Author: Staff Reports

As a nasty winter storm bears down on us, it’s a good time to start the newsletter with warm thoughts about baseball.

Could the Mets actually give the Phillies a run for their money in the NL East this season? In the last week or so, they have gotten a little closer.

First they swiped Bo Bichette in a free-agent signing that Phillies president Dave Dombrowski called “a gut punch.” Then the New Yorkers traded for Gold Glove center fielder Luis Robert. Then they dealt for front-line pitcher Freddy Peralta, a noted Phillie killer.

What in the name of Flushing is going on around here? David Murphy takes it all in and provides his analysis: “Offseasons are pretty much the only the thing Mets have won in the 40 years since the ’86 Amazin’s did their thing. They are going to need a lot of things to break right for that to change this year.” Read more of Murphy’s take here.

Still … In Peralta and second-year righty Nolan McLean, the Mets will have a powerful 1-2 punch, and if Sean Manaea can bounce back, their starters could be formidable. At the very least, the flurry of Mets moves has given fans something to talk about around the hot stove … and we’ll need that stove in the next few days.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Philly ties

The Eagles will be spectators Sunday when the NFC and AFC championship games are played, but there will be more than a few Philadelphia connections to the action. The pride of Penn Charter, Mike McGlinchey, is the anchor of the Broncos’ line. Imhotep Charter’s Omar Speights is a top tackler for the Rams. And ex-Eagles DT Milton Williams is lining up for the Patriots. Olivia Reiner gives us the rundown of familiar faces one step from the Super Bowl.

Assistant coach Christian Parker is set to become an ex-Eagle himself, as reports have him heading to the Cowboys to become their defensive coordinator.

Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a finalist for NFL assistant coach of the year honors.

Working overtime

Joel Embiid delivered a triple-double with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Sixers fought past the Houston Rockets, 128-122, in overtime at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Tyrese Maxey made only 2 of 10 three-point shots but led the Sixers with 36 points. Gina Mizell has a closer look at the action.

Let’s make a deal?

The Flyers’ ongoing search for a No. 1 center is no state secret at this point. But do they potentially have a new lead?

With reports that St. Louis pivot Robert Thomas could be available, the Flyers might finally have a path to filling the organization’s biggest hole. Gustav Elvin believes the Flyers should do whatever it takes to land Thomas, whom he calls one of the league’s top playmakers and a bona fide top-20 center.

The Flyers’ need for centers has been apparent in recent weeks as the team has dropped seven of eight games and fallen below the playoff cut line. But blowing a 3-0 lead and squandering a point on Wednesday in Utah represented a new low, writes Jackie Spiegel.

Back to grassroots hockey

A former Flyers beat writer for the Daily News, Frank Seravalli has become known as an NHL insider who is now building a hockey network at the streaming service Victory+. These days, he is also known as the hockey coach at Germantown Academy, a job that takes up even more of his precious time. A family tragedy was a major part of Seravalli’s inspiration to coach the Patriots. Alex Coffey tells the story.

Sports snapshot

• “Unraveling George”: A documentary pays tribute to former Villanova player George Raveling, who became an influential college coach.
• Winning bets: A former St. Joseph’s walk-on player strikes it rich in a Las Vegas contest picking NFL winners.
• Phillies moves: The team re-signs reliever Tim Mayza, while Weston Wilson is claimed by the Orioles.
• ’Nova hoops: After they handled Georgetown, the Wildcats prepare to face No. 2 UConn next.

What you’re saying about the Sixers

We asked: Thoughts on the Sixers so far this season? Among your responses:

Why would any Philadelphia sports fan, specifically a basketball fan, get fired up over our 76ers? By giving Joel Embiid and Paul George max contracts, the GM has essentially made this team irrelevant in the NBA for thee years. These two “Superstars” don’t play enough to make an impact yet account for almost a half BILLION dollars in salary over the life of their contracts. This franchise is handcuffed for the foreseeable future with two untradeable players who miss more games than they play while making it nearly impossible to add salary/free agents. For this franchise, the new reality is not championships, it’s relevancy. — Tom D.

No one cares. George and Embid will be out of the playoffs with “pain management.” Please move back to Syracuse. — Bill M.

An aging Embiid is transitioning into the complementary center he needs to become to help the young Sixers mesh and morph. They will become a quick guard-oriented offense, with the best total guard talent in the NBA.That set of guards includes Maxey, Edgecombe, McCain, Grimes, Edwards, Gordon and Lowry to mentor all of them. But there is no reason for Embiid to be hoisting 3-point shots, which he does at an awful 26% rate this year. — John W.

Encouraging! After last year’s disastrous season, Tyrese and VJ have stepped up to lead the team. Finishing in the top 6 in the conference would be a very successful season. — Bob C.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from David Murphy, Lochlahn March, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Alex Coffey, Gustav Elvin, Jackie Spiegel, Gina Mizell, Matt Breen, and Owen Hewitt.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading. I’ll see you in Monday’s newsletter, when it looks like we’ll be digging out from a doozy of a storm. — Jim

Thousands of college football coaches have paid their dues through the years, so it’s good to see a lifer like Curt Cignetti reach the top rung in his sport.

Cignetti’s unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers will play Miami tonight for the College Football Playoff championship (7:30, ESPN), and for the 64-year-old coach it is the culmination of quite a climb.

He was the head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Elon, and James Madison, among many other stops in his career. He also put in his time on North Broad Street as quarterbacks coach for Temple from 1989-92. Matt Breen tells the story of Cignetti’s time on Jerry Berndt’s staff, when the young coach learned by watching a master in another sport: Basketball Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.

Speaking of someone paying his dues, linebacker Mohamed Toure certainly has done that with the Miami Hurricanes. A native of Pleasantville, Atlantic County, Toure is in his seventh season of college football after ACL injuries cost him two seasons at Rutgers.

“It means a lot to the community,” says Chris Sacco, who was Toure’s head coach at Pleasantville. “I know it means a lot to the younger kids to be able to look at the school and say there’s somebody playing on Monday night for the national championship that went here, and recently.”

Beyond the local connections tonight, there is a reason for Eagles fans to tune in. Several Hoosiers and Hurricanes could be draft candidates for the Birds, and Devin Jackson identifies seven players who could fit the bill.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓What’s your favorite story about a coach? (Dick Vermeil sleeping on a cot at the Vet, etc.) Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

A holiday break

Sports Daily is taking a break to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There will be no newsletter on Tuesday. We’ll return to your inbox on Wednesday morning.

David Murphy’s take

Bo Bichette is headed to the Mets, much to the chagrin of Phillies fans. The reports emerging in the immediate aftermath of New York’s agreement with the former Blue Jays star shortstop on a three-year, $126 million contract suggest the Phillies thought they were on the verge of signing Bichette to a seven-year, $200 million deal. But that’s more a misreading of the state of play than it is reality, David Murphy writes.

If the Mets were willing to offer Bichette these kinds of terms, and Bichette was intent on taking the best deal for his personal finances, the Phillies weren’t going to sign him. Both of those outcomes were more likely to be the case than Bichette accepting a long-term deal that the Phillies felt made fiscal sense.

Far from clutch

With their second straight loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, the Sixers dropped from fifth to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. They blew an 11-point fourth-quarter lead in the 117-115 defeat at home.

They have played 25 “clutch” games — contests with the scoring margin at five points or less with five minutes remaining — and they have lost 12 of them, including three in a row.

“We’ve got to close games,” says Joel Embiid, “and we’ve had a lot of games that [we] probably wish we could take it back.”

Slumping and hurting

The Flyers will try to end a six-game losing streak tonight when they take on the Knights in Las Vegas (8, NBCSP+), but they’ll have to do it without Rodrigo Ābols. The team placed the fourth-line center on injured reserve after he was hurt Saturday in the loss to the Rangers. Ābols appeared to get his right toe stuck in the ice along the boards in the offensive zone, and his ankle buckled.

The Flyers called up Lane Pederson from the Phantoms to take his place.

Owls come up short

Temple ran out of gas at the Liacouras Center on Sunday, getting outscored by 10 points in the last 10 minutes of a 79-73 loss to Florida Atlantic, the first-place team in the American Conference.

Villanova had a tough time dealing with a physical St. John’s team in an 86-79 loss on Saturday.

Sports snapshot

• Hawks fall: Rhian Stokes scores 15 points, but St. Joe’s loses to George Mason.
• Winning Wildcats: Jasmine Bascoe’s 22 points boost Villanova past Butler.
• Explorers tumble: La Salle’s women drop their fourth straight.
• Ivy slump: Penn’s women have yet to win a game in league play.

On this date

Jan. 19, 2003: In the final Eagles game at Veterans Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spoiled the party with a 27-10 victory in the NFC championship game. Ronde Barber intercepted a Donovan McNabb pass and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Matt Breen, Devin Jackson, Owen Hewitt, David Murphy, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Jeff Neiburg, Colin Schofield, Katie Lewis, Ryan Mack, Sean McKeown, and Conor Smith.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading Sports Daily. Enjoy the holiday and we’ll return to your inbox on Wednesday. — Jim

Kobe Bryant will be remembered for many moments in his basketball career. The NBA titles he’s won, the records he’s set, all visible, tangible memories that are a click away.

In Philly, however, his lore extends beyond what he did in the pros. It starts with his impact on the boys’ varsity basketball program as the shooting guard for Lower Merion High School in the late 1990s.

Before Bryant, the Aces struggled to compete with area teams. Now, nearly 30 years after he graduated and took his talents to the NBA, the program, which is still guided by head coach Gregg Downer, is still regarded as one of the top public school programs in the area.

Another impact of Bryant’s time is the rivalry that developed between Lower Merion and Chester, the other area hoops powerhouse, that remains a fixture on the calendar to this day. While it might not bring the same fire as games in previous years, it’s a game in which both schools test themselves on several different facets — some you could suggest might even transcend basketball.

It’s the latest from Inquirer writer Alex Coffey, who dived deep into this area high school hoops rivalry and the hardworking teen turned NBA great whose star power made this game a must-see event.

We’re in for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-40s today. Enjoy.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

❓What’s your favorite rivalry? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Playoff push?

Over the past few seasons, the Flyers have made it no secret that the team was rebuilding and taking a long-term approach to roster construction.

But with the Flyers in a playoff spot entering Wednesday’s games, have things changed? Jackie Spiegel recently caught up with Flyers president Keith Jones to talk about the team’s direction, Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras, and how the team could approach March’s trade deadline.

While it remains to be seen whether the Flyers will look to add at the deadline, the team got some reinforcement with the return of top-four defenseman Jamie Drysdale on Wednesday. Drysdale’s return after a three-game absence, combined with the team’s three-game losing streak, convinced Rick Tocchet to scramble his three defensive pairs in Buffalo.

The Flyers losing streak reached four after dropping a road game at the Sabres, 5-2. The team also lost starting goalie Dan Vladar to an undisclosed injury after the first period.

What we’re…

⚾ Realizing: That for the first time, Ranger Suárez is no longer a Phillies pitcher and he’s got a $150 million contract from the Red Sox to prove it.

👀 Watching: The reaction from this young Eagles fan who found out that former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was fired on Tuesday.

⚽ Introducing: We sat down with the Union’s newest striker, Ezekiel Alladoh. Here’s what he had to say.

🤔 Wondering: What Jason Kelce really meant with his comments on former Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

🏈 Applauding: Penn sprint football coach Jerry McConnell, who, until next season, has been a fixture on the sidelines for nearly 20 years.

What if Realmuto moves on?

As the free agency dominoes continue to fall this winter, the one representing catcher J.T. Realmuto’s future has remained upright.

While fan attention has mostly turned to the Phillies’ interest in free agent infielder Bo Bichette, with whom team officials met on Monday, there is still a glaring hole in the team’s lineup at the catching position.

Five years ago, when Realmuto signed his last contract with the Phillies, they didn’t come to an agreement until Jan. 26. But if both sides don’t ultimately reach a deal this time, what happens at catcher?

Here’s a breakdown of the Phillies’ options behind the plate if they don’t reunite with Realmuto.

‘Small preview’ of the playoffs

When the 76ers lost to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, they didn’t have to wait long to get revenge. Less than two nights later, they were back in Scotiabank Arena. On the second try they secured a 115-102 win. The Sixers returned home to Xfinity Mobile Arena to yet another two-game set against — this time at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“It kind of gives you a small preview of what the playoffs look like, having to beat a team and go out and do it again the next night or whenever you play,” Sixers power forward Dominick Barlow said following Wednesday’s shootaround.

Barlow left Wednesday’s 133-107 loss against Cleveland with a back contusion after awkwardly falling early in the third quarter. Though Joel Embiid is showing glimpses of his dominant self, turnovers continue to be an issue for the Sixers’ star center.

Sports snapshot

• Pay to play: Temple, Villanova, and Penn State are among local schools beginning to pay athletes. Here’s how it’s going so far.
• Portal impact: We weigh Temple football’s most impactful departures and arrivals from the transfer portal over the last few years.
• Facing a legend: Villanova’s Denise Dillon recalls what it’s like to face Geno Auriemma as her Wildcats take on UConn on Thursday.
• ICYMI: Villanova leans on Devin Askew’s bench scoring to secure a win over Providence.

On this date

Jan. 15: How about a pair of Philly moments with California ties? First, on this date in 1965, the San Francisco Warriors traded Wilt Chamberlain to the Sixers in a three-player deal, along with cash. Fast forward to 2024, and you’ll see Joel Embiid hit his 16 consecutive game with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, tying Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Mike Sielski’s take …

“Given that Jalen Hurts will turn 28 in August and has absorbed his share of punishment over his five years as the Eagles’ starter, it’s fair to wonder whether that dynamism with his legs is gone forever.” — It’s one, among many questions Sielski ponders in his latest column.

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: Who should the Eagles hire as their next offensive coordinator?

[Kevin] Patullo was really subpar at his job, but even more so was his boss, head coach [Nick] Sirianni. Nick has an outstanding record as Eagles coach, but I have a feeling it might have been his players who carried him to a Super Bowl win rather than the opposite. Would be great to get Kellen Moore back, but even though he had a bad season I don’t think the Saints are ready to give up on him. Other than him, I would go as the team did with Vic and bring in Frank Reich who has that same depth of experience and who of course is very familiar with the Eagles organization. — Everett S.

Pretty much anyone can make these calls: run, run, pass. — Cathy J.

Not really knowing the availability of who would be available, the best thing to do would be to run an ad. Coaching opportunity of a lifetime. OC Wanted. Experienced professional football OFFENSIVE Coordinator. Must understand the rhythm of the game. Creativity a must. Trick plays a necessity. Must be able to teach strict discipline. You will earn a top-five salary plus the opportunity to earn a $2 million bonus ending with the team’s last game played whether it be 17, 18, 19 or 20 games. This means postseason games count. … Opportunity to work in front of the best fans in football. — Ronald R.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Jackie Speigel, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Lochlahn March, Ariel Simpson, Jonathan Tannenwald, Conor Smith, Mike Sielski, Susan Snyder, Katie Lewis, Colin Schofield, and Dylan Johnson.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

That’s Thursday. Make it a good one. Bella is back in your inbox to get you set for the weekend tomorrow. — Kerith

I think I wrote the same thing the day after the Dodgers bounced the Phillies from the playoffs: There’s a lot to unpack here.

Coincidentally, Monday was the day for the Eagles to pack up their things and clean out their lockers at the NovaCare Complex after their Super Bowl dream was snuffed out by the 49ers.

There are questions galore for a talented team that somehow produced a boring offense that could not get the job done. Among them: What happens to Kevin Patullo? And A.J. Brown … and free-agent Dallas Goedert, for that matter? Which free agents will return? How are the Eagles stocked for the draft? And is the Tush Push on the way out? Staff writers Jeff Neiburg and Olivia Reiner answer those questions and much more. If you read one Eagles story today, make it this one.

More from locker cleanout day:

• Jalen Hurts was asked whether he hoped to see Patullo return as offensive coordinator. He scrambled away from the question. “It’s too soon to think about that,” Hurts said.
• Nakobe Dean and Jaelan Phillips want to return to the Eagles, but one has a better chance than the other.
• Brown did not speak to the media after the loss to the 49ers. The wide receiver did not speak on Monday, either.
• Jeff McLane’s take: The Eagles offense came up small again in the playoff loss, casting a continued negative spotlight on Patullo … and now Brown.
• Looking ahead, here are the important offseason dates for Eagles fans to know.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓What do you think about the prospects of the Eagles trading A.J. Brown? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Lowry on his legacy

Kyle Lowry returned to Toronto for what could be his final visit to Scotiabank Arena as a Sixers player, the arena where the North Philly native and Cardinal Dougherty and Villanova star became a Raptors franchise legend and NBA champion.

Lowry’s return to town prompted the 20-year veteran to reminisce on his career, which includes the 2019 Game 7 win over the Sixers. He started his career as a journeyman but found a home in Toronto, where he plans to retire as a Raptor when his playing days are done.

The Sixers had Paul George and Joel Embiid in the lineup on Monday against Toronto and their additions proved vital in a blowout win against the Raptors. The trio of George, Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey helped the Sixers score 80 first-half points.

Bounce back?

Two nights after being on the receiving end of one of their worst defeats of the year — a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning — the Flyers had revenge on their minds.

Bouncing back has been a trademark of the Flyers this season under first-year coach Rick Tocchet, as the Orange and Black entered Monday 9-1-2 in games following a regulation loss.

But were the resilient Flyers able to respond once again? They did not and lost their second straight to Tampa and third overall in a 5-1 defeat.

What to expect from Crawford

While Justin Crawford has the inside track on being the Phillies’ opening-day center fielder, many observers are nervous about the team turning over the keys to a 22-year-old rookie.

It felt timely, then, to invite Crawford’s triple-A hitting coach as a guest on Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast. Adam Lind discussed Crawford’s approach at the plate, which has yielded a .322 batting average in the minor leagues but also a high ground ball rate that leaves critics wondering about his ability to hit major league pitching. He also discussed two other touted hitting prospects, and being teammates with a 24-year-old Bryce Harper.

Sports snapshot

• The fans speak: Some call for firings after the Eagles’ disappointing playoff loss.
• Moving on: USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps will join the NWSL’s Denver Summit in her hometown.
• Back on North Broad: Temple’s women host Tulane tonight after a 1-1 road trip.

Mike Sielski’s take

From Nick Sirianni to Kevin Patullo to Jalen Hurts, the Eagles spent too much of this season acting as if being daring was taboo for them. Sirianni preached the importance of minimizing turnovers, citing the Eagles’ marvelous record during his tenure as head coach when they protected the football better than their opponents. But it turned out that a Super Bowl champion cannot defend its title on caution alone.

The 49ers, a team that played like it had nothing to lose, committed two turnovers. The Eagles didn’t commit any. And the final score was the final score. More from Mike Sielski.

🧠 Trivia time

Who has the most wins in the playoffs as coach of the Eagles? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Nick Sirianni

B) Dick Vermeil

C) Andy Reid

D) Doug Pederson

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: Who should shoulder the blame for the Eagles’ playoff exit? Among your responses:

The head coach is ultimately responsible. I saw no determination in his team, from missed extra points to missed catches, errant throws, failed running plays repeated for no gains. Too many penalties. … They gave the game away, Niners had more heart and determination. — Jim E.

This was a total team effort. The play calling was horrendous. Jalen Hurts leaves the pocket too soon, missing open receivers. AJ Brown clearly does not want to be here. Saquon Barkley was inconsistent. The defense gave up too many “explosive plays.” — Bob C.

The blame for the Eagles loss is clearly where it has been all season — Hurts and Brown. They have both regressed all through the year. The final game was a microcosm of those performances. — Tom E.

The blame for this team goes to Nick. He hired his buddy to the OC position. He watched the offense sputter week after week and although he said he’d help KP after the 9th week of the season, nothing changed. With all of the offensive weapons on this team, the coaches never figured out how to use them properly in order to be successful. — Mitch B.

This season is all on Sirianni. In 2023 he proved that he was incapable of hiring coordinators when he brought in Sean Desai and promoted Brian Johnson. The Eagles won last year because Howie got him Kellen Moore and Fangio. Let’s face it, somehow he wins but it is not because he a competent judge of assistant coaching talent. — Mike D.

Sirianni is the Captain and when the ship hits an iceberg the Captain goes down with the ship. Patullo’s play calling was pathetic and he should be fired, but Sirianni has to shoulder the responsibility. Vic’s defense gave it their all, but failed when it counted the most. Put big offensive lineman #1 on Howie’s draft list and hire a new play caller and look forward to next season. — Everett S.

Kevin Patullo, for the season and the last play. He never put the offense in a position to win. There was no Philly Special, not even a reverse and go like the one that gave the 49ers a TD. Sirianni for not dumping him when his shortcomings became clear. — Joel G.

Who should be fired from the Eagles? First and foremost, Kevin Patullo. The offense has been ineffective and offensive all year. 2. A.J. (no effort) Brown. How many drops did this multi-million dollar receiver make on Sunday? 3. Tight end Grant (let me miss this block) Calcaterra. The worst blocking tight-end in the league. 4. Kicker Jake (did I actually make one?) Elliott. 5. Cornerback Kelee (oops) Ringo. Got lit up every time he was on the field. — Dave I.

Obviously, the Offensive Coordinator. He sent Barkley running into the line too many times this season. And Hurts seldom looked at Barkley to dump a pass to him. — John B.

The entire organization is at fault. They allow Hurts to do what he wants to do on offense. What’s with that? Oh, I’m not comfortable running that type offense. Get rid of his butt. I actually slept well after they lost. It’s what I expected. — Tom G.

Nick had the burden of recognizing whether the talents and strengths of an assistant would make him the right choice for this team at the next level. For all the good Nick has done, his own weakness at accurately gauging assistant readiness has cost him again. Nick appears to be willing to seek wisdom from others outstanding in their fields. He needs to seek some of that feedback from others before he fills the next opening in his front line staff. — Len K.

It must be Patullo. Replace him with a known OC with a track record. There will be good candidates as many teams are cleaning house now. But don’t delay; the best are already going to new teams. — John W.

I’m reminded of a famous quote often attributed to President Harry Truman “The Buck Stops Here.” Head Coach Nick Sirianni needs to take the blame. — Dave S.

The more I think about it, the more I think that Siriani needs to bear much more blame than he has been getting. He’s made some really bad coaching decisions in the area of clock management that have cost the Eagles some games. He has handled some player relationships badly. His hiring of coordinators and coaches has left a lot to be desired. — Doug R.

For starters the OC needs to be on the first bus, train or plane out of here. Followed by our super embarrassment wide receiver. 10x worse than T.O. ever was. A.J. needs to go. … Seems our QB1 was throwing into triple coverage most of the game. For whatever reason why is a good question. … At least they were well rested. How’d that one work out for ya, Nick? — Ronald R.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Ariel Simpson, Scott Lauber, Jackie Spiegel, Gina Mizell, Keith Pompey, Jonathan Tannenwald, Mike Sielski, Henry Savage, and Colin Schofield.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thank you for reading and thanks to our many commenters. Bella will bring you Sports Daily on Wednesday. — Jim

Nick Sirianni caught some heat for resting his players in the regular-season finale. Some of them on the offensive side of the ball still seemed to be on pause at the worst possible time Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense had a chance to earn the winning touchdown in the two-minute drill against the 49ers. They got down to the 20-yard line. Then Hurts got sacked. Then he threw three straight incompletions and it was over. Banged-up San Francisco beat the odds and posted a 23-19 wild-card playoff victory that snuffed out any hopes of a second straight title for the Birds.

Face it, though: The offense had been wildly inconsistent for most of the season and Vic Fangio’s defense could only save the Eagles so many times. Kevin Patullo, the first-year offensive coordinator, will bear the blame for the lost season and probably will be fired soon, Marcus Hayes writes. The columnist also wonders whether this was malcontent receiver A.J. Brown’s last game with the Eagles as well.

Looking for a bright side here? Phillies pitchers and catchers will report to Clearwater, Fla., on Feb. 10.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Who should shoulder the blame for the Eagles’ playoff exit? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

End of the road

Of course, it was more than just Patullo’s play-calling that cost the Eagles the game. The defense gave up explosive plays to San Francisco’s Demarcus Robinson, Jauan Jennings, and Christian McCaffrey — and yielded a touchdown on a trick play. Jake Elliott doinked an extra point. Center Cam Jurgens had another rough outing. In Jeff McLane’s grades for the game, though, the lowest is reserved for the coaching staff.

Hurts took his share of responsibility for the season-ending defeat. “I take ownership for not being able to put points on the board,” the quarterback said. “It all starts with me and ends with me. And so there’s a sense of a lot there that you can learn from.”

Elliott missed an extra point in the first quarter and it cost the Eagles, who would have needed only a field goal to tie it if he had not missed. The kicker was asked if he was thinking about his missed PAT while the Eagles had to try for a touchdown in the final minute.

“It’s a tough night to kick,” he said. “That’s not really what I’m thinking about during that moment in time. I’m thinking about that next kick.”

Fox’s coverage of the game caught an interesting sideline “discussion” between Sirianni and Brown as things got a little heated. “Emotions run high, especially in the playoffs,” the coach told sideline reporter Erin Andrews at halftime. ”Of course, after this game, we’ll go back to loving each other.”

At least before the game, Birds fans were in playoff form. Former Eagle Darius Slay showed up to tailgate.

More coverage from Sunday’s game and the aftermath can be found here.

Overcome in overtime

The Sixers have had problems closing out games and it burned them again Sunday night in a 116-115 overtime loss to the Raptors in Toronto. Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 38 points, but the Sixers gave up a 7-0 run by Toronto in overtime that cost them the game.

A hot commodity

Free-agent infielder Alex Bregman reached a five-year, $175 million agreement with the Cubs late Saturday night, which could make the competition to sign Bo Bichette even more intense. The former Toronto Blue Jays star has a Zoom call with the Phillies scheduled for Monday, a league source confirmed.

The Phillies are interested, but so are several other clubs. Of course, Alec Bohm would be traded if the Phils pulled off this signing — let alone what might happen with catcher J.T. Realmuto, who is still on the free-agent market. Our Scott Lauber looks at the teams that could threaten the Phillies’ chances of landing Bichette.

‘Embarrassing’

Flyers goalie Sam Ersson had a rough night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving up seven goals on 23 shots in a 7-2 loss Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Not all of the goals were his fault, of course, but the Swedish goalie knows he has plenty of things to clean up.

“Obviously, especially last night, it’s very tough, embarrassing to let in seven goals on your home ice,” Ersson said. “You feel like you kind of let down the team and the fans. Obviously, that’s not acceptable. Just got to be better.”

Sports snapshot

• Coming back strong: Penn’s Ethan Roberts is back in action after missing more than a month because of a concussion.
• Restocking at QB: Temple is adding Jaxon Smolik (Penn State) and Ajani Sheppard (Washington State) in the transfer portal.
• Bound for Milan: South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito is named to the U.S. Winter Olympic team.
• Olympic TV coverage: NBC aims to strike gold again at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

On this date

Jan. 12, 2002: Donovan McNabb passed for 194 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles thumped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-9, in a wild-card playoff game at Veterans Stadium.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff McLane, Marcus Hayes, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Matt Breen, Gabriela Carroll, Ariel Simpson, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Jonathan Tannenwald, Colin Schofield, Ellen Dunkel, and Sean McKeown.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading. It will be interesting to hear what comes out of the Eagles postmortem today. I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim

The San Francisco 49ers expect a raucous crowd to “greet” them when they face the Eagles in a wild-card playoff game Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The fans will be fierce, to be sure, but they don’t have the edge that the crowd had back in the day at Veterans Stadium.

Fights in the 700 Level were abundant. A flare gun was fired during a Monday Night Football game. It was the definition of “when things get out of hand” — and they got out of hand every week. Something had to be done.

Eagles Court was born. It went into session in the Vet’s basement in November 1997 and lasted until the stadium closed after a playoff game in January 2003. Seamus McCaffery was among the judges who presided, fining offenders on the spot in the ultimate in swift justice. The cases often involved over-imbibing fans, but many had humorous moments, to say the least.

“How do you plead?” McCaffery asked a 19-year-old man after he was charged with trespassing at the Vet in 2003.

“I plead stupidity,” he said.

“Is that aggravated stupidity or simple stupidity?” the judge said.

“Whatever the lesser charge is. I was an idiot.”

The man was acquitted. Matt Breen tells the story.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Friendly competition

The winds will be whipping at the Linc on Sunday when the 49ers and Eagles meet in their wild-card playoff matchup, with gusts up to 40 mph in the forecast. That could affect the kicking and maybe even the passing game. So the running game might take center stage, and two of the league’s best will square off. It’s Christian McCaffrey vs. Saquon Barkley, two friends and fierce competitors.

Of course, they won’t tasked with tackling each other, but Barkley says he still wants to beat his buddy: “It always comes down to, I can’t stop him, he can’t stop me, but I would be lying to you if I didn’t say that you want to go out there and win, especially against a guy like that.”

Can Kevin Patullo get the Eagles offense humming in the playoffs? His job as offensive coordinator probably depends on it, David Murphy writes.

The Eagles are the defending champions and have a chance to win another Super Bowl, but this season often has seemed like a joyless slog, Mike Sielski writes. Their toughest playoff opponent will be themselves.

Phillies to meet with Bichette

The Phillies remain focused on bringing back J.T. Realmuto, according to multiple major league sources. But with the cornerstone catcher still unsigned, the team plans to have a video meeting next week with free-agent infielder Bo Bichette, a source said, confirming a report by The Athletic.

Several hurdles exist in a potential pursuit of Bichette, not the least of which is his positional fit with the Phillies. Save for 32 innings at second base in last year’s World Series, he played only shortstop in seven seasons with the Blue Jays. The Phillies aren’t moving shortstop Trea Turner, and there is also a financial component.

Healthy at last

With Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford back in action, the Sixers have their full roster available for the first time in two years. Of course, Nick Nurse will have to work around the careful management of Joel Embiid’s playing time, but the available bodies will allow him to be “a little more fluid” with his lineup combinations.

Laughton’s return

Scott Laughton was a longtime Flyer and made his former team pay in his return to Philly. The Maple Leafs center scored to tie the game as the Flyers lost in overtime to Toronto, 2-1. Travis Konecny opened the scoring for the Orange and Black in the second period.

Join us before kickoff

Live from Lincoln Financial Field: Beat writers Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner will preview the Eagles’ wild-card playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at 2:55 p.m. Sunday. Tune in to Gameday Central.

Sports snapshot

• Captain will return: The Union have re-signed veteran Alejandro Bedoya to a one-year contract.
• Staying put: Star running back Ja’briel Mace will remain at Villanova. We check the Wildcats’ comings and goings in the transfer portal.
• Wildcats win: Kelsey Joens’ career-high 18 points helped Villanova beat Xavier.

Our best sports 📸 of the week

Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors will pick our best shots from the last seven days and share them with you, our readers. This week, photos include Eagles on the Art Museum steps, VJ Edgecombe’s high-flying dunks and more.

Eagles forum

It’s playoff time in Philadelphia, which means you probably have a lot of questions about the Birds. Eagles beat reporter Olivia Reiner is ready to answer them Friday at 9 a.m. on Reddit.com.

What you’re saying about the 49ers

We asked: What have you noticed about this 49ers team coming on Sunday? Among your responses:

The Eagles sure better not take the 49ers for granted — Bill M.

The 49ers are really beat up. If the Eagles can score early and often, that should take them out of the game. If we let them hang around, anything can happen. Oh! And someone should remind Big Dom to keep his hands in his pockets and to stay away from skirmishes! — Ronald R.

I think the 49ers are coming for revenge after that humiliating defeat they suffered during their last visit when the Eagles knocked out their quarterbacks. 49ers have been a little more effective than the Eagles toward the end of the season and have a top 5 passing offense. The Eagles however have excellent defensive stats against the pass and have allowed the fewest TDs against the pass. Jaelan Phillips is quoted saying that the team has a sense of urgency regarding this game. The Eagles have not looked like a defending SB team for much of this year, but I think they will come up big in this game. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Matt Breen, Jeff Neiburg, Mike Sielski, David Murphy, Gina Mizell, Scott Lauber, Jackie Spiegel, Jonathan Tannenwald, Katie Lewis, Dylan Johnson, Inquirer Staff Photographers, and Anthony Wood.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Have a great weekend. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in Monday’s newsletter. — Jim

Ahead of Sunday’s Eagles wild-card playoff game against San Francisco (4:30 p.m., Fox 29), the question of “how good is this 49ers team, really?” is a fair one.

Unless you’re a fan of the team, or really like watching game highlights or have multiple games up on your screen on Sunday, you’re like a lot of Eagles fans wondering the same thing. Sure, the team is coming off a season-ending loss, but the Niners lost to the Seattle Seahawks, the No. 1 team in the NFC this season.

But how effective is Brock Purdy or how elusive is Christian McCaffrey, or how did a 49ers defensive unit get this far, being this banged-up and without one of the best linebackers in the game in Fred Warner? Well, today we’re leading off with the latest from The Inquirer’s Devin Jackson, who for a large part of this season has been analyzing game film on Eagles opponents, pointing out the warning signs alongside the spots the Birds can exploit.

If you’re reading this as early as we’re dropping it, then grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever your go-to morning beverage is and breakdown some game film with us.

It should be another nice day across the region, with temperatures in the high 40s under partly sunny skies. Perfect.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓What have you noticed about this 49ers team coming on Sunday? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Walker and Barlow’s dwindling days

The 76ers loaded up their frontcourt in advance of an uncertain Joel Embiid season. He’s been available more than anyone expected, creating a logjam at center and power forward. One major cause of that is the performance of two-way acquisitions Jabari Walker and Dom Barlow, who have performed more like members of the rotation.

Because of that, they’ve spent extended time up with the Sixers and their available days on the roster could be dwindling unless their contracts are converted to standard deals. It’s something Walker tries not to focus on.

“Every now and then, it will pop up in my mind, but just putting my energy toward what I can control right now,” Walker said. “And whatever happens, just knowing that I left an impact on my teammates and left an impact in the game. I think that’s the biggest truth.”

What we’re …

👀 Watching: The status of Flyers Jamie Drysdale and Bobby Brink after sustaining injuries from a pair of blindside hits in Tuesday’s game against the Ducks.

🦾 Introducing: Villanova’s Brynn McCurry, the “bionic” presence on the Wildcats’ women’s basketball team.

📖 Reading: The latest shenanigans coming off the most recent episode of the Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast.

🏀 Sharing: The good news is that, ahead of the Sixers’ win over the Wizards, both Trendon Watford and Kelly Oubre Jr., who were nursing injuries, were full participants at shootaround and played vs. Washington.

🤔 Wondering: Is Bo Bichette really a possibility for the Phillies? Let’s explore.

Helping Harper

Although Bryce Harper met Don Mattingly only briefly at the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami and may not be able to recite all the pertinent numbers — .307 average, 222 homers, nine Gold Gloves, six All-Star appearances — it’s a safe bet he appreciates his nearly Hall of Fame-level place in the sport.

And it has been years since Harper played for anyone with those credentials as a player.

That wasn’t the primary reason the Phillies this week finalized a two-year contract with Mattingly to be the bench coach. They wanted another voice in the dugout alongside manager Rob Thomson.

But Mattingly’s career gives him instant credibility among players, especially star players. His impact on Harper could be profound.

Halfway home

Hockey is all about the details. So, it should be noted that the Flyers have hit the halfway mark of the NHL season with a 21-12-7 record highlighted by a win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Now some believe coach Rick Tocchet has this team looking like one that could crack the NHL playoffs instead of just teasing the notion.

The Inquirer’s Jackie Spiegel takes a look at some of the highlights of the team’s last game and how it reflects a bigger picture.

Next up: The Flyers welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs (20-15-7) tonight (7 p.m., NBCSP).

‘Control’ freak

Mark McKenzie is on a roller coaster. In the last six months, the former Union standout has been a regular starter for his new club, Toulouse, in the French first division, has had multiple call-ups with the U.S. men’s national team, and is about three months into fatherhood, welcoming a baby boy in October.

McKenzie is doing all of this under the backdrop of hoping to be on U.S. men’s manager Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup roster in a few months. It’s a lot to juggle, but he catches up with The Inquirer to explain how he’s keeping “control” of it all.

In the women’s side, The Inquirer’s Jonathan Tannenwald has the details on the U.S. women’s national team convening in north Jersey in March for a game against Colombia as part of the SheBelieves Cup tournament.

On this date

Jan. 8, 1995: Phillies slugger and 12-time All-Star Mike Schmidt gets into the Hall of Fame. How about two more? On this date in 1972, the NCAA allowed freshmen to compete in college athletics. Fast forward 12 years to 1984, and the NCAA Tournament expanded to a 64-team field.

Standings, stats, and more

Looking for detailed stats coming off last night’s Sixers game? Here’s a place to access your favorite Philadelphia teams’ statistics, schedules, and standings in real time.

What you’re saying about the World Cup

We asked: Which matchups are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?

Nothing turns me off more than price gouging. $60,000 for a pair of tickets for a soccer game? Some games are selling for over $100,000 a pair! Seriously now. I could buy two high-end cars and have a little left over for lunch money. — Ronald R.

I’m looking forward to France and Mbappe, England and Harry Kane. But mostly, I’m looking forward to our USA boys, to see if they can stay healthy and live up to their potential as the strongest USA team ever. Go Brenden! — Joel G.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Devin Jackson, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Keith Pompey, Colin Schofield, Scott Lauber, David Murphy, Katie Lewis, Jonathan Tannenwald, and Kerith Gabriel.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

That’s my time, Philly. Have a good one, we’ll catch you tomorrow. — Kerith