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  • Jordan Mailata’s journey, the Eagles clinch the division, and more ‘Hard Knocks’ highlights

    Jordan Mailata’s journey, the Eagles clinch the division, and more ‘Hard Knocks’ highlights

    It was a festive episode of Hard Knocks on Tuesday, as the HBO documentary series released its latest episode, which offered a behind-the-scenes look at the Eagles clinching the NFC East ahead of the holiday season.

    The episode looked into offensive tackle Jordan Mailata’s journey from playing rugby in Australia to getting drafted to the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft, the Birds clinching the division, and more.

    Here’s everything you missed from the latest episode of Hard Knocks:

    Mailata’s journey from rugby to NFL

    Last Wednesday, before their Week 16 matchup against the Commanders, the Eagles held practice at Lincoln Financial Field. Without Lane Johnson because of a foot injury, Mailata continued to mentor younger players.

    Eight years ago, he never would have pictured himself in this position.

    A ‘New Heights’ gift guide for ‘dudes who can’t shop good:’ Where do scented candles and gift cards stand?

    “I was 20 years old when I joined the International Player Pathway program,” Mailata said. “The program aimed to bring a connection between the NFL to the rest of the world and grow the sport in that respective spot that the athlete was from. So I thought, ‘Why not give it a go?’

    “[When I was] drafted by the Eagles with a seventh-round pick, I was kind of, like, flabbergasted. I didn’t understand what was happening, but I knew that a team was taking a chance on me, a kid that never played football before. … I can’t believe I’m still here playing this game eight years later. In my eighth season, still trying to figure this thing out.”

    Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata laughs with coach Nick Sirianni against the Raiders on Dec. 14.

    Now, Mailata has become a crucial part of the Tush Push, earned second-team All-Pro honors, is a Super Bowl champ, and a proud member of the Philly Specials — a Christmas music group consisting of himself, Johnson, and former Eagles center Jason Kelce.

    ‘Been there, won that’

    With a 29-18 win over the Commanders, the Eagles became the first back-to-back NFC East champs since 2004. After the game, the team unboxed some early Christmas presents and expanded their wardrobe with new NFC East championship hats and T-shirts that read, “Been there, won that.”

    Of course, the win didn’t come without drama. With the Eagles leading, 29-10, late in the game, Nick Sirianni made the decision to go for a two-point conversion. At the end of the play, a fight broke out between Washington and Philadelphia players — resulting in three ejections.

    Adding more fuel to the fire, Eagles veteran Brandon Graham made sure to trash talk some of the Washington fans on the sideline.

    “Aye, we got some new gear for y’all after the game,” Graham said. “We got some more gear for you. We got some Eagles gear for you after the game. Don’t worry, we got you.

    The Eagles could be seen celebrating in the locker room postgame with their new gear.

    The Commanders will get a second chance at the Eagles to end the regular season. But first, the Birds will travel to Highmark Stadium to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

    “Guys, we talk about doing special [expletive],” Sirianni said. “Winning the division is doing special [expletive]. Nobody has repeated in the division in [21] years, right. Y’all should be proud of that. You don’t do special [expletive] unless you’ve got the men in this room, the talent that we have, and that we play with great [expletive] detail, and we do that [expletive] together.

    “We got a long way to go. Enjoy it now, and we’re back to work. We got a lot to be thankful for.”

    Jalen Hurts added: “Everything is in our hands. Control what we can, continue to stack, continue to build, continue to get more hats and T-shirts.”

  • A ‘New Heights’ gift guide for ‘dudes who can’t shop good:’ Where do scented candles and gift cards stand?

    A ‘New Heights’ gift guide for ‘dudes who can’t shop good:’ Where do scented candles and gift cards stand?

    If you’re still on the hunt for any last minute Christmas gifts, or you’re already preparing for next year, then Jason and Travis Kelce have got you covered.

    On the latest episode of New Heights, the former Eagles center and Kansas City tight end put together the ultimate gift guide for “dudes who can’t shop good” — but of course, they had some help from Not Gonna Lie host, Kylie Kelce.

    Here are some of the best gifts included in the New Heights gift guide:

    Gift cards. Jason and Travis Kelce approved.

    Gift cards

    You typically can’t go wrong with a gift card. When it comes to last-minute shopping, these are some of the easiest gifts you can grab for friends and loved ones. Sure, it may not be the most thoughtful gift option in the world, but it’s definitely going to be one of the more useful ones.

    “If it’s to a store you know that she shops, yes,” Kylie said. “I think some women may find this to be a little impersonal. But also, with online shopping then she’s guaranteed to get something she wants and it’ll come right to her door.”

    Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: These are the numbers that matter

    But is a gift card enough on its own? According to Jason, it’s not.

    “i just feel like if it’s somebody special, I wouldn’t roll into the holidays with just a gift card,” Jason said.

    Candles are great. Assuming you or your special person isn’t allergic to them.

    Scented candles

    So, what pairs well with a gift card? To Kylie, a scented candle would have been perfect. Unfortunately, she happens to be married to someone who doesn’t enjoy the fresh smells of cinnamon, gingerbread, and peppermint taking over the house.

    “I’m anti-candles,” Jason said. “I don’t like chemicals just burned and thrust into the air for me to be breathing in all day so I can get brain cancer.

    “I don’t think it makes any sense. Why would I want some artificial [expletive] flower thing in the air that some person made in a lab from some combination of vegetable this and that. And this essence, I don’t want it in my face.”

    When it comes to last-minute gifts, Kylie Kelce thinks a nice piece of jewelry is “a great idea.”

    Jewelry

    If you’re gift hunting for that special someone, then you may be looking for something bigger than gift cards and candles. Jewelry can be another option — whether it’s a nice set of earrings, a pearl necklace, a tennis bracelet, or a shiny ring.

    “Jewelry is a great idea,” Kylie said. “Because I think there’s varying degrees of jewelry.”

    Jason responded: “Is there a bad degree of jewelry? Like, would you get something and be like ‘Oh, this is not it and I’m mad?’”

    “I don’t know if I would be mad,” Kylie said. “I just think that if it’s going to turn your skin green, probably don’t get it as a gift.”

    That new refrigerator you’ve been eyeing up? Chances are your significant other has been eyeing it too, according to the Kelces.

    Kitchen appliances

    To Travis, some of the perfect gifts can even be kitchen appliances. The Chiefs tight end revealed that one of his fiancé Taylor Swift’s favorite gifts that she’s ever received from him was a bread slicer.

    “I will say that one of Tay’s favorite gifts that I got her was the bread slicer,” Travis said. “She’s been throwing together so much [expletive] sourdough. Gosh, the best gut health there is.”

    Health and fitness gifts might sound great but could be a silent trap you don’t want to fall for, according to Kylie.

