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  • A two-point controversy, poor coaching, and worse kicking mar an Eagles win. Are we that spoiled?

    A two-point controversy, poor coaching, and worse kicking mar an Eagles win. Are we that spoiled?

    LANDOVER, Md. — It seems ungrateful to complain about any win, particularly a win that ensures a fifth consecutive trip to the playoffs, and the team in question won the latest Super Bowl.

    It seems doubly thankless to whine about the coach and staff that largely have been responsible for this windfall of January football, delivered with an NFC East title earned Saturday with a 29-18 win over the Commanders.

    So yes, it seems ungrateful, and even thankless, to wish for better.

    But we are Philadelphia, aren’t we?

    “We’ve raised the expectations of what to expect,” Nick Sirianni said.

    He gets it.

    Sirianni shepherded his Eagles into Northwest Stadium to face a 4-10 Commanders team that played without its starting quarterback for the first two-thirds of the game, then played without its backup the rest of the way.

    Sirianni’s offensive line was overwhelmed for the first three quarters. His quarterback, Jalen Hurts, was confused most of the evening, typical of Hurts’ meetings with Commanders coach Dan Quinn, the former defensive coordinator for Dallas.

    Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs past Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

    Sirianni’s curious decision to try a two-point conversion instead of kicking a PAT with a 27-10 lead with 4 minutes, 46 seconds to play was the cherry on top. Sirianni said it was simple math, but his postgame handshake with Quinn was very brief. So they got the 19-point lead, but at what cost? A scrum broke out as the scoreboard turned to 29-10. The scrum immediately followed the successful conversion, and it led to the ejection of two Commanders and one Eagle, right guard Tyler Steen. All could face suspensions.

    The scrum was precipitated, at least in part, by what some Commanders perceived as Sirianni running up the score against a hapless team using its third-string quarterback. Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner certainly seemed to be expressing those sentiments to Hurts as the fighting subsided.

    Asked afterward what he thought of the two-point try, Wagner replied tersely, “I didn’t understand it.”

    Was it a diss?

    “Was it disrespectful? Maybe,” Wagner said. “We’ve got to stop them. We’ll see them in a couple of weeks.”

    Quinn was less gracious.

    “Hey, man, that’s how they want to get down? All good,” he said. “We play them again in two weeks.”

    So yes, the hosts were not happy with Sirianni, and that animosity will linger when the Commanders visit Philadelphia for the season finale in two weeks.

    The fight (loosely defined; there was no damage done) was the oddest incident of the Saturday, 5 p.m. start, which was itself an oddity. Maybe the unconventionality of the game produced the overarching atmosphere of weirdness.

    There was more strangeness in a first half that ended with the Eagles in a 10-7 hole.

    Jake Elliott missed field goal tries of 43, 57, and 52 yards, all wide left, the last two almost consecutively. (The 57-yarder was wiped by an offsides penalty and didn’t officially count as a miss, but still mattered.)

    Hurts missed A.J. Brown with an easy third-down pass.

    Let’s stop acting like the Eagles haven’t had a great season

    Will Shipley fumbled the opening kickoff, which gifted the Commanders three points. He then brought another out of the end zone; kneeling would have given them the ball at the 35, but it wound up costing the Eagles 16 yards.

    Near the end of the half the Eagles had to call a timeout … coming out of a timeout.

    This is not the stuff of champions.

    Well, maybe NFC East champions, but the NFC East stinks this season, and besides, the NFC East championship is not the goal, is it? Super Bowl LX is the goal, and it seemed unrealistic after Saturday.

    There were just too many glaring mistakes and omissions.

    Cornerback Cooper DeJean celebrates his interception in the third quarter against the Commanders.

    Chief among them: Tight end Dallas Goedert, who had 14 catches for 148 yards two touchdowns the previous two weeks, was not even targeted until the second half.

    When the Eagles finally deigned to include the best postseason pass-catcher in their history, it worked out. He caught passes of 8 yards, then 9 yards, drew a penalty on third-and-8 (unaccepted due to a more penal, simultaneous penalty), and then, on third-and-goal from the 15 thanks to offensive line penalties, caught a 15-yard TD pass that gave the Eagles a 14-10 lead.

    The TD pass gave Goedert 10 this season after catching a total of eight the previous three seasons combined.

    This is the guy who hadn’t been targeted.

    Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota left the game with a hand injury after the first series of the second half, which left the Commanders with Josh Johnson and no backup. They might better have gone with the no backup.

    Johnson threw an interception on his first series, a floater across the field to Cooper DeJean at the Commanders’ 37-yard line. The Birds turned it into a touchdown, but it took them seven plays, the last two of which were Saquon Barkley runs of 8 and 12 yards — tough, punishing, bell-cow runs behind a line that finally asserted itself properly.

    Barkley finished with 132 yards on 21 runs, his second-best game of the season, and left him at 1,072 for the year, the fifth 1,000-yard season of his eight-year career.

    Tank Bigsby added a late TD, which led to the two-point scrum, which minimized the late Commanders’ TD, with 1:10 to play.

    Brandon Graham set the Eagles’ shutout tone

    But how to consider the win?

    Glass half full: A good win — on the road, against a division opponent, with no offensive turnovers, but with a defensive turnover. Also, a win having lost linebacker Nakobe Dean, who left early with a hamstring injury. Also, a win with right tackle Lane Johnson and defensive tackle Jalen Carter likely to return for next Sunday’s game at Buffalo.

    Glass half empty: Another ugly win — against a poor team, a win despite a skittish $5 million kicker who has missed five of his last 11 kicks; a win in which Hurts continued an inconsistent season; a win in which the coaching staff seemed unprepared with a game plan that seemed uninspired.

    A win is a win is a win, but, really, is it too much to expect a greater degree of consistency and professionalism from the reigning Super Bowl champions?

    Is it ungrateful to believe a 10-5 team should look more like a 10-win team than five-loss team?

    Maybe.

    But, hey, we are Philadelphia.

  • Eagles use big second half to overwhelm Commanders, become first repeat NFC East champs since 2004

    Eagles use big second half to overwhelm Commanders, become first repeat NFC East champs since 2004

    LANDOVER, Md. — For the first time in 21 seasons, the NFC East has a back-to-back champion.

    The Eagles clinched the division in a 29-18 victory over the Washington Commanders on Saturday night at Northwest Stadium, officially punching their ticket to the playoffs. Despite falling behind, 10-7, in the first half, the Eagles blew the game open in the second, scoring touchdowns on three of four possessions with the starting offense.

    It wasn’t pretty early on for the Eagles. Jake Elliott missed a pair of long field goals, one from 57 yards and another from 52. But the offense rebounded, in large part thanks to Saquon Barkley’s dominance on the ground. The 28-year-old running back rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

    Barkley eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards on the season for the fifth time in his career.

    Here’s our instant analysis from the Eagles’ Week 16 win over their division rival:

    Commanders’ defensive struggles

    The Commanders went up, 10-7, in the first half on a 20-yard field goal and running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s 1-yard touchdown run. Then, the Washington defense committed an abundance of mistakes that ultimately cost it the game.

    On fourth-and-7 from the Commanders’ 38 halfway through the third quarter, the Eagles opted to go for it, keeping a struggling Elliott off the field. Hurts tossed an interception to Commanders safety Quan Martin on a downfield pass intended for A.J. Brown, but it didn’t stand. Dallas Goedert drew an illegal contact penalty against Commanders safety Will Harris, extending the drive.

    A.J. Brown had a big night with nine catches for 95 yards.

    Six plays later, on third-and-8 from the Commanders’ 20, the Washington defense committed another pair of penalties to keep the Eagles alive. Martin’s holding call was declined, but a pass interference call on Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene was enforced.

    The 26-year-old cornerback attempted to cover DeVonta Smith in the back of the end zone, but the officials had determined he grabbed the Eagles’ standout receiver.

    The Eagles made the Commanders pay for their mistakes. On third-and-goal from the Commanders’ 15 — the Eagles backed up due to a Fred Johnson holding penalty — Hurts completed a touchdown pass to Goedert while on the move.

    Goedert leapt up over Martin to snag Hurts’ pass, making it 14-10 in favor of the Eagles. The 30-year-old tight end has reached a team-high 10 touchdowns this season, which is double his previous career high (five touchdowns in 2019).

    The Commanders had some tackling issues throughout the evening, especially when it came to attempting to bring down Brown (he finished the day with a team-high nine receptions for 95 yards). Barkley benefited from the Commanders’ poor tackling, too, when he added to the Eagles’ scoring total in the fourth quarter.

    Barkley forced five missed tackles on his 12-yard touchdown run up the middle, putting the Eagles up, 21-10. He helped put the dagger into Washington later in the fourth quarter with a 48-yard carry, featuring a spin move in the backfield and another slew of missed Commanders tackles.

    Tank Bigsby built on Barkley’s explosive play, scampering into the end zone on a 22-yard touchdown run. Barkley picked up the ensuing two-point conversion on a carry, making it 29-10, Eagles.

    The under-center runs and the play-action passes married with them that the Eagles incorporated last week against the Las Vegas Raiders weren’t an emphasis on Saturday. Instead, the group utilized more tempo, empty sets, and plays from the shotgun.

    “I think we can go down every game this year and see a difference in approach,” Hurts said of the Eagles’ identity. “I think that’s OK for that to be who we are. We’ve just got to be very smart with what we do and when we do it and sequence it in the right way and then ultimately go out there and execute and make the plays.”

    Eagles defense catches a break

    Early in the third quarter, Marcus Mariota exited the game with a right hand injury, effectively quashing the Commanders’ chances at a victory.

    The Josh Johnson experience was horrific. On third-and-13 late in the third quarter, Cooper DeJean picked off the 39-year-old quarterback on a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks.

    With Johnson struggling, the Commanders attempted to run the ball to no avail. On the Commanders’ following possession, running back Chris Rodriguez was stuffed by Jordan Davis and Zack Baun on third-and-1 for a loss of 3 yards. Their play forced the Commanders to punt, marking Washington’s first three-and-out of the evening.

    Davis was a force against the run. He finished with six tackles, included two for losses and two for no gain. The other two were on carries of 1 and 3 yards.

    “That dude is a monster,” Baun said of Davis. “A monster of a human being and a monster on the field. Super impressive, because you think he’s just a stout run-stuffer, and then we throw in a stunt and some movement, and then you see how fast he is and he gets a TFL.”

    The Eagles defensive front gave Johnson fits. On third-and-6 halfway through the fourth quarter, Nolan Smith beat Commanders right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and pressured Johnson, forcing him to throw an incomplete pass intended for running back Jeremy McNichols.

    Rodriguez scored a garbage-time touchdown on a 3-yard carry with Eagles backups in the game on defense to make it 29-18. Johnson finished the game 5 of 9 for 43 yards and the interception (28.7 quarterback rating).

    Jake Elliott’s uneven year continued at Washington on Saturday.

    More issues for Elliott

    After the Eagles went up, 7-3, in the first quarter on a 5-yard Smith touchdown reception, the self-inflicted wounds that had tormented the team for most of the season cropped up once more.

    Elliott had a nightmare outing. Early in the second quarter, the Eagles offense sputtered at the Commanders’ 25-yard line. Late in the drive, Hurts overthrew a wide-open Brown on second-and-11, eventually forcing the Eagles to settle for a 43-yard field goal attempt.

    However, Elliott missed the field goal wide left, which would become a trend for him as the quarter continued. After the two-minute warning, the Commanders up 10-7, the Eagles decided to attempt a 57-yard field goal on fourth-and-4 from the Commanders’ 39 with 18 seconds remaining in the first half.

    Elliott missed that wide left, too. But Commanders safety Tyler Owens was flagged for being offside on the play, giving the Eagles offense a fresh set of downs and 5 yards.

    Hurts’ ensuing pass for Smith sailed incomplete, bringing Elliott on the field for yet another attempt, this time from 52 yards. Again, Elliott missed the kick wide left to end the first half.

    Not including the failed 57-yarder, Elliott has missed five field goal attempts in his last five games. He has also missed an extra point attempt in that span.

    Elliott stabilized in the fourth quarter. After Barkley’s fourth-quarter touchdown run, the Eagles kicker made the extra point. Regardless of the kicker’s recent shortcomings, Nick Sirianni emphasized his faith in Elliott after the game.

    “I have the utmost confidence in Jake,” Sirianni said. “I think like any team, you have ups and downs, and that’s just not offense, defense. That’s special teams. That’s your kicker, too. I have a ton of confidence in him that he’ll rebound from this, ’cause he’s mentally tough and a great kicker. We have the utmost faith in Jake moving forward.”

    Injury report

    Nakobe Dean sustained a hamstring injury halfway through the first quarter when he was attempting to tackle Burks. Jihaad Campbell took his place. Dean was ruled out in the third quarter.

    Tyler Steen was ejected late in the fourth quarter following the Eagles’ two-point conversion for his involvement in a scuffle that broke out between the two teams.

  • Three happy thoughts about the Eagles, for a change

    Three happy thoughts about the Eagles, for a change

    Ho, ho, ho.

    ‘Twas the weekend before Christmas and all through the house I couldn’t find anything about which to grouse.

    The Cowboys have Cowboyed, the Commies are done, the Eagles will again be the NFC East’s No. 1.

    And not only that but they’ll be better than the Bucs, which means they won’t play the Rams, which really would have sucked.

    Why you’d count out the Eagles is really beyond me, and that goes double for the grinches shouting Nick Sirianni.

    I like the Eagles’ chances, and you can call me a fool, though I’ll call you a Scrooge if you say, “Bah, humbug … Patullo.”

    Three reasons to cheer up about the Eagles as they look to clinch the division against the Commanders on Saturday.

    Nick Sirianni’s Eagles get the Commanders twice over their final three games to try to boost their playoff standing.

    1. The Eagles can easily end up with the No. 2 seed and host the NFC Championship game.

    I’m not going to try to put into words all of the various scenarios that could play out over the final three weeks of the regular season. But there are two important points.

    1. The Rams and Seahawks could be headed for a rubber match in their season series, which they’ve split in two of the more entertaining games of the season. One of those teams will likely enter the postseason as the fifth seed, and the other the one seed, which would put them in position to face each other in the divisional round, given that the second-best team in the NFC West (Rams or Seahawks) looks a lot better than the best team in the NFC South (Bucs or Panthers), whom they’d face in the wild-card round.
    2. The Bears (10-4) close out the season against three potential playoff teams, with home games against the Packers and Lions sandwiched around a road game in San Francisco. They’ve already lost to the Packers and Lions. In a scenario where the Bears lose two or three of those games, the Eagles could finish ahead of them by winning out, or even by winning two of three.

    In other words, the Eagles could easily end up hosting the Bears in the wild-card round and then playing someone other than the Seahawks or Rams in the divisional round. They would then host the NFC Championship if the lower-seeded team (Rams at the moment) knocked off the higher-seeded team (Seahawks).

    The moral of the story is that the NFC is wide open. Sure, the road is likely to be tougher than it was a year ago, when the Commanders somehow advanced to the NFC Championship. The 49ers have won four straight games since Brock Purdy’s return at quarterback, with an average margin of victory of 16.25 points. Their only losses on the season have come against the 10-4 Jaguars, the 11-4 Rams, the 9-5 Texans, and a Bucs team that was 5-1 at the time. The Lions aren’t dead yet. If they beat the Steelers at home this week, they could easily be playing the Bears in Week 18 with a playoff berth on the line. Rams, Lions, 49ers would be a heck of a collection of wild-card teams.

    But none of these teams are great, are they? The Eagles would be no worse than a coin flip in any potential playoff matchup, home or road. Even as the three seed, the Eagles would have a realistic chance at hosting an NFC Championship game.

    Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter will miss his third straight game on Saturday following shoulder surgery.

    2. Lane Johnson and Jalen Carter could be back on the offensive and defensive lines for the second or third-seeded Eagles.

    Anytime Johnson misses a snap we hear about how important he is. The Eagles have lost six of their last nine meaningful games that they’ve played without their All-Pro right tackle, including three this season. But I don’t often hear Johnson’s absence when it comes time to dole out blame for the offense’s underperformance this season. That’s partially because they’ve struggled with him in the lineup. But they were also 8-2 with a bunch of big wins.

    Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Commanders in Week 16: What you need to know and a prediction

    Carter’s impact is nearly as big on the defensive line. Over the last three seasons, the Eagles have lost five of the seven meaningful games that Carter has missed. One of the two wins was the season opener against the Cowboys, which easily could have been a loss. Carter clearly wasn’t himself in the Eagles’ loss to the Bears. A healthy return for the postseason alongside Johnson could be massive.

    3. The Eagles could be better than we’re giving them credit for.

    Rarely is it as easy as it was for the Eagles last season.

    That’s something that has been underemphasized by your faithful servants in the chattering classes as we’ve performed our living autopsies on the 2025 season. While the Eagles have offered plenty to critique, a big part of their problem is perception. They set a standard that would have been tough for any team to match, let alone a team that is where they are in their talent cycle. Only five other times in the last 10 seasons had a team score at least 463 points while allowing 303 or fewer. Only once in the Super Bowl Era has a team done it in back-to-back seasons (the 1993-94 49ers). Heck, only five teams have done it multiple times in that 59-year span.

    A big part of it is economics. Jalen Hurts’ cap hit jumped from $13.6 million in 2024 to $21.9 million in 2025. DeVonta Smith’s went from $7.5 million to $10.7 million. Jordan Mailata’s went from $11.7 million to $15.2 million. Combined, that’s an increase of about $15 million going to three players. That means the Eagles have $15 million fewer dollars worth of players elsewhere on the roster compared to 2024. In 2024, they spent roughly $15.4 million on the combined cap hits of Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Mekhi Becton. Economics is known as the dismal science for good reason.

    Eagles vs. Commanders: Playoff scenarios, predictions, injury reports, and what everyone is talking about

    But money isn’t the only element of the story. The NFL carefully structures itself to avoid prolonged runs by teams that were as dominant as the Eagles were last season. Parity is the goal of the draft, and of the scheduling process, and, yes, of the salary cap.

    Over the last 10 seasons, the most games any team has won in a 65-game stretch is 53, which the Chiefs did between 2019-23. As of today, the Eagles have won 48 of their last 65, dating back to the start of the 2022 season. They are one of only five teams to accomplish that over the last decade.

    Point is, the Eagles’ roller-coaster ride of the last four years is unique only because of the highs. No, they aren’t the steamroller they were last season. But you don’t need to be a steamroller to win a Super Bowl. Right now, the Eagles have as much reason as any team in the NFC to consider themselves the team to beat.

  • unCovering the Birds: Can the Eagles keep Nakobe Dean?

    unCovering the Birds: Can the Eagles keep Nakobe Dean?

    Nakobe Dean’s value to the Eagles is as clear as the team’s improved defense performance since his return to play. Coming off his best game of the season in last week’s shutout win over the Raiders, the linebacker has made a remarkable turnaround from a serious knee injury that knocked him out of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX championship run. But what’s Dean’s future in Philadelphia beyond this season? The 25-year old is an unrestricted free agent, and for the first time in what feels like forever, the Eagles have depth in the linebacker rotation. With only three games left before the playoffs, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane looks at the likelihood of the Eagles keeping Dean, as well as several other players whose contracts expire whenever this season ends.

    00:00 Can the Eagles keep Nakobe Dean? Should they?

    14:30 Tiering other key unrestricted free agents on the roster, like Dallas Goedert, Jaelan Phillips, and Reed Blankenship.

    unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.

  • Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Commanders in Week 16: What you need to know and a prediction

    Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Commanders in Week 16: What you need to know and a prediction

    The Eagles travel to face the Washington Commanders in a Week 16 matchup at Northwest Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. Here’s what you need to know about the game:

    When the Eagles have the ball: I feel like I keep referring to various Eagles opponents as having one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but that label once again applies this week. The Commanders have been poor for most of their now-lost season. Coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling last month, and there’s been marginal improvement, but this is an old and battered unit that lacks elite talent at almost every position. The Eagles should have the chance to build some offensive momentum and do so against a scheme that has similarities to last week’s opponent, the Raiders. Quinn has evolved some since working under Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll in Seattle, but he won’t sacrifice numbers in coverage, even if his defense has struggled to stop the run.

    Saquon Barkley gave Washington big problems in three meetings with the Commanders last season, collecting 414 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

    The Eagles bullied the Commanders on the ground last season, rushing for 668 yards and 12 touchdowns in their three meetings. Washington’s front office addressed its deficiencies up the middle, but the initial criticism directed at signing free agent Javon Kinlaw has proven to be warranted. The defensive tackle hasn’t done much to improve a run defense that’s allowing 4.7 yards per carry and ranks 26th in the league in expected points added (EPA) per rush. The Eagles clearly should lean into the run game, especially more from under center to further establish an identity that the offense has been lacking for most of the season. That might mean more two- and three-tight end sets, and more of the overwhelmed Grant Calcaterra. But it would force Quinn into more base personnel — something he doesn’t want. Also, an uptick in snaps for blocking stud Cameron Latu (stinger) would be a net positive, assuming he’s active.

    The Eagles didn’t throw much from under center vs. the Raiders. But when Jalen Hurts did, he was effective, completing all four passes for 66 yards. The offense has been at its best when the play-action game has been featured. Coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo need to increase their usage because Hurts can’t operate consistently in the straight drop-back world. The Commanders are actually worse vs. the pass than the run, at least statistically. They rank last in EPA/per drop-back and 29th in success rate. Injuries haven’t helped. Three of Washington’s edge rushers (Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste) and two of its cornerbacks (Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos) are on injured reserve.

    Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner remains one of the top players on the defense.

    The Commanders’ two best defenders might be their two oldest players: edge rusher Von Miller and linebacker Bobby Wagner. Miller still lines up predominantly over the right tackle, but he won’t see longtime foe Lane Johnson. Fred Johnson gets his fifth straight start as the Eagles slow-play the other Johnson’s return until likely the playoffs. Wagner may be Washington’s only above-average run defender. But the future Hall of Famer has clearly lost a step and is exploitable in coverage. Linebacker Frankie Luvu is just as susceptible through the air. He’s allowed 34 catches on 36 targets for 294 yards and four touchdowns. Luvu, who knocked Hurts out of last year’s meeting in Landover, Md., also has a 19.3% missed tackle rate, per Pro Football Focus. It could be another red-letter day for Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert.

    When the Commanders have the ball: Washington has been more competent on offense than on defense, even without quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was officially shut down for the season. Replacement Marcus Mariota may be only 2-5 as a starter with wins over the lowly Raiders and Giants, but he’s more dangerous than the backup the Eagles faced last week, Kenny Pickett. Mariota’s legs present a challenge to a defense that hasn’t handled the quarterback run game that well. He’s rushed 49 times for 298 yards, with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury dialing up long gains on designed runs. Mariota can scramble, too, so the Eagles will need to contain their rush and spy him at times.

    The Commanders don’t go three-and-out much, partly because they have an efficient ground attack. Mariota helps open lanes for a triumvirate of running backs — Jacory Croskey-Merritt (4.5 yards per carry), Chris Rodriguez, Jr. (4.6), and Jeremy McNichols (5.3) — who are better than the league average on their rushes. Vic Fangio’s defense has been better against the run since the Bears disaster, despite having the highest light box rate (60.4) in the NFL, per NextGen Stats. He may need to employ his base five-man front more than normal vs. Washington’s heavy sets. But tight end Zach Ertz’s season-ending knee injury might decrease the Commanders’ 12 and 13 personnel usage.

    Ertz (50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns) was having another solid season. His absence creates a void over the middle. The Commanders still have two receivers — the versatile Deebo Samuel and the always-dangerous Terry McLaurin — who will command attention. Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has been lining up more on the boundary (or short) side of the field, but it may make sense to have him trail McLaurin. If you think the Eagles offense doesn’t utilize under-center enough, just look at the Commanders. They do it less than anyone in the league (8%) and barely throw off it (14%). Kingsbury does use a lot of play action from the pistol, though.

    As former Eagles backups go, give 2023 backup Marcus Mariota the edge over 2024 backup Kenny Pickett.

    And that’s typically when Mariota takes his shots downfield. He airs it out as much as any quarterback (10.2 yards per attempt), but ranks only 28th in 20-plus yard success rate. He might not have as much time in the pocket with left tackle Laremy Tunsil, Washington’s best offensive lineman, out for Saturday. Brandon Coleman will step back into the position he lost when Tunsil was acquired last offseason.

    Extra point: I’m not ready to say that the Eagles have solved all their offensive issues, especially after demolishing the woeful Raiders, but they have made strides since Sirianni stuck his beak more into the overall operation two weeks ago. Receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith may not love the return to run-heavy play-calling. But having Hurts drop 70% of the time, as he did over a five-game stretch since the bye, wasn’t sustainable. More under center, diversity in the plays, and Hurts on designed runs should be the formula.

    That doesn’t mean the pass offense should be dormant. Quinn doesn’t use as much Cover 3 as Carroll, but he will play a fair amount of single-high safety-man coverage. And he will blitz about 26% of the time. Brown and Smith should have opportunities vs. cornerbacks Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene, and Antonio Hamilton. I expect early success on the ground will lead to shots won downfield.

    As for Washington’s offense, it turns the ball over at a high clip (20 total turnovers), and the Commanders are last in the NFL in fumble rate. Mariota has three lost fumbles, and the running backs collectively have four. I think the Eagles will take the ball away a few times. And as long as they win the turnover battle, I see a victory. It might not be the cakewalk some have predicted, but despite all the outside dissatisfaction about the team this season, the Eagles exit FedEx with a second straight division crown.

    Prediction: Eagles 30, Commanders 20

  • Eagles vs. Commanders: Playoff scenarios, predictions, injury reports, and what everyone is talking about

    Eagles vs. Commanders: Playoff scenarios, predictions, injury reports, and what everyone is talking about

    It’s a short(-ish) week for the Eagles, who are set for the NFL’s first Saturday slate of the year, and with another NFC East title on the line.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the Eagles-Commanders game…

    How to watch

    The game will kick off on Fox from Northwest Stadium at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Joe Davis and Greg Olsen will call the game from the booth, with Pam Oliver on the sideline.

    If you’d rather listen to Merrill Reese and Mike Quick call the game, the radio broadcast can be found on 94.1 WIP, and if you want to watch the game with your fellow Birds fans, here are a few spots to check out.

    Final Week 16 injury report

    The Eagles ruled out Lane Johnson (foot) and Jalen Carter (shoulders) for Saturday’s game against the Commanders. Neither player practiced all week.

    Tight end Cam Latu (stinger) and offensive tackle Cameron Williams (shoulder; injured reserve) are listed as questionable to play.

    The battered Commanders, meanwhile, issued a lengthy injury report on Thursday.

    Eagles vs. Commanders odds

    The Eagles are 6.5-point favorites at DraftKings and FanDuel, with the total set at 44.5 points at both sportsbooks. For more betting props, check out our betting guide here.

    It could help the Eagles in the seeding picture if the Packers overtake the Bears in the NFC North.

    Eagles playoff picture

    The Birds can clinch a playoff berth with a win or Cowboys loss this week. The Eagles have the NFC East nearly locked up — in order to lose the division to the Cowboys, the team would need to lose all three remaining games, and the Cowboys would need to win all three.

    In the conference standings, the Birds are in third, one game back of the Chicago Bears and 2½ games back of the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks (12-3) overtook the Rams (11-4) with a win over L.A. on Thursday night. The Eagles and Packers both have nine wins, but the Packers have one tie on their record. If the Packers manage to overtake the Bears, the Eagles do own the tiebreaker against them.

    Story lines to watch

    Can the Eagles continue to cruise against a bad team?

    The Commanders haven’t followed up their NFC Championship game appearance the way they hoped. Jayden Daniels is shut down for the year because of injury, and the Commanders sit at a dismal 4-10. It’s the second game in a row where the Birds will face one of their former backups, with Marcus Mariota set to start for Washington.

    The Eagles took care of business against the Raiders, shutting out Las Vegas in the second-shortest game in recorded NFL history. Going for the record this week?

    More story lines to watch:

    One number to know

    1: The Eagles’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth

    Our Eagles vs. Commanders predictions

    Here’s how our beat writers are predicting Saturday’s game:

    Jeff McLane: “[Marcus] Mariota has three lost fumbles and the running backs collectively have four. I think the Eagles will take the ball away a few times. And as long as they win the turnover battle, I see a victory. It might not be the cakewalk some have predicted, but despite all the outside dissatisfaction about the team this season, the Eagles exit Northwest Stadium with a second straight division crown. Eagles 30, Commanders 20

    Olivia Reiner: “The big question facing the Eagles offense going forward: Can it sustain the success it established in the win over the Raiders? The Eagles ought to have a good chance of doing so against the Commanders in two of their final three games. Even with Dan Quinn taking over the defensive coordinator duties, Washington still has struggled against the pass and the run.” Eagles 28, Commanders 20.

    Jeff Neiburg: But the Eagles should be ready to pounce Saturday. They’re facing another team starting a backup quarterback. They’re facing an even worse defense than the one they beat up on Sunday. And they can clinch the NFC East with a victory. It’s hard to envision that not happening Saturday night. Eagles 27, Commanders 13.

    National media predictions

    Here’s how the national media is predicting Saturday’s game.

    What we’re saying about the Eagles

    Here’s a look at the latest from our columnists, starting with Mike Sielski, who broke down why the Eagles are about to win the NFC East again.

    Sielski: Whatever crises the Eagles might be undergoing are framed through a different lens from any other team in the division. They judge themselves and are judged by the answer to one question: Are we good enough to win the Super Bowl? Their divisional foes’ standard has not been quite as high: Are we good enough to keep from embarrassing ourselves again?

    Marcus Hayes: “Which brings us to the 9-5 Eagles, who, contrary to much of the commentary and punditry, are nearing the end of a very good season. Saquon Barkley isn’t going to break rushing records this season, and the passing game hasn’t equaled its pedigree, and the defense won’t finish ranked No. 1, but none of that matters. What matters is who they beat, who they lost to, and where they stand.”

    What the Commanders are saying about the Eagles

    This year’s Commanders team has been struggling mightily compared to last year, which made the NFC Championship game. But coach Dan Quinn is still taking things away from their three matchups last year.

    “Playing against us last year in the three games, they were exceptional at taking the ball away,” Quinn said. “I thought that was the biggest deal for us. … And offensively, I thought from a line standpoint, the size, the movement, the pulling, Jeff Stoutland is one of the best there is in the offensive line spot. … I think it’s a good balance of what they have from the run game and the shots down the field with Jalen [Hurts]. Those are kind of the yin and yang of a good offense.”

    Here’s more from what they’re saying…

    Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury: “It’s certainly a tough matchup. They’ve been playing at a super high level, defensively. I think they gave up less than 90 yards last week against Las Vegas. So, it’s going to be a great challenge. They can roll in five, six guys deep that all play at a pretty high level. They can rush the passer, can stop the run. So, you got to be creative in how you attack them and we’ll have our hands full, there’s no doubt.”

    Quarterback Marcus Mariota: “[They have] a great defense, Vic [Fangio] got them playing really well. You can talk about every single player on that front and on the back end. They’re great players. Being there for a year and being around those guys, it’ll be fun to play against some of those old friends. I’m looking forward to it. It’s always a great atmosphere to play Philly. It’ll be a fun game on Saturday.”

    What else we’re reading (and watching)

    🎁 Saquon Barkley’s foundation hosts toy drive for local children

    🏈 Jalen Hurts gave a fan a touchdown ball. What happened next led to a lawsuit.

    🚨 ‘I’m fine. The Eagles lost’: Fan’s Facebook post about the Birds sparks police welfare check

    📜 The Eagles’ success has been riding on the defense this year. The 1991 team remembers what that’s like.

  • Eagles vs. Commanders Week 16 predictions roundup: Will the Birds stay in the driver’s seat?

    Eagles vs. Commanders Week 16 predictions roundup: Will the Birds stay in the driver’s seat?

    After beating up on the 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday to end their three-game skid, the Eagles turn their attention toward the Washington Commanders for a Saturday matchup at Northwest Stadium. Heading into the Week 16 contest, the Eagles (9-5) are early 6.5-point favorites.

    Here’s how experts in the local and national media are predicting Saturday’s game …

    Inquirer predictions

    We start with our own beat writers. Here’s an excerpt from Jeff Neiburg’s prediction …

    To see how our other beat writers are predicting this one, check out our full Eagles-Commanders preview here.

    National media predictions

    Now, here’s a look at how the national media feel about Saturday’s matchup …

    • ESPN: Eight of nine panelists picked the Birds straight up.
    • CBS Sports: In a clear sweep, all five experts are picking the Eagles to win.
    • USA Today: All six panelists like the Eagles.
    • Bleacher Report: Five of seven analysts are choosing the Birds.
    • Sporting News: Bill Bender has the Eagles winning 27-17.

    Local media predictions

    Here’s what the media in Philadelphia think will happen on Saturday.

    • Delaware Online: They’re heavily leaning toward the away team, with 10 of 11 panelists choosing the Birds.
    • PhillyVoice: PhillyVoice is “comfortably” picking the Birds.
  • Saquon Barkley won’t hit 2,000 yards, but he still thinks he can have a big impact on this Eagles season

    Saquon Barkley won’t hit 2,000 yards, but he still thinks he can have a big impact on this Eagles season

    What was Saquon Barkley going to do for an encore?

    That was one of the overarching storylines entering this season after Barkley, in his first year with the Eagles, became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

    No one has ever done it twice, so repeating always was going to be a stretch. But who could have seen this coming? It’s Week 15, and Barkley still is 60 yards shy of reaching 1,000 on the season. The Eagles have three games remaining, and, assuming Barkley stays healthy, he will reach the 1,000-yard mark Saturday against the Washington Commanders or next week in Buffalo. It would be the first time he’s recorded consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since his first two seasons in the NFL.

    Barkley certainly didn’t see this coming. The way he trains and the way he works, he said, and how much time and money he has put into his body, a mostly healthy season in which he plays in every game should yield better results than this. He’s at 3.9 yards per carry, tied for the second-lowest output of his career for a season in which he’s played more than two games.

    “Sometimes that’s how the game goes,” Barkley said Thursday after the Eagles wrapped their final practice of the week before playing at Washington on Saturday. “My mindset is, I still can have the impact on the season I want to. That’s finishing up the season strong and then going to the playoffs. That’s when it really matters the most. All of that is still in front of me, and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

    Quarterbacks have been avoiding Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Will the Commanders take their chances?

    The running game not being anywhere close to what it was in 2024 has been one of the big issues plaguing an offense that has failed to consistently sustain drives and score points. There are a variety of factors at play. Teams have zeroed in on stopping the Eagles run game. The Eagles offensive line has been banged up and also hasn’t performed to its usual level. The passing game hasn’t been consistent enough to force opponents to adjust.

    Saquon Barkley is stopped by Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden during the first half in Week 15.

    But Barkley also shoulders some of the struggles. In a clip on this week’s episode of Hard Knocks, Barkley is seen talking with Nick Sirianni about his role in helping the offense stay ahead of the sticks.

    Barkley has been tackled for a loss on 15.83% of his rushes, according to SumerSports. That’s the third-highest rate in the NFL for running backs with at least 100 carries. Last year, Barkley ranked 24th at 9.57%. That’s on the blocking, of course, but Barkley said he shares some of it, too. It was a knock on him coming out of college, he said, that he tried to score a touchdown every time he touched the ball.

    “Which I am, because I have the ability any time I touch the ball, I could take it 90 [yards],” Barkley said. “I could take it however long it needs to go. But there’s a flow to the game, and it’s helpful when you’re able to get positive runs — get those 3s, get those 4s. That sets up stuff later down the road.”

    Barkley, in the Hard Knocks clip, told Sirianni that he needs to do his part to turn negative runs into smaller positive gains.

    Jordan Davis found his voice and helped stabilize the Eagles defensive line

    “I have to do my job,” he said Thursday. “The ones that might be a negative-1 or negative-2, if I could make that into [positive] 2 or 3, that’s helpful. It keeps us above the sticks and it makes play calling a lot easier. It makes it a lot easier to be consistent with the play calling and the run game when it’s second-and-6 rather than second-and-9. That’s kind of the mindset, building off that and trusting it and getting the dirty runs. Then, when the opportunity does come, make them pay for it.”

    Saquon Barkley runs for a long fourth quarter touchdown in the Week 14 loss to the Chargers.

    The running game has shown signs of life in recent weeks. Barkley carried 22 times for 78 yards during Sunday’s blowout win over the Raiders. He had 122 yards on 20 carries a game earlier, including a 52-yard touchdown run the Eagles scored off a toss play out of the Tush Push formation.

    The passing game got going Sunday, albeit against a lesser opponent. Jalen Hurts even flashed in the run game, which Barkley said helps open up the offense. The Eagles went under center more than they have all season. There were things to build off of as they head into the final stretch of the season. They’re on the brink of clinching another NFC East title and are gearing up for another playoff run. The protection has improved, and Lane Johnson should be back when the games matter most.

    “I think we’re super close and that’s important,” Barkley said. “Everyone gets caught up in how well teams are playing in the first five games or first half of the season. None of that matters. It does matter, because you got to give yourself a chance to compete for the playoffs, but if you look at some of the guys or the teams … they’re falling off. It’s a long season. It’s hard. Everything we want is still right in front of us.”

  • Eight Eagles draft targets to watch during the first round of the College Football Playoff

    Eight Eagles draft targets to watch during the first round of the College Football Playoff

    The first round of the College Football Playoff gets underway Friday with Oklahoma taking on Alabama (8 p.m., 6ABC).

    Three more games follow on Saturday: Miami-Texas A&M, Mississippi-Tulane, and Oregon-James Madison. There will be plenty of draft prospects to keep an eye on, especially ones who could end up on the Eagles next season with the team projected to have eight picks in the 2026 draft.

    Here’s a look at the players the Eagles should be keeping a close eye on this weekend.

    Tight end Kenyon Sadiq leads Oregon in receptions (40) and touchdowns (eight).

    Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

    The Oregon offense has plenty of weapons at quarterback Dante Moore’s disposal, but no one may be quite as important as tight end Sadiq, who leads the team in receptions (40) and touchdowns (eight). The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Sadiq is more of a receiving tight end than blocker, but he has tenacious effort in the run game, kicking out edge rushers and driving linebackers and secondary players backward in space.

    Sadiq is an explosive athlete who thrives working the seam and finding soft spots in zone coverage. And his value in the red zone is noteworthy, with his ability to win vertically against secondary players and athleticism to catch passes in congested areas. The Eagles have a long-term need at tight end, despite Dallas Goedert’s strong year, and Sadiq can bring youth and elite athleticism to the room.

    Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami

    Over the summer, Mauigoa was at Lane Johnson’s OL Masterminds event in Dallas, picking the brain of one of the most consistent tackles in the NFL. That time with Johnson has seemed to pay off for Mauigoa, who is technically refined as a pass protector and a mauler as a run blocker.

    Across 394 pass-blocking snaps, Mauigoa has allowed just two sacks and nine pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Though the three-year starter has made all of his appearances in college at right tackle, some teams view Mauigoa as a high-level guard with his run-blocking prowess. Whether the Eagles view him as a guard or tackle, the 6-6, 335-pound lineman would be a nice addition at either spot.

    Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M

    Howell, who was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year last week, is one of the few edge rushers in this class with first-round worthy film, but his 30¾-inch arms, well below the NFL’s standard of 32-inch arms, may scare some teams off. But his athleticism and fluidity running the arc as a pass rusher makes him hard to ignore.

    Though he needs to work on his run defense, Howell’s pass-rush ability will be coveted. In a class without many top-end edge rushers, he seems like a good bet to go in the back half of Round 1. Edge rusher probably isn’t the most pressing need for the Eagles’ defense, but Howell would bring some additional juice to it.

    Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon

    Playing for his third school in five years, Oregon’s left guard is a road grader in the run game, easily passes off defensive line stunts, and isn’t afraid to clean up a pocket if he isn’t blocking a defensive lineman. Pregnon has a powerful initial punch to redirect pass rushers and climbs to the second-level of a defense on double-team blocks in the run game.

    He has only surrendered three pressures across 351 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF, and is rarely caught out of position. He has experience at both guard spots and could slot in at right guard if the Eagles feel the need to upgrade with Tyler Steen entering the final year of his contract next season.

    KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

    The Eagles could be looking to upgrade their receiver room with Jahan Dotson set to be a free agent after this season, though drafting a wideout early seems unlikely. Still, Concepcion is a dynamic receiver who has returned to his freshman form this season, consistently winning on a vertical plane and creating explosive plays with the ball in his hands.

    Concepcion transferred from North Carolina State and has become the Aggies’ top receiver, leading the team in receptions (57), receiving yards (886), and touchdowns (nine). He recently won the Paul Hornung Award, which is given to the most versatile player in college football, and would be a welcome addition to the Eagles’ passing attack.

    Will Lee, CB, Texas A&M

    Though Adoree’ Jackson has settled into the corner spot across from Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles could still look to upgrade the position. Lee is a physical, long defensive back who excels at disrupting routes and breaking on timing routes on an island. An exceptional athlete who is sticky in man coverage, Lee doesn’t have quite the same production as last year when he had two interceptions. But he has seven passes defended this season and has allowed catches on just 54.5% of his targets.

    While he can get overly aggressive and grabby on routes (six penalties in 2025) and must find the ball better in man coverage situations, Lee has the size (6-1, 189 pounds) and competitiveness to excel at the NFL level. A good showing against Miami could be a big stock booster.

    Oklahoma pass rusher R Mason Thomas was limited by injury this season, but he’s still been productive.

    R Mason Thomas, DL, Oklahoma

    The Oklahoma pass rusher has been limited to just nine games because of injury, but his production hardly decreased with nine tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Sooners. Thomas is an elite rusher with excellent closing speed to run the pass rush arc and has a lethal speed-to-power conversion in his repertoire.

    Like Howell, Thomas is likely to be a pass-rush specialist early in his NFL career, but his value getting after the quarterback should still have him selected within the first two rounds of the 2026 draft.

    Akheem Mesidor, DL, Miami

    All of the attention will be on Miami’s star pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr., an expected early-round pick, but versatile edge rusher Mesidor deserves some love, too. The sixth-year senior has inside-out pass-rush ability, possesses strong, active hands, and a quick first step to turn the corner on offensive linemen.

    He played more of an interior role in 2024, but has a natural fit as a defensive end. Mesidor plays with good leverage and hand usage in the run game, and though he’s an older prospect (24), he can make an immediate impact along a defensive line in need of players who can man multiple spots. Mesidor has a career-high 12 tackles for loss and has matched a career high in sacks with seven in 11 games this season.

  • The Big Picture: Eagles big shut out, Sixers defend home court, and the week’s best sports photos

    The Big Picture: Eagles big shut out, Sixers defend home court, and the week’s best sports photos

    Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors pick the best Philly sports images from the last seven days. This week, the Eagles dominated the Las Vegas Raiders, 31-0, to end a three-game losing streak and secure their first shut out win since 2018.

    The Flyers took the Carolina Hurricanes to a shootout last Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, but lost 4-3. The Sixers, though, defended home court with a strong performance by Joel Embiid in last week’s 10-point win over the Indiana Pacers.

    Meanwhile, Villanova picked up a much-needed nonconference win over Pittsburgh, buoyed by a strong performance from Duke Brennan.

    And finally, our Alex Coffey spoke to Billy Gordon’s family, who still has his VHS collection of basketball games of nearly five decades in Cobbs Creek.

    Our photographers were on hand for it all.

    Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett gets his jersey grabbed by Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt during the third quarter of Sunday’s game.
    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts evades Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter during a run in Sunday’s game.
    Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt watches the action as snow falls at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
    Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert drops a pass in the end zone against the Raiders on Sunday.
    Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the football with Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter in coverage during the second quarter of Sunday’s game.
    Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (center) stops a shot attempt from Carolina Hurricanes left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (right) with teammate Ty Murchison last Saturday night.
    Flyers center Trevor Zegras celebrates his first period goal against the Hurricanes last Saturday.
    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe is fouled by Pacers forward Pascal Siakam while attempting a dunk last Friday. The Sixers won 115-105.
    Villanova forward Duke Brennan (center) is defended by Pittsburgh forward Roman Siulepa (right) during the first half at Finneran Pavilion on Saturday. Villanova own 79-61.
    Crates filled with various tapes of NCAA, NBA, and WNBA games from 1986 to 2024 in the room of Billy Gordon in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday. Gordon taped and collected men’s and women’s college and professional game broadcasts for 38 years until his death in 2024.