Category: Sports Daily

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 Sunday’s 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 Francisco’s 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 that’s why the Eagles aren’t bigger favorites for the playoff opener at the Linc. Sportsbooks gave them a slight edge in the opening odds.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Which Eagle do you expect to come up big against the 49ers? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Donnie Baseball is a Phil

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 he’s joining the Phillies to help “lighten the load” for manager Rob Thomson as their new bench coach.

The pride of Dunmore

Those who knew Vic Fangio in the 1970s say he’s always been like this — 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 he’s directing the defense as the Eagles begin another Super Bowl run, but those who knew him back then say he’s still the same understated guy. Alex Coffey tells the story.

Maxey’s latest honor

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.

Deal for Dvorak

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 contract’s end and has never tallied more than 38 points? Jackie Spiegel breaks down the deal.

The news wasn’t 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

• Pink slips: Former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is among four NFL head coaches who have been fired.
• Almost ranked: Villanova is closing in on the AP top 25, and it looks like a return to the NCAA Tournament is ahead.
• Wildcats upbeat: The Villanova women saw their winning streak end, but they’re still second in the Big East.
• Holy Toledo: Temple adds the Rockets to its nonconference football schedule for the 2026 season.

Mike Sielski’s take

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 they’d 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 Sunday’s game like their season depended on it. More from Mike Sielski.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Eagle had the most career Pro Bowl selections with eight? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Jason Kelce

B) Chuck Bednarik

C) Brian Dawkins

D) Jason Peters

Who said it?

The Eagles are a confident bunch heading into the playoffs. Think you know which player said this? Check your answer here.

What you’re 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 playoff’s. That’s 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. — 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. — Mark W.

While there are no “super teams” 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! — 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. — 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. — Miles

We compiled today’s 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 Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading Sports Daily. Bella will bring you the newsletter on Tuesday. — Jim

Nick Sirianni made his decision and the Eagles will live with it as they begin their playoff quest. The coach decided to rest his starters against the lousy Washington Commanders, which seemed like an OK move until the Bears coughed up a game to the Lions. Then all the Eagles needed was to find a way to beat Washington on Sunday and move up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

They couldn’t do it. The subs in the secondary were especially bad in a 24-17 loss to the lowly Commanders that made the Birds’ path to another Super Bowl appearance more treacherous. Barring upsets, there is no easy road for the Eagles, David Murphy writes.

The first test will be a home game against the injury-wracked San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of the playoffs on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (Fox29). When the Birds let the No. 2 seed slip away, though, they lost the guaranteed second home playoff game that comes with it.

Sirianni defended his decision. “One thing I could guarantee them was giving them rest. I couldn’t guarantee anything else,” he said. “And us being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy is a big deal for us. And you know, that’s served us well in the past.”

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Which NFC team is the biggest threat for the Eagles? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Flags fly

Part of the problem for the Eagles came at cornerback, where Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett started on the outside with Quinyon Mitchell and Adoree’ Jackson getting a rest. Ringo and Bennett committed several penalties in coverage that even a third-string quarterback like Josh Johnson could cash in on. Jeff McLane has his grades on the game, and the cornerbacks are far from the head of the class.

One bright spot for the Eagles: DeVonta Smith surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in receiving before he was quickly pulled from the action. CBS marked the milestone in its television coverage of the game.

The 49ers will come to the Linc as a depleted group, especially on defense. The Eagles respect them nonetheless. “It’s a big game,” linebacker Zack Baun said. “It’s the postseason. It’s the playoffs, and this team definitely turns it on in the playoffs.”

More coverage from Sunday’s game and the aftermath can be found here.

Things are looking up

Nick Nurse and the Sixers survived the injury purgatory that was last season and now the team is looking as if it might be for real after Saturday’s 130-119 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The 19-14 Sixers are five games over .500 for the first time this season, perhaps providing a glimpse of what this team can become. Paul George, for one, is a believer.

“It’s safe to say everybody in this locker room is starting to enjoy the game,” George says. “We’re starting to enjoy being out on that floor, playing on both ends. And I think we’re just jelling. It’s translating. Everything that we’ve been trying to connect with is translating on the court.”

Protecting Bryce

Dave Dombrowski has famously challenged Bryce Harper to become “elite” again, but it would help Harper’s cause if the Phillies protected him better in the batting order.

Two-thirds of the way through the offseason, it’s fair to wonder whether Dombrowski has provided Rob Thomson with better lineup alternatives than he had last season. With five weeks until spring training, let’s look at the options for protecting Harper.

A no-show

The Flyers traded defenseman Egor Zamula to the Penguins on New Year’s Eve, and as of Sunday, he had not reported to Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate. The Penguins have suspended the former Flyer.

Rookie Denver Barkey scored his first NHL goal Saturday as the Flyers beat the Oilers, 5-2, in Edmonton.

Sports snapshot

• Nittany Lions news: Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht reportedly is transferring to Penn State, where he’ll rejoin coach Matt Campbell.
• Owls are streaking: Temple has won sixth in a row, its longest winning streak under coach Adam Fisher.
• Big East unbeaten: Bryce Lindsay’s 18 points help Villanova improve to 3-0 in conference play.
• On target: Medford’s Brenden Aaronson scores for Leeds United in a draw with Manchester United.

On this date

Jan. 5, 1991: Washington bounced Buddy Ryan’s Eagles from the playoffs with a 20-6 victory in a wild-card game at Veterans Stadium. Ryan famously benched quarterback Randall Cunningham during the game for Jim McMahon, then went back to his starter after three McMahon incompletions. The Eagles fired Ryan three days later.

Marcus Hayes’ take

There is a faction among Eagles fans and NFL cognoscenti that hoped Tanner McKee would provide a quarterback controversy on which they could feed during the cold winter months. They hoped McKee, a sixth-round pick in 2023, might sufficiently shine in a meaningless game against a moribund team so that he might be considered a viable threat to Jalen Hurts, a two-time Pro Bowl player and the reigning Super Bowl MVP.

That didn’t happen. That was never going to happen.

Still, McKee looked good enough to win a game or two, maybe even in the playoffs. This, for the Eagles, is excellent news: They have a competent backup quarterback on whom they have expended almost no draft or salary-cap capital. More from Marcus Hayes.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Marcus Hayes, David Murphy, Scott Lauber, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Gabriela Carroll, Jackie Spiegel, Jonathan Tannenwald, Devin Jackson, Ryan Mack, and Dylan Johnson.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading Sports Daily as we get the new year underway. I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim

Whether the Eagles rest their starters or not this week, they’re headed for the playoffs with a downright nasty defense and an offense that has lost its mojo.

The positive side, thanks to Vic Fangio’s group: The Eagles have 18 sacks utilizing just four rushers over their last four games. And their shutdown cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell, has allowed only one touchdown in pass coverage all season.

The downside, thanks to that offense: The Eagles’ success rate running the ball is a measly 40.1%, which ranks 25th in the league. Saquon Barkley’s 2,005-yard season seems like long ago. They have scored more than 21 points just twice in the last eight games, and those were against two of the worst teams in football (the Commanders and Raiders).

Jeff Neiburg takes a closer look at the numbers on both sides of the ball, with three reassuring Eagles stats and three reasons to worry.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is still trying to figure this thing out, of course. The offense fell apart in the second half against Buffalo in part because the running game went nowhere on first down and the Eagles kept finding themselves in second-and-long and third-and-long situations.

“When you’re doing that, when that’s happening, it’s going to be very hard to move the ball,” Patullo said. It was indeed.

The win on Sunday was a relief for the Eagles, and Nick Sirianni let off some steam afterward in a back-and-forth with Bills fans. The coach has come under fire for his exchanges with fans before.

“Football is fun,” Sirianni said on 94 WIP when he was asked about it. “It’s OK to show emotion. It’s fun to show emotion. Like, it’s OK to be excited.”

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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A New Year’s break

We at Sports Daily wish you a very happy new year. The newsletter will be taking Thursday and Friday off. Sports Daily will return to your inbox on Monday.

McCain’s next step

Jared McCain has spent an entire year away from the basketball court, first for a torn meniscus suffered in December 2024 and then for a torn ligament in his right thumb in September. He’s now physically healed, so how is the 76ers’ second-year guard dealing with the mental aspects of those injuries, particularly the left knee?

“I’m doing great, probably the last step for me,” McCain said. “A lot of it is I like to rebound, and I have to jump as high as I can … when I’m trying to rebound. And you know, the past few games, I’ve been able to do that. I feel comfortable doing that.

“But mentally, I’m great. I’m just trying to figure it out, still figuring it out, and it’s still a process.”

Tyrese Maxey and Ja Morant put on a show in Memphis on Tuesday, but it was VJ Edgecombe who shined the brightest in a Sixers overtime win over the Grizzlies. Edgecombe hit the game-winning three-pointer to help the Sixers snap a three-game losing streak.

Power-play problems

The Flyers’ struggles on the power play are nothing new, as the team has finished dead last with the man advantage in three of the last four seasons. This season has been better — slightly anyway — as the Flyers rank 25th of 32 teams with a 16.3% success rate.

But while Rick Tocchet likes some of his team’s puck movement, he believes the Flyers are leaving meat on the bone, particularly due to a lack of action in front of the net. His attempt at a solution? Adding Christian Dvorak to one of the team’s power-play units. Jackie Spiegel has more.

The Flyers picked up a 6-3 win in Tocchet’s return to his old stomping grounds late Tuesday night. Six different Flyers scored to pick up a third win over their last four games.

Top talent on display

The College Football Playoff quarterfinals get underway tonight as Ohio State faces Miami in the Cotton Bowl (7:30, ESPN). The eight remaining playoff teams are filled with NFL prospects, and Devin Jackson provides scouting reports on several players who could interest the Eagles. There’s a player from the Eagles’ favorite source of talent, Georgia, in the mix.

A trade for the Union

The Union’s season feels as if it just ended, but the team will start up again Jan. 17 with a trip to Marbella, Spain, in advance of preseason camp in Florida. A newcomer will join the group after the Union acquired 19-year-old defender Finn Sundstrom in a trade with D.C. United.

Join us before kickoff

Live from Lincoln Financial Field: Beat writers Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner will preview the Eagles game against the Washington Commanders at 2:55 p.m. Sunday. Tune in to Gameday Central.

Sports snapshot

• If you build it … Mini-pitches are sprouting around Philadelphia in advance of the World Cup, but growing soccer in the city will take more than that. Kerith Gabriel reports on what it will take.
• Moving on again: Former Eagles coach Chip Kelly is now the offensive coordinator at Northwestern.

🧠 Trivia time answer

Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XV when the Oakland Raiders beat the Eagles in 1981?

Answer: A: Jim Plunkett. Steve O. was first with the correct answer.

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: Should the Eagles play their starters on Sunday or rest them for the playoffs? Among your responses:

Go for it. Keep the momentum. Get the win and keep moving forward. Only rest those who are playing with injuries. Play like the “Bringing the Heat” Eagles. — Everett S.

Those who are healthy should play at least a half. Those who aren’t should take the week off. — Bill M.

The Eagles should definitely have the starters playing on Sunday. The #2 seed has too many advantages this year. Also, this offense needs to continue to try and work out the inefficiency that is dragging it down. However, I would be watching the out of town scoreboard and if the Bears get up big on the Lions then I would start sitting stars for next week. — John P.

Shame the Bears game isn’t at 1 p.m. Just follow the money! Guaranteed, if there’s any chance of playing a divisional home game, probably worth millions and millions of dollars against maybe someone will get hurt what would you do? At 1600 hours it’ll be ALL HANDS ON DECK! — Ronald R.

Yes and no. Play the healthy starters and rest those with nagging injuries. I believe it’s important to play and build confidence and momentum for the playoffs but it’s also good to give nagging injuries some time to heal. — Bob A.

I don’t see any benefit to playing the starters any longer than a warmup. Doubtful that the Bears will lose to a defeated Lions team. We are who we are offensively and one more game won’t change that fact. — Bill B.

I would like to see some starters get some rest, whether by sitting out the entire game or just playing for some of the game. Injuries are a major factor in late-season and postseason play — need to keep the Birds healthy first and foremost! — V.C.B.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Rob Tornoe, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Devin Jackson, and Kerith Gabriel.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading Sports Daily today and all year long. I’ll see you in Monday’s newsletter, when we’ll know the Eagles’ first step in the playoffs. — Jim

Where do the Eagles go from here? In the case of their offense, probably nowhere. (Just kidding.)

The question is whether they’ll rest their starters this Sunday or play them in a bid to improve their seeding for the playoffs. Granted, they’ll need the Bears to lose a second straight game as well, but the No. 2 seed in the NFC could earn the Eagles a home game against the banged-up Packers in the wild-card round.

A key player could get hurt against Washington in the regular-season finale, though, and it has happened to the Eagles before. Decisions, decisions …

Nick Sirianni is not letting on what he’ll do. “It’s not a decision I have to make today or even tomorrow,” the Eagles coach said Monday.

“We’ve done it both ways. We’ve had opportunities to rest; we’ve had opportunities to continue to get a better seed and played. You go through your process, but every season is a little bit different, every team is a little bit different. We’ll end up doing what we think is best for the team.”

Given the advantage the No. 2 spot provides, it’s fair to wonder why the Eagles wouldn’t go for it, Jeff Neiburg writes.

There is that risk of injury, though. Olivia Reiner reminds us about the 2023 season finale, when A.J. Brown injured his knee, which sidelined him for the wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the next week. Maybe, though, the Birds can still beat the woeful Commanders using some of their starters.

At any rate, the offense still has some problems to sort through after it disappeared in the second half against the Bills. Jeff McLane writes that the issues with the offense’s inconsistency won’t be resolved until the offseason.

Mike Sielski’s take: This is the way the Eagles want to play. They want to rely on their defense and make the offense as conservative as possible to avoid turnovers.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Should the Eagles play their starters on Sunday or rest them for the playoffs? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Maxey’s star shining bright

Tyrese Maxey has carried the 76ers this season and it looks like he’ll be rewarded for it. The All-Pro candidate is a shoo-in for the All-Star Game as well, but not even he expected to be so highly regarded in the NBA’s initial returns of fan voting, where he received 1,072,449 votes and rated second in the Eastern Conference right behind two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“For me personally, I think my talent level has been shown in the NBA,” he said. “I think it’s growing. But for me, it’s winning games. That’s what shows like a big gap, a big difference, and a big talent level: impact on your team. When you have that type of impact, when you can help your team win games, that’s what I want to be known for.”

Homecoming

Rick Tocchet’s decision to turn down a lucrative contract extension with the Canucks last spring and instead sign with the Flyers didn’t exactly go over well in Vancouver.

But Tocchet says that he has no regrets and that he’s happy in Philadelphia and thankful for his time north of the border. So what will his return to Vancouver look like on Tuesday night? Tocchet’s not too concerned about the fan reaction or potential boos and says no matter what, he’ll still be “rooting for” several of the Canucks to succeed when he’s not coaching against them. Here’s more from Jackie Spiegel.

