Author: Ariel Simpson

  • Eagles open as favorites over Commanders — and see their Super Bowl, NFC odds improve after big win

    Eagles open as favorites over Commanders — and see their Super Bowl, NFC odds improve after big win

    After three straight losses, the Eagles bounced back with a 31-0 blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders at home. Now, the team faces a short week before a Saturday night matchup at Northwest Stadium, where they’ll take on the Washington Commanders in the first of two matchups over the next three weeks.

    From the Birds’ chances this weekend to updates on year-end awards, here are some of the latest odds at two of the biggest sportsbooks …

    Eagles vs. Commanders odds

    The last time these teams met was in the NFC championship game in January. After the two teams split their regular-season matchup — the Eagles’ loss coming in a game in which Jalen Hurts went down early — the Birds dominated a Jayden Daniels-led Washington team on their way to a 55-23 win at Lincoln Financial Field.

    While the Birds are coming off a win, after three straight losses, the Commanders earned their first win in eight games Sunday, a 29-21 victory over the New York Giants without Daniels under center after he reaggravated an elbow injury.

    The Eagles initially opened as 5.5- and 6-point favorites at FanDuel and DraftKings, respectively, but that started to change when news came down that the Commanders would be shutting down Daniels for the season and sticking with Marcus Mariota as the starter. The line jumped by a point at FanDuel by Monday afternoon.

    FanDuel

    • Spread: Commanders +6.5 (-105); Eagles -5.5 (-115)
    • Moneyline: Commanders (+235); Eagles (-290)
    • Total: Over 44.5 (-115); Under 44.5 (-105)

    DraftKings

    • Spread: Commanders +6 (-110); Eagles -6 (-110)
    • Moneyline: Commanders (+225); Eagles (-278)
    • Total: Over 45.5 (-108); Under 45.5 (-112)

    NFC East odds update

    The 9-5 Eagles increased their division lead over the Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1), who despite two consecutive losses are still in the running for the NFC East — although that can end on Saturday night with an Eagles’ victory. Meanwhile, the New York Giants (2-12) and Washington Commanders (4-10) are out of contention.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    The Eagles jumped ahead of the Packers in both sportsbooks’ Super Bowl odds.

    NFC odds update

    At both sportsbooks, the Eagles have improved their odds of winning the conference after the victory over the Raiders. They trail behind the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks for the third-best odds to win the NFC.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Super Bowl odds

    The defending champions remain outside of the top three favorites to win the Super Bowl. However, their odds have improved from last week, where they were ranked seventh at both sportsbooks. Now, the team has made their way back into the top five favorites to win the big game.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Don’t look now, but Josh Allen is making a late charge in the MVP race.

    MVP odds

    Jalen Hurts’ MVP odds have fallen drastically after the last stretch of games with the Eagles, and he’s essentially out of the running. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye continue to battle for the top spot with Josh Allen rapidly closing in behind them.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

  • Eagles vs. Chargers: Rounding up local and national media picks for ‘Monday Night Football’

    Eagles vs. Chargers: Rounding up local and national media picks for ‘Monday Night Football’

    The Eagles suffered another defeat last week with their 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears. Philadelphia was the top seed in the NFC just a month ago, but after two straight losses, the team is tasked with an uphill battle for the NFC’s number one seed in January.

    Now, the Eagles (8-4) will turn their focus to a Monday Night Football matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers — and they will do so without star defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

    Jalen Hurts and the Birds, who are 2.5-point favorites, have a chance to get back on track against a Chargers (8-4) team dealing with a hand injury to quarterback Justin Herbert, although he is expected to play. Here’s who the experts are picking in Monday’s game …

    Inquirer predictions

    First, let’s begin with what our writers are thinking about the game. Here’s a look at Jeff Neiburg’s prediction …

    To read more of Neiburg’s prediction and see what our other writers think the outcome will be, click here.

    Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has come under fire this season as his unit has struggled to find an identity.