    Health & fitness related gifts

    And when it comes to health and fitness-related gifts, this one can be a little tricky.

    “You’re asking the wrong person because I would say yes,” Kylie said. “More [generally], I would say — unless she explicitly asks for it — absolutely not.”

    “You also buy her a set of pants that are a size smaller,” Jason said, jokingly. “With a card that says ‘You can do it.’”

    Kylie responded: “Aggressively, no.”

    Watch: Cooper DeJean reacts to being selected to his first Pro Bowl
  • Local pro athletes bring Christmas surprise to Chester County family

    Local pro athletes bring Christmas surprise to Chester County family

    They almost didn’t put up a Christmas tree this year.

    R.C. Wilson Sr. knew things were going to be tight for his family this holiday, with him starting a new job and “life just being hard,” he said. It was a week before Christmas when he reached out to Justin Brown, who leads an organization that connects athletes with community initiatives and had arranged several holiday donation drives this season, asking if Brown knew of any agencies that might donate some gifts to Wilson’s six kids.

    Brown reached out to the Chester County community, and he got an outpouring of support. He asked NFL tight end Kenny Yeboah, a former Temple player who later joined the New York Jets and Detroit Lions, and former Phillies pitcher Tommy Greene to be part of a surprise. He told Wilson to put up the Christmas tree.

    And on their quiet Coatesville street a few days before the holiday, the community showed up at Wilson’s doorstep with bags upon bags of gifts — essentials like clothing and shoes and food, plus toys and more than $500 in gift cards.

    “We always try to do what we can for [the kids] to give them the best, but they also understand life gets hard for everybody. We went from, I feel like, being up top to rock bottom,” Wilson said Tuesday. “It’s amazing to get to see in person. Seeing it in person, especially when I needed the help, was a blessing from the community and for my family.”

    Nevaeh Miller-Wilson, 8, organizes presents after a Christmas surprise from former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tommy Greene and New York Jets tight end Kenny Yeboah at her home in Coatesville, Pa. Greene and Yeboah surprised the family, which includes six children, with a full Christmas celebration, providing gifts and holiday essentials.

    The gifts were stacked under the Christmas tree and through the living room. It was overwhelming, said his wife, Chelsea Miller.

    Yeboah, a new resident of Downingtown, and Greene signed footballs, baseballs, and the backs of T-shirts and posed for photos with the family.

    It was cool to see, said Aadan Miller-Wilson, 15.

    “I’ve never met an athlete, and I play two of the sports they play, too,” he said.

    Yeboah, out with an injury, offered to coach the kids while he recovered. He had wanted to give back to the community he was now part of, and was connected with Brown.

    New York Jets tight end Kenny Yeboah interacts with members of a family of six children, from left, Nevaeh, Robert, Bryden, Jacob, David and Aadan, during a Christmas gift surprise at their home in Coatesville, Pa.

    “To come here and see all these people help out and give back to the community that they’re in, it’s just an amazing feeling,” Yeboah said. “It’s really, really cool to see that everyone’s here just to help out.”

    Greene credited his “better half,” Wendy, for quickly becoming involved with the surprise. When you help each other out, you help everyone out, Greene said.

    “When you get a chance to make a difference, you do,” he said.

    Wilson, who kept the surprise a secret from his family until the community showed up at their door, also found the support overwhelming.

    “It’s a blessing,” he said.

    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 Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Villanova started Big East play with a bang. Is a Top 25 ranking on deck?

    Villanova started Big East play with a bang. Is a Top 25 ranking on deck?

    NEWARK, N.J. — More than an hour before the game, Kevin Willard was on and around the basketball court at the Prudential Center, the place he called home for 12 seasons as Seton Hall’s head coach.

    The first-year Villanova coach, like most head coaches, normally is tucked away going over final game preparations while assistants get his players loose. But Willard was home. It was an emotional couple of days since the Wildcats arrived here Monday evening.

    “This place helped raise my family in a very special way,” Willard said. The family saw the same security guards who used to carry his children — one now a college freshman, the other a high school senior — around after games.

    Before tipoff, Willard embraced Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway, who coached under Willard for 11 seasons at Iona and Seton Hall. A video that played before the national anthem showed highlights of Willard’s tenure at Seton Hall, and the sellout crowd of 11,153 mostly responded with a nice ovation for the coach who left in 2022 for Maryland and returned Tuesday for his first game against his old program with one of its bitter Big East rivals.

    The show at that point was over. “Walking out, once I got out, we got to win a game,” Willard said.

    It was a sloppy-at-times Big East fight during the first half, but Villanova used an emphatic 16-0 run early in the second half and pulled away from Seton Hall in a 64-56 victory that wasn’t as close as the final score suggested. Villanova led by as many as 20 midway through the second half.

    Kevin Willard spent 12 seasons from 2010 to 2022 with Seton Hall before taking a job at Maryland.

    The Big East opener was a matchup of teams off to hot starts. Willard’s Wildcats improved to 10-2 and handed Seton Hall (11-2) its second loss of the season.

    The Wildcats entered Tuesday ranked 30th in the NCAA’s NET rankings, and they shot up to 20th on Wednesday morning after winning their first Quad 1 game of the season. By 10 p.m. Tuesday, the metrics site KenPom had Villanova ranked 24th. Seton Hall was just outside the Associated Press Top 25 this week. The Pirates were 27th, based on ballot points. Surely, Villanova will be in the conversation to be ranked for the first time since November 2023 next week.

    The Wildcats’ two losses are to then-No. 8 BYU and No. 2 Michigan. They hit the holiday break with a home victory over Pittsburgh and road wins at Wisconsin and Seton Hall.

    “We’re trending in the right direction,” Willard said. “I like the fact that no one’s really talking about us.”

    They are now. It was a light day on the college basketball calendar, and, given Seton Hall’s surprising start to the season and Willard making his return to Newark, there were plenty of eyeballs watching Villanova pass the eye test.

    Forged in Baltimore, Bryce Lindsay has overcome his share of adversity. Now he’s ’Nova’s leading scorer.

    Freshman point guard Acaden Lewis “controlled the game,” Holloway said, after he led all scorers with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting to go with five rebounds, two assists, and three steals (to cancel out three turnovers) in a season-high 37 minutes. Redshirt freshman Matt Hodge added 12 points and six rebounds, and redshirt sophomore Bryce Lindsay scored 15 points on nine shots.

    The night was far from perfect for Villanova. The Wildcats turned the ball over 18 times and had trouble with Seton Hall’s press after the lead ballooned late in the game. They allowed 16 offensive rebounds and had just eight of their own.

    Villanova freshman guard Acaden Lewis played a season-high 37 minutes in a 64-56 win over Seton Hall on Tuesday night.

