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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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 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.”
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.”
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.’”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
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’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.
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.
Nakobe Dean’s return to a full-time role after his recovery from a patellar tendon injury helped ignite an Eagles defense that was a bit unsteady in the early portion of the season.
Dean has impacted the run defense and has been an effective blitzer. But the Eagles may temporarily be without the fourth-year linebacker after he left Saturday’s road win over the Washington Commanders with a hamstring injury.
Dean is “doing better than I think they thought he would,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Tuesday. But Fangio called Dean “iffy” for this week.
Sure enough, not long after Fangio sat for his weekly news conference, Dean entered the indoor practice bubble at the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday afternoon in a sweatshirt and with no helmet.
“The good news is I don’t think it’s too serious, and I don’t think we’re done seeing him for this season,” Fangio said of Dean.
Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell stops Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson on Oct. 19.
If Dean misses Sunday’s game at Buffalo, the Eagles will turn to rookie Jihaad Campbell.
Campbell, the Eagles’ first-round pick, started and had a big role in his first seven NFL games with Dean still recovering from his knee injury. But his playing time drastically decreased when Dean returned and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. Campbell played 11 defensive snaps in Week 12, zero in Week 13, nine in Week 14, and six in Week 15 before being forced back onto the field Saturday and playing 36 when Dean went down.
Fangio said Campbell’s development at inside linebacker was stunted a bit when the Eagles were forced to use him as an outside linebacker and edge rusher when they “ran out of guys” earlier this season.
“It’ll be good to get him back there and focused on that,” Fangio said.
What happens to Brandon Graham with Jalen Carter back?
One key player out, another one in.
Jalen Carter returned to the practice field Tuesday for the first time since he underwent a medical procedure on both of his shoulders following the Eagles’ Nov. 28 game against the Chicago Bears.
Fangio said the Eagles are “hopeful” that Carter will make his return to game action Sunday.
Brandon Graham and Jalen Carter during a 2024 game.
The Eagles have played well without Carter. Jordan Davis’ emergence as a force on the defensive line is a big reason the front hasn’t missed a beat, as is Moro Ojomo’s presence. But Byron Young and, notably, Brandon Graham also have provided a spark.
Graham has three sacks in 16 snaps over the last two weeks. The Eagles have been playing him exclusively as an interior lineman with Carter out.
Will that change?
“We’ll see,” Fangio said. “It’s kind of fluid with a guy who has not played in a month.”
Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis stops Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez on Saturday.
Fangio has an idea: a Pro Bowl committee.
“Get a couple retired coaches, a couple retired personnel guys, a couple retired players that will take pride in it, and they name it,” he said. “Everybody and their mother’s got a vote.”
‘Full steam ahead’ with starters
Carter’s return to the practice field and his potential return to game action are an indication that the Eagles at least will treat Sunday like a normal game and not worry about resting starters.
The No. 2 seed in the NFC remains up for grabs.
“We’re going full steam ahead,” Fangio said when asked how he was approaching this week with the starters.
Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay reiterated what Nick Sirianni said Monday about the team’s confidence in kicker Jake Elliott, who missed two field goals Saturday — and had a third miss negated by a penalty — and whose make percentage is down to a career-low 70.8%.
Clay said he thought Elliott’s starting line on his kicks might be part of the issue. Elliott has missed five field goals and an extra point over the last five games.
“I’m not a kicker,” Clay said. “But you’re not in the NFL for nine years if you don’t know how to self-correct.
“It’s going to come down to a point where we’re going to have to call on him, and he’s shown that he can do it.”
The Eagles clinched the division with a win over the Washington Commanders on Saturday night, becoming the first team to win back-to-back NFC East titles in 21 years.
Following the win, the Birds have moved up in most national power rankings. As they prepare to travel to face the Buffalo Bills, here’s where they stand in the latest batch …
Yahoo! Sports: Sixth
The Eagles have moved up one spot in Yahoo! Sports’ power rankings. Two consecutive victories over losing teams still left questions surrounding the team’s offense.
“The Eagles have clinched the division and have almost no chance to get the No. 1 seed in the NFC,” Frank Schwab wrote. “That means the next two weeks can be used for a combination of rest and fixing the ongoing issues with the offense. The offense has looked better lately, with 60 combined points in the last two games, but that came against the Raiders and Commanders. At least the Eagles get a couple of games out of the spotlight before the playoffs start.”
The Eagles trail the No. 5 Chicago Bears and the No. 4 New England Patriots. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks (No. 1) and the Los Angeles Rams (No. 2) continue to battle for the top spot.
The Ringer: Sixth
The Ringer also has the Eagles at the No. 6 spot, two rungs above where they were last week. This week’s summary: “Glimpses of last year’s greatness are still there — when they’re playing against the NFL’s worst teams.”
The outlet had strong words for the Commanders leadership and advocated for the kind of changes that would further shake up the NFC East.
“What exactly is it that head coach Dan Quinn does for this team? It can’t be building a good defense, because his units tend to get worse each year — something that we’ve seen going back to his stint with the Cowboys,“ Diante Lee wrote. ”It can’t be player personnel or development, because GM Adam Peters is the architect of this roster, and Washington’s defensive players don’t seem to be getting markedly better in Quinn’s system.
“And we know that the offense belongs to coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who may find a new head coaching gig this offseason. If the mere absence of quarterback Jayden Daniels can cause this team to crater, then it’s probably time to bring in a new coaching regime.”
The Eagles rank behind the No. 5 New England Patriots and the No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars. The Seahawks and Rams remain at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
ESPN: 10th
Despite that 29-18 win over the Commanders, the Eagles have fallen in ESPN’s power rankings — dropping two spots from last week’s No. 8 ranking. As the season comes to a close, ESPN also picked a rookie of the year for the Eagles: Jihaad Campbell.
“Campbell, a first-round pick out of Alabama, has 63 tackles, an interception, two passes defensed and a forced fumble,” Tim McManus wrote. “His playing time decreased when Nakobe Dean (knee) hit his stride around the midway point of the season, but he has maintained a role in coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense and stepped up his production when Dean exited Saturday’s win because of a hamstring injury.”
The Eagles sit behind the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 9), the Chicago Bears (No. 8), and the Buffalo Bills (No. 7). The Seahawks have taken the top spot above the No. 2 Rams.
CBS Sports: 10th
The Eagles’ win over the Commanders was enough to move them up two spots from last week’s No. 12 ranking. The team sits just below the No. 9 Buffalo Bills and No. 8 Houston Texans.
“They have beaten up two bad teams the last two weeks to seemingly right things,” Pete Prisco wrote. “Now they face a tough road game at Buffalo with just seeding on the line since they clinched the NFC East.”
The Seahawks (No. 1) and the Patriots (No. 2) top the list. Meanwhile, the Rams have fallen to the fifth spot, three spots below last week’s power rankings.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley after scoring a rushing touchdown against the Commanders on Saturday.
The Athletic: 11th
The Eagles moved up one spot from last week’s No. 12 ranking, trailing the No. 10 Los Angeles Chargers and No. 9 Houston Texans. One concern The Athletic has with the Eagles is their “lack of offensive consistency.”
“The Eagles have put up impressive numbers since Nick Sirianni said he became more involved in the offense, scoring 31 last week and 29 on Saturday,” Chad Graff and Josh Kendall wrote. “But those performances came against the Raiders and Commanders. Is their offensive turnaround legit or a byproduct of playing bad teams?”