    National media predictions

    Here’s a glimpse at how the national media is swaying before Monday’s matchup …

    • ESPN: Just like last week, ESPN is heavily toward the Eagles. Nine of the 11 panelists have the Birds winning.
    • CBS Sports: CBS follows suit, as six out of eight CBS analysts pick Philly to win.
    • Pro Football Talk: NBC is split on this matchup. Mike Florio picks the Eagles while Chris Simms predicts a Chargers’ win.
    • USA Today: USA Today is nearly split, four of the six panelists have the Eagles winning Monday night.
    • The Athletic: The Athletic is the same, with four of six staff members picking the Eagles.
    • Bleacher Report: After picking against Philly last week, six of the seven Bleacher Report analysts have the Birds winning and covering the 2.5-point spread.
    • Sporting News: Vinnie Iyer predicts a 21-17 win for the Eagles.

    Local media predictions

    Here’s what some others in the local media think of the game on Monday …

    • Delaware Online: Ten of the 12 panelists pick the Eagles
    • PhillyVoice: There is a split between the four panelists with each team receiving two votes.
  • Philly fans are ready for the ‘once in a lifetime experience’ of hosting a World Cup in their hometown

    Philly fans are ready for the ‘once in a lifetime experience’ of hosting a World Cup in their hometown

    Friday morning at Stateside Live! felt like a fever dream for Philadelphia sports fans.

    Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro stood above guests on the second floor of the entertainment venue surrounded by Phang, Gritty, Swoop, and the Phanatic as they prepared for the Philadelphia Soccer 2026 World Cup final draw watch party.

    “We won this bid to host the FIFA World Cup next year because we’ve got the greatest fans on the face of the earth,” Shapiro said. “The eyes of the world are going to be on Philly next year when we celebrate USA 250. … FIFA World Cup is going to be great. And let’s pray for a USA-Mexico matchup on July 4th right here in Philly.”

    Almost three hours from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where the World Cup Final Draw was hosted, Philadelphia sports fans — including Union season ticket holders Donna and Gary Brown — gathered as they waited in anticipation to learn the fates of their favorite nations.

    “I’ve only been able to see the World Cup one other time and that was when we lived in Orlando and it was amazing,” Gary said. “But again, it’s our hometown now and our hometown team, so it just makes it even more special that it’s going to be here. It’s Philadelphia, it’s the birthplace of our country … and it’s our country’s 250th birthday.”

    The final draw was a pivotal moment for fans, as it sets the stage for what is expected to be an unforgettable summer of soccer, with the U.S. joining Canada and Mexico as host nations, and Philly being one of 11 American cities to host games.

    To witness history, Jim House, 45, and his son Maxwell, 13, made the trip from Atlantic City.

    “We really wanted to check out what’s happening with the World Cup,” Jim said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience for my son and myself to hang out together and get to see all this.”

    Maxwell added: “I’m really excited for the World Cup. I’ll be watching a lot of the games.”

    During Friday’s draw, qualified teams — with a few spots left to be decided — were placed into 12 groups of four to make up the 48-team World Cup field. The United States was placed in Group D, alongside Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of a March 2026 UEFA playoff between Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo.

    Gabriel Luzbet of Harrison, N.J., juggles a soccer ball during the FIFA World Cup draw watch party at Stateside Live! on Friday.

    After seeing their grouping, Chester native Jared Micklos believes the United States has a good chance to advance to the knockout rounds.

    “The World Cup is a tricky tournament,” Micklos said. “It’s as much about the teams as it is the order you’re playing in. I think there’s a team we know well. We just played Paraguay and obviously that was a good result for the U.S. The play-in game, if that’s Turkey, I think it gets a lot trickier. That’s a difficult team. So, if they win the playoff, our group probably gets a little bit tougher.”

    Philadelphia will host six matches, including five Group Stage games and a round-of-16 match on the Fourth of July. Some fans, like 65-year-old Vorhees native George Flunt, don’t plan on missing a minute. Flunt already has his tickets for all six games, and spent a total of $11,000 to attend.

    “It’s a splurge, a little,” Flunt said. “Well worth it. It’s a true world event. We don’t get too many of those here in Philly. To bring in all the different countries together and showcase how good this city is, it really means a lot.”

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  • Flyers host fourth annual Casino Night at Vie: ‘It’s a great night for a good cause’

    Flyers host fourth annual Casino Night at Vie: ‘It’s a great night for a good cause’

    Guests surrounded the roulette tables, lined up their chips, and prepared for a night of giving back at the fourth annual Flyers Casino Night. Each year the fundraiser invites fans to interact with players as they participate in casino-style games, making it a team-favorite event.

