Author: Staff Reports

Medford’s Brenden Aaronson joined Leeds United in 2022. His time with the club hasn’t always been greeted with a warm welcome, especially when he went on a season-long loan to Germany’s Union Berlin after the Peacocks were relegated from the Premier League in 2023.

Aaronson is chased by criticism from U.S. men’s national team fans, too: He doesn’t score enough goals as an attacking midfielder. Lately, though, the tides on both sides of the Atlantic have turned back in Aaronson’s favor.

In Leeds, he has become a key contributor as the club went seven games unbeaten from Dec. 3 through New Year’s Day. Then came this past Sunday, and perhaps the most famous game of all.

Aaronson scored a big goal against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw. Leeds might not be as big of a club in Philadelphia as United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool, but children can grow up now wanting to emulate the 25-year-old whom Union fans once called “the Medford Messi.”

No other local product has Aaronson’s trifecta of Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup experience, either. If he makes this year’s World Cup squad, it will be his second — a feat other area soccer greats Peter Vermes, Bobby Convey, and Chris Albright did not achieve.

For now, he’s got his hands full as Leeds tries to avoid relegation from the Premier League again. He’s also enjoying each minute on the pitch, since it’s not easy getting to Europe, but he’s proving that Americans can play in the best leagues, too.

— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Dean likely to return

Nakobe Dean is expected to return in the Eagles’ wild-card game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The linebacker has been inactive for the last two weeks while recovering from a hamstring injury. With the stakes higher entering the postseason, the Eagles could certainly use Dean against a strong 49ers offense.

Dean will be tasked with helping keep George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey in check. Vic Fangio acknowledged what it means to have Dean back in a critical matchup: “You play an offense this good and this diverse, all 11 got to be cooking.”

This is the second time in four seasons that the Eagles and 49ers will meet at Lincoln Financial Field in the playoffs. While some things have changed since that NFC championship game won by the Eagles in January 2023, other things remain the same. Here are the numbers and trends that could be the difference maker on Sunday.

Zegras shows out

In a matchup against his former team, Trevor Zegras scored twice in the Flyers’ 5-2 win over the Ducks. Former Flyer Cutter Gauthier opened the scoring for Anaheim.

Gauthier played his second game in Philadelphia since being traded nearly two years ago to Anaheim. Fans still don’t like their former prospect and let him hear it with boos, but Zegras’ emergence has helped eased the pain.

Speaking of offseason signings, goalie Dan Vladař has been a godsend for the Flyers. On Tuesday, his breakout season earned him a spot on Czechia’s Olympic team.

A work in progress

Tyrese Maxey’s NBA ascension has known no bounds in recent years, with the 25-year-old swiftly jumping from reserve to starter to star. That rise has been on display more than ever this season, with Maxey landing among the league’s top scorers and receiving the fifth-most All-Star votes in the most recent fan returns.

But Maxey still needs to smooth out a few rough edges, including his ability to close out games as the Sixers franchise player and focal point in the clutch. Maxey missed shots at the end of regulation and overtime of the Sixers’ 125-124 loss to the depleted Nuggets.

That’s been true across the 2025-26 season as Maxey’s shotmaking in the clutch remains a work in progress. Maxey is shooting 39.7% from the floor, including 22.7% from three-point range in those minutes, significant dips from his overall shooting numbers (47.5% from the field, 40.5% from long range).

Sports snapshot

• Olympic dreams: South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito looks to vault onto the Olympic team, and this year Games are especially meaningful.
• Seeking redemption: Penn came up short to longtime rival Princeton in the Ivy League opener. It’s a loss the Quakers might be wishing they got back.
• Sudden departure: Villanova announced that forward Tafara Gapare is no longer with the program. The senior played under Kevin Willard at Maryland last season.
• ‘Progressing positively’: Brewers pitching prospect Frank Cairone, a Gloucester County native, remained in the hospital as of Tuesday after a serious car accident.

Mike Sielski’s take

When it comes to NFL coaches, this is the era of the great play-caller, the great play-designer, the great scheme-creator, the brilliant and beautiful brain. The matchup between the Eagles and 49ers is really Nick Sirianni vs. Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan is a terrific coach in just about every regard, having guided the 49ers to two Super Bowls and two other appearances in the NFC championship game. Sirianni and Kevin Patullo are not considered the same kinds of coaches that Shanahan is. But Shanahan has yet to win a Super Bowl. What Sirianni does well sometimes isn’t so easy to see. Come Sunday, may the best savant win, writes columnist Mike Sielski.

