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

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

    Sunday’s game between the Eagles and Buffalo Bills, premier teams in their conferences, could ultimately serve as a Super Bowl preview and a much-needed measuring stick before the teams prepare for the playoffs.

    The Eagles and Bills are coming off wins over teams without playoff aspirations, and both are on the upswing after midseason lulls. Playoff seeding will be on the line as the Eagles chase the No. 3 seed and the Bills chase the Patriots in the AFC East race.

    From Buffalo’s two-headed rushing attack of Josh Allen and James Cook to a shaky run defense, here is what the film says about Sunday’s Week 17 matchup (4:25 p.m., Fox29):

    How the Bills forged the NFL’s best rushing attack

    Cook has been lethal all season, particularly between the tackles. He leads the NFL in rushing with 1,532 yards, with more than half coming between the tackles (853 yards), according to Next Gen Stats.

    The Bills do their most damage in the run game from under center. Over 1,300 of Cook’s 1,532 rushing yards have come from under center, and the Eagles allow the fifth-most rushing yards (73 yards) per game from those alignments. The Birds, though, have a minus-0.11 expected points added against under-center runs, which ranks ninth in the NFL.

    Buffalo has a diverse run game, but Cook is particularly dominant on counter runs that pull fullback Reggie Gilliam and tight end Jackson Hawes across the formation. Cook scored a 64-yard touchdown against Carolina on a counter run and scored from 45 and 44 yards out against the Texans and Browns, respectively.

    In addition to counter runs, Cook also thrives finding cutback lanes on zone runs, making defenses pay if they overpursue the running back on the back side. His vision and acceleration in the hole allow him to weave through defenses. Cook has recorded 1,034 of his 1,532 yards after contact.

    Buffalo also likes to get Cook on the perimeter on toss plays, and its offensive line does a nice job of paving lanes for him to create explosive runs.

    If Cook has one weakness, it’s fumbling the ball. He has coughed it up six times but has just lost three. His three fumbles lost this season are tied for the most among qualified running backs, according to Next Gen Stats.

    Allen, meanwhile, leads quarterbacks in rushing yards (552) and rushing touchdowns (12). He is particularly dangerous when he can escape the pocket on throwing downs. Of Allen’s 16 runs that have gone for 10 or more yards, five have come from the quarterback scrambling for third-down conversions, according to Next Gen Stats, and he has converted seven third-downs by scrambling.

    The Bills quarterback has became the go-to short-yardage player on quarterback sneaks and designed runs. If it is third-and-short, more than a yard, the Bills will utilize Allen on zone read runs or motion into an empty formation and follow a pulling linemen on a downhill quarterback run.

    The same can be said about utilizing Allen’s legs in the red zone. Allen will carry the ball on similar designed quarterback runs, like a draw, counter, and power scheme runs. Even the threat of Allen running can draw extra defenders into the box inside the red zone, allowing space for Buffalo’s receivers to make plays.

    Poor run defense and tackling is Bills’ Achilles’ heel

    While Buffalo’s rushing offense is elite, the Bills defense is allowing the fourth-most rushing yards per game this season (144.3 yards) and gives up the most yards per rush after contact in the NFL (4.1 yards), according to Next Gen Stats. They have allowed 63 runs of 10 or more yards, and nearly 60% of their opponents’ rushing production has come outside of the tackles. The Bills have also allowed 5.4 yards per rush per play, second-most in the NFL.

    Early-down runs have been a killer for Buffalo, which is allowing the fourth-most rushing yards on first down — 34 of the 63 runs that have gone for 10 or more yards have come on that down, according to Next Gen Stats.

    In addition to the run-game struggles, Buffalo’s defense allows the most rushing yards from pistol formation runs (36.5 yards per game), according to Next Gen Stats, and a large chunk of those yards have come on outside zone and counter scheme runs.

    The Eagles deviated from pistol formation runs after their first meeting with the Giants earlier this season, and have used them sparingly since the bye week. The only pistol run during their Week 16 win over the Commanders resulted in a 12-yard gain by Tank Bigsby to close out the game, and the Birds used the formation five times against the Raiders, four of which came with the game already decided in the fourth quarter of their shutout win.

    Only five times this season have the Eagles posted a positive rushing EPA. Three of them came in the first three weeks, and the other two were Week 8 against the Giants and Week 16 against the Commanders, according to Next Gen Stats. But Saquon Barkley has rushed for 100 yards or more in two of his past three games, with one trend starting to materialize.

    Barkley has had four games with positive EPA on under-center runs: the Chiefs in Week 3, the Giants in Week 8, the Chargers in Week 14, and the Commanders last week. Yards after contact accounted for 117 of Barkley’s 132 yards, and the same trend carried over from the Raiders game: 75 of his 78 rushing yards were after contact vs. Las Vegas.

    The Eagles are finding a formula in the run game and need to keep riding it against a struggling Buffalo defense.

    X-factor: Shutting down Shakir and screen game

    The passing game for Buffalo has been inconsistent, but one constant has been wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who leads the team in receptions (66) and yards (684).

    As an extension of their run game and to take advantage of his elusiveness, the Bills get the ball into Shakir’s hands quickly on swing routes and screen passes. It forces defensive backs to come up and make tackles, while also challenging off coverage looks.

    Of Shakir’s 684 receiving yards, 506 have come after the catch, according to Next Gen Stats. The bread and butter play for Buffalo’s passing game is mesh, which usually has one or two players running shallow crossing routes.

    Shakir often is asked to run those routes in the offense, especially on third-and-medium distances. He’s also effective in making the first defender miss and forces missed tackles similar to a running back in space.

    Cooper DeJean and Adoree’ Jackson likely will be tested in those situations to get Shakir to the ground. If Shakir is forcing missed tackles and turning 5-yard gains into 10 yards or more, it could be a long day for the Eagles’ secondary.

  • The NFL’s stadium greed, the Flyers’ missing component, and other thoughts

    The NFL’s stadium greed, the Flyers’ missing component, and other thoughts

    First and final thoughts …

    Clark Hunt and his family, who own the Kansas City Chiefs and are worth a reported $25 billion, are going to build a new domed stadium for the team in Wyandotte County, Kan. Wait, that’s not quite right. The Hunts aren’t really the ones building it. The construction is projected to take $3 billion to complete, but $1.8 billion — 60% of the cost — will come from Kansas taxpayers.

    That’s OK, though, because once the stadium is finished, it’ll be a gleaming football palace where the Chiefs’ opponents will never have to face harsh Midwest winter conditions during December and January. The teams will play football the way it was meant to be played: inside an aseptic arena where the temperature is always 72.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Why waste a Christmas wish on the Eagles? Phillies, Sixers need all the help they can get

    Best of all, the NFL is sure to hold at least one Super Bowl at the stadium. And by at least one, I mean one, because if there’s anywhere that the celebrities and fat cats and influencers who populate Super Bowl week can’t wait to go, it’s … the Missouri-Kansas border.

    What we’re seeing here, of course, is the privatization of profit and the socialization of cost, a dynamic as old as the modern multibillion-dollar industry of pro sports. What we’re also seeing — and it will accelerate — is the slow death of the un-rich sports crowd. Those with the financial means to go to a game in the Chiefs’ new stadium — or in a new Eagles stadium, if Jeffrey Lurie eventually gets his way — don’t want cold and snow to mar their fun. They don’t want the experience they’re having to be common or accessible.

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts kneels in the endzone before a game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept 14.

    Attending a major pro sports contest became a luxury buy long ago. Now it’s on its way to becoming a sterile exercise only a select few can afford, and those fans who care the most, who drive interest and revenue in these games boys and girls can play, end up paying anyway, even while they are kept on the other side of the window.

    Still seeking a star

    If the NHL season had ended on Christmas … well, that would be a really short NHL season. Also, the Flyers would have qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and Trevor Zegras would have been considered a brilliant offseason acquisition.

    But the season, of course, isn’t even half-finished yet, and, given the Flyers’ recent history, there’s still plenty of reason to wonder whether they’ll keep up a postseason-worthy pace. That natural skepticism accounts for some of the relative indifference to their relative success so far. People will believe the Flyers are a good team when they see the Flyers be a good team over a full 82 games.

    After falling out of favor in Anaheim, Trevor Zegras has rebounded in Philly, where he has 37 points at Christmas, besting his mark for the entire 2024-25 season.

    There’s another reason, though, why the Flyers haven’t penetrated the broader, more mainstream public conversation about Philly sports so far: They don’t have any stars.

    At his current pace, Zegras would finish with 34 goals and 83 points over 82 games, which would lead the team but place him 31st in the league in points per game. Offense has been up in the NHL for a while. This would be the fifth straight season that the average team has scored at least three goals each game, the first such stretch in the league since the early 1990s.

    Yet the Flyers haven’t been part of that surge in scoring. They have not had a player with 35 goals or more in a season since 2011-12, when Scott Hartnell had 37. They have not had a player with 40 goals or more in a season since 2008-09, when Jeff Carter had 46. And they have not had a player with 50 goals or more in a season since 1997-98, when John LeClair had 51.

    There’s no denying the Flyers’ good vibes. What’s behind this season’s positive shift?

    That recent history also explains part of the frustration and disgruntlement from the fan base over Matvei Michkov’s sluggish sophomore season. Michkov was supposed to be the franchise’s next superstar, and he still can be, but his regression has at least delayed his development into the kind of player who even a hockey neophyte knows and feels compelled to watch. The Flyers haven’t had such a star since Eric Lindros, and, at the moment, they still don’t.

    Casty got one thing right

    A tip of the cap to Mark Whicker, an all-time great Philadelphia sports columnist, for noting that Nick Castellanos delivered the quote of the year in Philly sports.

    After Phillies pitchers Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez were snubbed for the National League All-Star team in favor of the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, who had made just five starts, Castellanos said:

    “This is turning into the Savannah Bananas.”

    Nick Castellanos is likely out in Philly after a couple tough years in the field and at the mound.

    No offense to the Bananas, who make baseball less stuffy and lots more fun for loads of kids in America. But Castellanos’ point about the All-Star Game being more than just a meaningless exhibition — that it is, still, supposed to be an acknowledgment of and accolade for those players who have performed best through a season’s first half — was well taken. Whatever one might think of his performance on the field in 2025, he launched that answer into the upper deck.

    Good stuff, Gramps

    In his two games with the Indianapolis Colts this season, nearly five years after he had retired, Philip Rivers — 44 years old, father of 10, grandfather of one — has completed 41 of 62 passes for 397 yards and three touchdowns.

    How hard can it be to play quarterback in the NFL if Pop-Pop can do it this well?

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

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

    The Eagles and Buffalo Bills meet Sunday in Western New York in one of the best games of the NFL’s Week 17 slate — and maybe the entire 2025 season.

    Josh Allen vs. Jalen Hurts. Western New Yorker Nick Sirianni vs. La Salle College High School graduate Sean McDermott. Cheesesteaks vs. wings.

    The two teams played a classic in South Philly two years ago. Will Sunday deliver the same kind of drama?

    Here’s what our writers think:

    Jeff Neiburg

    I had these teams as my preseason Super Bowl matchup, and I still think Sunday afternoon could be a Super Bowl preview. There are a bunch of flawed teams preparing to battle it out in what seems to be a wide-open NFL playoffs.

    These two teams are among the flawed, but they’re also pretty good.

    Great offense and average defense (Bills) vs. great defense and average offense (Eagles). Who has the edge? I’m leaning Eagles.

    Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: These are the numbers that matter

    The running game is showing signs of life, and the Bills have been dreadful against the run. They allow 144.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks 29th in the league. They are much better against the pass (167.1 yards, second), but the Eagles should give them trouble with an improving, balanced attack. The offense has looked much better — even if it struggled to finish drives last week — over the last two games, but the Bills present a step up in competition.

    Allen should find it difficult to find open receivers given the quality of the Eagles’ secondary vs. the Bills’ receivers. But Buffalo does a great job protecting Allen. The Bills’ pressure rate allowed of 29.7% ranks sixth in the league. More time for Allen means more time for him to freelance and make plays, and there aren’t many better than him.

    The Eagles have struggled this year against quarterbacks who run, but they kept Marcus Mariota in check before he left the game in the second half.

    It’s a tough one to predict in what essentially is a coin-flip game. But I think the Eagles find a way to win.

    Prediction: Eagles 27, Bills 23

    Bills running back James Cook (right) is the NFL’s leading rusher.

    Olivia Reiner

    The key to an Eagles win starts in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

    James Cook is the league’s top rusher at 1,532 yards on the season. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio lauded Cook for his elusiveness as a runner and touted his speed once he gets into the open field. This is going to be the Eagles run defense’s biggest test since the Bears game, but they’ve been pretty sound on the ground since then.

    Cook isn’t the only challenge on the ground. Allen is capable of using his legs to extend plays and executing designed runs (especially in the low red zone).

    The prospect of getting Jalen Carter back could be a big boost to the defensive line. The group has already been playing at a high level over the last few weeks, especially Jordan Davis and Brandon Graham. It will be interesting to see if Fangio continues to utilize Graham at defensive tackle upon Carter’s return.

    On the other side, the Eagles offense has done a better job of marrying the run with the pass in recent weeks. They must establish the run game against the Bills, a prospect that ought to be attainable.

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 17 vs. the Bills

    While the Bills boast one of the best pass defenses in the league, their run defense is suspect, conceding 5.4 yards per attempt (the second-most in the NFL).

    Buffalo is a tough place to play. The Bills are a good team with a great quarterback, who may be limited by a foot injury on Sunday. I’m not fully convinced that the Bills are a great team, especially given their strength of schedule this season.

    Prediction: Eagles 28, Bills 27

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

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

    The Chicago Bears game was a breaking point for Jalen Carter.

    His shoulders had bothered him since training camp, and on the day the Eagles’ defense was gashed for 281 rushing yards in a Black Friday blackout, Carter’s deficiencies showed on the film, he said. The Eagles even took him off the field on early downs.

    There’s a lot of hand-to-hand combat that happens at the line of scrimmage, and Carter couldn’t strike and use his hands the way he usually does. He didn’t have the strength in part because the shoulder pain and mobility limitations made it so that he couldn’t lift weights. Even pushups were painful.

    Nakobe Dean is ‘iffy’ for the Eagles this week; Does Jalen Carter’s return impact Brandon Graham?

    “The shoulders were kind of restricting it but I tried to fight through it,” Carter said.

    Until he couldn’t. Carter called his shoulder ailments “a little serious” back in October and alluded to a possibility of taking “a little break” to get right. Two months later, and three days after that 24-15 loss, his words came true.

    Carter said Wednesday that he got multiple shots in both shoulders. He feels a lot better now, but the procedures may have been temporary fixes. Carter said he probably won’t feel 100% during the upcoming playoff run and will likely have to revisit the injuries in the offseason.

    Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter shown against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 20.

    “I can’t get too excited because I’m still working on it every day, still getting the strength back,” he said.

    Carter is in line to make his return Sunday vs. the Buffalo Bills after missing the previous three games. Carter said he wanted to play every snap, but the Eagles will likely work him back slowly. While conditioning was an issue earlier in the season, Carter said he was able to run and lift and feels like his conditioning won’t slow him down.

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

    Carter practiced Tuesday in some capacity, though the Eagles weren’t required to give an injury report. Carter was listed as a full participant Wednesday. He said he can feel the difference in practice during practice periods against offensive linemen.

    The Eagles’ defensive front has played well in Carter’s absence. Carter loved watching Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, and even Brandon Graham — who moved to the interior with Carter out — help the Eagles go 2-1 over the last three games. But he wanted to be out there.

    “You want to get out there but you can’t rush the process and hurt it even more,” he said.

    The Eagles barely missed Carter vs. Las Vegas and Washington, but the team waiting for him Sunday in western New York is a different challenge with one of the better quarterback-running back combinations in the NFL.

    Carter and Bills running back James Cook overlapped at Georgia. And Josh Allen is a “dog,” Carter said.

    “I remember when we played them two years ago and I missed a sack on him,” he said. “We got to get that back.”

    Injury report

    Lane Johnson (foot) remained out during practice Wednesday, as did Nakobe Dean (hamstring).

    Landon Dickerson (illness) also missed Wednesday’s workout, as did A.J. Brown, who had a dental procedure.

  • Jordan Mailata’s journey, the Eagles clinch the division, and more ‘Hard Knocks’ highlights

    Jordan Mailata’s journey, the Eagles clinch the division, and more ‘Hard Knocks’ highlights

    It was a festive episode of Hard Knocks on Tuesday, as the HBO documentary series released its latest episode, which offered a behind-the-scenes look at the Eagles clinching the NFC East ahead of the holiday season.

    The episode looked into offensive tackle Jordan Mailata’s journey from playing rugby in Australia to getting drafted to the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft, the Birds clinching the division, and more.

    Here’s everything you missed from the latest episode of Hard Knocks:

    Mailata’s journey from rugby to NFL

    Last Wednesday, before their Week 16 matchup against the Commanders, the Eagles held practice at Lincoln Financial Field. Without Lane Johnson because of a foot injury, Mailata continued to mentor younger players.

    Eight years ago, he never would have pictured himself in this position.

    A ‘New Heights’ gift guide for ‘dudes who can’t shop good:’ Where do scented candles and gift cards stand?

    “I was 20 years old when I joined the International Player Pathway program,” Mailata said. “The program aimed to bring a connection between the NFL to the rest of the world and grow the sport in that respective spot that the athlete was from. So I thought, ‘Why not give it a go?’

    “[When I was] drafted by the Eagles with a seventh-round pick, I was kind of, like, flabbergasted. I didn’t understand what was happening, but I knew that a team was taking a chance on me, a kid that never played football before. … I can’t believe I’m still here playing this game eight years later. In my eighth season, still trying to figure this thing out.”

    Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata laughs with coach Nick Sirianni against the Raiders on Dec. 14.

    Now, Mailata has become a crucial part of the Tush Push, earned second-team All-Pro honors, is a Super Bowl champ, and a proud member of the Philly Specials — a Christmas music group consisting of himself, Johnson, and former Eagles center Jason Kelce.

    ‘Been there, won that’

    With a 29-18 win over the Commanders, the Eagles became the first back-to-back NFC East champs since 2004. After the game, the team unboxed some early Christmas presents and expanded their wardrobe with new NFC East championship hats and T-shirts that read, “Been there, won that.”

    Of course, the win didn’t come without drama. With the Eagles leading, 29-10, late in the game, Nick Sirianni made the decision to go for a two-point conversion. At the end of the play, a fight broke out between Washington and Philadelphia players — resulting in three ejections.

    Adding more fuel to the fire, Eagles veteran Brandon Graham made sure to trash talk some of the Washington fans on the sideline.

    “Aye, we got some new gear for y’all after the game,” Graham said. “We got some more gear for you. We got some Eagles gear for you after the game. Don’t worry, we got you.

    The Eagles could be seen celebrating in the locker room postgame with their new gear.

    The Commanders will get a second chance at the Eagles to end the regular season. But first, the Birds will travel to Highmark Stadium to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

    “Guys, we talk about doing special [expletive],” Sirianni said. “Winning the division is doing special [expletive]. Nobody has repeated in the division in [21] years, right. Y’all should be proud of that. You don’t do special [expletive] unless you’ve got the men in this room, the talent that we have, and that we play with great [expletive] detail, and we do that [expletive] together.

    “We got a long way to go. Enjoy it now, and we’re back to work. We got a lot to be thankful for.”

    Jalen Hurts added: “Everything is in our hands. Control what we can, continue to stack, continue to build, continue to get more hats and T-shirts.”

  • A ‘New Heights’ gift guide for ‘dudes who can’t shop good:’ Where do scented candles and gift cards stand?

    A ‘New Heights’ gift guide for ‘dudes who can’t shop good:’ Where do scented candles and gift cards stand?

    If you’re still on the hunt for any last minute Christmas gifts, or you’re already preparing for next year, then Jason and Travis Kelce have got you covered.

    On the latest episode of New Heights, the former Eagles center and Kansas City tight end put together the ultimate gift guide for “dudes who can’t shop good” — but of course, they had some help from Not Gonna Lie host, Kylie Kelce.

    Here are some of the best gifts included in the New Heights gift guide:

    Gift cards. Jason and Travis Kelce approved.

    Gift cards

    You typically can’t go wrong with a gift card. When it comes to last-minute shopping, these are some of the easiest gifts you can grab for friends and loved ones. Sure, it may not be the most thoughtful gift option in the world, but it’s definitely going to be one of the more useful ones.

    “If it’s to a store you know that she shops, yes,” Kylie said. “I think some women may find this to be a little impersonal. But also, with online shopping then she’s guaranteed to get something she wants and it’ll come right to her door.”

    Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: These are the numbers that matter

    But is a gift card enough on its own? According to Jason, it’s not.

    “i just feel like if it’s somebody special, I wouldn’t roll into the holidays with just a gift card,” Jason said.

    Candles are great. Assuming you or your special person isn’t allergic to them.

    Scented candles

    So, what pairs well with a gift card? To Kylie, a scented candle would have been perfect. Unfortunately, she happens to be married to someone who doesn’t enjoy the fresh smells of cinnamon, gingerbread, and peppermint taking over the house.

    “I’m anti-candles,” Jason said. “I don’t like chemicals just burned and thrust into the air for me to be breathing in all day so I can get brain cancer.

    “I don’t think it makes any sense. Why would I want some artificial [expletive] flower thing in the air that some person made in a lab from some combination of vegetable this and that. And this essence, I don’t want it in my face.”

    When it comes to last-minute gifts, Kylie Kelce thinks a nice piece of jewelry is “a great idea.”

    Jewelry

    If you’re gift hunting for that special someone, then you may be looking for something bigger than gift cards and candles. Jewelry can be another option — whether it’s a nice set of earrings, a pearl necklace, a tennis bracelet, or a shiny ring.

    “Jewelry is a great idea,” Kylie said. “Because I think there’s varying degrees of jewelry.”

    Jason responded: “Is there a bad degree of jewelry? Like, would you get something and be like ‘Oh, this is not it and I’m mad?’”

    “I don’t know if I would be mad,” Kylie said. “I just think that if it’s going to turn your skin green, probably don’t get it as a gift.”

    That new refrigerator you’ve been eyeing up? Chances are your significant other has been eyeing it too, according to the Kelces.

    Kitchen appliances

    To Travis, some of the perfect gifts can even be kitchen appliances. The Chiefs tight end revealed that one of his fiancé Taylor Swift’s favorite gifts that she’s ever received from him was a bread slicer.

    “I will say that one of Tay’s favorite gifts that I got her was the bread slicer,” Travis said. “She’s been throwing together so much [expletive] sourdough. Gosh, the best gut health there is.”

    Health and fitness gifts might sound great but could be a silent trap you don’t want to fall for, according to Kylie.

    Health & fitness related gifts

    And when it comes to health and fitness-related gifts, this one can be a little tricky.

    “You’re asking the wrong person because I would say yes,” Kylie said. “More [generally], I would say — unless she explicitly asks for it — absolutely not.”

    “You also buy her a set of pants that are a size smaller,” Jason said, jokingly. “With a card that says ‘You can do it.’”

    Kylie responded: “Aggressively, no.”

    Watch: Cooper DeJean reacts to being selected to his first Pro Bowl
  • Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: These are the numbers that matter

    Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: These are the numbers that matter

    The Eagles travel to Western New York to face the Buffalo Bills in one of the marquee matchups of the Week 17 NFL slate.

    A Super Bowl preview? That seemed far-fetched a few weeks ago, but both teams are playing better football. The Bills (11-4) have won four consecutive games, and the Eagles (10-5) snapped a three-game skid with consecutive wins over the Raiders and Commanders.

    A big step up in competition awaits the Birds at Highmark Stadium.

    Here’s a look at some numbers and trends that could factor into the result on Sunday (4:25 p.m., Fox 29).

    63

    Jordan Mailata described Saquon Barkley’s 12-yard touchdown Saturday as an “angry run.” It was one of Barkley’s highlights from a 2025 season that has not been easy. But Barkley broke out Saturday for 132 yards on 21 rushing attempts.

    Barkley broke six tackles and accumulated 63 yards after missed tackles, a season high, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Barkley was at his best running to the left side with Mailata leading the way. According to Next Gen, Barkley picked up a season-high 101 yards (7.8 yards per carry) and a touchdown on 13 carries to the left side of the formation.

    That makes sense. The left side of the offensive line features Mailata and Landon Dickerson, while the right side features backup tackle Fred Johnson and Tyler Steen, who has not had a great run-blocking season. Lane Johnson, however, could make his return at right tackle this week.

    Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown past Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu on Saturday.

    Barkley’s breakout game and his breaking free of tacklers came at a great time, because the Bills allow an NFL-high 4.1 yards after contact per carry. The next-closest team, Atlanta, is at 3.7.

    Buffalo is on the lower end of the scale at a 20.7% usage rate of stacked boxes. Expect the Bills to raise that rate on Sunday in an effort to stop the Eagles’ running game.

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 17 vs. the Bills

    10.8%

    For as much criticism as the Eagles’ offensive line has gotten for not making enough holes for Barkley, the unit has protected Jalen Hurts pretty well, especially in recent weeks.

    On Saturday, Hurts was pressured on just four of his 37 drop backs, according to Next Gen, and the 10.8% pressure rate represented the lowest of Hurts’ career. The consistently clean pocket probably made it even more frustrating for the Eagles that they didn’t pull away on the scoreboard until late in the game.

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes during the first quarter Saturday in Landover, Md.

    The Bills have a dangerous set of pass rushers, headlined by Greg Rousseau, who leads Buffalo with 48 pressures and 6½ sacks. He dominated during Buffalo’s win over Cleveland to the tune of nine pressures and 2½ sacks on 28 pass rushes. But a lot of his success came against Cam Robinson, who is a weaker left tackle.

    Mailata has a tough matchup, but it’s winnable.

    The Bills aren’t world-beaters getting after quarterbacks. They’re 12th in the NFL with a pressure rate of 35.3%.

    45.25

    Before Marcus Mariota left the game with an injury, the Eagles, who entered Week 16 allowing the second-highest rushing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks, did a wonderful job containing him. The Commanders’ backup quarterback rushed just one time for a loss of 1 yard before exiting the game after Washington’s first drive of the second half.

    Josh Allen, however, will provide another test to see if the Eagles have solved their issues with opposing quarterbacks hurting them on the ground with scrambles and designed runs.

    The Eagles will have their hands full with the rushing prowess of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

    The Eagles have advantages with their defensive backs vs. Buffalo’s receivers. They have winnable matchups along the defensive front. But Allen’s ability to freelance and use his legs to extend plays is an unpredictable part of Sunday’s game.

    During Buffalo’s four-game winning streak, Allen is averaging 45.25 rushing yards and has two rushing scores. The Eagles will need to plan accordingly.

    To play or not to play: Eagles face looming rest decisions; no competition coming for Jake Elliott

    1,532

    Here comes the NFL’s leading rusher, James Cook, who has run for 1,532 yards through 15 games this season, the only player in the NFL averaging more than 100 yards per contest.

    Getting to Cook early has to be a key for the Eagles. Entering last week, Cook had generated the fourth-best yards before contact on a per-carry basis in the NFL, according to Next Gen, and ranked 13th in yards per carry after contact.

    Buffalo running back James Cook leads the NFL in rushing yards heading into Week 17.

    The Eagles have been up and down against the run, but if Jalen Carter returns, they should have the power in the interior to slow Cook down.

    The Bills love running him on the inside, and do so at a rate of 58.2%. It will be extra important for the Eagles’ outside linebackers and rushers to set the edge and not let Cook get loose, too.

    11.1%

    The Eagles’ chances of getting the No. 2 seed in the NFC — according to the thousands of simulations FTN Fantasy runs — actually increased overnight. That’s probably because of San Francisco’s convincing win and the likelihood that the 49ers beat the Bears has increased.

    The Eagles are now at 11.1% to get the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The simplest path to a guaranteed second home game in the playoffs would be for the Eagles to win out and the Bears to lose out. After the 49ers, Chicago plays Detroit.

    Crazier things have happened.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    NFL playoff picture: Eagles scenarios, two more teams clinch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    How about defensive MVP?

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

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

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

  • Jordan Davis says he’s at peace with Pro Bowl snub: ‘I can sleep at night’

    Jordan Davis says he’s at peace with Pro Bowl snub: ‘I can sleep at night’

    Jordan Davis says he was initially disappointed that he wasn’t voted to the Pro Bowl roster, then he took a step back.

    “I’m like, hmm,” Davis said Tuesday. “That’s very selfish of me.”

    His initial reaction might have seemed selfish to Davis, but it was also relatable. Every player aspires to be the best. Davis, who is finally hitting his stride in Year 4, is no different from his high-achieving counterparts.

    But the Pro Bowl is an individual accolade within a team sport. Davis said he doesn’t need the external validation to know he’s a star player — all he needs is to keep working and supporting his teammates.

    Nakobe Dean is ‘iffy’ for the Eagles this week; Does Jalen Carter’s return impact Brandon Graham?

    “Selfishly, you want to get all the accolades, you want to be the best, you want to be considered one of the top guys in the league,” the defensive tackle said. “But at the end of the day, when you take a step back and you play selflessly, I’m satisfied. I’m more than satisfied, because I know I’m adding and I’m contributing and I’m being a force and I’m being dominant, and I can sleep at night with that.”

    Davis ought to be well-rested. The No. 13 pick in the 2022 draft out of Georgia is having the best season of his career, even if he doesn’t have the gaudy sack stats to curry favor with the fans, coaches, and fellow NFL players who make up the Pro Bowl voting pool. Davis is playing a career-high 62% of the defensive snaps as he evolves into the every-down pass rusher that the Eagles had hoped he would become when they drafted him.

    Even Vic Fangio, the Eagles defensive coordinator known for his brief responses, used Davis’ case to call for an overhaul of the Pro Bowl voting process.

    “He should have, for sure,” Fangio said about whether Davis should have made the team. “I think they need to form a committee for the Pro Bowl. Get a couple retired coaches, couple retired personnel guys, couple retired players that will take pride in it and they name it, not all … everybody and their mother’s got a vote.”

    Jordan Davis has been instrumental in the defense’s success this season.

    Saturday’s win over the Washington Commanders typified the success Davis has had this season. He was a force against the run, posting six stops, including two tackles for losses and two for no gain.

    The Commanders learned the hard way what happens when one player is tasked with blocking Davis. On three of his four tackles for losses or no gain, Davis beat a solo block. On the other, he penetrated the backfield on a stunt.

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 17 vs. the Bills

    Davis is the mountain at the center of the Eagles’ operation on defense. According to linebacker Zack Baun, the 25-year-old defensive tackle makes the whole operation go.

    “I feel like everything we do is built around him,” Baun said. “First, stopping the run. He’s able to two-gap. If he’s single-blocked, he’s getting off and making the play every time. He played a terrific game last week, by the way. Just such a big part of this defense.”

    Davis is worthy of earning a spot on the Pro Bowl roster, Baun said.

    “He’s definitely playing at that level,” said Baun, a 2025 Pro Bowler himself. “It’s definitely recognized by us, the linebackers, the DBs, everyone in this building. If you talk to him, he doesn’t really care about Pro Bowl or All-Pro. I’m sure he would like to have that honor. But he just wants to see the team succeed. Pro Bowls and All-Pros come with it.”

    Zack Baun (left) has seen the growth and impact of Jordan Davis firsthand.

    Perhaps Davis hid his initial dismay from his teammates. But the fourth-year defensive tackle concurred that his focus is on the immediate future for the 2025 Eagles, an accomplishment that Pro Bowlers on teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention can’t claim.

    “We’ve got more things that we’re fighting for,” Davis said. “We’ve got bigger and better things. We’ve got fish to fry. We’re actually going to the playoffs. I know there’s a couple Pro Bowlers on there that’s not going to the playoffs. So, not a diss at them, but it’s just an opportunity for us to grow and get better, and we’re going to be playing our best ball in a couple weeks. So we just have to get ready for that.”

    Davis is eager for more. As he looked up at the digital clock affixed to the wall of the locker room in the NovaCare Complex, Davis noted at 4:54 p.m. that he would stay in the facility for another four hours, long after the conclusion of practice.

    He takes pride in the after-hours work. His growth this season has been fueled by the extra time poured into perfecting his craft, not necessarily the promise of an award.

    “I spend a lot of time here because I want to get better,” Davis said. “I want to be the best I can be. I don’t think I would be at this point in my career, I wouldn’t be at this point in this season, if I didn’t spend that extra time getting better.”

    Davis sees his investment paying off. His teammates and coaches feel his impact. It’s only a matter of time before the greater NFL ecosystem notices it, too.

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

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

    Jalen Carter’s three-week hiatus while recovering from a pair of shoulder procedures may soon come to an end.

    The 24-year-old defensive tackle returned to practice Tuesday ahead of Sunday’s penultimate regular-season game against the Buffalo Bills. Before practice, Vic Fangio said the team is “hopeful” that Carter will be available to play.

    The coordinator also noted that he’s going “full steam ahead” with the starting defense against the Bills, even though the Eagles have clinched the NFC East and could be locked into the No. 3 seed if the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears win their respective games on Sunday.

    Carter hasn’t played since the Black Friday loss to the Bears. The following week, he underwent procedures on his shoulders, but he did not go on injured reserve and was considered week to week. Carter had been dealing with a shoulder injury since training camp and had played through the pain.

    The Eagles’ defensive front has fared well in Carter’s absence. Fangio’s group has mustered a league-high 13 sacks in the last three games without Carter. The Eagles have limited opposing rushing attacks to 4.0 yards per carry, which is tied for the fifth-lowest clip in the NFL.

    Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter tries to work past two Detroit Lions blockers on Nov. 16.

    To bolster the interior defensive line, Brandon Graham has kicked inside, registering three sacks in his last two games. Jordan Davis has been dominant against the run (16 run stops in the last three weeks, according to Next Gen Stats). Byron Young is also playing a higher volume of snaps and making the most of them, posting 2½ sacks in his last three games.

    Still, the Eagles will welcome back a healthy Carter. Davis said the interior defensive line is even deeper now that Carter is nearing a return.

    “It’s just another force on the line that can go out there and ball out,” Davis said Tuesday. “We’re just excited to have him. Hopefully, he just goes out there and has the game of his life. Really just want him to be healthy. Because he’s a dominant force when he’s healthy, when he’s out there and he’s balling, he’s playing.”

    Even though Carter experienced a dip in production as a result of his injuries (two sacks in 10 games), he was named to his second Pro Bowl on Tuesday. He is listed as the lone Eagles starter on the initial NFC roster.

    Nakobe Dean is ‘iffy’ for the Eagles this week; Does Jalen Carter’s return impact Brandon Graham?

    If Carter is cleared to play this week, he could use the final two games of the regular season to ramp up ahead of the playoffs. In Week 18 against the New York Giants last year, tight end Dallas Goedert returned to action following a knee injury while the other starters rested.

    “Every situation’s a little bit different, every injury’s a little bit different, every guy’s a little bit different,” coach Nick Sirianni said Monday. “So you do think about your past situations and when you’ve been through those things before, but you’re trying to do and trying to make the best decision for each guy and everyone’s just a little bit different. Just always trying to do what’s best for the guy and their health first and foremost.”

    While Carter returned to practice, Nakobe Dean (hamstring) and Landon Dickerson were sidelined. Lane Johnson (foot) was not present.

    Jalen Carter (right) with fellow defensive tackle Jordan Davis late in the victory against the Packers at Lambeau Field.