    “It’s a great night for a good cause,” said goaltender Samuel Ersson. “It’s one of those nights you always look forward to and circle on your calendar. So it’s nice to finally be here.”

    Similar to last year’s Casino Night, the event featured a silent auction that included signed memorabilia from a number of different Philly athlete of all sports — including a pair of signed Allen Iverson Reeboks — as well as trips to destination vacation spots such as Italy, Mexico, and Croatia, and plenty of signed Flyers merch.

    All proceeds from the event go toward Flyers Charities, to support their mission of “creating strong communities by eliminating financial barriers and reviving play spaces to grow the game of hockey and aiding local families affected by cancer throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.”

    According to Blair Listino, the president of Flyers Charities, the event continues to grow each year — adding more sponsors and even more fan activations, including a new venue, a new area for guests to get live watercolor portraits, and a spot to make their own Boxbar charm bracelets.

    “Every year we try to be a little bit creative about different prizes,” said Listino, who is also CFO of Comcast Spectacor and the Flyers’ alternate governor. “And every year there’s a lot of new faces. We have a lot of new sponsors and I think it’s really exciting. It’s just showing that this event has been growing every single year and more people want to get involved.”

    Jamie Drysdale shows off his new suit on the red carpet.

    Vie, located on Broad Street, rolled out the red carpet and players dressed to impress as they prepared to interact with fans. Flyers centers Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras arrived in Christian Dior and Ferragamo dress shoes, respectively. Meanwhile, 23-year-old defenseman Jamie Drysdale made a last-minute trip to State & Liberty on Walnut Street.

    “Well, I didn’t have a black suit,” Drysdale said. “And I figured Casino Night you kind of need a darker suit — navy, black. So, I went out and got this yesterday.”

    Although each player had a different red carpet look, they each shared the same answer when asked what they were looking forward to the most from the night: celebrating a good cause with fans.

    “It’s awesome,” said forward Owen Tippett. “The fan interaction is a lot of fun. You get to meet all the fans that come out and support us, as well as mingle around and play games.”

    Last season, through fundraising events like their Casino Night, Flyers Carnival, and Gritty 5K, Flyers Charities raised over $1.5 million.

  • Joel Embiid’s new Skechers, the brand’s first signature basketball shoe, have dropped: ‘It means a lot’

    Joel Embiid’s new Skechers, the brand’s first signature basketball shoe, have dropped: ‘It means a lot’

    After driving hours from Connecticut, 25-year-old Tristan Howard walked toward the back of Lapstone & Hammer with a large canvas covered in wrapping paper. He approached Sixers center Joel Embiid with the gift, and the former league MVP gladly accepted — opening the present on the spot.

    As the wrapping paper slowly fell to the floor, a painting of Embiid was revealed. The 7-foot center could be seen dunking on an opponent with one hand while holding his MVP trophy in the other, wearing sunglasses, sporting his Olympic gold medal — and of course, wearing his new Skechers shoe, the SKX JE1.

    “I know he’s a very powerful player,” Howard said. “So him dunking the ball is very important. And I know that he won a gold medal and was MVP. So, I wanted to incorporate that somehow. And then obviously the new shoe, I put that on him. I’m happy with how it came out.”

    Howard, who happens to be a New York sports fan, spent six hours the night before painting the gift for Embiid. It was one way the Sixers player was able to celebrate the launch of his latest sneaker and Skechers first-ever signature basketball shoe.

    Joel Embiid’s first signature shoe from Skechers, the SKX JE1, feature his initials on the tongue.

    “It means a lot [to have a signature shoe], especially when you look at where I come from, everything that I’ve been through, and what it took to get here,” Embiid said in a news release. “I always say, my life is a movie, everything happened so fast, one thing after another. Honestly, I wasn’t even supposed to be here. So, to be sitting here now, with my own shoe, it just shows that people believed in me. And that feels great. It’s truly amazing.”

    The shoe was released exclusively at Lapstone & Hammer on Saturday, just a day before Embiid debuted his new sneakers during the team’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Wednesday’s event gave fans another chance to purchase the shoes ahead of its global release on Thursday.

    And as a way to celebrate the release in the city, Embiid met with a number of those fans at the Center City store, signing sneakers and posing for photos. Sixers forward Jabari Walker, a fellow Skechers athlete, even made an appearance to show his support.

    “The message I want to send is that anything is possible,” Embiid added. “When you look at where I started, I wasn’t even supposed to play basketball — I was playing volleyball. And now, here I am. I’m just so thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had.

    “Like I said earlier, this shoe represents the belief that people had in me. It’s about showing that as long as you put the work in, you can achieve your goals — you can achieve anything you want. That’s what happened to me, and that’s what I want for others.”

    A side view of the SKX JE1 shows the upper cage, as well as the three heel points that were a critical part of the shoe’s design.

    The design, according to Skechers, is inspired by Embiid’s non-traditional path to the NBA. It features an abstract multidirectional traction pattern with their signature Goodyear outsole and a mesh body with a 3D-printed silicon lockdown cage. The three heel points represent Embiid’s three keys of life: heritage, sports, and family.

    “I’ve been working with Skechers on fine-tuning every detail of the SKX JE1 and I’m excited to share it with the world,” Embiid said in the release. “Skechers strives for excellence in performance and comfort, so I couldn’t ask for a better partner in creating this signature shoe.”

    In addition to being on sale at Lapstone & Hammer, the SKX JE1s are now available at Skechers.com, select Skechers stores, and other specialty retailers. They retail for $130.

    Different designs of Joel Embiid’s SKX JE1 sneakers were on display during the release event at Lapstone & Hammer on Wednesday.
  • Former Eagles attend third annual ‘Team Dinner’ to support Connor Barwin and Chris Long’s foundations

    Former Eagles attend third annual ‘Team Dinner’ to support Connor Barwin and Chris Long’s foundations

    Nearly eight years after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa together, Connor Barwin and Chris Long are still reaching new heights together with their charity work. On Tuesday evening, the pair hosted their third annual “Team Dinner” at Steak 48 in Philadelphia with proceeds benefiting Barwin’s Make the World Better Foundation and the Chris Long Foundation.

    “I love this event,” Barwin said. “It’s one of my favorite events that we do every year. This is the third one. When I played, I loved the team dinner we did every Thursday or Friday night. We always had fun, we always had a good meal, and we eventually always talked about what we could do to play together to help the team win the next game on Sunday. And really, that’s what this is about.

    “It’s about bringing a lot of people together in Philly that want to have fun, want to have a good meal, and then we’ll get to raising some money and talking about how we collectively can come together as a team and help make Philly a little better place.”

    Barwin, who spent four of his 10 seasons with the Eagles, founded the Make the World Better Foundation in 2013 during his first year in Philly. Its mission is to revitalize public spaces and provide safe outlets for recreation, sports, and arts-based activities.

    Long, who spent two of his 11 seasons in Philly, founded the Chris Long Foundation in 2015 with the mission to advance access to clean water and educational equity. After being named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2018, Long knew he wanted to continue giving back postretirement.

    Former Eagles Chris Long, Connor Barwin, and Vinny Curry posing on the red carpet at the third annual “Team Dinner” at Steak 48.

    “There were so many guys that deserve that thing,” Long said. “You know, it’s not why you do the things off the field. And when you get an award like that, you kind of, it’s like a nudge. You say ‘All right, well, if you say you’re that person, you better keep working.’ So, I’ve tried to keep doing the work. I looked at it as more of a challenge than like an honor. It was an honor, but I got to keep being that person.”

    The “Team Dinner” is an annual event inspired by team dinners from their playing days. Many former Eagles players attended, including Seth Joyner, Harold Carmichael, Ron Jaworski, James Bradberry, Brent Celek, Todd Herremans, and Vinny Curry, along with Eagles security boss Dom DiSandro.

    “These are my brothers,” Curry said. “What they do for the city of Philadelphia is amazing. To bring the ‘Team Dinner’ back to Steak 48 into the city of Philadelphia goes to show you how much Philadelphia meant to them.”

    Ahead of the dinner, guests could buy raffle tickets to win a number of items — including a V.J. Edgecombe signed jersey, an A.J. Brown signed jersey and Eagles swag bag, and a Jalen Hurts autographed Super Bowl book and Super Bowl LIX blanket.

    “Donors don’t walk in the door and feel pressured,” Long said. “The only pressure is to have a good time and kind of recreate the atmosphere of a team dinner from when we played. I think people look forward to it.”

  • Eagles open as slim favorites over Chargers in Week 14; plus, updated Super Bowl and MVP odds

    Eagles open as slim favorites over Chargers in Week 14; plus, updated Super Bowl and MVP odds

    It hasn’t been a fun start to the holiday season for Eagles fans after watching their team lose back-to-back games to the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears. In their most recent matchup, the Eagles struggled in almost every aspect in a 24-15 loss to Chicago on Black Friday.

    Now the Eagles are preparing for a prime-time matchup at SoFi Stadium, where they’ll face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. From the Birds’ chances to updates on yearly awards, here are some of the latest odds at two of the biggest sportsbooks …

    Eagles-Chargers odds

    The last time these teams met was during the 2021 season in a game that saw the Eagles lose, 27-24, at home.

    While the Birds are sliding, the Chargers have won four of their last five games. But their latest win over the Las Vegas Raiders saw quarterback Justin Herbert suffer a broken bone in his non-throwing hand. Ahead of the Week 14 matchup, the sportsbooks are favoring the Eagles, who open as a 3-point favorite.

    FanDuel

    • Spread: Chargers +3 (-118); Eagles -3 (-104)
    • Moneyline: Chargers (+124); Eagles (-146)
    • Total: Over 40.5 (-115); Under 40.5 (-105)

    DraftKings

    • Spread: Chargers +3 (-108); Eagles -3 (-112)
    • Moneyline: Chargers (+136); Eagles (-162)
    • Total: Over 40.5 (-115); Under 40.5 (-105)
    The Eagles are still in the driver’s seat in the NFC East, but Dallas is gaining ground.

    NFC East odds update

    The 8-4 Eagles still hold a lead over the rest of the division in the race to win the NFC East. However, Dallas (6-5-1) managed to close the gap even more after a win over the Eagles in Week 13 and a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, Washington’s chances remain similarly slim after an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. The Commanders are 3-9.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    NFC odds update

    At both sportsbooks, the Eagles are no longer considered one of the top two favorites to win the conference. At both FanDuel and DraftKings, they are tied with the Green Bay Packers for the third-best odds to win the conference, following the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    The Eagles narrowly held on to beat the Rams earlier this season. Could the two meet again in the playoffs?

    Super Bowl odds

    The defending champions are also out of the top three favorites to win the Super Bowl. However, they do remain in the top five at both sportsbooks. Meanwhile, the Rams and the Seahawks are the favorites on both lists and the Packers, Buffalo Bills, and Broncos have reentered the mix.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    MVP odds

    Jalen Hurts’ chances to win the MVP continue to fall to the point where he’s basically out of the race. Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye still hold the top two spots in the race to MVP. However, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has entered the top four at both sportsbooks.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Offensive player of the year

    Saquon Barkley is similarly out of the offensive player of the year picture. Meanwhile, Jonathan Taylor and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are the favorites at both sportsbooks.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

  • How Bears hope to turn Eagles fans ‘against their own team,’ why Vic Fangio is ‘the Godfather,’ and more from Chicago

    How Bears hope to turn Eagles fans ‘against their own team,’ why Vic Fangio is ‘the Godfather,’ and more from Chicago

    On Black Friday, the Eagles will try to bounce back from a loss to the Dallas Cowboys when they host the Chicago Bears for a Week 13 matchup. The last time the teams met was during the 2022 season, a 25-20 road win for the Birds.

    Despite a loss that saw the Eagles (8-3) squander a 21-0 lead to their division rivals, they enter Friday’s game as seven-point favorites. The Bears, who are also 8-3, are heading into the game riding a four-game winning streak, with their latest coming over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

    Will the Eagles bounce back from a loss? Or will the team fall to an NFC North opponent for the first time this season? As both teams prepare, here’s what the Bears are saying about the Birds …

    ‘This is a heavyweight matchup’

    At this time last year, the Bears were on a five-game losing streak heading into a Thanksgiving matchup with the Detroit Lions. This year, Bears fans have more to be excited about, with Chicago winning eight of its last nine games.

    Bears safety and Philadelphia native Kevin Byard has history with both sides. After getting released by the Eagles in March 2024, following half a season with the Birds, he signed a two-year deal with the Bears. The 32-year-old defensive back is excited to make his return to one of the most “hostile” environments.

    “This is a team that was just in the Super Bowl,” Byard told reporters. “They have a winning culture, they have a winning mentality. We preach 60 minutes. We know they’re going to be a 60-minute team as well. … This is a heavyweight matchup for sure, and obviously we’re going into a hostile environment in a stadium that I played in, played against.

    “For example, if their offense goes three-and-out starting the game, they’re going to start booing them. It’s one of those environments where it’s going to be very hostile. So, hopefully we can start fast and kind of get the crowd against their own team.”

    Kevin Byard spent the second half of the 2023 season with the Eagles.

    ‘They’re finding ways to win’

    Although the Eagles have struggled to find an identity on offense, Byard isn’t underestimating the defending Super Bowl champs.

    “Stats for the entire offense have been down, but they’re finding ways to win,” Byard said. “I mean, look at us, our stats haven’t been great on defense but we’re finding ways to win. … Stats is something we can all look at and judge. But at the end of the day, they’re finding ways to win. I think that’s just a testament of their culture and our culture. So, it’s definitely going to be a challenge for us. Just culture against culture — whose culture is better?”

    The Eagles skill positions are full of big names, including Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. Although Barkley and Brown are not putting up the same productive numbers as last season, Byard knows the threat posed by both Barkley and his former Tennessee Titans teammate Brown.

    “It’s a huge challenge,” Byard said. “First and foremost, you talk about Saquon Barkley, like you said, he hasn’t had the year that he had last year. But I mean, he’s still a threat every time he touches the ball. He’s a guy that we’re going to have to corral, and I think when you talk about game plan against a team like that, I think he’s definitely priority No. 1, to stop him.

    “And then you talk about A.J. and [DeVonta Smith], A.J. is still that guy. You know, I spent four years with him, just watching him on film, he’s very, very talented. But, honestly, if you watch the film, Smitty has been the guy that I think Jalen Hurts has the most chemistry with, receiver-wise. … If we can eliminate those big plays down the field, that would be good.”

    Caleb Williams has the Bears playing much better than they were during his rookie season a year ago.

    Hurts’ advice to Caleb Williams

    The Bears’ second-year quarterback, Caleb Williams, is prepared to compete against a familiar foe on Friday: Hurts. The two have met in the past, including when Williams was getting recruited to Oklahoma as Hurts was on his way out.

    Williams reflected on the “wisdom” Hurts shared with him years ago.

    “[We talked about how] there’s not many like us in our position — who we are, skin tone, and all these different things — there’s not many like us,” Williams told reporters. “So, just being able to understand the opportunity that we have and I have to maximize that and put myself in the best opportunity possible. It was kind of that type of talk. Jalen, you’ve heard all his bits. He’s pretty motivational when he speaks up here.”

    ‘We do have a plan in place’

    The Bears also say they’ve been planning a way to stop the Eagles’ signature Tush Push. And they already had some practice with the play a week early in their 31-28 win over the Steelers.

    The Steelers went into their own Tush Push formation before running the ball to the outside with Kenneth Gainwell, who broke a 55-yard run against the Bears. Now Chicago is preparing to face the original Tush Push.

    “Obviously, we saw it twice last week,” said Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. “The thing that makes it more challenging is that they’ve got several plays off of it. It’s a tough play to stop. I think this team runs it better than anybody else in the league. I think the best way to defend it is to not get in those situations — trying to create more third-and-long or fourth-and-long situations. Keeps them out of those situations. It’s certainly a difficult play to stop.

    “We do have a plan in place. We feel like it’s a good, solid plan in terms of not only trying to stop that play but all of the plays that come off of it. And that’s what makes it even more difficult to stop.”

    For the second year in a row, Vic Fangio’s Eagles defense is one of the best in the NFL.

    ‘He’s like the Godfather’

    Bears head coach Ben Johnson knows he faces a tough challenge when it comes to beating this Eagles defense led by Vic Fangio.

    “He’s like the Godfather in a lot of ways,” Johnson told reporters. “He’s kind of taken the lead over in terms of that scheme. … He’s influenced the game significantly.

    “I never worked with Vic, but a lot of respect from afar, obviously. The people that have worked with him speak so highly of how he calls a game. He’s usually a step ahead of the opposing play-callers. So, it’ll be a challenge here just to make sure that we’re trying to keep him as off balance as we possibly can.”

  • Eagles will wear appropriate uniforms for Black Friday — and are asking fans to do the same

    Eagles will wear appropriate uniforms for Black Friday — and are asking fans to do the same

    It’s time for another blackout at Lincoln Financial Field during the Eagles’ Week 13 matchup on Black Friday.

    The team announced it will don its all-black alternate uniforms for the first time this season against the Chicago Bears. As part of the holiday matchup, the Eagles are encouraging fans to ditch their green — whether that’s midnight or kelly — and instead dress in black.

    The Eagles’ black jerseys first debuted in 2003. They added black pants to match in 2014, during the Chip Kelly era. And if that wasn’t enough, the team added a black helmet in 2022. And although this is the first time they will wear the all-black look this season, the Eagles have worn their black pants twice. They first wore them in their Week 6 loss to the New York Giants, but with their white jerseys and midnight green helmets. In Week 10, they wore black pants and matching black helmets with their white jerseys in their 10-7 win over the Green Bay Packers.

    When it comes to the black jersey, the Eagles have had quite a bit of success, especially over the last two years, defeating the Giants in both instances. During the 2023 season, the Birds defeated their NFC East rivals, 33-25, at home on Christmas Day. They most recently wore the uniform during last year’s regular-season finale, which resulted in a meaningless Birds win — nearly all the starters sat out with the No. 2 seed in the NFC already secured.

    Now, there’s much more on the line. Not only do the Eagles need a win coming off an embarrassing loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but they’re also facing a tougher opponent — the 8-3 Bears — in a nationally broadcast game.

  • Eagles open as Black Friday favorites vs. Bears. Plus: How loss to Cowboys impacted NFC East, Super Bowl odds

    Eagles open as Black Friday favorites vs. Bears. Plus: How loss to Cowboys impacted NFC East, Super Bowl odds

    The Eagles blew a 21-0 lead at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, allowing the Dallas Cowboys to score 24 unanswered points and putting an end to the Birds’ four-game winning streak.

    After the epic collapse, the Eagles face a short turnaround as they prepare to host the Chicago Bears on Black Friday. From the team’s chances this week to updates on yearly awards, here are the latest odds from two of the biggest sportsbooks …

    Eagles-Bears odds

    The Eagles and Bears last met during the 2022 season, a 25-20 road win for the Eagles.

    This time around, the game will be in Philly as the Eagles attempt to bounce back from an embarrassing loss to their division rivals. Meanwhile, the Bears are heading into Friday’s game on a four-game winning streak, including their latest over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Despite the divergent results, sportsbooks are favoring the Eagles, with the Birds opening Week 13 as seven-point favorites.

    FanDuel

    • Spread: Bears +7 (-112); Eagles -7 (-108)
    • Money line: Bears (+290); Eagles (-360)
    • Total: Over 44.5 (-104); Under 44.5 (-118)

    DraftKings

    • Spread: Bears +7 (-115); Eagles -7 (-105)
    • Money line: Bears (+260); Eagles (-325)
    • Total: Over 44.5 (-110); Under 44.5 (-110)

    NFC East odds

    Despite the collapse against the Cowboys, the 8-3 Eagles still hold a big lead in the race to win the NFC East. However, Dallas did manage to slightly close the gap from last week. Meanwhile, Washington is 3-8 and its chances remain the same, and the New York Giants are out of the running.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    The Rams and Eagles have been among the favorites to win the NFC for most of the season.

    NFC odds

    As a result of Sunday’s loss, the Eagles are no longer the favorites to win the conference at both sportsbooks. Instead, the Los Angeles Rams reclaimed the top spot with a 34-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Elsewhere, the San Francisco 49ers enter the top six.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Super Bowl odds

    Both sportsbooks have the Rams as the favorites to win the Super Bowl, with the Eagles as a close second. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills have completely fallen out of the top five after Thursday’s loss to the Houston Texans.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts leaves the field after the Birds’ 24-21 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday.

    MVP odds

    Jalen Hurts’ MVP odds continue to fall after the latest loss. Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford, and Jonathan Taylor hold the top three spots in the race to MVP, but it appears to be a race between the two QBs at the moment.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Offensive player of the year odds

    After a Week 12 performance that featured one of his weakest outings — rushing for just 22 yards on 10 carries — Saquon Barkley continues to fall in the race for offensive player of the year. Meanwhile, Taylor and Jaxon Smith-Njigba remain the clear favorites.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings