On Monday night, the Eagles will face the Los Angeles Chargers with hopes of snapping a two-game losing streak.. The last time the Birds held a three-game losing streak was in early December of 2023, a campaign marked by early success and a late-season collapse.
Fresh off a deflating loss to the NFC-leading Chicago Bears on Black Friday, the Eagles are only three-point favorites against John Harbaugh’s Bolts. The Chargers, who are also 8-4, may be without star quarterback Justin Herbert, who suffered a broken left hand in his team’s 31-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Will fans get deja vu of 2023, when the Eagles collapsed after a Super Bowl appearance the previous year? Or will the team finally get back on track? Here’s what the Chargers are saying about the birds.
‘We know how good their defense is’
Herbert was unable to take snaps under center against the Raiders due to his off-hand injury, significantly impacting the team’s offensive game plan as Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman transitioned to more snaps in pistol and shotgun.
With uncertainty in the air regarding both Herbert’s ability to execute the offense, the former Oregon quarterback believes Harbaugh’s familiarity with Vic Fangio will play a major role in the Chargers’ game planning.
Bears running back Kyle Monangai runs for yards during the third quarter Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia.
Fangio coached under Harbaugh in previous stops with the San Francisco 49ers and Stanford, and also coached against the Chargers two times a year as head coach of the Broncos from 2019-2021.
“He’s had a ton of success in this league,” Herbert said of Fangio. “Back at his time with the Broncos, we saw him twice a year and we had a lot of respect for him then. … The guys that they have on that side of the ball are game-wreckers and you have to be aware of those guys, and at the same time they are really well coached, and it makes for a dangerous combination for a defense.”
Meanwhile, Roman also expressed confidence in wide receiver Ladd McConkey’s ability to break Fangio ’s schemes.
“I was born at night, but not last night,” Roman said. “Vic’s going to have different ways to leverage coverage to where it’s not one-on-one at all times … But as far as the matchup, I like Ladd against anybody.”
‘I forgot he was dealing with something’
Herbert’s chances of playing all comes down to his next days in practice.
“As long as [the doctors] felt like it’s repaired and fixed, I think it comes down to getting that swelling down and being able to play with it,” Herbert said. “You got to catch a snap, you got to be able to hold on to the ball… it’s just see how it goes this week and doing everything to be out there.”
Herbert’s teammates seem more confident in his return, describing mixtures of shock and awe in response to how well he has played in practice despite the injury.
“I forgot he was dealing with something the way he’s playing,” wide receiver Quentin Johnston said. “But that’s just the type of guy he is. Very, very tough guy. He was still at practice, throwing very accurate, so he honestly looked like he hasn’t lost his touch. So right now, just getting him through practice and getting him through the week and prepared for Sunday.”
‘Some love to our offensive line’
Herbert has been pressured more than any other quarterback in the NFL this season, and no matter if it’s him or Trey Lance under center, the offense will be focusing on containing the Eagles’ front seven in pass protection.
“Their D-Line, a lot of people say it’s probably the strength of their defense,” Roman said. “And it’s hard to argue with that, but I think they are good at all three levels.”
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter will miss his team’s MNF meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers have seen both their starting tackles, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, injured this season — resulting in a carousel throughout their offensive line. Following last week’s benching of left tackle Trevor Penning, Roman believes the offensive line is on the up, with the unit performing admirably against Maxx Crosby and the Raiders. The Eagles will be without Jalen Carter after he had a procedure for his to treat both of his shoulders. That could also work in the Chargers’ favor.
“I want to throw out some love to our offensive line,” Roman said. “I really feel like they did an amazing job last week, not only handling Maxx Crosby, but really just handling the game plan and adjusting accordingly.”
‘Hell of a challenge’
The Chargers are well aware of the Eagles’ offensive line difficulties this year, including the potential absence of All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson. Despite this, star defensive end Khalil Mack knows not to underestimate the Eagles’ pass protection.
“Nameless, faceless objects,” Mack said. “You understand who they are and what they’ve been able to accomplish and the level of football they play at, so it’s going to be a hell of a challenge.”
When asked what problems the tandem of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley pose to the Chargers defense on the ground, Mack was quick to express a similar respect despite the team’s recent struggles to run the ball.
“All the problems,” Mack said regarding Hurts’ ability to run. “You can talk about his strength and his ability to withstand tackles in the pocket; it’s going to be a hell of a challenge, and I am looking forward to it.”
“Saquon one of the best in the league,” Mack said. “At any moment, he could pop a big run, so you gotta be on your P’s and Q’s throughout the whole game, just understanding the intangibles they have, and the offensive line they have accumulated with him in the backfield and Jalen in the backfield. His ability to run the QB runs, just their scheme in general, it’s going to be a challenge for us.”
It has been a few weeks since A.J. Brown has been a major topic of consternation and conversation around the Eagles. The easy explanation for the relative quiet is that Brown hasn’t posted anything on social media lately that would get people to raise their eyebrows. The even easier explanation — and maybe so easy that it’s a cheap shot against Brown — is that he caught 18 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears and the Cowboys, and even though the Eagles lost both of those games, Brown must be content that he’s finally getting his numbers again.
That narrative — that Brown is only about Brown, and his selfishness damages the Eagles — has never held up under much scrutiny. Should he stay off social media more? Of course he should. But they have a 53-18 record (in regular-season and postseason games), have won a Super Bowl, and reached another since acquiring him. At least 29 other teams in the NFL would sign up for that level of damage.
What’s more, there’s nothing inherently wrong with Brown wanting the ball more in the name of benefiting himself and benefiting the Eagles. The two goals aren’t mutually exclusive, and it’s understandable that Brown would raise a stink with Jalen Hurts, Kevin Patullo, or both if he didn’t believe he was being used properly or frequently enough.
Think of it like this: Brown is to the Eagles’ offense as an outstanding reporter or writer is to a news organization, and Patullo and Hurts are his editors. If the editors relegated that reporter to the least important and relevant assignments — when he has produced and is capable of producing well-read, Pulitzer-caliber journalism — he would be within his rights to tell them, Hey, you aren’t maximizing my skills, and it’s hurting the whole news operation, too.
Would that make him selfish? Maybe. Would it make him self-interested? Yeah. Would it make him right? Absolutely.
Maybe tap the brakes on the Trevor Zegras anointment?
Have you forgotten Andrew MacDonald?
Trevor Zegras has been terrific so far, but before anyone starts thinking about making him a Flyer for life, can he get through half a season here first?
Kyle and the cash register
The very simple reason to be optimistic that the Phillies will re-sign Kyle Schwarber comes down to three words.
Butts in seats.
Yes, Schwarber has improved as a hitter over the last two years, putting the ball in play more often and raising his batting average without sacrificing any of his power. Yes, he’s an outstanding clubhouse leader. And yes, his presence is necessary if the Phillies are to get over their October bugaboos, get back to the World Series, and win it. Those factors make him vital to the franchise.
But a baseball season, despite the attention and excitement that the playoffs generate, is not the playoffs alone. The 162-game march to the postseason matters too. It matters a lot. And Schwarber has overtaken Bryce Harper as the player on the Phillies roster whose at-bats are true can’t-miss theater. If you’re at Citizens Bank Park on a chilly night in early May, waiting to get your hot dog and beer, the chance to see Schwarber blast one 450 feet is probably one of the reasons you’re at the ballpark in the first place. And if he comes up and you’re still waiting, you might just hop out of that long line to make sure you don’t miss one of his lighting bolts. He’s the guy who makes you stop and watch.
Sports is still first and foremost an entertainment product, and Schwarber provides more entertainment night to night than any other Phillies player. John Middleton isn’t likely to let someone steal such an asset away, for any price. He’d be a fool if he did.
Allen Iverson was a 40-plus-minute man before the term “load management” entered the NBA vernacular.
Maxey and A.I. as iron men
Ahead of the 76ers’ matchup in Milwaukee against the Bucks on Friday night, Tyrese Maxey was leading the NBA in minutes played per game. His average: 40.0.
All kudos to Maxey for bringing it every night for as long as he does. But just for some perspective, it’s worth noting that for a 10-year period, from the 1998-99 season through the 2007-08 season, Allen Iverson never averaged fewer than 40.8 minutes. And over his six seasons from 2001 through 2007, he averaged 42.5 minutes and led the league in minutes five times. When the man said he played every game like it was his last, he meant it.
For the past month, Ty Robinson has been grappling with what he calls a “strange feeling.”
Robinson, the Eagles’ fourth-round defensive tackle out of Nebraska, has been inactive for the last four games. It’s not surprising given the depth chart at the position, but it has been an adjustment for the 24-year-old. After all, Robinson went from being a five-year starter at Nebraska to an Eagles rookie behind Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo.
Still, when Robinson joined the Eagles in April, he said he understood that playing time was going to be hard to come by in a room full of “a bunch of dudes.”
“I’m a realistic person,” Robinson said Friday. “So just being patient and understanding that football has its tendency to be violent. Guys are going to go down with something. Obviously you never want that, but it’s the reality of the game. So just to continue to work and help that motivates me in a good way to be ready when the time comes.”
That patience could pay off on Monday. Carter, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle, is week-to-week after undergoing a procedure to treat both of his shoulders. With Carter out of the lineup against the Los Angeles Chargers, Robinson could be active for the first time since Week 9 against the New York Giants.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said on Wednesday that it’s “possible” Robinson could factor into the defensive tackle rotation with Carter injured. Robinson said that the coaching staff hasn’t had a conversation with him about his role against the Chargers. But that isn’t to say he won’t have a role, Robinson clarified.
“Whatever they’re willing to give, whatever that role’s going to be, I’m here for the room,” Robinson said. “We’ve got an awesome room that’s going to also step up on Monday. I’m excited to be behind those guys.”
Monday’s game wouldn’t be Robinson’s first, but it could be an opportunity for him to play meaningful defensive snaps for the first time in more than a month.
The 6-foot-5, 288-pound defensive tackle has played 35 defensive snaps in six appearances. The majority of his playing time came in the Week 6 loss to the New York Giants when Carter was inactive due to a heel injury.
In his 19 defensive snaps in that game, Robinson made a tackle on Cam Skattebo in the red zone and batted a pass from Jaxson Dart at the line of scrimmage. Even though his last game action was in late October for the Eagles’ second meeting with the Giants, Robinson said he feels better prepared now to step into a more substantial role on defense.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart slips by a tackle attempt by DT Ty Robinson on Oct. 9.
“I didn’t know nothing coming into this season,” Robinson said. “But being around the guys for halfway through the season, I definitely feel like I’ve grown as a player. And obviously I feel a little bit more ready. It’s a challenge. I’m not going to back away from a challenge. I’m going to take what I can with it.”
Davis concurred that Robinson is ready for the challenge that could await him on Monday. His confidence is rooted in what Robinson has shown him in practice, going up against the Eagles’ starting offensive line. Now, Robinson must translate his growth on the NovaCare Complex practice field to SoFi Stadium when he faces the Chargers.
“Just the reps that he’s getting against Landon [Dickerson], against Jordan Mailata, against Cam [Jurgens], all those compound and add up,” Davis said. “So when he gets his opportunity to go against a former Eagles player, Mekhi Becton, or somebody that’s on the Chargers’ line, we have full confidence in him that he can go out there and execute.
“It’s more about the mindset that he has, carrying it out there and understanding that he is meant to be here. He is here for a reason. It’s the same thing I went through as a rookie. I didn’t have a lot of experience going into this, and looking at the offensive line, I was like, ‘Man, these guys have years of experience on me.’ But as time goes on, the more experience that I have, execution breeds confidence.”
Robinson (9) is looking to break out as a pro after a decorated five-year career at Nebraska.
Robinson will need to tap into that confidence to help the defense rebound after a porous Black Friday performance against the Chicago Bears. This time around, the Eagles will face one of the league’s top passers in Justin Herbert — if he’s healthy enough to play — and a strong rushing attack that is poised to welcome the return of standout rookie Omarion Hampton on Monday.
Even if he hasn’t earned many meaningful defensive snaps this season, Robinson can still detect his own growth. Between his practice reps and his time spent with the Eagles’ developmental program, Robinson said he has taken strides in “everything” related to his game.
“Just in the kind of aspect of building up the player that I am,” Robinson said. “With awesome people in this building, being able to put in extra work with them and just to see that continued growth.
Darius Slay is apparently considering retiring from the NFL after he decided to not report to the Buffalo Bills, the claiming team he was awarded to after the Pittsburgh Steelers placed him on waivers.
But Philadelphia is Slay’s “second home,” he said, and the Eagles, according to NFL sources, also put a claim in for Slay, who was awarded to the Bills because they had higher priority in the NFL’s waiver order.
Acho asked Slay if he would have reported to the Eagles, had the team he spent five seasons and won a Super Bowl with in February been awarded his rights.
“I honestly don’t know, man,” Slay said before mentioning how he has enjoyed being home with his family in the days since his release from the Steelers, who made him a healthy scratch last week vs. the Bills.
“It just felt good to be there,” he said. “It would have been a hard time to think about it. But Philly is my second home. I don’t know how that would have hit, if that would have hit. But when I got home the other day, I’m like, ‘shoot this feel too good to be at the crib.’”
Slay also cited the inconvenience of moving to Buffalo and the city’s cold weather as reasons for not initially wanting to report to the AFC contender.
There is obvious mutual interest between the Eagles and Slay, should the cornerback decide he wants to continue playing. The Eagles haven’t shored up their second cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell after letting Slay walk in free agency. Slay looked more his age with the Steelers, who he signed with for one year and $10 million. But his familiarity with Vic Fangio’s scheme and the Eagles’ obvious concerns with their cornerback depth make it a fit.
Could Slay still end up with the Eagles?
It’s possible, but there are some mechanics involved that seem to make a reunion unlikely. The Bills placed Slay on the reserve/did not report list on Friday, removing him from their 53-man roster. They will retain his rights if he decides to continue his playing career. That is similar to how the Eagles handled cornerback Jaire Alexander after he decided to step away from football following his trade to the Eagles in November. They put Alexander on the reserve/retired list and retained his rights.
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay celebrates an interception in the 2025 playoffs.
The Bills could release Slay if he wants to continue playing, though there’s recent enough precedent under their current regime to suggest that they wouldn’t. Former NFL receiver Anquan Boldin decided to retire before the 2017 season began after signing with the Bills. He later asked the Bills to release him so he could play with another team, but Bills general manager Brandon Beane, then in his first season with Buffalo, declined that request.
It’s unclear if Slay would have to go back through waivers if the Bills released him.
It would seem unlikely, however, that Beane would release Slay to appease his desire to play for a potential Super Bowl opponent. The Eagles and Bills also play in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Dec. 28.
Inquirer staff writer Jeff McLane contributed reporting to this story.
Turn on sports talk radio or read coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles, and it’s probably be impossible to find any analysis of the team’s recent woes that doesn’t reference the offense. The unit has been painfully disjointed and inconsistent to watch, unable to deploy a nucleus filled with all-pro talent. But to pin the Eagles’ issues on this factor alone would be misguided. Should head coach Nick Sirianni, offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, and quarterback Jalen Hurts shoulder a chunk of the burden? Yes, but as The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane points out, there’s plenty of blame to go around, and we shouldn’t overlook the other areas where it can be found…
00:00 Yes, the offense stinks, but there’s a lot more going on
02:17 Addressing the Jalen Carter news, and the warning signs that preceded it
06:25 Where art thou, Jihaad Campbell?
13:38 Seeking solutions at safety
17:47 The one play that summed up the Eagles’ offensive plight
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.
The Eagles currently sit at 8-4 entering Week 14 and if the season ended today, would slot into the No. 22 spot in the 2026 NFL draft.
They have aspirations to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but it’s never too early to look ahead at the next crop of draft prospects. And with a few position groups needing an upgrade or depth added, the Eagles should be keeping an eye to the future for the next crop of NFL stars.
Here are nine players the Eagles should be watching during conference championship weekend:
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Pound-for-pound, there may not be a more explosive and physically imposing player than Reese in this draft class. Reese, a 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker, is a budding star with endless potential to play several roles for an NFL defense.
His closing speed, ability to rush the passer as a blitzer, along with his block-shedding strength, make him a unique player who can play at the line of scrimmage and in the middle of a defense. In his first year as a starter, he has 61 tackles (10 for loss), 6½ sacks, two pass deflections, and 23 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
#OSU LB Arvell Reese is such an effective QB spy because of his closing speed explosiveness and range, and he's an incredibly physical run stopper. Fast enough to beat blocks, strong enough to shed them.
He is projected as a top-five pick and might end up well out of the Eagles’ range, barring a move up. But Reese could end up in the division with the Giants or Commanders, and projects as a player who will be making plays on Sundays next year.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Most people who have watched Ohio State over the last two seasons know his name. Downs is the younger brother of Colts wide receiver Josh Downs and is already the higher-profile player of the pair. Caleb Downs is instinctual, savvy, and always around the ball, making tackles against the run and taking away passes over the middle of the field.
Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates against Michigan last Saturday.
Because he’s a safety, Downs, who is listed at 6-0, 205 pounds, won’t be valued highly in the first round of the NFL draft. But he provides three-level support, has ball production to match (six interceptions, 18 passes defended in three years), and has shown the ability to cover tight ends and slot receivers.
Corner may be a more pressing need for the Eagles currently, but Downs is an impressive player who raises the floor of a defense. He did so at Alabama (where Downs began his career in 2023) and now at Ohio State.
Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
While all eyes will be on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 draft, the Eagles should be keeping an eye on left tackle Smith, who has allowed just one sack and six quarterback pressures this year.
Smith, who is listed at 6-5, 313 pounds, is a composed hand striker who has showcased strong grip strength as a pass blocker and can anchor down against power rushers. He also works to get his hands inside the body of defensive linemen and once he has them in his grips, they can rarely escape.
#Indiana LT Carter Smith has excellent grip strength and does a nice job with his initial strike in stopping defenders in their tracks. Consistently works to replace his hands and has shown the ability to anchor against power.
He has a tough assignment matching up against Ohio State’s defensive line, led by Kenyatta Jackson, who has 10 sacks this season. But Smith rarely gets beat in pass protection, and while his run blocking can continue to improve, he’s shown potential as a starter-level offensive lineman.
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Ponds, the standout Indiana defensive back who followed head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison to the Hoosiers, is undersized at 5-9, 173 pounds, but he more than makes up for it with his play.
#Indiana DB D'Angelo Ponds (5-9, 170) may be undersized, but he's got great ball skills, is physical at the catch point, and hasn't allowed a touchdown this season across 346 coverage snaps. Big test this weekend matching up against Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith. pic.twitter.com/xY8oKtSdQc
Teams are not throwing his way as often this season, but he still attacks the football with ferocity and is physical at the catch point. He will have a tough task this weekend containing Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, both first-round caliber receivers. But if he has a strong game, he could quiet the size concerns that teams may have about him.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
There aren’t many players built like Proctor, who is 6-7, 366 pounds, and has the athleticism to catch a pass in space. The Alabama left tackle is a physical presence as a run blocker and overwhelms pass rushers with his size in pass protection.
There has been week-to-week inconsistency with his game, though. He struggles with his balance at times, and he doesn’t possess elite foot quickness, though he makes up for it with his frame and power.
Elite game tape from #Alabama LT Kadyn Proctor against Tennessee. Dominant as a run blocker and has some quality finishes as a pass protector against a really good pass rush.
Proctor’s evaluation will be interesting to watch because some teams may prefer to keep him at tackle, while others may move him to guard to take advantage of his run blocking ability. Still, Proctor is a strong prospect at a position that is top-heavy and lacks quality depth. He should be of interest to the Eagles, whether they view him as a guard or tackle.
Keon Sabb, S, Alabama
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
The Glassboro native Sabb, who was teammates with current Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell at IMG Academy and Alabama, has had a strong year after his 2024 season was cut short with a foot injury. He picked up where he left off last season, tallying 40 tackles (2.5 for loss), one interception, and three pass deflections.
After a foot injury cut his season short last year, #Alabama Safety Keon Sabb, the Glassboro, N.J. native, has been active as a low-hole defender this season. Has aligned at nickel and both safety spots this season, but really excels covering and taking away routes over the MOF. https://t.co/alOOiqtYhQpic.twitter.com/lcJJjxruSp
Sabb has positional flexibility, having played some nickel at both Michigan and Alabama. He excels most in taking away routes over the middle of the field and closing on passes from safety depth. With the Eagles’ struggles in the secondary, his addition could not only provide depth but also flexibility to play multiple spots.
Georgia tight end Oscar Delp (4) has not been one of college football’s most productive players but plays an increasingly critical position.
Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
The production isn’t eye-popping for Delp, who has just 17 catches and one touchdown in 2025, but the Georgia tight end’s talent is displayed in small bursts, and it’s easy to project him to outproduce his college stats in the NFL.
The 6-5, 245-pound player is a vertical threat as a pass catcher and likely won’t be a do-it-all tight end because he’s not a consistent blocker yet. But when the Bulldogs feature him in the passing game, he makes teams pay after the catch. Of his 235 receiving yards this season, 135 have come on yards after catch, according to PFF.
With the struggles the Eagles have experienced at the tight end position and an aging Dallas Goedert, it may be time to invest in a tight end via the draft. Delp brings more receiving upside but would be a nice addition to the Eagles’ tight end room.
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Texas Tech vs. BYU, Saturday (noon, 6abc)
Though he’s an undersized pass rusher, Bailey, who transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford, leads college football in pressures (70) and sacks (12½) in 2025. Possessing a quick first step, Bailey is a speed rusher who can generate immediate wins against opposing tackles on the outside track and has a speed-to-power pass rush move that is difficult to stop.
His run defense must improve, but Bailey generated pressure on true pass sets 41.8% of the time, per PFF. In a class without many top-end edge rushers, Bailey will likely be drafted early and can make an instant impact on third downs at the NFL level.
Chandler Rivers, DB, Duke
Virginia vs. Duke, Saturday (8 p.m., 6abc)
After a breakout season as a junior in 2024, Duke hybrid defensive back Rivers has continued his strong play, collecting two interceptions, eight passes defended, and one forced fumble in 12 games this season. He has aligned as both an outside corner and nickel, and has even taken snaps at safety this season.
#Duke DB Chandler Rivers has inside-out versatility to play both the corner and nickel spots, and has made plays from a variety of alignments in the secondary. Instinctual player who does a nice job playing through the hands of WRs and a willing tackler in space. pic.twitter.com/qSb8FW225N
The alluring part of his game is his coverage from multiple spots. He covers ground much better in zone coverage with his eyes reading the quarterback, is physical at the catch point, a willing tackler, and gets his hands on the football (seven interceptions, 29 passes defended in his career).
Per PFF, he has taken 530 snaps at outside corner and 148 at nickel. He projects best as a nickel since he stands at 5-10, 185 pounds, but he’s a playmaker who brings value at multiple spots in a secondary.
The Eagles bring their two-game losing streak with them to sunny California for a Monday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
It’s a matchup of 8-4 teams jockeying for playoff positioning in their respective conferences.
No Jalen Carter against a team with one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, with the Eagles coming off a game in which they allowed 281 yards on the ground. The Eagles’ offense hasn’t produced more than 21 points in their last four games. The maligned offensive coordinator’s house was vandalized.
All signs point to a Chargers win and the continuation of an Eagles collapse that has people pointing to 2023 for a comparison, right?
The oddsmakers don’t seem to agree. The Eagles are a 2½-point favorite, according to ESPN Bet as of Thursday evening. And that feels about right.
Justin Herbert is wearing a cast on his left hand, and the Chargers have a passing attack that should play into the Eagles’ hands, as long as they’re able to stop the run and get Herbert into third-and-longs. That may seem like a big ask without Carter, and it is, but the Eagles have had a solid enough run defense for most of the season to think Vic Fangio and Co. will make sure the last performance was just a one-game blip.
The Chargers do have a good defense, particularly their pass defense. But they did give up 30 first downs and 35 points to the Jaguars just a few weeks ago, a game that included Jacksonville rushing for 192 yards.
I keep thinking each game is a get-right game for the Eagles, and while I’m not sure the offense necessarily breaks out Monday night, I expect the Eagles to do enough to win the game, especially given the potential limitations facing Herbert.
Something about this game is giving Bears 2.0 vibes.
Like the Bears, the Chargers are a team with a strong record against a favorable schedule, leaving some room for doubt about the legitimacy of their success this season.
But unlike the Bears, the Chargers are arguably more well-rounded on both sides of the ball. Herbert is one of the league’s best passers, ranking in the top five in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns since he entered the league in 2020. When Herbert is incapacitated, like he was last week with his fractured nonthrowing hand, the Chargers’ run game compensated with nearly 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The Chargers are at a disadvantage on the offensive line, as evidenced by Herbert’s third-most sacks in the league this season (38). But the Eagles will be missing one of their top defenders in Carter (shoulders), giving the Chargers a break on the interior. If Herbert is limited by his injury, the Chargers are going to want to run the ball again, and the Carter-less Eagles can’t afford a repeat of the D’Andre Swift-Kyle Monangai experience.
Meanwhile, Hurts and the Eagles offense are set to face one of the best passing defenses in the league in the Chargers, who have only given up 168 yards through the air per game (No. 2 in the NFL).
The Eagles cannot afford to fall behind the sticks in this game due to penalties or negative plays. The Chargers will make them pay — they have 16 sacks on third down this season, which is tied for the third most in the league. The Eagles, conversely, have converted just 34.5% of their third downs, which ranks 28th.
On one hand, I find it hard to believe that this Eagles team, with all of its talent, will lose three straight games for the first time since 2023. On the other, these matchups aren’t exactly favorable for the Eagles, even with an injured Herbert factored into the equation.
Omarion Hampton is trending to play Monday night, giving the Chargers a two-headed rushing attack against the Eagles. Does that remind you of anything? The Eagles failed to stop the run on Black Friday as Swift and Monangai combined for 255 yards. Expect the Chargers to attack the same way, especially as Herbert is expected to play a week after surgery on his nonthrowing hand. Hampton and Kimani Vidal, who has been excellent since Hampton went on injured reserve, will be even more of a challenge thanks to the absence of Carter.
Just one team has gained more than 100 yards on the ground against the Chargers over the last five weeks so it’s hard to see this being the week that the Eagles finally get Saquon Barkley going. The best route to beat them could be through the air as Geno Smith had his highest completion percentage (78.3) of the season last week but the Chargers still won by 17. But it’s hard to express much confidence in the Birds’ aerial attack after Black Friday. This seems like a tough spot.
Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors pick the best Philly sports images from the last seven days. This week, we’ve got Trevor Zegras and the Flyers taking some hits, Nick Sirianni and the Eagles getting dealt a Black Friday loss, and Joel Embiid making moves — both on and off the court. …
Flyers forward Trevor Zegras lays on the ice after being boarded by Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin in the second period. Zegras scored one of the Flyers’ five goals in Thursday’s win over the Sabres.
Flyers right wing Bobby Brink gets hit by the puck as he tries to settle in behind Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and set a screen on goaltender Tristan Jarry. The 5-1 loss on Monday ended the team’s three-game winning streak.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts as he walks off the field after his team’s Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears. The 24-15 loss was the Eagles’ second straight and their fourth in their last eight games.
A.J. Brown had his best statistical game of the season against the Bears, and has three touchdowns in the Eagles’ last two games — but the Birds are 0-2 in those games.
First-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has been the target of much of the criticism around the Eagles, with some crossing the line and vandalizing his N.J. home.
Joel Embiid signs autographs for Quentin Zheng, 10, left, and Mason Zheng, 9, center, during a release event for the Sixers center’s first signature shoe from Skechers, the SKX JE1, at Lapstone & Hammer on Wednesday.
For one play during an otherwise dismal Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears, Jalen Hurts gave the Eagles’ offense a jolt. The ball never even left his control.
Rather, he tucked it into the crook of his left arm and dashed through a lane created on the left side of the offensive line by a pulling Cam Jurgens and Jordan Mailata. With neither linebacker in the picture — one was picked up by Jurgens on a blitz and the other ran with Saquon Barkley as he motioned out wide before the snap — Hurts dashed upfield unabated for 23 yards, the Eagles’ most explosive rushing play of the day.
It set up A.J. Brown’s 33-yard touchdown reception on the ensuing play, capping off the Eagles’ longest drive of the afternoon: 92net yards.
It was also like seeing a unicorn.
Designed runs have become rarities for Hurts in his fifth season as the Eagles’ starting quarterback. After averaging 3.6 designed runs per game in his first four seasons as the starter, Hurts has dropped to 1.1 designed runs per game in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. Hurts has gone without a single designed run in six of this season’s 12 games.
On one hand, that drop-off should come as a surprise, seeing as Hurts once proclaimed himself a “triple threat” capable of dissecting defenses with his arm, his legs, and his mind. Among quarterbacks from 2021-2025, only Lamar Jackson boasts more rushing yards (3,531) than Hurts (3,108).
On the other, though, there is plenty of precedent for quarterbacks who rush less as they progress in their careers, either by choice or by physical limitation. Those examples include Hurts’ contemporaries such as Jackson (6.6 designed attempts per game before Year 5; 4.0 after) and Josh Allen (2.0; 1.6).
As evidenced by that 23-yard run on Friday, the 27-year-old Hurts can still burn defenders on the ground. His ability to serve as a run threat has historically forced opponents to defend all 11 players on the field, creating more opportunities in the run game as a whole.
Could the Eagles lean into the quarterback run game as one fix to help revitalize Kevin Patullo’s floundering offense that is running out of time to achieve consistency?
Hurts was asked after the Bears loss whether he would do anything different during the extended break before the Chargers game to help improve the offense. He was then asked whether he needed to use his legs more to fuel that improvement.
Flashing a slight smile, Hurts offered the same three-word answer to both questions.
“I’ll be working,” he said.
Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo must consider the risk to Jalen Hurts when the quarterback carries the football.
Why is Hurts rushing less?
Hurts is a full-time quarterback, part-time philosopher. His penchant for dropping philosophical sayings at the podium has become part of his brand, according to Mailata.
One of the sayings that Hurts helped popularize, “Keep the main thing the main thing,” offers a window into his approach. Winning, regardless of how it looks, is the most important facet of the game. Everything else is secondary.
So, when asked the week before the Bears game if he was open to more designed runs, Hurts emphasized that he is “open to doing whatever it takes to win.” Similarly, days later after the loss, Nick Sirianni seemed to refute the notion that Hurts wanted to run less this season by suggesting self-preservation is a factor in the decision to call fewer designed runs.
“We’re always thinking about how to protect Jalen and make sure that he is healthy for the long haul,” Sirianni explained.
It isn’t hard to fathom why the Eagles would want to protect their investment. Hurts is the highest-paid player on the team at $51 million on an average annual basis. As the offensive player with the ball in his hands on every down, he’s arguably the team’s most important player, too.
But Hurts has injured himself both in and out of the pocket throughout his NFL career, which has caused him to miss games. In 2021, he sprained his ankle when he was sacked in the Week 12 loss to the New York Giants. The injury forced him to sit out the following week’s game against the New York Jets and required offseason surgery.
His other two serious injuries occurred on designed runs. Hurts sprained his throwing shoulder in 2022 after getting tackled on a 3-yard zone-read keeper in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears. Hurts had plenty of wear-and-tear in that game, running the ball on 17 occasions on a frigid day at Soldier Field. While he finished (and won) that contest, he missed the next two.
Hurts also suffered a concussion in Week 16 in 2024 against the Washington Commanders on a play very similar to his 23-yard gain on Black Friday. After Hurts exited in the first quarter, the Eagles went on to lose their first game in roughly three months. He missed the final two games of the regular season in concussion protocol, though he likely wouldn’t have played in the season finale against the Giants anyway.
But the lack of carries for Hurts isn’t always in the Eagles’ control. Sometimes, that can be dictated by the defense.
While the Eagles run fewer run-pass options (7.4 per game, per Pro Football Reference) than they did in the past — especially compared to 2022, when they led the league with 10.9 — it was a substantial part of the game plan in the Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos. More often than not, though, Hurts opted to throw. Sirianni explained in the aftermath that on those plays, “when you have that ability to get that to a playmaker in the flat, you take it.”
At the time, that game marked Hurts’ lowest rushing total of his career as the starter (one scramble, one kneel-down for a total of three yards).
“Sometimes when you’re calling those plays, he can run it, Saquon can run it, or we can throw it, so it’s kind of a three-way monster right there,” Patullo said. “It’s kind of a dealer’s choice, so it is just kind of a different kind of style, and it worked in that moment.”
Lamar Jackson remains elusive, but has spent time in 2025 battling a myriad of injuries.
Hurts isn’t alone
Hurts is far from the only quarterback who has experienced a dip in runs as he has progressed in his career. Jackson is perhaps the best case study among active quarterbacks this season in his seventh full year as the Baltimore Ravens’ starting quarterback.
Jackson, 28, is averaging 4.7 carries per game, according to PFF (2.1 designed runs, 2.6 scrambles). He had already been on a downward trajectory after his first few seasons in the league, but this year is a new low for the two-time MVP quarterback.
Injuries have held Jackson back this year. He missed three games from Weeks 5-8 with a hamstring issue. He’s been active since Week 9, but over the past month, he has dealt with injuries to his knee, toe, and now his ankle. He has not participated in a full week of practice in a month.
Carson Wentz, the Eagles’ starter from 2016-20, was heralded for his athleticism, especially in 2017 when he was briefly the Eagles’ leading rusher through the first two weeks of the season. His asset became an issue, though, when he scrambled his way into an ACL tear later that season, marking the beginning of the end of his Eagles tenure. While his play style didn’t change upon his return in 2018, his efficacy deteriorated.
Donovan McNabb was celebrated as a runner early in his career but evolved into one of the NFL’s top pocket passers.
But injuries — and the threat of incurring them — aren’t the only factors at hand when it comes to the frequency of the quarterback run game. Donovan McNabb experienced a shift in his playing style throughout his 11-year tenure with the Eagles from 1999-2009. After posting 5.2 carries per game in his first four years as the full-time starter, McNabb averaged 2.9 over his final six in Philadelphia.
McNabb came up in an era when the “dual-threat” label on Black quarterbacks often came with racist undertones. Regardless of his detractors, McNabb’s emphasis on the passing game seemed to be more of a personal preference.
Even early in his career, before he leaned more into the passing game with the arrival of Terrell Owens in 2004, McNabb responded “no” when asked if he enjoys running.
“When I hear ‘running quarterback,’ that sort of upsets me,” McNabb said in 2000. “That takes away from my drop-back ability, my play-action ability and my ability to get the ball downfield. Any time that you talk about how athletic a quarterback is, and you continue to talk about his running ability, you sort of forget about him passing the ball.”
McNabb and Hurts aren’t one-for-one comparisons from a rushing perspective. McNabb was more of a scrambler, while Hurts has demonstrated a proficiency both in scrambles and designed runs. As passers, McNabb is arguably the best in franchise history. Hurts has had excellent games — including both Super Bowl performances — but is still working to find a sense of consistency in the passing game this season.
Jalen Hurts could help free things up for Saquon Barkley … and vice versa.
Uptick on the way?
Can the Eagles achieve some sort of middle ground, aiming to protect their quarterback while also injecting life into a listless offense, specifically the run game?
It’s been a tough season for Barkley and the Eagles’ rushing attack as a whole. The 2024 offensive player of the year has averaged 3.7 yards per attempt, a decrease of more than two full yards per carry from last season. His run blockers haven’t been doing him any favors, leaving him with 2.3 yards before contact per attempt (down from 3.8 last year).
Hurts could help through the use of his legs, according to Dan Orlovsky, the former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst. Orlovsky said he expects to see more designed runs for Hurts in the last five games of the season. That increase is imperative if the offense wants to continue to live out of the shotgun, he explained.
According to Next Gen Stats, approximately 70% of the Eagles’ offensive plays occur when Hurts is lined up in the shotgun. That alignment can make a run game too predictable if the quarterback isn’t a threat on the ground, too.
“If you don’t, there’s really no reason for you to be in the shotgun, because the defense can see constantly what’s going on in the run,” Orlovsky said. “So their lack of running the quarterback this year … defenses fly to Saquon a lot more. They’re much less disciplined. They can constantly see the football. Those giveaways with Saquon’s alignment of what kind of run and when they’re running. And a lot of times, there’s 3 yards that aren’t taken advantage of from the quarterback run. So it’s had a negative impact on their ability to run the football.”
The Eagles broke that tendency briefly against the Bears. Hurts opted to keep the ball on a zone-read play that gained 3 yards. He read the unblocked defensive end who began to crash down hard on Barkley before pulling the ball and turning upfield. Instead of a handoff to Barkley for likely no gain or negative yards, Hurts created a positive play.
According to Smael Mondon, the Eagles’ fifth-round linebacker out of Georgia, an offense that runs out of the shotgun and boasts a quarterback who poses a threat on the ground “opens up the menu a lot.”
“If you don’t really have a running quarterback, like he’s not really a threat in the run game, then the menu kind of simplifies for what set you see in the backfield for what runs you could get,” Mondon said. “But if you got a quarterback that can run, then that menu of options of plays they could run kind of opens up even more. So it’s more things you’ve got to potentially have to defend. So it’s more stuff for a defense to think about.”
A quarterback run threat can also help with the offense’s “numbers disadvantage,” as backup Tanner McKee puts it. On a typical run play in which the quarterback hands the ball off to the running back, the offense has nine players that can block for the ball carrier. The defense has 11 who can tackle, putting the offense at a mathematical disadvantage.
There are different ways for quarterbacks to “get your block,” according to McKee, and keep defenses honest, including the use of play action and bootlegs. But a quarterback who keeps the ball for himself gains an actual blocker in the running back, minimizing the numbers disadvantage and, in theory, giving the offense a chance to rack up extra yardage.
Jalen Hurts vowed “I’ll be working” when asked about his methods to help fix the offense in the lead-up to the Chargers game.
An extra blocker means two extra gaps — the space between each blocker — for a linebacker like Mondon to fill.
“It just kind of makes it harder,” Mondon said. “Everybody has to fit perfect with QB designed runs, just ‘cause they’ve got that extra hat and extra two gaps in the game.”
Time is running out for the offense to hit its stride before heading into the playoffs. Still, Sirianni expressed an understanding that there’s a fine balance between keeping Hurts healthy and doing what it takes to win.
“You’re always thinking first about what the players do well, especially with your quarterback, how do you make sure that you’re keeping them safe on those?” Sirianni said. “Even when you think about those, there are quarterback runs you can run that are a little [safer] than another quarterback run. But it’s still football and you still [face] a risk with every snap that you take, and that’s on a drop back, too.
“But again, you look at the defenses, how you want to attack, you look at what you do well, how to protect the guys, and you’re just looking for the best way to go about that. I don’t think anybody wants to come out of a game with Jalen having 15 carries, designed carries. But again, we’re looking at everything, and we’ll see how that looks going forward.”
After losing back-to-back games to the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears, the 8-4 Eagles have been under scrutiny from national media, including ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, who thrashed the Eagles’ offense in advance of their Monday Night Football matchup with the 8-4 Los Angeles Chargers.
“They don’t do one thing well offensively,” Orlovsky said onThursday morning’s edition of Get Up. “If I had to use the words and give you adjectives to describe this offense over the course of the season: predictable, boring, stale, self-inflicting, uncreative, and unexplosive.”
Orlovsky has been studying the Eagles more closely this week, as he will be on the call of ESPN’s Monsters, Inc.-themed alternate broadcast, the network’s third animated Funday Football (ESPN2/Disney+). A few hours after ripping the Eagles on air, Orlovsky spoke with The Inquirer and raised many of the same concerns he did on Get Up about the Eagles’ offense, which has been struggling in Kevin Patullo’s first season as coordinator.
“They’re not what they were last year on offense,” Orlovsky said. “Last year, they were historically great when it came to running the football. That’s not reality. Their tailback was historically great. He just hasn’t had the same impact.”
The Eagles’ rushing attack, spearheaded by Saquon Barkley, ranks 22nd in rushing yards through the first 12 games of the season. Last year, the team ranked second in rushing yards and Barkley became the ninth NFL running back to record 2,000 yards in a season.
Dan Orlovsky, once a Jalen Hurts critic, says the Eagles offensive line has been one of the biggest reason’s behind the team’s offensive struggles.
Orlovsky says the key difference between last year’s offense and this year’s is the play of the offensive line.
“If you aren’t good up front, it’s really hard to consistently be good,” Orlovsky said. “Their offensive line has to play better.”
The Eagles have been without Lane Johnson for their last two games, as the two-time All-Pro tackle is recovering from a Lisfranc injury in his foot suffered in the team’s Week 11 win over Detroit.
But the Eagles’ struggles on the ground predate Johnson’s absence. The Eagles have rushed for more than 100 yards in five games this season and recorded more than 150 yards just twice. In 2024, the Eagles eclipsed 150-plus yards on the ground in 11 regular season games.
The inability to pick up yards on the ground on first down leads to longer yardage on second and third downs. The Eagles are converting 34.5% of their third-down plays, which is the fifth-worst conversion rate in the league.
“If you struggle as an offense on first down, it makes second down much harder, and then therefore third down much harder,” Orlovsky said. “Until they play better as an offensive line and play better offensively on first down, that’s not going to get fixed.”
Eagles guard Tyler Steen, left, center Cam Jurgens, middle, and guard Landon Dickerson make up 60% of the Eagles starting offensive line.
With five games left in the regular season, the Eagles hold a 1½ game lead over the 6-5-1 Cowboys in the NFC East. If the Eagles can hang onto their divisional lead and earn a playoff spot, Orlovsky says the team needs to be able to “control the game” to be considered as a contender to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
“[If] they can dictate to a defense what they want to do, then there’s no question,” Orlovsky said. “The group isn’t all that different than what it was last year.”
The struggles on offense, including down years from Barkley and Jalen Hurts, loom large over the final five games of the regular season. The talent remains largely the same, but 12 games into the season, Orlovsky doesn’t see the current version of the Eagles as a team with an identity.
“There’s a lot more question marks about their offense and why they’re struggling in comparison to what it was last year,” Orlovsky said. “But, they still are a talented group, and I think that they’re trying to figure out who they are.”
