Ahead of Sundayâs Eagles wild-card playoff game against San Francisco (4:30 p.m., Fox 29), the question of âhow good is this 49ers team, really?â is a fair one.
Unless youâre a fan of the team, or really like watching game highlights or have multiple games up on your screen on Sunday, youâre like a lot of Eagles fans wondering the same thing. Sure, the team is coming off a season-ending loss, but the Niners lost to the Seattle Seahawks, the No. 1 team in the NFC this season.
But how effective is Brock Purdy or how elusive is Christian McCaffrey, or how did a 49ers defensive unit get this far, being this banged-up and without one of the best linebackers in the game in Fred Warner? Well, today weâre leading off with the latest from The Inquirerâs Devin Jackson, who for a large part of this season has been analyzing game film on Eagles opponents, pointing out the warning signs alongside the spots the Birds can exploit.
If youâre reading this as early as weâre dropping it, then grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever your go-to morning beverage is and breakdown some game film with us.
It should be another nice day across the region, with temperatures in the high 40s under partly sunny skies. Perfect.
Jabari Walker, who previously played on a standard deal in Portland, has outplayed his two-way contract.
The 76ers loaded up their frontcourt in advance of an uncertain Joel Embiid season. Heâs been available more than anyone expected, creating a logjam at center and power forward. One major cause of that is the performance of two-way acquisitions Jabari Walker and Dom Barlow, who have performed more like members of the rotation.
Because of that, theyâve spent extended time up with the Sixers and their available days on the roster could be dwindling unless their contracts are converted to standard deals. Itâs something Walker tries not to focus on.
âEvery now and then, it will pop up in my mind, but just putting my energy toward what I can control right now,â Walker said. âAnd whatever happens, just knowing that I left an impact on my teammates and left an impact in the game. I think thatâs the biggest truth.â
What weâre âŠ
đ Watching: The status of Flyers Jamie Drysdale and Bobby Brink after sustaining injuries from a pair of blindside hits in Tuesdayâs game against the Ducks.
In Don Mattingly, right, Bryce Harper now has a former superstar player on the Phillies coaching staff.
Although Bryce Harper met Don Mattingly only briefly at the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami and may not be able to recite all the pertinent numbers â .307 average, 222 homers, nine Gold Gloves, six All-Star appearances â itâs a safe bet he appreciates his nearly Hall of Fame-level place in the sport.
And it has been years since Harper played for anyone with those credentials as a player.
That wasnât the primary reason the Phillies this week finalized a two-year contract with Mattingly to be the bench coach. They wanted another voice in the dugout alongside manager Rob Thomson.
But Mattinglyâs career gives him instant credibility among players, especially star players. His impact on Harper could be profound.
Trevor Zegras celebrates his first goal of the Flyers’ win over the Anaheim Ducks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Hockey is all about the details. So, it should be noted that the Flyers have hit the halfway mark of the NHL season with a 21-12-7 record highlighted by a win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Now some believe coach Rick Tocchet has this team looking like one that could crack the NHL playoffs instead of just teasing the notion.
The Inquirerâs Jackie Spiegel takes a look at some of the highlights of the teamâs last game and how it reflects a bigger picture.
Next up: The Flyers welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs (20-15-7) tonight (7 p.m., NBCSP).
Former Union standout Mark McKenzie practices in Chester with the U.S. men’s national team ahead of its game against Paraguay in November.
Mark McKenzie is on a roller coaster. In the last six months, the former Union standout has been a regular starter for his new club, Toulouse, in the French first division, has had multiple call-ups with the U.S. menâs national team, and is about three months into fatherhood, welcoming a baby boy in October.
McKenzie is doing all of this under the backdrop of hoping to be on U.S. menâs manager Mauricio Pochettinoâs World Cup roster in a few months. Itâs a lot to juggle, but he catches up with The Inquirer to explain how heâs keeping âcontrolâ of it all.
In the womenâs side, The Inquirerâs Jonathan Tannenwald has the details on the U.S. womenâs national team convening in north Jersey in March for a game against Colombia as part of the SheBelieves Cup tournament.
On this date
Jan. 8, 1995: Phillies slugger and 12-time All-Star Mike Schmidt gets into the Hall of Fame. How about two more? On this date in 1972, the NCAA allowed freshmen to compete in college athletics. Fast forward 12 years to 1984, and the NCAA Tournament expanded to a 64-team field.
Standings, stats, and more
Looking for detailed stats coming off last nightâs Sixers game? Hereâs a place to access your favorite Philadelphia teamsâ statistics, schedules, and standings in real time.
What youâre saying about the World Cup
We asked: Which matchups are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
Nothing turns me off more than price gouging. $60,000 for a pair of tickets for a soccer game? Some games are selling for over $100,000 a pair! Seriously now. I could buy two high-end cars and have a little left over for lunch money. â Ronald R.
Iâm looking forward to France and Mbappe, England and Harry Kane. But mostly, Iâm looking forward to our USA boys, to see if they can stay healthy and live up to their potential as the strongest USA team ever. Go Brenden! â Joel G.
We compiled todayâs newsletter using reporting from Devin Jackson, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Keith Pompey, Colin Schofield, Scott Lauber, David Murphy, Katie Lewis, Jonathan Tannenwald, and Kerith Gabriel.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Thatâs my time, Philly. Have a good one, weâll catch you tomorrow.â Kerith
Whatâs hot in 2026: French bars, bagels, and the Main Line, to point out just a few observations from my rundown of the more than 100 restaurants due to open this year in Philadelphia and the area. Read on for more analysis of this yearâs dining forecast.
đŽ Here is the full picture: New restaurants are coming from Ellen Yin, Greg Vernick, Teddy Sourias, and dozens more.
Welcome back from the holidays!
Letâs recap what The Inquirerâs food team has been up to over the last few weeks:
The hearty, body-warming stew/soup that is pozole comes in the colors of the Mexican flag: rojo, verde, and blanco, with regional variations of each. The good news, Kiki says, is that you donât have to go all the way to Mexico City for excellent pozole. Here are her picks.
The baked potato is having its moment, Kiki says. The Idaho spud served at Wine Dive is no small potato. Itâs roughly the size of her Chihuahua and comes topped with sour cream, cheddar, bits of bacon, and scallions.
The best things we ate last year
Best dishes of 2025
We all dined out a lot last year (perhaps so did you). Here are our 21 favorite dishes of 2025, including a Hyderabadi paneer curry so hot it made Craig LaBanâs ears ring and left his face temporarily numb. And that was one of his favorites?! Read on to see what else made an impression.
Restaurant report
Restaurateur Franco Borda (thatâs him shown below) loves Italian food, opera and jazz music, and South Philly. So after he closed his High Note Caffe during the pandemic, he decided to turn the joint into a nightclub. Five years later, the High Note is back, with a stage. I stopped recently to catch crooner Harry Barloâs act, and the experience was an old-time delight. Dinner and a show for 50 bucks?
Briefly noted
Center City District Restaurant Week returns Jan. 18-31 with 100-plus restaurants offering three-course, prix-fixe dinners for $45 or $60 and two-course lunches for $20. Hereâs the rundown.
Yum Grills,opening this weekend at 1135 Vine St., comes from Shahezad âShahâ Contractor and the crew from Cousinâs Burger Co. The halal shop will sell smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken over rice, and wings out of a Shell station; at the Jan. 10 grand opening (1 p.m.), the first 100 people will get a double smash burger, fries, and soda.
Gluten-free bakery Flakely is opening a proper storefront in Bryn Mawr.
Emmett in Kensington has secured a full liquor license, allowing it to broaden its wine and spirit list beyond Pennsylvania labels. The new era starts Thursday.
Why is the food sold at Pennsylvania Turnpikeâs rest stops so … um … mid? Brett Sholtis found out.
âPop quiz
Why is McDonaldâs being sued this time? Not over coffee, but…
A) The ice cream machine gave the plaintiff trust issues after being âtemporarily unavailableâ for the 400th consecutive visit.
B) The plaintiff alleges that the McRib sandwich is not made from pork rib meat.
C) A Happy Meal did not make the plaintiff happy. Just nostalgic and sad.
D) The âtwo all-beef pattiesâ jingle has been stuck in the plaintiffâs head since 1994, causing permanent mental occupation.
Iâm wondering if there is a list of restaurants that take reservations but arenât on the two major services. I always feel like Iâm missing some good places out there. â Chuck L.
You may also check Tock for restaurants not on OpenTable or Resy. For years, OpenTable was the big player. Then Resy came online and started cherry-picking popular newcomers. Then OpenTable sweetened the deals for restaurants and began to recapture the market. (My editor Jenn Ladd wrote a fascinating article about this a year ago.) Tock has been a solid No. 3, but thatâs where youâll find tables at such places as DanDan, Elwood, South, and Barcelona Wine Bar. Some restaurants â such as Uchi, Scarpetta, and Cuba Libre â use SevenRooms on their back end, so you must book through the restaurantâs individual websites.
đź Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Happy Wednesday, Philly. After a run of cloudy days, weâll be treated to sun and high temps in the low 50s today.
Thatâs a stark difference from 1996, when 2.5 feet of snow fell upon the region on Jan. 7 and 8. On the 30th anniversary of our biggest blizzard on record, see whether the atmosphere this year is expected to bring a good olâ fashioned snowstorm.
But first: The results are in from the Philadelphia School Districtâs facilities planning survey. Read on to learn what parents and teachers said they want, including smaller classes and no school closures.
What do Philly parents, teachers, students, and community members want to happen to their neighborhood school buildings? For one, they want them to remain.
The cityâs school district surveyed stakeholders on what they hope to see come of its slow-moving facilities master planning process, which is expected to yield big decisions this year about school closings and reconfigurations.
Some themes emerged, many of which will be tough for the cash-strapped district to balance:
âïž No school closures, and instead, more investment in existing facilities
âïž Smaller class sizes
âïž More magnets to attract high-performing students
âïž Upgraded resources, such as vocational programs, technology, and AP courses
Thirty years ago, nearly 31 inches of snow fell on the region over two days â the largest blizzard in Philadelphia history. Millennials have never stopped romanticizing it.
But more than two feet of snow to a kid? As Inquirer editorial writer Daniel Pearson noted in his ode to the Philly snow day, thatâs magical.
As for this year, itâs tough to say whether weâll get a big storm later on, but no flakes are expected in the short term. Friday may even hit 60 degrees.
Five years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Gov. Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania Democrats marked the Jan. 6 attackâs anniversary by sharply criticizing President Donald Trump.
Long under fire for his behavior in office, Jack Tompkins has resigned as mayor of Pemberton Township in South Jersey. A new mayor will be selected Wednesday.
The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters plans to relocate its headquarters and two training centers to the Navy Yard.
The trolley tunnel that connects Center City and West Philadelphia is still closed as SEPTA tests repairs â but is âpretty closeâ to reopening, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
Bucks Countyâs Trump Store is closing after six years. The shop thrived during the Biden administration, but Trumpâs return to the White House has been bad for business, its owner said.
Quote of the day
El Carnaval de Puebla, one of the biggest yearly celebrations of Mexican culture in Philadelphia and on the East Coast, will not return in 2026 amid concerns over federal immigration activity.
đ§ Trivia time
Signage from which iconic shuttered Philadelphia eatery is now available for sale on Facebook Marketplace?
Cheers to Colby Tecklin, who solved Tuesdayâs anagram: Haddon. The company that owns P.J. Whelihanâs, which is headquartered in the Camden County township, may be moving into a former Iron Hill Brewery in Bucks County.
Photo of the day
Peter Chang plays basketball during a mild winter afternoon at Charles T. Mitchell Jr. Park.
Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, even if it feels like this post-holiday week should already be long over. See ya back here tomorrow.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Faridah Ismaila launched nonprofit A Paint-full of Promise to connect younger students with free monthly art classes.
A Great Valley High School sophomore will soon be bringing her passion for art to young students in the district.
Inspired by the phrase âDo what makes you happy,â Faridah Ismaila recently launched nonprofit A Paint-full of Promise to provide free monthly art classes for kindergarteners through sixth graders, The Inquirerâs Brooke Schultz reports.
The program is slated to kick off this month with a winter wonderland-themed class. Ismaila is working with district educators to offer the workshops where students can learn new skills and express themselves.
A person on a trail on Warwick Furnace Road in Warwick Township was recently injured by a coyote, prompting the Chester County Health Department to look for the animal. Itâs unknown if the coyote is rabid.
The community is mourning the death of photographer, filmmaker, and Kennett Square resident Robert Caputo, who died Dec. 18 at a voluntary assisted dying center in Switzerland. Throughout his career, Mr. Caputo traveled the world, producing stories, films, and photographs for National Geographic magazine, Time, PBS, and TNT. The 76-year-old was diagnosed with Alzheimerâs disease last year.
A Malvern office building at 52 Swedesford Rd. is poised for demolition to make way for a mixed-use development with 250 apartments and retail space, including a market and cafe. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
The 33,000-square-foot Acme-anchored shopping center at 785 Starr St. in Phoenixville recently sold for nearly $7.4 million. The sale didnât include Acmeâs space.
The stateâs Department of Environmental Protection is expected to evaluate surface and well water at the Bishop Tube HSCA Site in East Whiteland Township this month for contaminants such as PFAS, volatile organic compounds, and inorganics, as well as fluoride.
The Paoli Memorial Association in Malvern has been awarded a $325,000 grant, which will help fund construction of the Paoli-Malvern Heritage Center. The center, which will be adjacent to the Paoli Battlefield, will preserve an 1817 obelisk and offer interpretive exhibits.
Several Chester County communities have received funding from the stateâs Green Light-Go Program aimed at improving traffic safety and mobility. Upper Uwchlan Township has been awarded over $920,000 to upgrade detection and controller equipment at Route 100 and Graphite Mine Road. West Whiteland Township is getting nearly $390,000 to upgrade multiple intersections along Route 100 and Commerce Drive. And East Whiteland Township will get almost $192,000 to modernize Lancaster Avenue and Conestoga Road.
Heads up for drivers: Asplundh will be pruning trees along Goshen Road between Pottstown Pike and Hillside Drive in West Chester throughout the first quarter of 2026.
Paoli Hospital is among Forbes Top Hospitals for 2026 and is the sole Chester County institution on the list.
Looking to dispose of your Christmas tree? Upper Uwchlan will collect trees curbside on Jan. 15; Spring City residents can place trees curbside daily through Jan. 30 for pickup; East Pikeland residents can place trees curbside on Wednesdays in January or drop them off at the township yard waste recycling facility; West Vincent residents can drop them off at the township building through Jan. 23; and Phoenixville residents can place them curbside with trash through Feb. 28. Trees can also be dropped off at the compost site at 18 S. 2nd Ave.
Itâs the last chance for residents in Easttown (through Jan. 12) and Upper Uwchlan (through Jan. 15) to recycle old holiday lights.
đ« Schools Briefing
Tredyffrin/Easttown School District is hosting its elementary new student registration window for next school year from Jan. 20-26. Learn more here.
West Chester Area School District has an opening on its school board following Alex Christyâs resignation ahead of his termâs expiration next December. Applications to fill the vacancy are open until noon on Jan. 21.
In case you missed it, The Inquirerâs Michael Klein reflected on the most notable restaurant openings of 2025. They include Bao Nine in Malvern, The Borough in Downingtown, Joleneâs in West Chester, LâOlivo Trattoria in Exton, The Local in Phoenixville,and Stubborn Goat Brewing in West Grove. See the full list here. The Borough also made Kleinâs roundup of the best new pizza restaurants to open in the region last year.
As for the best things Inquirer food writers ate last year, the Caramelia at Longwood Gardensâ 1906 restaurant was up there. Paying homage to Kennett Squareâs mushroom industry, the red-topped mushroom-shaped dessert features chocolate mousse with espresso and caramel flavors.
đł Things to Do
đš An Ancestral Journey: Moore College of Art grad Roe Murrayâs works will be on display for the next few weeks. She will also participate in an artist talk on Jan. 28. â° Thursday, Jan. 8-Thursday, Jan. 29, times vary đ” Free đ Chester County Art Association West Chester Galleries
đ¶ A Grand Night For Singing: This rendition will celebrate the wide-ranging works of Rodgers & Hammerstein with singing, dancing, and a live orchestra. â° Friday, Jan. 9-Sunday, Jan. 18, select days and times đ” $31.60-$36.70 đ SALT Performing Arts, Chester Springs
đ§ Pinkalicious the Musical: The musical adaptation of the book follows a pink-loving heroine who inadvertently turns herself into her favorite color by eating too many cupcakes. â° Friday, Jan. 9-Sunday, Jan. 18, select days and times đ” $21-$30 đ Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester
The carriage home has a two-car garage and a screened-in porch that leads to a deck.
Located in the Villages at Northridge, this Kennett Square carriage home is just a few years old. The great room, which has a fireplace, opens to the kitchen, where thereâs two-toned cabinetry, an island with a farmhouse sink, a pantry, and a dining area with a built-in beverage station complete with a bar refrigerator and ice maker. The great room also has access to the screened-in porch, which leads to the deck. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a double sink vanity. The finished lower level walk-out has another bedroom, a full bathroom, and a living room.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
The Matlack Family Cemetery is located at 535 Balsam Rd.
The residential street of Balsam Road in Woodcrest is an unlikely spot for a gravesite, but tucked among the houses and sassafras trees, thereâs a small cemetery that dates back nearly 300 years.
The siteis the final resting place for the Matlacks, one of South Jerseyâs first colonial families, as well as an unknown number of servants and enslaved people.
A township resident, curious about how the gravesite came to be, posed his question to Curious Cherry Hill. The Inquirerâs Denali Sagner set out to learn more about the family and its patriarch, who moved to New Jersey in 1677 from England as an indentured servant and ultimately began one of the largest colonial-era families in the region.
There was a 3.9% shift among Cherry Hill voters to Democrats in 2024-25, with about 68% voting for Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill in Novemberâs election. The Inquirer recently analyzed Sherrillâs path to victory, finding that the largest shift within Cherry Hill took place in District 10, encompassing Brookfield, where there was a 10.3% shift, followed by District 8 (9.4%), which includes Kenilworth, and District 2 (8.2%), which spans Cooper Park Village, Kingsway Village, and Waterford Park. See a map of how districts shifted.
The Eagles are heading into the NFC Wild Card playoffs as the No. 3 seed, taking on the 49ers at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. As the team gears up for the postseason, the Road to Victory Bus Tour is stopping in town Thursday, where you can shop for gear and enter for a chance to score playoff game tickets. Itâll be at the P.J. Whelihanâs on Marlton Pike from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Work is still underway to overhaul the H Mart on Route 70. The popular chain Asian grocery store closed in July for renovations, including an expansion of the second floor and the addition of an open-concept food court. The Cherry Hill location, which was expected to reopen in October, remains closed as work on the entire complex continues. (42 Freeway)
Some retail shakeups are happening around town. The New Balance at Tuscany Marketplace closed its doors indefinitely on Dec. 27. At the mall, plus-size womenâs apparel brand Torrid is closing on Jan. 19, athleisure brand Lululemon Athletica is relocating to a larger space, and jeweler Pandora is expanding next door. And on Route 70, Appliances Outlet will be taking over the space occupied by Whole Hog Cafe and part of Wine Legend. (A View From Evesham)
Fox29âs Bob Kelly recently dropped by D&Q Skate, Snow, and Surf shop in Cherry Hill to chat about trending gear for those heading to the slopes. Catch the segment here starting around the 5-minute mark.
Teachers in Cherry Hill Public Schools made a median salary of $102,148 last school year, according to an NJ.com analysis. It is one of 30 districts statewide with a median salary greater than $100,000. The districtâs median salary last year marked a 4.1% increase over the previous year and was nearly $20,000 higher than the statewide median.
đœïž On our Plate
In case you missed it, The Inquirerâs Michael Klein reflected on the most notable restaurant openings of 2025. In Cherry Hill, that includes the return of iconic fast food chain Roy Rogers and the debut of Heng Seng Noodles. See the full list here.
đ All Laughs, No Hate: Latin comedy and culture take center stage during this comedy night. â° Friday, Jan. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. đ” $36.09 đVera
đ± Winter Sowing: This workshop will teach you how to get a jump on your spring gardening. â° Saturday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-noon đ” $15 đCamden County Environmental Center
đĄ Panoply: Test your knowledge of pop culture, sports, music, history, and more in this out-of-the-box game night. The event is 21 and older. â° Saturday, Jan. 10, 7-9:45 p.m. đ” $36 đKatz JCC
đ· January Wine Down Wednesday: Sip five, two-ounce pours and enjoy appetizers at this event. â° Wednesday, Jan. 14, reservations available from 6 to 8 p.m. đ” $25 đRandallâs Restaurant
The home has an open-concept living and dining room.
This Woodcrest ranch was recently remodeled to give its interior and exterior a modern makeover. It features an open-concept dining and living room, a sunroom, and an eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops and a gray-and-white herringbone backsplash. It has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and its own bathroom. Thereâs also a finished basement.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Medfordâs Brenden Aaronson joined Leeds United in 2022. His time with the club hasnât always been greeted with a warm welcome, especially when he went on a season-long loan to Germanyâs Union Berlin after the Peacocks were relegated from the Premier League in 2023.
Aaronson is chased by criticism from U.S. menâs national team fans, too: He doesnât score enough goals as an attacking midfielder. Lately, though, the tides on both sides of the Atlantic have turned back in Aaronsonâs favor.
In Leeds, he has become a key contributor as the club went seven games unbeaten from Dec. 3 through New Yearâs Day. Then came this past Sunday, and perhaps the most famous game of all.
Aaronson scored a big goal against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw. Leeds might not be as big of a club in Philadelphia as United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool, but children can grow up now wanting to emulate the 25-year-old whom Union fans once called âthe Medford Messi.â
No other local product has Aaronsonâs trifecta of Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup experience, either. If he makes this yearâs World Cup squad, it will be his second â a feat other area soccer greats Peter Vermes, Bobby Convey, and Chris Albright did not achieve.
For now, heâs got his hands full as Leeds tries to avoid relegation from the Premier League again. Heâs also enjoying each minute on the pitch, since itâs not easy getting to Europe, but heâs proving that Americans can play in the best leagues, too.
Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean has made an impact when available amid an injury-plagued 2025 season.
Nakobe Dean is expected to return in the Eaglesâ wild-card game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The linebacker has been inactive for the last two weeks while recovering from a hamstring injury. With the stakes higher entering the postseason, the Eagles could certainly use Dean against a strong 49ers offense.
Dean will be tasked with helping keep George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey in check. Vic Fangio acknowledged what it means to have Dean back in a critical matchup: âYou play an offense this good and this diverse, all 11 got to be cooking.â
This is the second time in four seasons that the Eagles and 49ers will meet at Lincoln Financial Field in the playoffs. While some things have changed since that NFC championship game won by the Eagles in January 2023, other things remain the same. Here are the numbers and trends that could be the difference maker on Sunday.
Flyers’ Trevor Zegras celebrates his second goal of the game Tuesday night against the Ducks.
In a matchup against his former team, Trevor Zegras scored twice in the Flyersâ 5-2 win over the Ducks. Former Flyer Cutter Gauthier opened the scoring for Anaheim.
Gauthier played his second game in Philadelphia since being traded nearly two years ago to Anaheim. Fans still donât like their former prospect and let him hear it with boos, but Zegrasâ emergence has helped eased the pain.
Speaking of offseason signings, goalie Dan VladaĆ has been a godsend for the Flyers. On Tuesday, his breakout season earned him a spot on Czechiaâs Olympic team.
Tyrese Maxey has received increased scrutiny as the Sixers’ go-to option in clutch situations.
Tyrese Maxeyâs NBA ascension has known no bounds in recent years, with the 25-year-old swiftly jumping from reserve to starter to star. That rise has been on display more than ever this season, with Maxey landing among the leagueâs top scorers and receiving the fifth-most All-Star votes in the most recent fan returns.
But Maxey still needs to smooth out a few rough edges, including his ability to close out games as the Sixers franchise player and focal point in the clutch. Maxey missed shots at the end of regulation and overtime of the Sixersâ 125-124 loss to the depleted Nuggets.
Thatâs been true across the 2025-26 season as Maxeyâs shotmaking in the clutch remains a work in progress. Maxey is shooting 39.7% from the floor, including 22.7% from three-point range in those minutes, significant dips from his overall shooting numbers (47.5% from the field, 40.5% from long range).
Sports snapshot
Isabeau Levito performs her free skate in the Grand Prix of France in October in Angers.
Olympic dreams: South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito looks to vault onto the Olympic team, and this year Games are especially meaningful.
Seeking redemption: Penn came up short to longtime rival Princeton in the Ivy League opener. Itâs a loss the Quakers might be wishing they got back.
Sudden departure: Villanova announced that forward Tafara Gapare is no longer with the program. The senior played under Kevin Willard at Maryland last season.
âProgressing positivelyâ: Brewers pitching prospect Frank Cairone, a Gloucester County native, remained in the hospital as of Tuesday after a serious car accident.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan (left) and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni are revered in the NFL for different reasons.
When it comes to NFL coaches, this is the era of the great play-caller, the great play-designer, the great scheme-creator, the brilliant and beautiful brain. The matchup between the Eagles and 49ers is really Nick Sirianni vs. Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan is a terrific coach in just about every regard, having guided the 49ers to two Super Bowls and two other appearances in the NFC championship game. Sirianni and Kevin Patullo are not considered the same kinds of coaches that Shanahan is. But Shanahan has yet to win a Super Bowl. What Sirianni does well sometimes isnât so easy to see. Come Sunday, may the best savant win, writes columnist Mike Sielski.
đ§ Trivia time answer
Which Eagle had the most career Pro Bowl selections with eight?
B) Chuck Bednarik
What youâre saying about Eaglesâ contributors
We asked: Which Eagle do you expect to come up big against the 49ers? Among your responses:
Itâs now or never to show us what youâve got left in the tank. Looking for Cooooooper DeJean to have 2 INTs and 8 tackles with BG having 2Âœ sacks. On the other side of the ball, Barkley rushing for 100+ yards and AJ playing out of his mind with 7 receptions and 2 TDs. Hurts will pay no mind to the play calling and call his own plays. The impossible just takes a little longer to figure out! â Ronald R.
I think Dallas Goedert will come up big against the 49ers. Earlier in the season I wrote on SD that the Eagles really needed to use him more and soon after they did and he was very effective. Dallas ended up with 60 receptions 3rd behind Smith and Brown and lead the team in TDâs with 11 and was tied for 2nd with most tight end TD receptions in the NFL. â Everett S.
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Jalen Hurts on Dec. 20.
Itâs playoff time, so Iâm looking for Jalen Hurts to come up big and do what he needs to do to win. Eagles win and Jake Elliott is the man in the final seconds of the game, but Hurts put them in that position. â Tom G.
Iâd like to think it would be the entire roster between now and Super Bowl Sunday! Inconsistencies have marred the regular season and now is the time for professional players to show their individual talents and complete their responsibilities. â Bill B.
We compiled todayâs newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Jonathan Tannenwald, Jackie Spiegel, Gabriela Carroll, Isabella DiAmore, Mike Sielski, Jeff Neiburg, Ellen Dunkel, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, and Sean McKeown.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
As always, thanks for reading. Kerith will catch back up with you on Thursday with the latest sports stories, till then! â Bella
In the beginning, God created the 12 days of Christmas and the bacchanalia of New Yearâs Eve to get us through the dark and frigid endless nights of winter. That wasnât nearly enough for us shivering and depressed humans, so God sent us the NFL playoffs. The hope is that the Eagles last long enough to get us to the balmy breezes of baseballâs spring training.
Delay, deny, distract, divert attention: Inside the Epstein Files coverup
Pages from a totally redacted New York grand jury file into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, released by the U.S. Justice Department, are photographed last month in Washington.
I want you all to stonewall it, let them plead the Fifth Amendment, cover up or anything else if itâll save it â save the plan.
The newish word that best captures the 2020s is one that Iâm not allowed to use in a family newspaper like The Inquirer. In 2022, the social critic Cory Doctorow coined this scatological term that Iâm calling âen(bleep)ificationâ (it wonât take much imagination) to describe the way that products, but especially consumer-facing websites, gradually degrade themselves in pursuit of the bigger goal, higher profits.
For example, writer Kyle Chayka wrote a popular New Yorker essay in 2024 about what he called the, um, en(bleep)ification of the music site Spotify as it devolved, in his opinion, from a place for the songs and albums you want to hear to pushing playlists that they want you to hear.
In the political world, no product rollout had been more anticipated than the December release, forced by law upon the Donald Trump regimeâs Department of Justice, of the Jeffrey Epstein Files â the investigative trail of documents about the late financier and indicted sex trafficker who also palled around with Trump in the 1990s and early 2000s.
No one with any familiarity of Trumpâs modus operandi should have been shocked by what happened when the congressionally mandated deadline for release of all of this massive cache of paperwork finally arrived on Dec. 19 â or by what has happened in the two-and-a-half weeks since then.
Needless to say, the Epstein Files have not offered the seamless user experience that its readers â especially those hoping for bombshells that would expose the tawdry secrets of Trumpâs friendship with a man who allegedly abused more than 1,000 young and sometimes underaged women â had anticipated. In the hands of the presidentâs minions at Justice, the Epstein Files have been en(bleep)ified.
How so? Hereâs the diabolical part. The MAGA Gang that normally canât shoot straight managed to hit the coverup bullseye this time, not with one dramatic act to rile people up â like Nixon during Watergate with his notorious Saturday Night Massacre â but with a blend of tactics and dodges designed to frustrate and exhaust truth-seekers.
Delay. The law, which Trump signed to avoid an embarrassing defeat on Capitol Hill, required the release of every single document â with appropriate blacked-out redactionsto protect things like the names of Epsteinâs victims â by that December deadline. But suddenly the Justice Department â which once had as many as 200 staffers combing the papers last spring before its original botched plan to squelch the files â lacked energy and manpower, claiming it was working as fast as it could in an initial release of just about 40,000 pages, which would seem to be a tiny fraction of more than 5 million pages believed to exist.
The DOJâs small-batch cooking came in two small servings right before Christmas, when most Americans consume the least news, and information about any new releases in the new year has suddenly dried up, with maybe 99% of the files still outstanding.
Deny. The papers that have been released have included major redactions â including the completely blacked-out pages of Manhattan grand jury testimony pictured above â that violate the spirit if not the letter of the law, which demanded that any hidden passages only protect victims and not Epsteinâs powerful associates and clients.
Stunningly, DOJ actually took back and attempted to bury some 16 files from the first release, including a photo of a photo that included Trump, before a public outcry led to that fileâs republishing. Meanwhile, the department also claimed that 1 million additional Epstein files were discovered in New York after the legal deadline â an incredible claim that was immediately punctured by experts.
Deflect. The initial batch was also larded with photos of Epstein with celebrities like Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Walter Cronkite as well as several of a Trump predecessor and longtime enemy, Bill Clinton. The pictures were dumped without any explanation and seemed to prove only that thereâs a good reason the government normally doesnât release raw investigatory files, especially about those not charged with any crime.
The second batch also included a lurid and bizarre apparent letter from Epstein to a fellow famed accused sex offender, the gymnastic coach Larry Nassar, penned right around the time of his August 2019 jail-cell death. It seemed unbelievable, and just hours later the FBI said: Oh yeah, we looked at this and itâs a fake. The not-subtle subtext was essentially: âWe donât know what to believe in these files, and neither should you.â
Nearly 53 years ago, Nixonâs plan to cover up Watergate with a mix of denials, delays, purchased silence and outright lies didnât work. But Team Trumpâs efforts to âsave it â save the plan” by stonewalling the Epstein files is going just swell so far.
If this moment feels familiar, it is very much like 2018 and the long-awaited Robert Mueller report on Russian influence in the 2016 presidential campaign and potential links to Moscowâs preferred candidate, Trump. There was a Mueller Report â much like there has been a âreleaseâ of the Epstein Files â that contained damning evidence, especially about potential obstruction of justice. But the information was dribbled out, downplayed, denied, and ultimately went nowhere.
The Epstein Files have been destined to fail from Day One. It was always what Trump himself might call a ârigged dealâ â with the papers in the possession of those with the most to lose, with many ways to make sure the worst stuff stays buried until at least 2029, if it hasnât already been shredded. But the biggest truth has already been revealed.
The outright defiance of the law demanding full release of the Epstein Files has exposed the utter brokenness of our democracy.
The reason that Nixonâs coverup plan failed is because America had institutions stronger than his lies, including a Congress that cared more about its strength and independence than party ID, newspapers that were not just widely read but believed, and Supreme Court justices with an allegiance to the law and not the man who appointed them.
Trump and his DOJ are daring a comatose Congress, a cowed news media, and a judiciary already in their back pocket to do something, but so far there is no indication that the en(bleep)ification of the Epstein Files can be undone. For now, they are more like the X Files, because the truth about Trump and his Palm Beach pal is out there…but beyond our weakened grasp.
Yo, do this!
These days I find âvacationâ is often just another word for catching up on household chores, but during my long December break I did watch a slew of movies, including some of the ones Iâd recommended previously like One Battle After Another (very good, but flawed) and Eddington (meh). I ventured to an actual theater on New Yearâs Eve and saw probably my favorite movie of 2025: Song Sung Blue, the bittersweet, based-on-a-true-story saga of a Neil Diamond cover band at the end of the 20th century. As the title implies, the movie is more than just a rousing feel-good pop musical, despite cathartic moments of exactly that. Kate Hudson deserves an Oscar for her Wisconsin Nice accent.
If you miss the glory days of not-formulaic-or-cartoonish movies â in the spirit of Song Sung Blue or One Battle After Another, only better â you should check out a new documentary on Netflix called Breakdown: 1975, by filmmaker Morgan Neville. The film spotlights an all-too-brief golden age of the mid-1970s with clips from the eraâs classics like Taxi Driver, Dog Day Afternoon, and Network, and interviews with the likes of Martin Scorsese and Albert Brooks. They could have done much more with this, but Iâd still recommend it.
Ask me anything
Question: Do you think that there is enough of a media firestorm over Grokâs nude filter to kill it? â BCooper (@bcooper82.bsky.social) via Bluesky
Answer: The recent, shocking news about the artificial-intelligence tool called Grok that was created for Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) is a classic example of an important story that so far has befuddled and fallen through the cracks of the mainstream media. In recent days, X users have been asking Grok to create partially clothed and sexualized AI photos of real, everyday people, including images of underage adolescents. And Grok has complied, in what would seem to be a violation of laws regarding child pornography, among other legal and ethical problems. Musk needs to shut down Grok immediately â arguably for good â but that is not enough for the harm thatâs already been caused. In a nation that routinely prosecutes citizens for having this kind of material on their computers, Musk, his co-creators of Grok, and X as a corporation need to be hauled before a judge.
What youâre saying about…
The half-dozen or so of you who responded to Decemberâs open-ended call for 2026 predictions had one big thing in common: Boundless pessimism. Readers of this newsletter expect the new year to bring economic collapse and a disastrous midterm election in November, either from Donald Trump stealing it to Democrats somehow blowing it in the ways that only Democrats can. Stephen R. Rourke predicted: âI believe that the American economy, and perhaps the world economy, will slide into a second Great Depression, the almost inevitable consequence of an over leveraged economy, and a lack of willingness across the board to make tough choices about how to address the American addiction to borrowed money…â Oof. Nonetheless, Kim Root stole my heart with this: âI think the Philadelphia Union will rise even with the personnel changes because they are a developer of young talent. DOOP.â
đź This weekâs question: A no-brainer: Donald Trumpâs lethal assault on Venezuela and his seizure of that countryâs strongman leader, in defiance of U.S. and international law, marks a turning point in American foreign policy. Are you OK with Trumpâs actions because a bad guy has been removed from power, or are you alarmed by a military assault with the stated goal of pumping more oil? Please email me your answer and put the exact phrase âVenezuela attackâ in the subject line.
Backstory on the growing crisis of ICE custody deaths
The Federal Detention Center in Miami.
Marie Ange Blaise, a citizen of Haiti, was 44 years old when she was arrested last February by Customs and Border Patrol officers as she attempted to board a commercial flight in Charlotte â one of the thousands swept up during 2025 amid the mass deportation drive of the Donald Trump regime.
Just 10 weeks later, Blaise died inside a federal immigration detention center in Broward County, Fla. A South Florida public radio station reported that the Haitian woman had spoken to her son, who later told the medical examiner that âshe complained of having chest pains and abdominal cramps, and when she asked the detention staff to see a physician, they refused her.â Another detainee reported Blaiseâs care was âseverely delayed,â even as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) insisted sheâd been offered blood-pressure medication but refused.
Blaiseâs death was not an isolated incident. There was a sharp spike in ICE custody deaths during 2025, with the final tally of 31 fatalities nearly triple the 11 deaths posted during 2024, the last year of the Biden administration. Given the surge in immigration arrests after Trump took office last January, some increase was inevitable. Two of the 31 were killed by the gunman who fired on an ICE facility in Dallas. But immigration advocates say the crisis has been greatly exacerbated by inadequate medical care, bad food, and unsanitary conditions at detention centers.
âThis is a result of the deteriorating conditions inside of ICE detention,â Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director at Detention Watch Network, told the Guardian, which recently published a comprehensive rundown of all 31 custody deaths. Many died from heart attacks or respiratory failure, with a few apparent suicides â although, in a number of cases, family members are disputing the official account. Only a few of those who died were senior citizens.
Thereâs a bigger picture here. History has shown that authoritarian regimes can be hazardous to your health, and there is no American Exceptionalism. The MAGA movementâs low regard for the sanctity of human life is breaking through on multiple fronts, from the more than 100 deaths of South Americans on boats blown up by U.S. drones to the global crisis caused by the decimation of foreign aid through USAID (blamed for as many as 600,000 deaths by health experts) to the rising concern about fewer vaccinations and shrinking health insurance. A new generation is witnessing a grim reality: Dictatorship can be deadly.
What I wrote on this date in 2021
Jan. 6, much like Dec. 7 or Sept. 11, is a date which will live in infamy for most Americans. I had some health concerns five years ago that kept me from traveling to Washington to report on the insurrection â which Iâll always regret â but I did dash off an instant column before the smoke from Donald Trumpâs failed coup had dissipated. I wrote, âWhen the future 45th president of the United States egged on the most violent thugs at his Nuremberg-style campaign rallies, when he yelled âget him the hell out of hereâ as white supporters roughed up a Black man in Birmingham, when he promised to pay the legal fees of brownshirts who beat up anti-Trump demonstrators, and when he said âIâd like to punch him in the faceâ to one rally insurrectionist, why are people still shocked when a riled-up mob takes Trump up on his own toxic words?” Read the rest: âTrump told us he would wreck America. Why didnât we believe him the first time?â
Recommended Inquirer reading
I returned from a long Christmas break this weekend with something brand new to write about: the Trump regimeâs illegal attack on Venezuela, which killed as many as 80 people, including civilians, and resulted in the capture of that nationâs strongman leader, NicolĂĄs Maduro, and his wife. I wrote that Trumpâs war without the required constitutional approval or public support, in violation of international law against unprovoked military aggression, fulfills his ambitions to rule as a dictator. And a new world order based not on the rule of law but brute force makes all of us less safe.
Last June, the partially unclothed body of a young woman was discovered by police under a pallet in an overgrown lot in Philadelphiaâs Frankford neighborhood. For weeks, the identity of this murder victim was unknown, which didnât deter one determined homicide detective, the missing womanâs anguished family whoâd been initially told not to file a missing-person report â or The Inquirerâs Ellie Rushing, who has written a moving account of the life and death of the woman eventually learned to be Anastasiya Sangret. This kind of essential local reporting takes time and resources, which means it needs your support. You do exactly that, and unlock all the journalism of one of Americaâs best newsrooms, when you start 2026 with a subscription to The Inquirer.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Vic Fangioâs journey to becoming one of footballâs most revered defensive minds began as a high school coach in a small town 120 miles from Philadelphia. Ahead of the Eaglesâ playoff run, get to know Dunmoreâs hometown hero.
Those who knew Vic Fangio around the 1970s say heâs always been like this â stern, focused, and endearingly gruff.
đ The lifelong Philly sports fan grew up near Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He coached the football team at Dunmore High School, his alma mater, gaining a reputation among players for his love of film and attention to detail when developing plays.
đ Now the Eaglesâ well-regarded defensive coordinator, Fangio has a Super Bowl win and citywide fame under his belt. But locals still see the same understated guy, who they say maintains firm ties to the place where it all started.
đ Fangioâs former players even see traces of their high school coach in Philadelphiaâs defense: âWhen we watch the Eagles now, weâre like, âHey, we recognize that,ââ one told The Inquirer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its childhood vaccine schedule this week, decreasing the number of universally recommended shots for children from 17 to 11. Among those no longer recommended are immunizations for hepatitis B, the flu, RSV, and the gastrointestinal illness rotavirus.
The move was widely criticized by pediatricians and infectious disease experts, including Paul Offit, a CHOP physician and nationally renowned vaccine expert who co-invented a vaccine for rotavirus.
Notable quote: âI think the goal of [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.] is to make vaccines optional,â Offit said Monday. The health and human services secretary and longtime anti-vaccine activist, he said, âis doing everything he can to make vaccines less available, less affordable, and more feared.â
In other health news: University of Pennsylvania researchers recently won a $25 million grant to see if they can fight heart disease with a game that promotesa healthy behavior â walking.
What you should know today
The city of Camden last year reached its lowest homicide total in four decades, police said â 12, the same number recorded in 1985.
A man died Sunday after being placed in the back of a Philadelphia police cruiser that was parked in Mayfair, police said.
A new lawsuit alleges that the deadly explosion at a Bristol nursing home on Dec. 23 was the result of negligence on the part of the facilityâs operator and its natural gas supplier.
Sen. John Fetterman praised Trumpâs order to capture Venezuelan President NicolĂĄs Maduro and his wife, breaking with most Democratsâ messaging on the military operation.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphyâs digital innovation office has been madepermanent in what appears to be the first move of its kind in the nation.
A decade after teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and being taken over by its home state, which city just signaled that it had found its financial footing by earning an investment grade rating by Moodyâs Ratings?
Cheers to Rosie Ladeau, who solved Mondayâs anagram: West Bradford. The Chester County township is lowering property taxes this year â a rarity that other towns may not be able to copy.
Artist Rinal Parikh poses for a portrait in her studio with a few of her paintings framed on the wall in her home in Media.
đš One last artistic thing: Media-based painter Rinal Parikh is redefining Indian folk art with contemporary themes and local imagery. âWhat inspires me is my surroundings, and Iâm blessed with an amazing backyard,â the biochemist-turned-artist said. âThat is my main inspiration.â
Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. See you back here tomorrow.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
If the Eagles are ever going to get their offense going, this is their chance. The San Francisco 49ers have arguably the most porous defense of any playoff team, and they just lost another linebacker, Tatum Bethune, to a groin injury.
The Eagles, meanwhile, are as healthy as can be expected after they rested most starters in the season finale, as we are all abundantly aware. Lane Johnson could return for Sundayâs wild-card game. Nakobe Dean, too.
Meanwhile, San Francisco remains without star Fred Warner (ankle), and two other linebackers, Dee Winters and Luke Gifford, are nursing injuries. The Eagles could be facing a hodgepodge of Niners linebackers.
San Franciscoâs pass rush is practically nonexistent. The 49ers rank second-to-last in the NFL in quarterback pressure rate (26.7%), and they have been shaky against the run, too. They gave up a season-high 180 rushing yards Saturday in a loss to the Seahawks. This looks like the perfect time to get Saquon Barkley and the running game in gear.
Of course, the Eagles offense has not been firing on all cylinders for quite some time, and coordinator Kevin Patullo looked like anything but a master mechanic again on Sunday, Jeff McLane writes.
Maybe thatâs why the Eagles arenât bigger favorites for the playoff opener at the Linc. Sportsbooks gave them a slight edge in the opening odds.
Don Mattingly was the bench coach for the Blue Jays since 2023.
There was a point last season when Don Mattingly was planning on calling it a career.
He went into 2025, his third year as the bench coach with the Blue Jays, expecting it to be his last in the sport. Mattingly, now 64, thought he had accomplished what he had set out to do in Toronto, helping a younger manager in John Schneider become established.
But it was his 11-year-old son, Louis, who helped change his mind. Now heâs joining the Phillies to help âlighten the loadâ for manager Rob Thomson as their new bench coach.
A lifelong Philly sports fan, Vic Fangio grew up near Scranton.
Those who knew Vic Fangio in the 1970s say heâs always been like this â stern, focused, and endearingly gruff. He coached the football team at his alma mater, Dunmore High School near Scranton, and built a reputation as a stickler when it came to the details of the game.
Now heâs directing the defense as the Eagles begin another Super Bowl run, but those who knew him back then say heâs still the same understated guy. Alex Coffey tells the story.
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey averaged 34.7 points on 61.2% shooting along with 8.7 assists, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks in three games last week.
Tyrese Maxey has had a charmed season, becoming the franchise player for the 76ers and landing at second in the first returns of All-Star fan voting. On Monday he added to the list, being named Eastern Conference player of the week after leading the Sixers to three straight road victories. This is the second time Maxey has received the honor, with the first coming as he put the NBA on notice during opening week.
The Sixers suffered a bad loss to an undermanned Nuggets team in overtime, 125-124. The positive momentum the Sixers had built over the last few games has vanished, Keith Pompey writes in his takeaways.
Christian Dvorak is sticking around after inking a five-year contract extension with the Flyers on Monday.
The Flyers took care of some big business on Monday night, as the team announced a five-year, 25.75 million contract extension with center Christian Dvorak.
Dvorak, who turns 30 next month, is on pace for career highs of 18 goals and 51 points while playing alongside Trevor Zegras. But is five years too long for a player who will be 35 at contractâs end and has never tallied more than 38 points? Jackie Spiegel breaks down the deal.
The news wasnât as good for Matvei Michkov, though. Coach Rick Tocchet said the young winger was being evaluated after he took a puck off his foot.
Finally, Prospect Aleksei Kolosov was named AHL player of the week. The goalie is 9-8-1 with a .910 save percentage in 18 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Sports snapshot
Jonathan Gannon went 15-36 as Arizona’s head coach before the Cardinals fired him.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni decided to rest his starters on Sunday and missed out on clinching the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Do the Eagles have a harder road back to the Super Bowl now? Maybe, but not necessarily. They got some rest and eliminated any risk that theyâd be short-handed to a significant degree next Sunday. The defending champs let everything play out, and now they really get to take their chances, to show that being healthy and healed up is a bigger advantage than anything they might have gained from treating Sundayâs game like their season depended on it. More from Mike Sielski.
Nick Sirianni’s Eagles will enter the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 3 seed after a loss to the Washington Commanders in the season finale.
The Eagles are a confident bunch heading into the playoffs. Think you know which player said this? Check your answer here.
What youâre saying about the Eagles
We asked: Which NFC team is the biggest threat for the Eagles? Among your responses:
The 49ers will wipe us out! The Seahawks will destroy us. Hope it was a restful day because not playing to win yesterday cost us any chance of advancing in the playoffâs. Thatâs what happens when your EGO gets so big, you have to walk through the doorway sideways. I also blame ownership for not overriding the HC and insisting we play to win that game. Washington was insulted thinking our scrubs could beat them! Plus most of us just knew the Lions were going to beat the Bears! Playing the Packers vs. the 49ers and having a divisional home game against flying across the country is just plain common sense.â Ronald R.
Your team is always your worst enemy. This is the NFL, the top of the mountain. You can bask in the sun or you can get down to business. Whoever shows up to play usually wins. Prepare for the other team because they are always better than you until you prepare to stop them. â Mark W.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts bundles up as he watches Sunday’s game against the Commanders.
While there are no âsuper teamsâ in the NFC, we do have to be concerned with the Bears, who beat the Eagles at home, and the Seahawks, who won 14 games with Sam Darnold leading the offense. Both are beatable, however the Eagles biggest obstacle may be themselves. The offense has to be more consistent by eliminating the all too often 3-and-outs! â Bob C.
The biggest threat and obstacle standing in the way of the Eagles returning to the SB is obviously the top-seeded Seahawks. I think the Eagles defense can contain the Bears, Packers, Rams, or Panthers, but the Eagles have lost their last four games played in Seattle and have always struggled there. â Everett S.
The Eagles are the biggest threat to themselves if they miss the NFC championship game and the Super Bowl! Why? Because the teams in the playoffs have so little experience in the last two to three seasons! … For one the 49ers have to beat the Eagles starters at home. Two, the Rams have known the Birds have their number, losing the last three games to the Eagles. â Miles
We compiled todayâs newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Mike Sielski, Lochlahn March, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Ryan Mack, Katie Lewis, Rob Tornoe, and Ariel Simpson.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Thanks for reading Sports Daily. Bella will bring you the newsletter on Tuesday. â Jim
Morning, Philly. Expect a cloudy start to the first full week of 2026.
After a boutique on South Street received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for selling breast binders for gender-affirming care, the regionâs transgender community worries about the potential wider impacts.
A federal warning has sparked outrage within the Philly areaâs transgender community.
The FDA sent a warning letter to South Streetâs Passional Boutique & Sexploratorium, along with 11 other businesses, for selling breast binders for gender-affirming care. In the Dec. 16 letter, the agency said the store is violating regulations because it is not registered to sell the binders, which are classified as a medical device.
Agency Commissioner Martin Makary has said the businesses market the binders to minors, but Passional employees dispute that their company does. The warning letter came as President Donald Trumpâs administration moved to cut off federal funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children.
Trans Philadelphians say itâs a clear and alarming attempt to restrict access to gender-affirming care for all, not just children and teens.
In their own words: âThis is going to create a chilling effect for anyone who needs a breast binder,â one person told The Inquirer. âItâs all just to open the door to eventually say, âTrans people are not allowed to exist.ââ
Dec. 23 began as a typical day at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bucks County â besides the persistent gas smell.
More details are emerging about the circumstances surrounding the explosion that killed two people and injured 20 others at the facility last month. One former resident who spoke to The Inquirer said staffers had acknowledged a gas leak earlier in the day, but said Peco had fixed it.
But investigators still face key questions as they seek to determine the cause of the explosion and assess whether Peco, the nursing home, or both may have been negligent.
Amid conflicting recommendations, Americans are now more likely to trust the American Medical Association than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to vaccine guidance, a University of Pennsylvania study found.
If she makes it on the ballot, Carlisle lawyer Karen Dalton will be Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perryâs first primary opponent since 2012, the year he first won the seat.
Vandals scrawled racist and antisemitic graffiti outside Roxborough High School, prompting community members to respond Sunday by chalking positive messages onto the school sidewalk.
Montgomery County is addressing homelessness with an unusually bipartisan effort, which will result in three new, emergency short-term shelters by the end of thisyear.
Construction on the South Street Pedestrian Bridgeâs footbridge expansion, planned for years alongside the capping of I-95, will begin this spring.
âLeaving a legacyâ has been a catchphrase ahead of the World Cup. What will that mean for children in Philly?
Quote of the day
GM Sauer spoke to The Inquirer about SEPTAâs terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year, from train fires to service cuts, as well as what commuters can expect in 2026.
đ§ Trivia time
The United Statesâ first balloon ride happened in 1793 in Philadelphia. The hydrogen-powered balloon took off from what was then the Walnut Street Prison workyard, and is now what?
Cheers to Bob LaBelle, who solved Sundayâs anagram: Nicole Michalik. For the 92.5 XTU host, a perfect day in Philly starts with coffee under the covers and ends with a Sixers win.
Photo of the day
As part of a new year cleanup Friday, city workers untangle the more than 10,000 lights that adorned the 60-foot-tall Christmas tree outside Philadelphiaâs City Hall.
đŹ Your âonly in Phillyâ story
Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if youâre not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again â or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.
Weâre in search of new âonly in Phillyâ stories for our 2026 series, so dig into your memory bank and send âem over. I canât wait to read them.
Have a great week. Thanks for starting it with The Inquirer.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