    But Villanova had an answer every time Seton Hall pushed back in the second half. Devin Askew hit a three-pointer to push the lead back to 17 (50-33). Hodge put back a Lewis miss with just over eight minutes to play that stopped a 6-0 Seton Hall run and bumped the lead back to 16. The Pirates then cut their deficit to 13 before Lindsay made a three-pointer. He made 3 of 7 attempts on the night.

    “We’re battle-tested,” Willard said. “We played BYU on the road, Michigan on the road, Wisconsin on the road, three Big 5 games … so I have a lot of confidence in the fact that our guys have played against a lot of good teams.”

    Villanova overcame its struggles because of its defense. Willard said the game plan was to make dynamic Seton Hall point guard Adam “Budd” Clark, a West Catholic graduate, be a scorer and not a “sprayer.” The Wildcats, who utilized a zone defense, forced him into tough spots and limited his driving opportunities. He also was limited to just five minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, and Seton Hall’s offense was disjointed without him. Clark finished 1-for-11 from the floor, and Seton Hall converted just 33.3% of its shot attempts.

    The Pirates were 15-for-30 on what were considered layups by the official stats, but the majority of their shots were well-contested. The 16-0 run happened mostly because of Villanova’s active hands, which forced steals and easy transition buckets.

    Tyler Perkins embraces his many roles at Villanova. This year, it’s about being a leader.

    Earlier in the season, defense was one of Willard’s major concerns. It recently has become a strength. Why? Lewis said physical practices where fouls aren’t called have translated into higher-intensity stretches of defense during games.

    Villanova returns home on New Year’s Eve for a game vs. DePaul (8-5). But first, a few days off to celebrate the holiday, a break that got a little merrier with Tuesday’s win.

    “We’re trending up,” Lewis said. “Since that Michigan game, we really locked in and built with each other. [Michigan] showed us there’s levels, and we’re building up to that level to see them again when March comes around and we want a different look when that happens.”

    After Tuesday, playing meaningful basketball in March seems like a real possibility.

  • Hey Eagles fans, show some sympathy to Buffalo Bills lifers. You were just like them once.

    Hey Eagles fans, show some sympathy to Buffalo Bills lifers. You were just like them once.

    For a long time when it came to sports, Buffalo was Diet Philadelphia. Similar, but with a little less. A smaller city, yes. Half as many major pro franchises, yes. But those teams — the Bills in the NFL, the Sabres in the NHL — have always occupied an outsized importance within the culture of the region. They mattered to the people of Buffalo as much or more than the Eagles, the Phillies, the Sixers, and the Flyers mattered to the people of Philadelphia.

    Oh, and there was one other common thread for decades: None of those teams ever won a championship.

    Not ever ever, but close enough. The Bills won back-to-back titles in the American Football League in 1964 and ’65, and Philadelphia had that wonderful 10-year stretch, from 1973-83, when the Flyers won two Stanley Cups, the Phillies won a World Series, the Eagles reached a Super Bowl, and the Sixers won an NBA championship. But for 25 years — until the Phillies won the 2008 World Series — then another nine-plus, the towns could bond through being blue-collar bridesmaids.

    Eagles fans cheer after the win against the hapless Raiders at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 14.

    Recently, though, the Eagles have altered that dynamic. They won a Super Bowl in 2018, then another earlier this year, and as they prepare to face the Bills this Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., they have quelled much of the anger and anxiety that once characterized Philadelphia sports fandom. It might not seem that way, with the attention paid to Jalen Hurts’ play and the worry over the Eagles’ chance to repeat as league champs, but it’s true. The atmosphere was much worse during the Buddy Ryan and Andy Reid eras.

    For Buffalo, though, there has been no great expulsion of joy and relief. In their 55 years of existence, the Sabres have never won a Stanley Cup and have reached the Final just twice, losing to the Flyers in 1975 and to the Dallas Stars (on Brett Hull’s disputed triple-overtime goal) in 1999. What’s arguably worse, for a city that loves hockey as much or more than any in the United States, is that the Sabres haven’t even qualified for the playoffs since 2011 and haven’t won a postseason series since 2007, when one of their best players was Danny Brière, now the Flyers’ general manager.

    Let us raise a glass to the Tush Push. It’s dead, and the Eagles have to find an alternative.

    Steve Watson, a friend and former classmate of mine, has lived in the Buffalo region for most of his life. His son, Eli, is 12. Eli has never seen a Sabres playoff game.

    “It’s sad,” Watson, 50, who has been a reporter for the Buffalo News since 2001, said by phone Tuesday. “When the Sabres are good, and they have been good for a lot of their history, you see the little flags people put on their cars. We embrace the team, but they’re losing this current fan generation. They took a great hockey town and tarnished it.”

    The situation with the Bills has, if possible, been even more painful, for all their near misses. Even a casual football fan is familiar with the Bills’ four consecutive Super Bowl losses from 1991 to 1994 and all the tragic heroes from that period — Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, Frank Reich — and the comeback from 35-3 against the Houston Oilers, Scott Norwood and wide right against the New York Giants. But the aftermath has been just as rough.

    A Bills fan sits among snow-covered seats before the start a wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 15, 2024.

    The Bills went 17 years, from 2000 through 2016, without making the playoffs. Now they have Josh Allen, who was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player last season, who is regarded as the second- or third-best quarterback in the league at worst, and who has led the Bills to the postseason for seven straight seasons … and to no Super Bowls. Either Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow has been in their way, or they’ve had a bad day at the worst time and squandered home-field advantage, or they’ve stood under a ladder staring at a broken mirror while a clowder of black cats strutted past them. They’re 11-4 this season, and Allen has again been outstanding, but now their intradivisional nemeses, the New England Patriots, are back atop the AFC East after a few years of mediocrity. The cycle seems without end.

    This excruciating history wouldn’t generate much sympathy from anyone, let alone from Philly’s famously competitive and insecure sports fans (“Oh, you think you’ve had it rough? Lemme tell ya about the night Joe Carter …”), if we were talking about an area of the country whose lifers didn’t care so much. But that ain’t Buffalo. The people there bleed for their teams just like everyone down here does. After all, sports is their only salvation from spending three-quarters of the year with snowshoes strapped to their feet.

    Here’s how the Eagles have reigned in the NFC East

    “It’s up there with chicken wings,” Watson said. “It’s up there with our lovely weather. It’s our identity. We are blue collar. We are the city of good neighbors. And we’re a big sports town. I used to write more obituaries for the News, and it was always painful for me to write, ‘Lifelong Bills fan … Lifelong Sabres fan.’ They never got that payoff for their years of suffering.”

    Look, if you’re an Eagles fan, you don’t have to root for the Bills — certainly not on Sunday, certainly not if the two teams end up facing each other at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8. In many regards, though, you and those fans near Niagara Falls were kindred spirits for years. So if and when the Eagles do bow out of the playoffs, and if Buffalo’s hopes for a Super Bowl victory are still alive, send some good thoughts toward western New York. They’re still waiting for their moment in the warm sun up there, and Lord knows they’ve already suffered enough.

  • 📖 A tale still resonating | Sports Daily Newsletter

    📖 A tale still resonating | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Many know the late Harry Kalas for his broadcasting career as the play-by-play announcer for the Phillies, but in 2002, a producer at KYW-TV, asked Kalas about doing a recitation of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.

    He wasn’t the only broadcaster asked to recite the poem. Kalas was featured alongside Marc Zumoff and Tom McGinnis of the 76ers, Merrill Reese of the Eagles, and Jim Jackson of the Flyers.

    It aired on Dec. 24, 2002, and a few years later, the producer, Andy Wheeler, found the unedited Kalas video. Suddenly, an idea struck him: Why not use the Kalas version in its entirety?

    A tradition was born.

    Barring breaking news — and Eagles games — the station, now known as CBS 3 Philadelphia, has aired Kalas’ reading of the poem every Dec. 24 since 2005.

    After Kalas died of heart disease in April 2009, the station considered ending the tradition but eventually decided that “this is a way of keeping him close.”

    Years later, Kalas’ rendition still has that effect. From start to finish, it captures his sense of humor, and his humanity. You can hear the richness in his voice.

    It’s like he plays “the role of Santa Claus” for families across the Philadelphia airwaves. The Inquirer’s Alex Coffey dives into the origin story of how the annual tradition came to be.

    — Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    A holiday break

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

    Dean ‘iffy’ to play

    Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is “iffy” this week after suffering a hamstring injury, Vic Fangio said.

    Nakobe Dean has helped give the Eagles defense, which looked a bit unsteady in the early portion of the season, some life. He especially has impacted the run defense while also being an effective blitzer. However, the Eagles may be without the fourth-year linebacker on Sunday after Dean suffered a hamstring injury against the Commanders.

    “The good news is I don’t think it’s too serious,” Vic Fangio said. The Eagles defensive coordinator also said that without Dean, they’ll turn to rookie Jihaad Campbell.

    The Eagles are hopeful that Jalen Carter will be available Sunday vs. the Bills. The 24-year-old defensive tackle practiced Tuesday after a three-week hiatus while recovering from a pair of shoulder procedures. The last game he played was against the Bears on Black Friday.

    If Carter is cleared to play this week, he could use the final two games of the regular season to ramp up.

    And as the playoffs approach, there still are plenty of questions surrounding this Eagles team. The Inquirer’s beat writers answers a few of those.

    What we’re …

    🔍 Analyzing: The Eagles will face a Bills team with a dangerous offense and a shaky defense. Here are the numbers that matter.

    🤔 Wondering: Which Eagles players were selected to the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster — and how Jordan Davis felt about his snub.

    🛒 Buying: Hank Sauce, the Sea Isle City condiment sold in surf shops and supermarkets, now has an investor with a voracious appetite.

    📺 Watching: The 2026 World Juniors, which starts each year the day after Christmas, will boast plenty of star power, including six Flyers prospects.

    Shaking off the rust

    Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway hasn’t recorded a point in 33 games this year.

    Garnet Hathaway is facing a new battle. He’s been a healthy scratch for the last two games. Before this spell, the last time Hathaway watched from the press box when healthy was Feb. 23, 2023. To say it’s been a difficult season for Hathaway would be an understatement. He hasn’t recorded a point and is minus-8 in 33 games.

    But the 34-year-old knows his game isn’t judged by how many goals or points he has. What he brings is an unwavering commitment to the team — whether it’s throwing his body in front of high-velocity slap shots or being a leader in the locker room — and he looks to get himself back to that.

    The Flyers opened their five-game road trip with a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. But the win came at a cost as Denver Barkey and Travis Sanheim each left the game early with injuries.

    Playing for his country

    Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper competed for the United States in several international tournaments as a teenager.

    Bryce Harper aspires to play in the Olympics. First, he’ll suit up for the World Baseball Classic. The Phillies first baseman announced his plans on Instagram, and he’ll join a loaded roster that includes Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., teammate Kyle Schwarber, and ace pitchers Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.

    Baseball will be reinstated as an Olympic sport in 2028 in Los Angeles. The MLB is considering extending the All-Star break in 2028 to enable major leaguers to compete in the Olympics. So maybe the WBC could serve as a warm-up act.

    Sports snapshot

    Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (center) is defended by Paul George during Tuesday night’s game.

    Mike Sielski’s take

    A hearty breed in Orchard Park, N.Y.: Buffalo Bills fans during a divisional playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 19.

    For a long time when it came to sports, Buffalo was Diet Philadelphia. Similar, but with a little less. There was one other common thread, however, for decades: None of those teams ever won a championship. Recently, though, the Eagles have altered that dynamic.

    Buffalo has yet to have that great expulsion of joy and relief. The city’s excruciating sports history wouldn’t generate much sympathy from anyone, let alone from Philly. But if and when the Eagles do bow out of the playoffs, and if Buffalo’s hopes for a Super Bowl victory are still alive, send some good thoughts toward Western New York, because you were just like the fans there once, writes columnist Mike Sielski.

    🧠 Trivia time answer

    Which Oakland Raider deflected the pass that Pittsburgh’s Franco Harris hauled in for the Immaculate Reception on Dec. 23, 1972?

    A) Jack Tatum — Miles P. was first with the correct answer.

    What you’re saying about Hurts and Allen

    Jalen Hurts hugs Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen after the Eagles’ overtime win on Nov. 26, 2023.

    We asked: Who’s a better QB? Josh Allen or Super Bowl winner Jalen Hurts? Among your responses:

    No doubt Allen. He can literally carry the team unlike Hurts who needs a little help. — Bob M.

    In terms of skill and overall talent, it’s Allen. As to who’s right for this team it’s clearly Hurts. He brings passion and unquantifiable, yet obvious skills to his position. He is Philly through and through. He’s right for the team and they trust him to deliver. — Gary G.

    Depends on what you use to compare the two. Allen in my opinion right now is the better raw passer and runner. Winning percentages are close 68.5% for Allen and 64.6% for Hurts. But, Hurts has played very well in the most important games (NFC Championship and Super Bowl). He won a Super Bowl and played extremely well in the one they lost. Allen has never gotten over that last hurdle. Both of these guys are great QBS but I think Hurts’ play in the big games gives him the edge. — Bill H.

    The competition is not even close. Allen is the far superior quarterback. Hurts is a competent actor who occasionally demonstrates above average attributes while Josh Allen is a future hall of fame superstar. — David M.

    Great question. Josh Allen is a big physical QB who puts up big numbers and regular season wins. Jalen Hurts has efficient numbers, but wins in the biggest games. Ask Buffalo fans if they would trade gaudy QB stats for Super Bowl wins. Ask Eagles fans if they would love Josh Allen in Kelly green? I would opt for Jalen and his two Super Bowl appearances. — Bob C.

    Interesting and tough question. Josh has long been my favorite non Eagle QB. Guy is really tough and very talented. Not his fault that the Bills have not won a SB during his time. Overall at this point in time I give the nod to Josh, but if Jalen is behind it is not by much. On the plus side Hurts has been to two Super Bowls and is the reigning SB MVP. Love Josh but of course will be loudly routing for Jalen and the Eagles. — Everett S.

    Josh Allen. He can do it all and more consistently. — Tom G.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, Mike Sielski, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Keith Pompey, Amy S. Rosenberg, Scott Lauber, Devin Jackson, 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.

    As always, thanks for reading. Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas and happy holidays. We’ll be back in your inbox on Monday. — Bella

  • Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: These are the numbers that matter

    Eagles vs. Bills in Week 17: These are the numbers that matter

    The Eagles travel to Western New York to face the Buffalo Bills in one of the marquee matchups of the Week 17 NFL slate.

    A Super Bowl preview? That seemed far-fetched a few weeks ago, but both teams are playing better football. The Bills (11-4) have won four consecutive games, and the Eagles (10-5) snapped a three-game skid with consecutive wins over the Raiders and Commanders.

    A big step up in competition awaits the Birds at Highmark Stadium.

    Here’s a look at some numbers and trends that could factor into the result on Sunday (4:25 p.m., Fox 29).

    63

    Jordan Mailata described Saquon Barkley’s 12-yard touchdown Saturday as an “angry run.” It was one of Barkley’s highlights from a 2025 season that has not been easy. But Barkley broke out Saturday for 132 yards on 21 rushing attempts.

    Barkley broke six tackles and accumulated 63 yards after missed tackles, a season high, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Barkley was at his best running to the left side with Mailata leading the way. According to Next Gen, Barkley picked up a season-high 101 yards (7.8 yards per carry) and a touchdown on 13 carries to the left side of the formation.

    That makes sense. The left side of the offensive line features Mailata and Landon Dickerson, while the right side features backup tackle Fred Johnson and Tyler Steen, who has not had a great run-blocking season. Lane Johnson, however, could make his return at right tackle this week.

    Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown past Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu on Saturday.

    Barkley’s breakout game and his breaking free of tacklers came at a great time, because the Bills allow an NFL-high 4.1 yards after contact per carry. The next-closest team, Atlanta, is at 3.7.

    Buffalo is on the lower end of the scale at a 20.7% usage rate of stacked boxes. Expect the Bills to raise that rate on Sunday in an effort to stop the Eagles’ running game.

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 17 vs. the Bills

    10.8%

    For as much criticism as the Eagles’ offensive line has gotten for not making enough holes for Barkley, the unit has protected Jalen Hurts pretty well, especially in recent weeks.

    On Saturday, Hurts was pressured on just four of his 37 drop backs, according to Next Gen, and the 10.8% pressure rate represented the lowest of Hurts’ career. The consistently clean pocket probably made it even more frustrating for the Eagles that they didn’t pull away on the scoreboard until late in the game.

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes during the first quarter Saturday in Landover, Md.

    The Bills have a dangerous set of pass rushers, headlined by Greg Rousseau, who leads Buffalo with 48 pressures and 6½ sacks. He dominated during Buffalo’s win over Cleveland to the tune of nine pressures and 2½ sacks on 28 pass rushes. But a lot of his success came against Cam Robinson, who is a weaker left tackle.

    Mailata has a tough matchup, but it’s winnable.

    The Bills aren’t world-beaters getting after quarterbacks. They’re 12th in the NFL with a pressure rate of 35.3%.

    45.25

    Before Marcus Mariota left the game with an injury, the Eagles, who entered Week 16 allowing the second-highest rushing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks, did a wonderful job containing him. The Commanders’ backup quarterback rushed just one time for a loss of 1 yard before exiting the game after Washington’s first drive of the second half.

    Josh Allen, however, will provide another test to see if the Eagles have solved their issues with opposing quarterbacks hurting them on the ground with scrambles and designed runs.

    The Eagles will have their hands full with the rushing prowess of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

    The Eagles have advantages with their defensive backs vs. Buffalo’s receivers. They have winnable matchups along the defensive front. But Allen’s ability to freelance and use his legs to extend plays is an unpredictable part of Sunday’s game.

    During Buffalo’s four-game winning streak, Allen is averaging 45.25 rushing yards and has two rushing scores. The Eagles will need to plan accordingly.

    To play or not to play: Eagles face looming rest decisions; no competition coming for Jake Elliott

    1,532

    Here comes the NFL’s leading rusher, James Cook, who has run for 1,532 yards through 15 games this season, the only player in the NFL averaging more than 100 yards per contest.

    Getting to Cook early has to be a key for the Eagles. Entering last week, Cook had generated the fourth-best yards before contact on a per-carry basis in the NFL, according to Next Gen, and ranked 13th in yards per carry after contact.

    Buffalo running back James Cook leads the NFL in rushing yards heading into Week 17.

    The Eagles have been up and down against the run, but if Jalen Carter returns, they should have the power in the interior to slow Cook down.

    The Bills love running him on the inside, and do so at a rate of 58.2%. It will be extra important for the Eagles’ outside linebackers and rushers to set the edge and not let Cook get loose, too.

    11.1%

    The Eagles’ chances of getting the No. 2 seed in the NFC — according to the thousands of simulations FTN Fantasy runs — actually increased overnight. That’s probably because of San Francisco’s convincing win and the likelihood that the 49ers beat the Bears has increased.

    The Eagles are now at 11.1% to get the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The simplest path to a guaranteed second home game in the playoffs would be for the Eagles to win out and the Bears to lose out. After the 49ers, Chicago plays Detroit.

    Crazier things have happened.

  • Why Harry Kalas’ rendition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ still resonates: ‘It was like he was reading to his grandkids’

    Why Harry Kalas’ rendition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ still resonates: ‘It was like he was reading to his grandkids’

    Harry Kalas loved Christmas. The holiday combined two of his favorite things: singing and making people happy. So when Andy Wheeler, a producer at CBS3, approached the broadcaster about reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas in 2002, Kalas didn’t have to give it much thought.

    “I’ll come right in,” he replied.

    The station was recording a segment of five local broadcasters reciting the poem. Kalas would be featured alongside Marc Zumoff and Tom McGinnis of the 76ers, Merrill Reese of the Eagles, and Jim Jackson of the Flyers.

    It aired Dec. 24, and a few years later, while cleaning out his desk, Wheeler found the unedited Kalas video. He watched it through, and suddenly, an idea popped into his mind.

    They had the footage. Why not use the Kalas version in its entirety?

    Wheeler (no relation to longtime Phillies announcer Chris Wheeler) presented it to producer Paul Pozniak and sports director Beasley Reece, who signed off. Christmas Eve was always a slow news day. This would give them something seasonal that undoubtedly would resonate with their audience.

    A decades-long tradition was born. Barring breaking news (and Eagles games), the station has aired Kalas’ reading of the poem every Dec. 24 since 2005.

    Management has no plans to change that.

    “Obviously, people love Christmas and people love Harry Kalas,” Wheeler said. “And having him read that story, with his voice that everybody is so used to … I think people miss him and miss hearing him.

    “It’s almost like watching a home movie of Christmases past.”

    A broadcaster for all seasons

    To Phillies employees, Kalas’ voice was as synonymous with Christmas as it was with summer. He loved carols and often sang them at the team’s holiday party.

    The broadcaster would do this in a way only he could. Toward the end of the evening’s festivities, Kalas would ask those gathered to join hands to “sing the greatest Christmas song ever.” As they swayed back and forth, he’d belt out “Silent Night” in his baritone voice.

    Dan Stephenson, the Phillies’ longtime video productions manager, compared it to a star gracing a stage.

    “We knew at some point in the evening that Harry was going to be the entertainment,” he said. “And that was good enough for all of us.”

    Harry Kalas in the booth at the Vet in July 2000.

    This wasn’t Kalas’ only December tradition. In the early 2000s, he visited retirement homes in the Philadelphia area to provide seasonal cheer.

    Like the Phillies’ holiday party, these visits inevitably ended with Christmas carols. John Brazer, who worked in the team’s marketing department for 33 years, remembered driving Kalas to a retirement community in Media in 2005.

    On the ride there, Brazer asked the broadcaster if he enjoyed singing to the retirees.

    “John, I tell you what,” Brazer recalled Kalas saying. “I love it. I love Christmastime. But the songs I really love doing are the religious songs — ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘Silent Night.’”

    He got emotional for a moment, then abruptly changed his tune.

    “But I really don’t like when they do a secular song. I’m not a big fan of ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ and stuff like that.”

    Brazer and Kalas arrived at the retirement home a few minutes later. Kalas began taking requests, as an employee played along on the piano.

    The first four songs were religious in nature. The fifth was not.

    “Someone said, ‘Hey, Harry, can you sing ‘Jingle Bells?’” Brazer said. “And he [turned to] me with this disgusted look.”

    Despite his personal opinions, Kalas launched into an upbeat rendition of the song with a big smile on his face, as if it were his favorite carol of all.

    Harry Kalas was legendary within the community of Phillies fans.

    Brazer relayed the story to Stephenson, who wasn’t surprised. Kalas would sign every autograph with glee. He’d get all sorts of requests — fans asking him to record voicemail greetings, or to read the names of their bridal parties — and would always oblige.

    It was about making people feel like they mattered.

    “There was no way he wasn’t going to sing it,” Stephenson said with a laugh. “That was classic Harry.”

    Harry Kalas couldn’t resist tossing a reference to longtime broadcast partner Richie Ashburn (right) into his Christmas recitation.

    ‘Like he was reading to his grandkids’

    Wheeler had a December tradition, too. When he was a kid, growing up in Aston, his parents would read ’Twas the Night Before Christmas every Dec. 24.

    The idea of having play-by-play announcers recite the poem on air was exciting, but when it came to Kalas, the young producer was nervous.

    He grew up listening to the voice of the Phillies, and was worried about coming off as inexperienced (or worse, clueless). But when Kalas arrived to KYW’s studios at 5th and Market, he brought calm to a chaotic scene.

    The only Christmas tree the producers could find was in the lobby, so they had Kalas do his taping there. Station employees filtered in and out, causing quite a bit of background noise. A gaggle of children with limited attention spans sat in front of him.

    But none of that seemed to faze Kalas. Wheeler handed him the book (bought from a nearby Borders), and the broadcaster began to read.

    His audience was entranced.

    “It was almost like he played the role of Santa Claus,” Pozniak said. “With his voice, and the way he relates to people. He wasn’t too big to be talking to kids he didn’t know. It was like he was reading to his grandkids or something.”

    Kalas sat in front of the tree for about 40 minutes, asking producers for feedback and reciting lines until he was satisfied. He even added his own creative flair.

    Near the end of the poem, the broadcaster realized there was a reference to a pipe. He decided to give a nod to his partner, Richie Ashburn, who famously smoked in the booth.

    “And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow,” Kalas read. “The stump of a pipe — like Whitey’s — he held tight in his teeth …”

    Kalas grinned at Wheeler.

    “Had to get that in there,” he said.

    Harry Kalas and CBS3 producer Andy Wheeler at the 2008 World Series.

    It wasn’t until a few years later, when Wheeler found the old recording, that he realized just how special Kalas’ version was. So KYW, and subsequently CBS3, began running it every Christmas Eve.

    After Kalas died of heart disease in April 2009, the station considered ending the tradition. Wheeler and Pozniak were concerned that it would be in poor taste.

    But Reece insisted they continue.

    “This is a way of keeping him close,” he told the producers.

    Years later, the recitation still has that effect. From start to finish, it captures Kalas perfectly. You can see his humanity, and his humor. You can hear the richness in his voice.

    And if you listen closely enough, you can even catch his favorite carol, softly humming in the background: “Silent Night.”

  • 2026 World Juniors: Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna headline why Flyers fans should watch the tournament

    2026 World Juniors: Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna headline why Flyers fans should watch the tournament

    It’s the best time of the year, the holiday season, and for hockey fans, that also means the annual gift of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship.

    The premier under-20 hockey tournament in the world, which starts the day after Christmas each year, showcases the next wave of NHL superstars, many of whom have already been drafted and others who won’t wait long to hear their names called come June. This year’s tournament is in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., and runs through Jan. 5. Here are four reasons that Flyers fans should be tuned in to NHL Network and ESPN+ over the next few weeks:

    Flyers Q&A: Brent Flahr dishes on prospects Porter Martone, Jett Luchanko, and more

    1. Porter’s house

    Let’s not bury the lead here. Porter Martone is the biggest reason for Flyers fans to watch this tournament, as the 6-foot-3, 208-pound power forward will be counted on as one of the key cogs and the captain for heavy favorite Canada. Martone, the No. 6 overall draft pick in June, looks poised to be a pillar of the Flyers’ future and should be ready to make the jump to the NHL next season.

    The winger, who tore apart the Ontario Hockey League last year with 98 points in 57 games, has been just as dominant as a freshman in the NCAA, as he leads No. 3 Michigan State with 11 goals, 20 points, and 58 penalty minutes in 16 games. With a rare combination of size, skill, playmaking ability, scoring touch, and snarl, Martone projects as a front-line winger at the next level. Martone’s skating, while hardly a weakness, remains a work in progress, but Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr recently told The Inquirer that he thinks Martone “has a chance to be a special player” and that he has the “it factor.”

    Martone has been playing on Canada’s top line with Michael Misa and Tij Iginla but has also seen time alongside Gavin McKenna. The World Juniors can serve as a launching pad for future NHL stars, so don’t be surprised to see the Flyers prospect have a huge tournament.

    2. More Flyers prospects

    While Martone is the unquestioned headliner, the Flyers will have six prospects lacing them up in the Twin Cities, including Martone and Jett Luchanko (Canada), Shane Vansaghi (United States), Jack Berglund (Sweden), and Heikki Ruohonen and Max Westergård (Finland).

    Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko will be competing in his second straight World Juniors with Canada.

    Luchanko and Berglund will draw the most attention, especially with the Flyers badly needing one or two of their young center prospects to pan out. The speedy Luchanko likely will play a third-line/checking role — he’s been used some on the wing in preliminary games — with Canada, but Flyers fans will want to see him utilize his playmaking skills with better players around him. Since being traded to Brantford of the OHL last month, Luchanko has two goals and eight points in six games. The Flyers want Luchanko to continue shooting the puck more, and it will be interesting to see how he’s utilized a year after Danny Brière said he wasn’t happy with his deployment at this tournament.

    Berglund, meanwhile, probably is the least-talked-about prospect in the Flyers system. A big, strong centerman listed at 6-4 and 209 pounds, the Swede will have the responsibility of captaining his country at this illustrious tournament, something Emil Andrae did in 2022. After impressing at Flyers development camp and the World Junior Summer Showcase, Berglund will look to continue his momentum. The early signs are good, as the 19-year-old recently scored twice against Canada in a preliminary game. The question with Berglund will always be his skating, but Flahr believes it has steadily improved and says that Berglund’s size, strength, and details project him to be a valuable player at the next level.

    The bruising but skilled Vansaghi figures to be a depth piece for the Americans, while Ruohonen, a Harvard man who also impressed at the World Junior Summer Showcase, will play in a top-six role with Finland. Westergård, 18, also earned a spot on the roster after a strong first half in Sweden at the under-20 level.

    Flyers Q&A: Brent Flahr talks Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Jack Berglund, and the 2026 NHL draft

    3. Eyes on the prize

    While McKenna has long been viewed as the prize of the 2026 draft, the Penn State phenom no longer seems to be a lock to go No. 1. Two of the players challenging for that spot also will be playing in the tournament: towering Canadian defenseman Keaton Verhoeff and exciting Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg.

    While the Flyers, who currently are in a playoff spot, don’t look to be genuine contenders for McKenna, Verhoeff, and some of the others at the top, they surely will be scouting the tournament with a close eye. Sweden’s Viggo Björck (C) and William Håkansson (LD), USA’s Chase Reid (RD), Canada’s Carson Carels (LD), Finland’s Oliver Suvanto (C) and Juho Piiparinen (RD), and Czechia’s Adam Novotny are among the other draft-eligible players to watch.

    Penn State’s Gavin McKenna, once viewed as a lock to be the No. 1 pick in 2026, has a lot to prove over the next few weeks with Team Canada.

    4. Team USA three-peat?

    USA Hockey only won its first World Juniors gold in 2004. It has won the tournament seven times, including the last two years. So can the U.S., which had never won two in a row before last year, make it three straight?

    It will be a tough task as Canada brings a star-studded roster headlined by McKenna, Misa, and Martone, not to mention a new head coach in Dale Hunter who knows what it takes to lead a group of young men to gold.

    But the U.S. boasts a strong roster of its own led by James Hagens, Cole Eiserman, and Max Plante. While the depth or star power might not be at the level of past U.S. teams, the Americans will go into this tournament as the two-time defending champions and have home-ice advantage. The U.S. also is sure to have a chip on its shoulder, especially given all the “dream team” talk surrounding Canada. All the pressure is on Canada to win gold and atone for last year’s shocking quarterfinal upset. That could work to the Americans’ advantage.

    Flyers top 20 prospects: Porter Martone is No. 1, but where do Alex Bump and Jett Luchanko rank?

  • Eagles roundtable: Answering some of the biggest Birds questions as the playoffs approach

    Eagles roundtable: Answering some of the biggest Birds questions as the playoffs approach

    The Eagles have clinched their second straight NFC East title and a return to the postseason, meaning much of the focus in the coming days will center on how far they can advance. With that in mind, we turned to The Inquirer’s Eagles writers, Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, and Jeff Neiburg, to discuss some of the biggest issues surrounding the team — including the injury situation, biggest 2025 surprises, and how the staff might look different beyond the postseason:

    Could Jalen Hurts and Co. be looking at an Eagles-Rams rematch in the playoffs?

    Who should the Eagles least want to see in the NFC portion of the playoffs?

    McLane: Honestly, I don’t spend my waking hours caring who the Eagles should least want to face in the playoffs, but I guess for the sake of this exercise I’ll choose the Rams. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford know what it takes to win a title and have arguably a better offense than when they won the Super Bowl four years ago. The Rams are imperfect, as their overtime loss to the Seahawks last week showed. And the Eagles have had McVay’s number, winning six of seven since he took over in Los Angeles. But the law of averages may finally benefit the coach. I’d also be wary of the peaking 49ers.

    NFL playoff picture: Eagles scenarios, two more teams clinch

    Reiner: The Rams. Yes, the Eagles are 4-0 against them under Nick Sirianni, including last year’s divisional-round game and the Week 3 victory this season. But Stafford has been playing at an MVP level this year. He has one of the NFL’s top receiving duos in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Kyren Williams is a top-10 running back. The Rams’ defensive front, led by Jared Verse and Byron Young, is among the best in the league. The Eagles have a chance against any team in the NFC, but the Rams would provide the most difficult test.

    Neiburg: I wanted to say the Rams, because I do believe they are the best team in the NFC, but the Eagles seem to have their number, and, as of right now, a playoff game vs. the Rams would be at Lincoln Financial Field. Instead, I’ll go with the Seahawks. I don’t trust Sam Darnold to win a big game, but the Eagles’ offense having to go up against that defense in front of that home crowd on the other side of the country in what would likely be the NFC title game is a daunting task.

    Jalen Carter is the Eagles’ only Pro Bowl starter. But the team has managed to get by without him at various times in 2025.

    Who’s more important to have fully healthy for the playoffs, Lane Johnson or Jalen Carter?

    Reiner: Yes. Is that an acceptable answer? Thankfully for the Eagles, they won’t have to pick, because both are expected to return in time for the playoffs. But for the sake of the exercise, I’ll pick Johnson. Fred Johnson has been solid in his absence, but the All-Pro right tackle is one of the best in the league at his position. Carter hasn’t been healthy for most of the year and the Eagles’ defensive front has fared well enough without him recently.

    Neiburg: Nothing against Carter, but the clear answer is Johnson. Right tackle is a singular position, and Johnson is a singular player, a future Hall of Famer who is still among the best players at his position. The Eagles’ defensive front has played well without Carter, and while getting him back and at full strength is a big deal, it’s not quite the same as inserting Lane Johnson in over Fred Johnson.

    Jalen Carter returns to practice and the Eagles are ‘hopeful’ that he’ll play against the Bills

    McLane: “Fully healthy” is rare for any player at this stage of the season, but assuming either is cleared to return for the playoffs, close to 90% should be good enough. Johnson has played through worse than his Lisfranc foot injury. He delayed surgery to repair a torn adductor two years ago and didn’t miss a beat. History has shown that when he isn’t in the lineup the Eagles struggle, going 15-27 since 2013. Carter’s absence hurt vs. the Giants in October, but the D-line has done a better job of covering for his loss these last three games. So I guess my answer is Johnson.

    Saquon Barkley came up well short of another 2,000-yard season while working behind a battered line that has struggled at times.

    Based on your observations of this team in training camp, what’s the single biggest surprise about the Eagles from your vantage point here in December?

    Neiburg: That an offense that returned 10 of 11 starters and hired a coordinator who had been on staff for years tailed off the way it has — especially in the running game. I knew Saquon Barkley wasn’t going to run for 2,000 yards again. I knew the Eagles were going to face stacked boxes. I didn’t expect the offensive line to struggle to run block this way and didn’t think moving the ball and getting first downs would be as much of a chore as it has at times this season.

    Reiner: The offensive line’s overall regression. Even with Landon Dickerson’s meniscus injury in camp, it seemed unlikely that the group would struggle so much, especially in the run game. The unit has been better over the last few weeks, as evidenced by Barkley’s recent surge. But for most of the season, the offensive line wasn’t the juggernaut that the Eagles have leaned on in the past.

    Saquon Barkley and the Eagles ran angry in the second half. It’s about time.

    McLane: I kind of saw the offensive regression coming, and certainly Barkley’s struggles, but not to the extent it’s been. That said, that the Eagles would have another first-time offensive coordinator come under fire for most of the season wasn’t a surprise either. So I’ll look at other phases.

    On defense, I thought Carter would be primed to take his game to another level with a contract extension potentially on the table this offseason. I know he was voted to the Pro Bowl and has been dealing with shoulder injuries, but he hasn’t had the desired impact. On special teams, Jake Elliott has hit rough patches before. But he had a great camp and first half of the season. That’s why the kicker’s late-season woes have come out of the blue for me.

    If you don’t yet know DBs coach Christian Parker’s name, you will.

    The NFL coaching carousel is about to start spinning. Which members of the Eagles staff would you expect to garner outside interest for head or assistant roles? Any future head coaches on this staff?

    McLane: Vic Fangio has the best pedigree and should get another chance to be a head coach. But he’s 67 and has said he has no desire to be in that chair again, which is good news for the Eagles. I think special teams coordinator Michael Clay could be a CEO-type head coach some day. Of the assistants, defensive backs coach Christian Parker is likely to get poached to head a defense sooner rather than later.

    Reiner: The 33-year-old Parker has become a rising star in the league, getting the most out of young cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in their first two seasons in the NFL. He has a long career ahead of him, and it might not be possible for Fangio to keep him around for much longer.

    Neiburg: If I had to guess one coach from this list who gets a promotion next year, it’s Parker. Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt has already been a coordinator (with the Seahawks in 2022-23) and could do it again. Clay has a bright future in this league. And Kevin Patullo — yes, that one — might be a head coach one day. Just not this next coaching cycle.

    Dallas Goedert (88) and DeVonta Smith (6) have both demonstrated their value to an offense that has struggled at times.

    Who would be No. 1 on your ballot for offensive MVP, if the season ended today?

    Neiburg: This one was tough, and it feels like we’re just giving out a participation trophy. You don’t need me to tell you that the Eagles’ offense hasn’t been very good this season, despite the amount of money the team dedicates to offensive players. A few weeks ago, I’d have said DeVonta Smith, but he’s sort of tailed off a little. I’ll go with Dallas Goedert, who has been a major red zone weapon and has more touchdowns (10) than he had in the last three seasons combined.

    Handing out credit for the Eagles’ record playoff run, also what NFL refs got right and DK Metcalf did wrong in Week 16

    McLane: Smith has slipped some since we last had this question at the bye. But that’s more circumstantial than anything related to his performance. Smith’s success in the first half of the season led to defenses clouding him more, which has created space for fellow receiver A.J. Brown. Smith has still delivered when called upon and is on track to have the third 1,000-yard season of his career. He’s also a willing blocker as he showed on Saquon Barkley’s 48-yard run vs. the Commanders.

    Reiner: Goedert. He’s been the star of the Eagles’ top-ranked red zone offense, leading the team with nine touchdowns inside the 20 (10 touchdowns on the season overall). For a player who didn’t look like he was returning to the Eagles this offseason, he’s had one of the better seasons of his eight-year career.

    Quinyon Mitchell (left) and Cooper DeJean (right) have both been vital to the defense’s success.

    How about defensive MVP?

    Reiner: Quinyon Mitchell. In his second season, he earned more responsibility in Fangio’s defense, whether he’s traveling with opposing teams’ top receivers or lining up on the boundary side. He’s risen to the challenge. Mitchell leads the league with 17 pass breakups. He’s also conceded catches on just 42.3% of his targets, the lowest rate among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps.

    Neiburg: Jordan Davis. Has he been the overall best performer on the defense? Probably not, but we sort of already knew what to expect out of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Zack Baun, and Co. But with Davis, the talk in the offseason was about a transformed body and how he was ready to take the next step. He walked the walk.

    McLane: This may be controversial, but I’m going with Cooper DeJean. Mitchell is also deserving — quarterbacks have stayed away from testing him and when they have, he’s often answered the bell. But DeJean has a more difficult job in the slot, in my opinion. It’s why Fangio has refused to move him exclusively to the outside. The second-year corner has to match up vs. faster receivers and bigger-bodied tight ends, while also supporting the run defense from an inside position.