🧠 Trivia time answer

Which Eagle had the most career Pro Bowl selections with eight?

B) Chuck Bednarik

What you’re saying about Eagles’ contributors

We asked: Which Eagle do you expect to come up big against the 49ers? Among your responses:

It’s now or never to show us what you’ve got left in the tank. Looking for Cooooooper DeJean to have 2 INTs and 8 tackles with BG having 2½ sacks. On the other side of the ball, Barkley rushing for 100+ yards and AJ playing out of his mind with 7 receptions and 2 TDs. Hurts will pay no mind to the play calling and call his own plays. The impossible just takes a little longer to figure out! — Ronald R.

I think Dallas Goedert will come up big against the 49ers. Earlier in the season I wrote on SD that the Eagles really needed to use him more and soon after they did and he was very effective. Dallas ended up with 60 receptions 3rd behind Smith and Brown and lead the team in TD’s with 11 and was tied for 2nd with most tight end TD receptions in the NFL. — Everett S.

It’s playoff time, so I’m looking for Jalen Hurts to come up big and do what he needs to do to win. Eagles win and Jake Elliott is the man in the final seconds of the game, but Hurts put them in that position. — Tom G.

I’d like to think it would be the entire roster between now and Super Bowl Sunday! Inconsistencies have marred the regular season and now is the time for professional players to show their individual talents and complete their responsibilities. — Bill B.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Jonathan Tannenwald, Jackie Spiegel, Gabriela Carroll, Isabella DiAmore, Mike Sielski, Jeff Neiburg, Ellen Dunkel, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, 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.

As always, thanks for reading. Kerith will catch back up with you on Thursday with the latest sports stories, till then! — Bella

If the Eagles are ever going to get their offense going, this is their chance. The San Francisco 49ers have arguably the most porous defense of any playoff team, and they just lost another linebacker, Tatum Bethune, to a groin injury.

The Eagles, meanwhile, are as healthy as can be expected after they rested most starters in the season finale, as we are all abundantly aware. Lane Johnson could return for Sunday’s wild-card game. Nakobe Dean, too.

Meanwhile, San Francisco remains without star Fred Warner (ankle), and two other linebackers, Dee Winters and Luke Gifford, are nursing injuries. The Eagles could be facing a hodgepodge of Niners linebackers.

San Francisco’s pass rush is practically nonexistent. The 49ers rank second-to-last in the NFL in quarterback pressure rate (26.7%), and they have been shaky against the run, too. They gave up a season-high 180 rushing yards Saturday in a loss to the Seahawks. This looks like the perfect time to get Saquon Barkley and the running game in gear.

Of course, the Eagles offense has not been firing on all cylinders for quite some time, and coordinator Kevin Patullo looked like anything but a master mechanic again on Sunday, Jeff McLane writes.

Maybe that’s why the Eagles aren’t bigger favorites for the playoff opener at the Linc. Sportsbooks gave them a slight edge in the opening odds.

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

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Donnie Baseball is a Phil

There was a point last season when Don Mattingly was planning on calling it a career.

He went into 2025, his third year as the bench coach with the Blue Jays, expecting it to be his last in the sport. Mattingly, now 64, thought he had accomplished what he had set out to do in Toronto, helping a younger manager in John Schneider become established.

But it was his 11-year-old son, Louis, who helped change his mind. Now he’s joining the Phillies to help “lighten the load” for manager Rob Thomson as their new bench coach.

The pride of Dunmore

Those who knew Vic Fangio in the 1970s say he’s always been like this — stern, focused, and endearingly gruff. He coached the football team at his alma mater, Dunmore High School near Scranton, and built a reputation as a stickler when it came to the details of the game.

Now he’s directing the defense as the Eagles begin another Super Bowl run, but those who knew him back then say he’s still the same understated guy. Alex Coffey tells the story.

Maxey’s latest honor

Tyrese Maxey has had a charmed season, becoming the franchise player for the 76ers and landing at second in the first returns of All-Star fan voting. On Monday he added to the list, being named Eastern Conference player of the week after leading the Sixers to three straight road victories. This is the second time Maxey has received the honor, with the first coming as he put the NBA on notice during opening week.

The Sixers suffered a bad loss to an undermanned Nuggets team in overtime, 125-124. The positive momentum the Sixers had built over the last few games has vanished, Keith Pompey writes in his takeaways.

Deal for Dvorak

The Flyers took care of some big business on Monday night, as the team announced a five-year, 25.75 million contract extension with center Christian Dvorak.

Dvorak, who turns 30 next month, is on pace for career highs of 18 goals and 51 points while playing alongside Trevor Zegras. But is five years too long for a player who will be 35 at contract’s end and has never tallied more than 38 points? Jackie Spiegel breaks down the deal.

The news wasn’t as good for Matvei Michkov, though. Coach Rick Tocchet said the young winger was being evaluated after he took a puck off his foot.

Finally, Prospect Aleksei Kolosov was named AHL player of the week. The goalie is 9-8-1 with a .910 save percentage in 18 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Sports snapshot

• Pink slips: Former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is among four NFL head coaches who have been fired.
• Almost ranked: Villanova is closing in on the AP top 25, and it looks like a return to the NCAA Tournament is ahead.
• Wildcats upbeat: The Villanova women saw their winning streak end, but they’re still second in the Big East.
• Holy Toledo: Temple adds the Rockets to its nonconference football schedule for the 2026 season.

Mike Sielski’s take

Do the Eagles have a harder road back to the Super Bowl now? Maybe, but not necessarily. They got some rest and eliminated any risk that they’d be short-handed to a significant degree next Sunday. The defending champs let everything play out, and now they really get to take their chances, to show that being healthy and healed up is a bigger advantage than anything they might have gained from treating Sunday’s game like their season depended on it. More from Mike Sielski.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Eagle had the most career Pro Bowl selections with eight? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Jason Kelce

B) Chuck Bednarik

C) Brian Dawkins

D) Jason Peters

Who said it?

The Eagles are a confident bunch heading into the playoffs. Think you know which player said this? Check your answer here.

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: Which NFC team is the biggest threat for the Eagles? Among your responses:

The 49ers will wipe us out! The Seahawks will destroy us. Hope it was a restful day because not playing to win yesterday cost us any chance of advancing in the playoff’s. That’s what happens when your EGO gets so big, you have to walk through the doorway sideways. I also blame ownership for not overriding the HC and insisting we play to win that game. Washington was insulted thinking our scrubs could beat them! Plus most of us just knew the Lions were going to beat the Bears! Playing the Packers vs. the 49ers and having a divisional home game against flying across the country is just plain common sense. — Ronald R.

Your team is always your worst enemy. This is the NFL, the top of the mountain. You can bask in the sun or you can get down to business. Whoever shows up to play usually wins. Prepare for the other team because they are always better than you until you prepare to stop them. — Mark W.

While there are no “super teams” in the NFC, we do have to be concerned with the Bears, who beat the Eagles at home, and the Seahawks, who won 14 games with Sam Darnold leading the offense. Both are beatable, however the Eagles biggest obstacle may be themselves. The offense has to be more consistent by eliminating the all too often 3-and-outs! — Bob C.

The biggest threat and obstacle standing in the way of the Eagles returning to the SB is obviously the top-seeded Seahawks. I think the Eagles defense can contain the Bears, Packers, Rams, or Panthers, but the Eagles have lost their last four games played in Seattle and have always struggled there. — Everett S.

The Eagles are the biggest threat to themselves if they miss the NFC championship game and the Super Bowl! Why? Because the teams in the playoffs have so little experience in the last two to three seasons! … For one the 49ers have to beat the Eagles starters at home. Two, the Rams have known the Birds have their number, losing the last three games to the Eagles. — Miles

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Mike Sielski, Lochlahn March, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Ryan Mack, Katie Lewis, Rob Tornoe, and Ariel Simpson.

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. Bella will bring you the newsletter on Tuesday. — Jim

Nick Sirianni made his decision and the Eagles will live with it as they begin their playoff quest. The coach decided to rest his starters against the lousy Washington Commanders, which seemed like an OK move until the Bears coughed up a game to the Lions. Then all the Eagles needed was to find a way to beat Washington on Sunday and move up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

They couldn’t do it. The subs in the secondary were especially bad in a 24-17 loss to the lowly Commanders that made the Birds’ path to another Super Bowl appearance more treacherous. Barring upsets, there is no easy road for the Eagles, David Murphy writes.

The first test will be a home game against the injury-wracked San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of the playoffs on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (Fox29). When the Birds let the No. 2 seed slip away, though, they lost the guaranteed second home playoff game that comes with it.

Sirianni defended his decision. “One thing I could guarantee them was giving them rest. I couldn’t guarantee anything else,” he said. “And us being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy is a big deal for us. And you know, that’s served us well in the past.”

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

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❓Which NFC team is the biggest threat for the Eagles? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Flags fly

Part of the problem for the Eagles came at cornerback, where Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett started on the outside with Quinyon Mitchell and Adoree’ Jackson getting a rest. Ringo and Bennett committed several penalties in coverage that even a third-string quarterback like Josh Johnson could cash in on. Jeff McLane has his grades on the game, and the cornerbacks are far from the head of the class.

One bright spot for the Eagles: DeVonta Smith surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in receiving before he was quickly pulled from the action. CBS marked the milestone in its television coverage of the game.

The 49ers will come to the Linc as a depleted group, especially on defense. The Eagles respect them nonetheless. “It’s a big game,” linebacker Zack Baun said. “It’s the postseason. It’s the playoffs, and this team definitely turns it on in the playoffs.”

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

Things are looking up

Nick Nurse and the Sixers survived the injury purgatory that was last season and now the team is looking as if it might be for real after Saturday’s 130-119 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The 19-14 Sixers are five games over .500 for the first time this season, perhaps providing a glimpse of what this team can become. Paul George, for one, is a believer.

“It’s safe to say everybody in this locker room is starting to enjoy the game,” George says. “We’re starting to enjoy being out on that floor, playing on both ends. And I think we’re just jelling. It’s translating. Everything that we’ve been trying to connect with is translating on the court.”

Protecting Bryce

Dave Dombrowski has famously challenged Bryce Harper to become “elite” again, but it would help Harper’s cause if the Phillies protected him better in the batting order.

Two-thirds of the way through the offseason, it’s fair to wonder whether Dombrowski has provided Rob Thomson with better lineup alternatives than he had last season. With five weeks until spring training, let’s look at the options for protecting Harper.

A no-show

The Flyers traded defenseman Egor Zamula to the Penguins on New Year’s Eve, and as of Sunday, he had not reported to Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate. The Penguins have suspended the former Flyer.

Rookie Denver Barkey scored his first NHL goal Saturday as the Flyers beat the Oilers, 5-2, in Edmonton.

Sports snapshot

• Nittany Lions news: Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht reportedly is transferring to Penn State, where he’ll rejoin coach Matt Campbell.
• Owls are streaking: Temple has won sixth in a row, its longest winning streak under coach Adam Fisher.
• Big East unbeaten: Bryce Lindsay’s 18 points help Villanova improve to 3-0 in conference play.
• On target: Medford’s Brenden Aaronson scores for Leeds United in a draw with Manchester United.

On this date

Jan. 5, 1991: Washington bounced Buddy Ryan’s Eagles from the playoffs with a 20-6 victory in a wild-card game at Veterans Stadium. Ryan famously benched quarterback Randall Cunningham during the game for Jim McMahon, then went back to his starter after three McMahon incompletions. The Eagles fired Ryan three days later.

Marcus Hayes’ take

There is a faction among Eagles fans and NFL cognoscenti that hoped Tanner McKee would provide a quarterback controversy on which they could feed during the cold winter months. They hoped McKee, a sixth-round pick in 2023, might sufficiently shine in a meaningless game against a moribund team so that he might be considered a viable threat to Jalen Hurts, a two-time Pro Bowl player and the reigning Super Bowl MVP.

That didn’t happen. That was never going to happen.

Still, McKee looked good enough to win a game or two, maybe even in the playoffs. This, for the Eagles, is excellent news: They have a competent backup quarterback on whom they have expended almost no draft or salary-cap capital. More from Marcus Hayes.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Marcus Hayes, David Murphy, Scott Lauber, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Gabriela Carroll, Jackie Spiegel, Jonathan Tannenwald, Devin Jackson, Ryan Mack, 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.

Thanks for reading Sports Daily as we get the new year underway. I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim

Whether the Eagles rest their starters or not this week, they’re headed for the playoffs with a downright nasty defense and an offense that has lost its mojo.

The positive side, thanks to Vic Fangio’s group: The Eagles have 18 sacks utilizing just four rushers over their last four games. And their shutdown cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell, has allowed only one touchdown in pass coverage all season.

The downside, thanks to that offense: The Eagles’ success rate running the ball is a measly 40.1%, which ranks 25th in the league. Saquon Barkley’s 2,005-yard season seems like long ago. They have scored more than 21 points just twice in the last eight games, and those were against two of the worst teams in football (the Commanders and Raiders).

Jeff Neiburg takes a closer look at the numbers on both sides of the ball, with three reassuring Eagles stats and three reasons to worry.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is still trying to figure this thing out, of course. The offense fell apart in the second half against Buffalo in part because the running game went nowhere on first down and the Eagles kept finding themselves in second-and-long and third-and-long situations.

“When you’re doing that, when that’s happening, it’s going to be very hard to move the ball,” Patullo said. It was indeed.

The win on Sunday was a relief for the Eagles, and Nick Sirianni let off some steam afterward in a back-and-forth with Bills fans. The coach has come under fire for his exchanges with fans before.

“Football is fun,” Sirianni said on 94 WIP when he was asked about it. “It’s OK to show emotion. It’s fun to show emotion. Like, it’s OK to be excited.”

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

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A New Year’s break

We at Sports Daily wish you a very happy new year. The newsletter will be taking Thursday and Friday off. Sports Daily will return to your inbox on Monday.

McCain’s next step

Jared McCain has spent an entire year away from the basketball court, first for a torn meniscus suffered in December 2024 and then for a torn ligament in his right thumb in September. He’s now physically healed, so how is the 76ers’ second-year guard dealing with the mental aspects of those injuries, particularly the left knee?

“I’m doing great, probably the last step for me,” McCain said. “A lot of it is I like to rebound, and I have to jump as high as I can … when I’m trying to rebound. And you know, the past few games, I’ve been able to do that. I feel comfortable doing that.

“But mentally, I’m great. I’m just trying to figure it out, still figuring it out, and it’s still a process.”

Tyrese Maxey and Ja Morant put on a show in Memphis on Tuesday, but it was VJ Edgecombe who shined the brightest in a Sixers overtime win over the Grizzlies. Edgecombe hit the game-winning three-pointer to help the Sixers snap a three-game losing streak.

Power-play problems

The Flyers’ struggles on the power play are nothing new, as the team has finished dead last with the man advantage in three of the last four seasons. This season has been better — slightly anyway — as the Flyers rank 25th of 32 teams with a 16.3% success rate.

But while Rick Tocchet likes some of his team’s puck movement, he believes the Flyers are leaving meat on the bone, particularly due to a lack of action in front of the net. His attempt at a solution? Adding Christian Dvorak to one of the team’s power-play units. Jackie Spiegel has more.

The Flyers picked up a 6-3 win in Tocchet’s return to his old stomping grounds late Tuesday night. Six different Flyers scored to pick up a third win over their last four games.

Top talent on display

The College Football Playoff quarterfinals get underway tonight as Ohio State faces Miami in the Cotton Bowl (7:30, ESPN). The eight remaining playoff teams are filled with NFL prospects, and Devin Jackson provides scouting reports on several players who could interest the Eagles. There’s a player from the Eagles’ favorite source of talent, Georgia, in the mix.

A trade for the Union

The Union’s season feels as if it just ended, but the team will start up again Jan. 17 with a trip to Marbella, Spain, in advance of preseason camp in Florida. A newcomer will join the group after the Union acquired 19-year-old defender Finn Sundstrom in a trade with D.C. United.

Join us before kickoff

Live from Lincoln Financial Field: Beat writers Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner will preview the Eagles game against the Washington Commanders at 2:55 p.m. Sunday. Tune in to Gameday Central.

Sports snapshot

• If you build it … Mini-pitches are sprouting around Philadelphia in advance of the World Cup, but growing soccer in the city will take more than that. Kerith Gabriel reports on what it will take.
• Moving on again: Former Eagles coach Chip Kelly is now the offensive coordinator at Northwestern.

🧠 Trivia time answer

Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XV when the Oakland Raiders beat the Eagles in 1981?

Answer: A: Jim Plunkett. Steve O. was first with the correct answer.

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: Should the Eagles play their starters on Sunday or rest them for the playoffs? Among your responses:

Go for it. Keep the momentum. Get the win and keep moving forward. Only rest those who are playing with injuries. Play like the “Bringing the Heat” Eagles. — Everett S.

Those who are healthy should play at least a half. Those who aren’t should take the week off. — Bill M.

The Eagles should definitely have the starters playing on Sunday. The #2 seed has too many advantages this year. Also, this offense needs to continue to try and work out the inefficiency that is dragging it down. However, I would be watching the out of town scoreboard and if the Bears get up big on the Lions then I would start sitting stars for next week. — John P.

Shame the Bears game isn’t at 1 p.m. Just follow the money! Guaranteed, if there’s any chance of playing a divisional home game, probably worth millions and millions of dollars against maybe someone will get hurt what would you do? At 1600 hours it’ll be ALL HANDS ON DECK! — Ronald R.

Yes and no. Play the healthy starters and rest those with nagging injuries. I believe it’s important to play and build confidence and momentum for the playoffs but it’s also good to give nagging injuries some time to heal. — Bob A.

I don’t see any benefit to playing the starters any longer than a warmup. Doubtful that the Bears will lose to a defeated Lions team. We are who we are offensively and one more game won’t change that fact. — Bill B.

I would like to see some starters get some rest, whether by sitting out the entire game or just playing for some of the game. Injuries are a major factor in late-season and postseason play — need to keep the Birds healthy first and foremost! — V.C.B.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Rob Tornoe, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Devin Jackson, 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.

Thanks for reading Sports Daily today and all year long. I’ll see you in Monday’s newsletter, when we’ll know the Eagles’ first step in the playoffs. — Jim

Where do the Eagles go from here? In the case of their offense, probably nowhere. (Just kidding.)

The question is whether they’ll rest their starters this Sunday or play them in a bid to improve their seeding for the playoffs. Granted, they’ll need the Bears to lose a second straight game as well, but the No. 2 seed in the NFC could earn the Eagles a home game against the banged-up Packers in the wild-card round.

A key player could get hurt against Washington in the regular-season finale, though, and it has happened to the Eagles before. Decisions, decisions …

Nick Sirianni is not letting on what he’ll do. “It’s not a decision I have to make today or even tomorrow,” the Eagles coach said Monday.

“We’ve done it both ways. We’ve had opportunities to rest; we’ve had opportunities to continue to get a better seed and played. You go through your process, but every season is a little bit different, every team is a little bit different. We’ll end up doing what we think is best for the team.”

Given the advantage the No. 2 spot provides, it’s fair to wonder why the Eagles wouldn’t go for it, Jeff Neiburg writes.

There is that risk of injury, though. Olivia Reiner reminds us about the 2023 season finale, when A.J. Brown injured his knee, which sidelined him for the wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the next week. Maybe, though, the Birds can still beat the woeful Commanders using some of their starters.

At any rate, the offense still has some problems to sort through after it disappeared in the second half against the Bills. Jeff McLane writes that the issues with the offense’s inconsistency won’t be resolved until the offseason.

Mike Sielski’s take: This is the way the Eagles want to play. They want to rely on their defense and make the offense as conservative as possible to avoid turnovers.

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

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❓Should the Eagles play their starters on Sunday or rest them for the playoffs? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Maxey’s star shining bright

Tyrese Maxey has carried the 76ers this season and it looks like he’ll be rewarded for it. The All-Pro candidate is a shoo-in for the All-Star Game as well, but not even he expected to be so highly regarded in the NBA’s initial returns of fan voting, where he received 1,072,449 votes and rated second in the Eastern Conference right behind two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“For me personally, I think my talent level has been shown in the NBA,” he said. “I think it’s growing. But for me, it’s winning games. That’s what shows like a big gap, a big difference, and a big talent level: impact on your team. When you have that type of impact, when you can help your team win games, that’s what I want to be known for.”

Homecoming

Rick Tocchet’s decision to turn down a lucrative contract extension with the Canucks last spring and instead sign with the Flyers didn’t exactly go over well in Vancouver.

But Tocchet says that he has no regrets and that he’s happy in Philadelphia and thankful for his time north of the border. So what will his return to Vancouver look like on Tuesday night? Tocchet’s not too concerned about the fan reaction or potential boos and says no matter what, he’ll still be “rooting for” several of the Canucks to succeed when he’s not coaching against them. Here’s more from Jackie Spiegel.

Returning to Happy Valley

Penn State is bringing back a former Nittany Lions letterman to run its defense. The Lions are closing in on hiring D’Anton Lynn as their defensive coordinator, according to several media reports. A defensive back at Penn State from 2008-11, Lynn was defensive coordinator at Southern Cal for the last two seasons.

David Murphy’s take

There is simply no possible way Nick Sirianni could be entertaining the idea of resting his starters in the regular-season finale against the Commanders in Week 18. Not with all the Eagles would stand to gain as the No. 2 seed, which would be theirs with a win over Washington and a Bears loss to the Lions.

Right?

All season, Sirianni preaches that the NFL is all about handling the opponent in front of you and then letting the other stuff sort itself out. Now, more than ever, he should listen to himself.

Sports snapshot

• The sportsbooks say … The Eagles are favored this week, but their Super Bowl odds take a hit.

🧠 Trivia time

Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XV when the Oakland Raiders beat the Eagles in 1981? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Jim Plunkett

B) Lester Hayes

C) Rod Martin

D) Cliff Branch

Who said it?

The Eagles offense managed 17 yards in the final two quarters against the Bills, but somehow the defense held on for the victory. Think you know which player took responsibility for the offense’s struggles? Check your answer here.

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: Can the Eagles defense continue to make up for the offense’s shortcomings? Among your responses:

I doubt it! Offense is absolutely offensive in week 17 of the season. It would take divine intervention to make them relevant. Too bad because the defense is ready. — Bill B.

Yes, it can, but the offense will need some better play calling. Second half: run, run, pass. Wow! What a complicated series for the Bills to defend! — Joel G.

The defense will continue to play good, but the offense needs to do their part as well. Jalen Hurts needs to be more reliable as a passer and runner. He needs and the entire offense needs more consistency if they are going anywhere in the playoffs. — Tom G.

Yes, the D will continue to make up for the O because they will have to, unless our coaching staff decides to use more than the five offensive plays we seem to rotate. Had the Bills chose to kick a FG while inside the 5-yd line earlier, we could have lost on an extra point try at the end of the game. … Are we waiting to use Hurts’ legs only for the playoffs? Is he secretly injured? — Joe S.

… This is a quarterback driven league. Jalen Hurts will need to step up and command the offense if the Eagles hope to repeat. … One glimmer of hope: Lane Johnson’s return. He is a difference maker for the offensive line. — Bob C.

The defense can win games as they have shown us yesterday. … However, they will be playing tough opponents in the playoffs and these games will be physical games. They will need some breathing room so the offense must contribute. Unfortunately, the tale of two halves vs. Bills and others does not bode well for us. — Vince O.

… The defense is bound to have another bad game as they did with the Chicago game. Sooner or later management is going to get disgusted with the offensive coordinator and it’ll be goodbye. See you later. Let’s just win the wild card game and see where it takes us. — Ronald R.

This defense will have to carry the team. … On the offensive side they are far down in almost all stats, so it will for sure be up to the defense to take them back to the SB. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Jackie Spiegel, Keith Pompey, Mike Sielski, David Murphy, Devin Jackson, and Ariel Simpson.

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.

We’re glad you’re reading Sports Daily, and thanks to our readers who respond to our questions. I’ll see you in Wednesday’s newsletter. — Jim

The Eagles won their third straight game with a 13-12 victory against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but frankly it was not a sweet victory on the offensive side of the ball. Jalen Hurts and the offense failed to complete a pass in the second half in Orchard Park, N.Y., which is astounding.

Fortunately for them, Vic Fangio’s defense came out snarling. Jalen Carter is back, and the Eagles once again have a defense that can win a Super Bowl on its own, David Murphy writes. Carter returned after a three-game absence following a medical procedure on both shoulders. All he did was clog the middle, post a sack, and block a crucial extra point in the fourth quarter.

“You guys see what he does for us,” said defensive end Jaelan Phillips, who added a sack of his own for an Eagles defense that racked up five. “He had a blocked extra point that basically won us the game, if you think about it. I thought that in his absence we did a great job, but having him back is key. It’s huge.”

Of course, the narrative might have been different if Josh Allen’s two-point conversion pass to Khalil Shakir had not sailed wide with five seconds left. The Eagles punted on all five of their possessions in the second half, routinely putting their defense in difficult situations.

That defense surrendered touchdowns on the last two Bills drives, but Zack Baun also stopped Allen just short of the goal line on a fourth-down run in the third quarter. The linebackers came through, as did the defensive line, buoyed by a breakout performance by Jalyx Hunt, Jeff McLane writes in his grades for the game.

The Eagles bent but didn’t break. It was why they won Sunday. It’s also why they won’t be a desirable opponent in January, Jeff Neiburg writes. They allowed 120 rushing yards to the top rushing offense in the NFL, but they were good enough when it mattered. Buffalo was just 6-for-15 on third down.

The offense did not score a touchdown after the first quarter in the rain at Highmark Stadium, but it was that kind of day on that side of the ball. It began when tackle Fred Johnson took the field without his helmet, which Fox captured in its coverage of the game.

More coverage from Sunday’s Eagles victory can be found here.

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

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❓Can the Eagles defense continue to make up for the offense’s shortcomings? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Slumping on the road

The Sixers are riding their first three-game losing streak of the season. But for a half, they appeared capable of beating the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The third quarter was a different story as host OKC outscored them, 38-24, by keeping the ball out of the hands of Tyrese Maxey. After a 129-104 loss, the Sixers will take their longest losing streak of the season into a road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

Guard VJ Edgecombe took an average of 15.8 points into the defeat. He knows the pecking order as an NBA rookie. “We have three prolific scorers. I don’t have to score the ball,” he says. “I have to pick my times, but I must stay aggressive also. But I’m also a player that just wants to win.”

Hot prospect

Selected sixth overall by the Flyers in the 2025 NHL draft, Porter Martone is lighting up college hockey at Michigan State. Martone’s 11 goals are tied for second among NCAA freshmen. While he is focused on helping the Spartans win their first national championship since 2007, he is open to swapping green for orange in April.

In the meantime, Martone is serving as Canada’s captain at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota.

The Flyers avoided a shut out in Seattle but could not take advantage of the NHL’s worst penalty kill in a 4-1 loss to the Kraken.

Next chapter

Terry Smith ended his stint as Penn State’s interim coach with four straight victories, including a 22-10 triumph over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. “It was a great ride,” Smith said. “I’m ready for the next chapter.”

It actually was a bumpy ride in the bowl game at Yankee Stadium, though, as 16 Nittany Lions players opted out of the contest. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer passed for 262 yards and Quinton Martin Jr. rushed for 101 more. Now we’ll see if new coach Matt Campbell can keep them in the program.

Sports snapshot

• Temple hoops: The Owls ride a four-game winning streak into their conference opener at Charlotte.
• Former Wildcat: Adam Fisher’s staff at Temple includes Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, who played for Villanova.

On this date

Dec. 29, 2009: UCLA beat Temple, 30-21, in the EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium in Washington. Fourth-year coach Al Golden directed the Owls to their first winning season since 1990 as Temple played in its first bowl game since 1979.

Our best sports 📸 of the year

From the Eagles’ triumph in Super Bowl LIX to the victory parade to the Phillies’ run to the NL East title to the Broad Street Run and much more, Inquirer photo editors selected our best photos of the year.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Jeff Neiburg, Gabriela Carroll, David Murphy, Jackie Spiegel, Keith Pompey, Christian Red, Colin Schofield, Ryan Mack, and Inquirer Staff Photographers.

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.

Welcome back to Sports Daily after our Christmas break. Hoping your holidays have been great. I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim