 46.5 (-112)

    DraftKings

    • Spread: 49ers +3.5 (-110); Eagles -3.5 (-110)
    • Moneyline: 49ers (+170); Eagles (-205)
    • Total: Over 45.5 (-112); Under 45.5 (-108)
    Eagles have a tough playoff road, as few No. 3 seeds have made it to the Super Bowl

    NFC odds update

    At both sportsbooks, the Eagles have moved up to the third spot in the race to win the NFC, including jumping over their opponent on Sunday, the 49ers, who have fallen three spots from last week’s odds. The Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams remain in the top two favorites at both sportsbooks.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    NFL awards picks: Tom Brady’s MVP illogic, close Coach of the Year vote | Marcus Hayes
    Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks are the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

    Super Bowl odds

    The Eagles’ Super Bowl odds have increased from last week at both sportsbooks as well. They rank behind the Seahawks, Rams, and Denver Broncos with the fourth best odds to win it all. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ odds have dropped, falling outside of the top 10 teams.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Four NFL coaches fired on Black Monday, including ex-Eagles coordinator Jonathan Gannon and Philly native Kevin Stefanski

    MVP odds

    With the end of the regular season, Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye remain at the top of the MVP race. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts is completely out of the running.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

  • Eagles vs. Commanders: Predictions, injuries, odds, playoff scenarios, and what everyone is talking about

    Eagles vs. Commanders: Predictions, injuries, odds, playoff scenarios, and what everyone is talking about

    The Eagles will host the Washington Commanders on Sunday evening as they wrap up the regular season and prepare for their Super Bowl defense.

    Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game …

    How to watch

    The game will kick off on CBS from Lincoln Financial Field at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. Kevin Harlan and Ross Tucker will call the game from the booth. Meanwhile, Penn State alumna Melanie Collins will report from the sideline.

    If you’re on the move and want to listen to Merrill Reese and Mike Quick call the game, then you can tune into 94.1 WIP. And if you’re planning an outing with friends, here are some of the best places to watch an Eagles game in Philly.

    A familiar voice to Birds fans will call Eagles-Commanders on CBS

    Final Week 18 injury report

    The Eagles will be resting most of the starters heading into Sunday’s game. In terms of the injury report, several Eagles did not practice Friday, including Jalen Carter (hip), Nakobe Dean (hamstring), Marcus Epps (concussion), Dallas Goedert (knee), Lane Johnson (foot), and Jaelan Phillips (ankle). None of those players will play Sunday.

    Jihaad Campbell was a full participant despite back and shoulder ailments.

    Meanwhile, the Commanders issued a lengthy injury report on Friday.

    Eagles vs. Commanders odds

    Earlier in the week, the Eagles were 6.5-point favorites at FanDuel, and 7-point favorites at DraftKings. Once it was announced that the Eagles were planning on resting their starters, the odds changed. Now, the Eagles are heading into Sunday’s game as 3.5-point favorites at FanDuel and 4.5-point favorites at DraftKings.

    The total is set at 39.5 and 38.5 points at FanDuel and DraftKings, respectively. For more betting props, check out our betting guide here.

    Eagles playoff picture

    The Eagles have already clinched the division with a Week 16 win over the Commanders. Now, with a win on Sunday and a Chicago Bears loss to the Detroit Lions, the Eagles will be the No. 2 seed in the NFC. However, if Philly loses or Chicago wins, the Eagles will enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed.

    Storylines to watch

    Can the Eagles get it done with most of their starters resting this week?

    They’ll be competing against a banged up Washington Commanders team that will be relying on third-string quarterback Josh Johnson. With a win on Sunday, the Birds still have a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC if the Bears lose to the Lions.

    The Eagles have managed to take care of business the last three weeks. Can they do it again to close out the regular season?

    More storylines to watch:

    One number to know

    2: The Eagles could potentially claim the No. 2 seed with a win on Sunday.

    Our Eagles vs. Commanders predictions

    Here’s how our beat writers are predicting Sunday’s game:

    Jeff Neiburg: Games like this are really hard to predict. Who plays? And for how long? But the Eagles have the advantage at quarterback, and they’re the team with more football to play beyond Week 18. I’ll take that combination in this one. Will there actually be a quarterback controversy? McKee will probably play well enough that the sports radio callers will engage in the absurdity. Happy New Year. Prediction: Eagles 27, Commanders 16

    Olivia Reiner: The Commanders aren’t exactly operating at full strength. Center Tyler Biadasz went on injured reserve this week and left tackle Laremy Tunsil isn’t expected to play, either. While the Eagles will be motivated to win, the banged-up Commanders have more experience playing together this season. Plus, they may still have a bad taste in their mouths given the scrum that occurred late in the Week 16 game at Northwest Stadium. Prediction: Commanders 21, Eagles 17

    Eagles vs. Commanders predictions: Our writers pick a winner for Week 18

    National media predictions

    Here’s how the national media is predicting Sunday’s game:

    What we’re saying about the Eagles

    Here’s a look at the latest from our columnists, starting with Mike Sielski, who broke down the Eagles’ passive offense.

    Sielski: “If you’re complaining about the Eagles’ impotent offense and unimaginative play-calling both from Sunday’s second half and from several previous games this season, if you’re waiting for Sirianni and coordinator Kevin Patullo to have some eureka moment and suddenly start dazzling everyone with their play designs and a wide-open style of offense, you’re missing the key to understanding the 2025 Eagles.

    “They want to play like this. They want to rely on their defense. They want to limit every and any available possibility that their offense and special teams might commit a turnover. It took some time and some trial and some error, but they’ve settled on an approach, and this is it.”

    Marcus Hayes: “A win is a win is a win, but, really, is it too much to expect a greater degree of consistency and professionalism from the reigning Super Bowl champions? Is it ungrateful to believe a 10-5 team should look more like a 10-win team than five-loss team? Maybe. But, hey, we are Philadelphia.”

    What the Commanders are saying about the Eagles

    The Commanders have a banged up team heading into Sunday’s game as they expect to start Johnson at quarterback. Although the Birds plan on sitting most of their starters, including Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is treating Sunday’s game like any other. When asked if the Birds’ decision to rest their starters changed anything, Quinn responded: “Not for us.”

    “By no means are we at full strength, nor are most teams in the NFL during Week 18,” Quinn told reporters. “But, what I do love is the number of guys that are really hungry for this opportunity and chance to compete together. We had so many players miss time, they want to chance to express themselves and to prove it. So, when you miss games and stretches of games, you’re hungry for that competition and you’re hungry for that space. In our league, we practice way more than we play. So, they want to be able to go play and I love that about our guys. We had a hard battle with them two weeks ago and I expect another hard battle Sunday.”

    Here’s more from what they’re saying…

    Commanders prepare for ‘the lion’s den’ at the Linc for a Week 18 matchup vs. the Eagles

    ,

    Quarterback Josh Johnson: “It’s awesome,” Johnson told reporters. “We get to go into the lion’s den. I love it. I wouldn’t change it. It’s great to be able to have a game of this caliber versus this type of team to finish the season. So, I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited. Football is going to have to be played at the highest level. In order to beat this team, we got to play at a very high level and I’m looking forward to us going out there and playing at a high level.”

    Center Nick Allegretti: “There’s a million ways to look at this game,” Allegretti told reporters. “Obviously, this is the last game of the season for us. But, everyone in this locker room in their life has dreamed of being in this situation. If you told me when I was 10 that I would get a chance to play in a Week 18 game, I think it would be the coolest thing in the world. So, understanding that. We get a chance to play against another NFL team. Go try to win that game. Who cares about what happened the week before or the week after.”

    What else we’re reading (and watching)

    🏈 Jason Kelce ‘feels good about Round 1,’ and more from ‘New Heights’

    🤜🤛 Cooper DeJean’s bromance with Reed Blankenship, preparing for Josh Allen, and more ‘Hard Knocks’ highlights.

    📖 Three reassuring Eagles stats, and three reasons to worry ahead of the NFL playoffs

  • Commanders prepare for ‘the lion’s den’ at the Linc for a Week 18 matchup vs. the Eagles

    Commanders prepare for ‘the lion’s den’ at the Linc for a Week 18 matchup vs. the Eagles

    The Eagles will host the Washington Commanders to close out the regular season on Sunday. The last time the teams met was Dec. 20, when the Eagles clinched the division with a 29-18 victory and became the first team to win back-to-back NFC East titles since 2004.

    Now, the Eagles enter as 3.5-point favorites. Will quarterback Tanner McKee lead the Eagles (11-5) to victory? Or will the 4-12 Commanders come out on top at Lincoln Financial Field?

    Here’s what the Commanders are saying about the Eagles:

    ‘I expect another hard battle Sunday’

    Although the Eagles plan on sitting most of their starters, including Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, Commanders coach Dan Quinn is treating Sunday’s game like any other. When asked if the Birds’ decision to rest their starters changed anything, Quinn responded: “Not for us.”

    “By no means are we at full strength, nor are most teams in the NFL during Week 18,” Quinn told reporters. “But what I do love is the number of guys that are really hungry for this opportunity and chance to compete together. We had so many players miss time, they want a chance to express themselves and to prove it.

    “So when you miss games and stretches of games, you’re hungry for that competition and you’re hungry for that space. In our league, we practice way more than we play. So they want to be able to go play, and I love that about our guys. We had a hard battle with them two weeks ago, and I expect another hard battle Sunday.”

    Eagles vs. Commanders Week 18 prediction roundup: Will the Birds end the season with a win?

    ‘We get to go into the lion’s den’

    The Eagles trailed, 10-7, at halftime in their Week 16 matchup at Northwest Stadium before taking over in the final 30 minutes. One of the biggest storylines coming out of the game was Nick Sirianni’s decision to go for two late in the game to give the Eagles a 19-point lead. After the two-point conversion, a fight broke out between the teams, resulting in three ejections.

    Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson is looking forward to playing in one of the tougher fan environments in the NFL on Sunday.

    “It’s awesome,” Johnson told reporters. “We get to go into the lion’s den. I love it. I wouldn’t change it. It’s great to be able to have a game of this caliber vs. this type of team to finish the season. So I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited. Football is going to have to be played at the highest level. In order to beat this team, we got to play at a very high level, and I’m looking forward to us going out there and playing at a high level.”

    Third-string quarterback Josh Johnson will start for the Commanders on Sunday.

    Johnson understands the challenge he will face on Sunday.

    “We got to do what we do well,” Johnson said. “Execute. Stay on task. Keep the chains moving, and then score touchdowns. They got a lot of great players, but we got great players too. We have to trust our techniques; we got to trust our fundamentals.

    “The good thing about going against great players in this league is that it holds you to a standard of doing the little things right over and over. And I think that’s a great challenge for us to go out there and finish on a strong note by going out there and doing the little things right over and over again and coming away with a victory.”

    Eagles remain favorites over the Commanders; plus, game props for Week 18

    ‘Go try to win that game’

    Although the Commanders aren’t going to the playoffs, they’re still entering Sunday’s game with one goal on their mind: winning.

    “There’s a million ways to look at this game,” Commanders center Nick Allegretti told reporters. “Obviously, this is the last game of the season for us. But everyone in this locker room in their life has dreamed of being in this situation. If you told me when I was 10 that I would get a chance to play in a Week 18 game, I think it would be the coolest thing in the world. … We get a chance to play against another NFL team. Go try to win that game. Who cares about what happened the week before or the week after?”