Returning to Happy Valley

Penn State is bringing back a former Nittany Lions letterman to run its defense. The Lions are closing in on hiring D’Anton Lynn as their defensive coordinator, according to several media reports. A defensive back at Penn State from 2008-11, Lynn was defensive coordinator at Southern Cal for the last two seasons.

David Murphy’s take

There is simply no possible way Nick Sirianni could be entertaining the idea of resting his starters in the regular-season finale against the Commanders in Week 18. Not with all the Eagles would stand to gain as the No. 2 seed, which would be theirs with a win over Washington and a Bears loss to the Lions.

Right?

All season, Sirianni preaches that the NFL is all about handling the opponent in front of you and then letting the other stuff sort itself out. Now, more than ever, he should listen to himself.

Sports snapshot

• The sportsbooks say … The Eagles are favored this week, but their Super Bowl odds take a hit.

🧠 Trivia time

Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XV when the Oakland Raiders beat the Eagles in 1981? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Jim Plunkett

B) Lester Hayes

C) Rod Martin

D) Cliff Branch

Who said it?

The Eagles offense managed 17 yards in the final two quarters against the Bills, but somehow the defense held on for the victory. Think you know which player took responsibility for the offense’s struggles? Check your answer here.

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: Can the Eagles defense continue to make up for the offense’s shortcomings? Among your responses:

I doubt it! Offense is absolutely offensive in week 17 of the season. It would take divine intervention to make them relevant. Too bad because the defense is ready. — Bill B.

Yes, it can, but the offense will need some better play calling. Second half: run, run, pass. Wow! What a complicated series for the Bills to defend! — Joel G.

The defense will continue to play good, but the offense needs to do their part as well. Jalen Hurts needs to be more reliable as a passer and runner. He needs and the entire offense needs more consistency if they are going anywhere in the playoffs. — Tom G.

Yes, the D will continue to make up for the O because they will have to, unless our coaching staff decides to use more than the five offensive plays we seem to rotate. Had the Bills chose to kick a FG while inside the 5-yd line earlier, we could have lost on an extra point try at the end of the game. … Are we waiting to use Hurts’ legs only for the playoffs? Is he secretly injured? — Joe S.

… This is a quarterback driven league. Jalen Hurts will need to step up and command the offense if the Eagles hope to repeat. … One glimmer of hope: Lane Johnson’s return. He is a difference maker for the offensive line. — Bob C.

The defense can win games as they have shown us yesterday. … However, they will be playing tough opponents in the playoffs and these games will be physical games. They will need some breathing room so the offense must contribute. Unfortunately, the tale of two halves vs. Bills and others does not bode well for us. — Vince O.

… The defense is bound to have another bad game as they did with the Chicago game. Sooner or later management is going to get disgusted with the offensive coordinator and it’ll be goodbye. See you later. Let’s just win the wild card game and see where it takes us. — Ronald R.

This defense will have to carry the team. … On the offensive side they are far down in almost all stats, so it will for sure be up to the defense to take them back to the SB. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Jackie Spiegel, Keith Pompey, Mike Sielski, David Murphy, Devin Jackson, and Ariel Simpson.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

We’re glad you’re reading Sports Daily, and thanks to our readers who respond to our questions. I’ll see you in Wednesday’s newsletter. — Jim

The Eagles won their third straight game with a 13-12 victory against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but frankly it was not a sweet victory on the offensive side of the ball. Jalen Hurts and the offense failed to complete a pass in the second half in Orchard Park, N.Y., which is astounding.

Fortunately for them, Vic Fangio’s defense came out snarling. Jalen Carter is back, and the Eagles once again have a defense that can win a Super Bowl on its own, David Murphy writes. Carter returned after a three-game absence following a medical procedure on both shoulders. All he did was clog the middle, post a sack, and block a crucial extra point in the fourth quarter.

“You guys see what he does for us,” said defensive end Jaelan Phillips, who added a sack of his own for an Eagles defense that racked up five. “He had a blocked extra point that basically won us the game, if you think about it. I thought that in his absence we did a great job, but having him back is key. It’s huge.”

Of course, the narrative might have been different if Josh Allen’s two-point conversion pass to Khalil Shakir had not sailed wide with five seconds left. The Eagles punted on all five of their possessions in the second half, routinely putting their defense in difficult situations.

That defense surrendered touchdowns on the last two Bills drives, but Zack Baun also stopped Allen just short of the goal line on a fourth-down run in the third quarter. The linebackers came through, as did the defensive line, buoyed by a breakout performance by Jalyx Hunt, Jeff McLane writes in his grades for the game.

The Eagles bent but didn’t break. It was why they won Sunday. It’s also why they won’t be a desirable opponent in January, Jeff Neiburg writes. They allowed 120 rushing yards to the top rushing offense in the NFL, but they were good enough when it mattered. Buffalo was just 6-for-15 on third down.

The offense did not score a touchdown after the first quarter in the rain at Highmark Stadium, but it was that kind of day on that side of the ball. It began when tackle Fred Johnson took the field without his helmet, which Fox captured in its coverage of the game.

More coverage from Sunday’s Eagles victory can be found here.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Can the Eagles defense continue to make up for the offense’s shortcomings? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Slumping on the road

The Sixers are riding their first three-game losing streak of the season. But for a half, they appeared capable of beating the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The third quarter was a different story as host OKC outscored them, 38-24, by keeping the ball out of the hands of Tyrese Maxey. After a 129-104 loss, the Sixers will take their longest losing streak of the season into a road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

Guard VJ Edgecombe took an average of 15.8 points into the defeat. He knows the pecking order as an NBA rookie. “We have three prolific scorers. I don’t have to score the ball,” he says. “I have to pick my times, but I must stay aggressive also. But I’m also a player that just wants to win.”

Hot prospect

Selected sixth overall by the Flyers in the 2025 NHL draft, Porter Martone is lighting up college hockey at Michigan State. Martone’s 11 goals are tied for second among NCAA freshmen. While he is focused on helping the Spartans win their first national championship since 2007, he is open to swapping green for orange in April.

In the meantime, Martone is serving as Canada’s captain at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota.

The Flyers avoided a shut out in Seattle but could not take advantage of the NHL’s worst penalty kill in a 4-1 loss to the Kraken.

Next chapter

Terry Smith ended his stint as Penn State’s interim coach with four straight victories, including a 22-10 triumph over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. “It was a great ride,” Smith said. “I’m ready for the next chapter.”

It actually was a bumpy ride in the bowl game at Yankee Stadium, though, as 16 Nittany Lions players opted out of the contest. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer passed for 262 yards and Quinton Martin Jr. rushed for 101 more. Now we’ll see if new coach Matt Campbell can keep them in the program.

Sports snapshot

• Temple hoops: The Owls ride a four-game winning streak into their conference opener at Charlotte.
• Former Wildcat: Adam Fisher’s staff at Temple includes Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, who played for Villanova.

On this date

Dec. 29, 2009: UCLA beat Temple, 30-21, in the EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium in Washington. Fourth-year coach Al Golden directed the Owls to their first winning season since 1990 as Temple played in its first bowl game since 1979.

Our best sports 📸 of the year

From the Eagles’ triumph in Super Bowl LIX to the victory parade to the Phillies’ run to the NL East title to the Broad Street Run and much more, Inquirer photo editors selected our best photos of the year.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Jeff Neiburg, Gabriela Carroll, David Murphy, Jackie Spiegel, Keith Pompey, Christian Red, Colin Schofield, Ryan Mack, and Inquirer Staff Photographers.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Welcome back to Sports Daily after our Christmas break. Hoping your holidays have been great. I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim

Eagles fans have plenty on their minds this week, and we’re not just talking about last-minute Christmas shopping. There is playoff seeding to consider, along with the question of whether the Eagles should rest their starters with two games left. There’s an Arctic matchup with the 11-4 Bills approaching on Sunday. And there is a kicker who keeps hooking his field goal attempts.

Here’s what we know: The Eagles have roughly a 10% chance of moving up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC, according to FTN Fantasy’s playoff projections. At some point, Nick Sirianni will choose to rest key players before the playoffs, but Lane Johnson (foot) and Jalen Carter (shoulders) reportedly could be available on Sunday. So Sirianni has some choices to make before the matchup in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Regarding the Bills, they’re still in a fight to win the AFC East with the 12-3 New England Patriots, although Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen is nursing a foot injury that might limit his ability to scramble. The Birds will be focused on shutting down James Cook, the league’s rushing leader with 1,532 yards.

And what about that kicker who has lost his way? Sirianni gave Jake Elliott another vote of confidence, but Sports Daily’s readers have plenty to say about Elliott later in this newsletter.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Who’s a better QB? Josh Allen or Super Bowl winner Jalen Hurts? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Bringing the heat

Dave Dombrowski spent time Monday praising the Phillies’ new bullpen acquisition, Brad Keller, which you would expect the team’s president of baseball operations to do. “We love Keller. We think he’s one of the best in the business, the way he stepped up last year as a reliever with the Cubs,” Dombrowski said. “So we really like the way the bullpen now shapes up.”

Beyond the hype there is this: After Keller transitioned to the bullpen, his fastball velocity increased from an average of 93.7 mph in 2024 to 97.1 mph last year. That heat should fit in nicely alongside Jhoan Duran.

Flyers dominate Tocchet’s old team

The Flyers ended a two-game losing streak by beating the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 in their final home game of 2025. Four goals in the third period was the difference.

Before the game, Flyers coach Rick Tocchet sounded off about persistent questions regarding Matvei Michkov: “Enough is enough.”

Bring on the Big East

It will be more than just a Big East opener for coach Kevin Willard tonight when Villanova (9-2) plays Seton Hall (11-1) in Newark, N.J. Willard spent 12 seasons coaching the Pirates, so this game will be a trip back home.

“It’s obviously a league game, so it’s not like I’m going to be crying at halfcourt,” Willard says. “But it’s definitely a place that I hold very dearly and will always be the love of my life to be honest with you.”

Bryce Lindsay will take an average of 16.7 points into the game as Villanova’s leading scorer. The guard lost his mother to cancer when he was a senior in high school and faced more adversity after that before he landed with the Wildcats.

Two brothers, two sports

The Sixers had the night off Monday, but guard Quentin Grimes was at Xfinity Mobile Arena anyway. He was watching his half brother, Tyler Myers, play for the Canucks against the Flyers. Grimes and Myers are the only pair of brothers to ever play in the NBA and NHL. Gabriela Carroll has the story of their Christmastime reunion.

Sports snapshot

• Cashing in: A former Eagle has auctioned off his Super Bowl LIX ring for more than $120,000.
• NCAA report: Former Temple guard Khalif Wyatt placed nearly 500 bets while he served as a college assistant coach.
• Marcus Hayes: Plenty of people have had a hand in five seasons of Eagles success, including Big Dom.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Oakland Raider deflected the pass that Pittsburgh’s Franco Harris hauled in for the Immaculate Reception on Dec. 23, 1972? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Jack Tatum

B) George Atkinson

C) Otis Sistrunk

D) Jimmy Warren

What you’re saying about the kicker

We asked: Should the Eagles be looking for a new kicker? Among your responses:

Not the first time Jake Elliot has had major issues. Stick with him the rest of the year, but bring in someone new next year. — Daniel B.

Jake seems puzzled over his most recent struggles. A lot of times these things don’t work them selves out. I suggest a new kicker to finish things out and he is Justin Tucker. Very reliable and a hard worker. Give him a chance and watch the good results. Thank you Jake for all your efforts over the years. — Kerry B.

I think that next spring they should bring in a second kicker option. Unlike Nick Sirianni, I am loyal not to the one who brought me to my first dance but to the one who is best able to dance next Sunday. — Milton T.

Kicking is so heavily emotional/mental that it takes very little to compromise confidence, but a great deal to restore it. Given that he’s missed six of his last 11 field goal attempts (plus one conversion), Elliott’s confidence probably has more cracks than the windshield of a car following a gravel truck. … Jake Elliott’s future with the Eagles is hanging by a very tenuous thread, as I see it. And it won’t take much to snap it. — John B.

Let’s see how Jake does in the postseason. He has had slumps before and always come through in the postseason. — Bill M.

Jake had these problems last year which were abnormal. He got back on track for the playoffs and the Super Bowl. He has been a great kicker for us and I do expect him to get it turned around and be accurate again. The only kickers out there are the ones who have been dumped by other teams for having the same problems. Stay the course! — Vince O.

No. — Jeffrey H.

Like most Eagle fans I have really been a fan of Jake’s for these past years, but his inability to score when needed is really hurting the team. I would hate to see him go, but it may be necessary. — Everett S.

We never should have let the greatest kicker of all time get away. The Chargers picked him up a few years ago for NOTHING! I knew “Dicker the Kicker” was something special when he was with the Eagles for a short time. Yes, we should be scouting the world for a replacement kicker because going into the playoffs with who we have is unacceptable. — Ronald R.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Lochlahn March, Jackie Spiegel, Gabriela Carroll, Ariel Simpson, Marcus Hayes, Isabella DiAmore, Brooke Schultz, and Dylan Johnson.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thank you for reading. On Wednesday, Bella will bring you the final Sports Daily of the week before a Christmas break. Happy holidays! — Jim

Maybe the Eagles are getting a little of that Super Bowl feeling back from a season ago. You know the vibe: Saquon Barkley carries the offense, the defense goes into shutdown mode, and the Birds win.

That’s exactly the formula the Eagles used Saturday night as they clinched the NFC East with a 29-18 victory against the Washington Commanders. Granted, it came against a moribund team that was down to its third-string cornerback, but Vic Fangio’s defense held the Commanders to 220 yards, some of which came during a garbage-time touchdown drive.

Barkley’s performance might be the best sign for the Eagles, though. He rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown, breaking off a 48-yard run at one point that was reminiscent of his incredible 2024 season. The rushing numbers in the last four games suggest that Barkley and Co. are doing something better, Jeff McLane writes. The Eagles have averaged 4.96 yards per carry over that span. In their first 11 games, they averaged only 3.91 yards.

Jalen Hurts’ legs, Barkley’s strong December, better blocking schemes, and Tank Bigsby as the second punch could be the recipe for the Eagles in the postseason.

One of the recipes from last season might be ripped from the cookbook, though. The Eagles tried the Tush Push three times against the Commanders and failed all three times. It’s time for last rites for the Eagles’ signature sneak, Mike Sielski writes.

That wasn’t the only slipup for the Birds, either. Jake Elliott missed three field-goal attempts, although one was negated by a penalty. Elliott is 17-for-24 on field goals this season. His success rate of 70.8% is the worst of his career.

Nick Sirianni is standing by his kicker. “I have a ton of confidence in him that he’ll respond and rebound from this,” the coach says, ”because he’s mentally tough and a great kicker.”

At 10-5, the Eagles are the third seed in the NFC, which is where they’ll likely land when the playoffs begin. After two wins against the dregs of the NFL, they’ll take a step up in class Sunday when they visit the 11-4 Buffalo Bills, who have won four straight.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Should the Eagles be looking for a new kicker? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Radiant rookie

VJ Edgecombe outperformed another flashy first-year player, No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, on Saturday. The rookie finished with 26 points in a 121-114 victory against the Dallas Mavericks and afterward Sixers star Tyrese Maxey was asked whether Edgecombe has surprised him this season.

“Sadly, no,” Maxey said. “I want to say yes, but, sadly, no. Like, this is who he is, you know what I mean? We realized that Game 1. Yeah, you can do what you want to do in the preseason, and all that and practice in training camp, but when the lights come on, you just never know, and the lights came on, and he came on with it.”

Adoration for Adolis

The Phillies plan to plug Adolis García into right field, taking over for Nick Castellanos whenever they trade or release him. It will be quite an upgrade, says former Phillie Brad Miller, who played with García when the Texas Rangers won the World Series in 2023.

“What I would tell people is, Adolis is worth the price of admission,“ says Miller, who is now a television analyst for the Rangers. ” … It’s exciting stuff, like he’ll make diving plays, he’ll throw a guy out from the wall in right field. I can just picture that at the Bank. … He plays with a flair. And he can do everything. I’m excited for him. I think it’s going be a breath of fresh air.”

Reliever Matt Strahm will get to breathe the fresh air in Kansas City after the Phillies traded him to the Royals for right-handed reliever Jonathan Bowlan.

High on the Hogs

Not long ago, Camden High’s D.J. Wagner was the top-ranked high school basketball recruit in the nation. Now he’s in his third college season, not really thought of as an NBA lottery pick as he starts at guard for John Calipari at Arkansas.

After a loss to No. 8 Houston in Newark, N.J., on Saturday, Wagner is averaging a career-low 8.4 points for the Razorbacks. His NBA star may have dimmed, but Wagner is doing just fine thanks to his NIL deals and is comfortable in his role.

“I’m just happy to be here,” Wagner says. “Whatever I can do to help my teammates out, I’m happy to do it.”

Reluctant to deal

The Flyers missed an opportunity to obtain a budding star when Vancouver traded Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12. Now it’s back to the drawing board for the Flyers, who are hesitant to deal away top prospects.

Should the Flyers have gone harder after Hughes? What’s the next step for a team that still lacks a No. 1 center and defenseman? Gustav Elvin considers the possibilities.

Sports snapshot

• Pride of Imhotep: Philly native DJ Moore sinks the Packers in overtime with a game-winning catch for the Bears.
• Pride of Villanova: The Wildcats hold their heads high after a loss in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals.
• Leader of the Cats: Shooting guard Tyler Perkins is embracing a new role this season for Villanova.
• Coach moving on: Camden native Elijah Robinson reportedly is leaving the Syracuse staff and returning to Texas A&M as defensive line coach.
• Special report: Drexel’s Terrence Butler died two years ago. The reasons for his passing still elude everyone who loved him. Mike Sielski reports.

On this date

Dec. 22, 1991: The Eagles scored 17 points in the fourth quarter of a 24-22 victory against Washington. Reggie White sacked Washington quarterback Mark Rypien twice. Roger Ruzek’s 38-yard field goal won it for the Birds.

Marcus Hayes’ take

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

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

So yes, it seems ungrateful, and even thankless, to wish for better. But we are Philadelphia, aren’t we?

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff McLane, Mike Sielski, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Marcus Hayes, Scott Lauber, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Gustav Elvin, Devin Jackson, Dylan Johnson, and Katie Lewis.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading Sports Daily. I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim

We have news about the Phillies fortifying their bullpen and the Flyers losing a key player for the season, but let’s start today’s Sports Daily with something completely different.

Billy Gordon was a basketball fanatic who connected with John Chaney when the Hall of Fame coach was at Cheyney State. Gordon had a deep love for the sport, and from 1986 to 2024 he recorded thousands of college basketball, NBA, and WNBA games on VHS tapes in his home.

After Gordon died in May, his uncle, Ron Hall, marveled at the collection in Gordon’s Cobbs Creek bedroom. “The magnitude of what was here really hit me,” Hall said. “I was in disbelief that he had accumulated so much. That he had taken the time to collect so many things.”

The question is what to do with the VHS collection now. Hall wants to find a buyer who will share the passion his nephew had for decades. Someone who will honor his hobby and preserve it. Alex Coffey has the story.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Now that the Phillies are adding Brad Keller, how do you feel about their bullpen? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Investing in the bullpen

As recently as Tuesday, Phillies president Dave Dombrowski sounded like a man who didn’t feel much of a sense of urgency with regard to his bullpen.

It was encouraging, then, when news leaked Wednesday that the Phillies were closing in on a two-year, $22 million contract for former Cubs setup man Brad Keller. Set aside the question of who Keller is and whether Rob Thomson can count on a repeat of the veteran righty’s breakout 2025 campaign. The mere fact that the Phillies saw a pressing enough need to spend this sort of money on another reliever is commendable.

Injury blow

Wednesday brought a sobering blow to the Flyers, as the team announced that winger Tyson Foerster will miss the next five months after arm surgery, which will likely rule him out for the rest of the season.

The 23-year-old, who was leading the team with 10 goals at the time of his injury on Dec. 1, was initially expected to avoid surgery and miss two to three months of action.

In a positive for the Flyers, Rasmus Ristolainen came out of his first game action since March unscathed. The hulking defenseman said he felt good Tuesday night in his 19-plus minutes of action, while his physicality caught the eye of coach Rick Tocchet.

Positive vibes

Jordan Davis, who turns 26 next month, is having his best season with the Eagles. The defensive tackle’s weight loss and body change — Davis fell in love with Peloton workouts and lost 26 pounds in the offseason — has been well documented, but Davis also has found his voice as a positive force in the locker room.

“I’ve always been happy-go-lucky, always been jovial,” he says. “It’s just now everyone is seeing it because I’m so confident in the person I am.”

Also on the Eagles beat as they prepare to face the 4-10 Commanders:

• Jalen Hurts is on the upswing, but the Eagles quarterback has faced a fair share of criticism this season. Hurts says he has not noticed at all.
• The Eagles have scored on an NFL-best 69.4% of their red zone trips. More often than not, Dallas Goedert has been doing the scoring.
• Who’ll win Saturday in Landover, Md.? Here are our writers’ predictions.

‘We can be really good’

In the midst of an All-Star-caliber season, Tyrese Maxey missed two games this weekend because of an illness. He watched the Sixers’ win over the Pacers and loss against the Hawks from home, posting enthusiastically on social media from his couch. Maxey returned to practice Wednesday and said he was pleased with the team’s performance during his absence.

“When I said [before the season that] I wanted stuff to look the same,” Maxey said, “I just wanted us to go out there and compete every single night. I don’t want it to look like, ‘Oh, this guy’s out. That guy’s out. So we’re just going to lay down, and the other team’s going to beat us.’

“I think we’ve kind of created that standard and done a good job of it. It’s kind of coming to light, and now we’ve got to keep doing it.”

Sports snapshot

• College Football Playoff: Former Northeast High star Tyreek Chappell and Texas A&M will host Miami on Saturday.
• FCS semifinal: Villanova is offering students incentives to attend Saturday’s home game against Illinois State.
• Ailing Quaker: Penn looks to fill the void while its top scorer, swingman Ethan Roberts, remains sidelined.
• “Hard Knocks”: On the latest episode, Eagles tackle Lane Johnson says he’s “getting close to getting back on the field.”

Marcus Hayes’ take

Contrary to much of the commentary and punditry, the Eagles are nearing the end of a very good season. Saquon Barkley isn’t going to break rushing records this season, and the passing game hasn’t equaled its pedigree, and the defense won’t finish ranked No. 1, but none of that matters. What matters is who they beat, who they lost to, and where they stand.

They’ve beaten the Rams, Packers, and Buccaneers, all playoff teams. The Eagles’ results through 15 weeks present a team that can become just the eighth franchise to win consecutive Lombardi Trophies, Marcus Hayes writes.

Join us before kickoff

Live from Northwest Stadium: Beat writers Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner will preview the Eagles game against the Washington Commanders at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Tune in to Gameday Central.

What you’re saying about Adolis García

We asked: What are your thoughts on the Phillies’ new outfielder? Among your responses:

Meh. We need Bader. This guy ain’t Bader. — Tony R.

I’ll give him a chance, but it looks like replacing a guy on the downside of his career with a guy on the downside of his career, albeit a better fielder. — Joel G.

Another right fielder that doesn’t hit consistently. Go for the gusto and not bandaids. — Tom G.

I was hoping for a more powerful right-handed hitter, but they are probably in great demand and maybe beyond Mr. Middleton’s present budget. Adolis Garcia has had some really good years in the past so let’s hope for the best. I am really disappointed thus far to see that we have not re-signed Bader. — Everett S.

Don’t quite understand why the Phillies don’t think that power hitting outfielders are a priority, since they really only have 2 power hitters in their lineup. — Bill M.

Yawn. — Doug R.

At $10 million, he may be a better bet than the late blooming Max Kepler or the moping Nick Castellanos. With Justin Crawford slated to start in center, looks like the Phillies are no longer interested in Harrison Bader, who is looking for a rich multi-year deal. I like the move, if Adolis return to form, the Phillies may be the “bash brothers” of 2026! — Bob C.

… Meanwhile, back at the farm, Harrison Bader remains unsigned. The best center fielder we’ve had since the flyin’ Hawaiian. The good news is Jordan Romano is now a member of the Angels. Robbed the bank of $2 million. What great agents these players have. — Ronald R.

In spite of all of the modern metrics I’m still a strong believer in batting average being a huge indicator of a player’s offensive success and .227 is very concerning. So… if Crawford isn’t expected to hit as well as he did in the minors and Marsh not yet proven to be a .300 hitter I would say that the outfield offensive production is going to be weak. — Bob A.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Alex Coffey, Devin Jackson, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, Scott Lauber, David Murphy, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Dylan Johnson, and Sean McKeown.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thank you for reading Sports Daily. Bella will bring you the newsletter on Friday. — Jim