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  • Eagles news: Kevin Patullo’s home vandalized; Nick Sirianni sticks with OC; Seth Joyner rips A.J. Brown

    Eagles news: Kevin Patullo’s home vandalized; Nick Sirianni sticks with OC; Seth Joyner rips A.J. Brown

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 5:25pm

    Eagles vs. Chargers odds for Week 14

    Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) practices before the game at SoFi Stadium.

    It hasn’t been a fun start to the holiday season for Eagles fans after watching their team lose back-to-back games to the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears.

    After two consecutive losses, the Eagles will prepare for a prime-time matchup at SoFi Stadium, where they’ll face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. The last time these teams met was during the 2021 season in a game the Eagles lost, 27-24, at home.

    While the Birds are sliding, the Chargers have won four of their last five games. But their latest win over the Las Vegas Raiders saw quarterback Justin Herbert suffer a broken bone in his nonthrowing hand. Ahead of the teams’ Week 14 matchup, the sportsbooks are favoring Philly, who opens as a 3-point favorite.

    FanDuel

    • Spread: Chargers +3 (-118); Eagles -3 (-104)
    • Moneyline: Chargers (+124); Eagles (-146)
    • Total: Over 40.5 (-115); Under 40.5 (-105)

    DraftKings

    • Spread: Chargers +3 (-108); Eagles -3 (-112)
    • Moneyline: Chargers (+136); Eagles (-162)
    • Total: Over 40.5 (-115); Under 40.5 (-105)
    Eagles open as slim favorites over Chargers in Week 14; plus, updated Super Bowl and MVP odds

    — Ariel Simpson

    // Pinned

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 4:13pm

    Police confirm Kevin Patullo’s home was egged over weekend

    A viral video making the rounds on social media Monday appears to show Kevin Patullo’s home being vandalized. And according to the Moorestown Police Department, Patullo’s house was indeed targeted over the weekend, but the vandals weren’t throwing rocks — they were eggs.

    According to police, Patullo’s Moorestown, N.J., home was vandalized with multiple eggs at around 2:50 a.m. Saturday morning, hours after the Eagles lost, 24-15, to the Chicago Bears on Black Friday.

    Detectives are still working to determine the identities of those involved in the incident, a police spokesperson said.

    Patullo, the first-year Eagles offensive coordinator, has shouldered the brunt of the blame for the Eagles’ struggles on offense. A website calling for his firing surfaced. Fans chanted for him to be fired during the game Friday.

    Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reiterated Monday what he said after the game Friday: Patullo will remain the play-caller as the Eagles prepare for their Week 14 game at the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday.

    Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s house was vandalized after Bears loss, police confirm

    — Jeff Neiburg

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 3:45pm

    Nick Sirianni reiterates Kevin Patullo will call plays

    Nick Sirianni said Monday that the Eagles spent the weekend — and are still — “evaluating everything,” but he reiterated what he said after Friday’s game: Kevin Patullo remains the play caller.

    The Eagles, Sirianni said, are working through “different things that we want to do” but declined to share any particulars.

    “We’re working through everything,” Sirianni said. “I have a lot of faith in all the players. I have a lot of faith in all the coaches.”

    Nick Sirianni reiterates Eagles are ‘evaluating everything,’ but Kevin Patullo will still call plays

    — Jeff Neiburg

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 2:50pm

    Watch live: Nick Sirianni speaks to reporters

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 2:29pm

    Chargers rookie RB Omarion Hampton could return against the Eagles

    Chargers running back Omarion Hampton has missed the past seven games with an ankle injury.

    After opening his 21-day practice window last week, it appears likely Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton will make his return to the field against the Eagles Monday night.

    CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz wrote “there’s optimism” the rookie could return to action this week after missing the past seven games with a broken ankle.

    “Gosh, he looked good,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said of Hampton’s return to practice last week.

    Without Hampton in the lineup, the Chargers have relied on the one-two punch of running backs Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson. It worked out well Sunday, with the two combining for 180 yards rushing in a blowout win against the Las Vegas Raiders.

    Hampton, a standout at North Carolina taken with the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, quickly became a key part of the Chargers offense, both rushing and receiving out of the backfield. He slid into the starting role after Najee Harris’ season-ending Achilles rupture against the Denver Broncos in Week 3.

    If he returns, Hampton will likely find some open running lanes against the Eagles. The Birds defense is allowing 128.9 rushing yards per game, ninth-worst in the NFL, and just gave up 281 yards rushing to the Chicago Bears.

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 1:51pm

    Nick Foles has a suggestion for Kevin Patullo

    Former Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles has been weighing in on the team’s offensive struggles.

    Nick Foles sees everyone’s frustrations with the Eagles offense, but he’s not ready to pull the plug on Kevin Patullo just for the sake of making a change.

    Foles doesn’t believe Sirianni wants to call plays himself, and the solution to the Birds’ offensive woes in the long-term might be outside the building.

    So, in the short-term, Foles pitched a few potential solutions, including moving Patullo up from the sideline back into the box, where he’s sat since joining the Eagles in 2021.

    “Being a pass game coordinator, [Patullo’s] role was to be in the box, to be in the booth, to oversee what is happening on the field from an up-above perspective, not being on the sidelines with the players and feeling the emotions from the sideline,” Foles said on the most-recent episode of The SZN podcast he co-hosts with Evan Moore. “He was in a controlled environment to see coverages, to see plays, and to make recommendations for the passing game.”

    Being on the sideline surrounded by the players provides a different perspective than being up in the box, which is also where Vic Fangio calls plays from. It’s a less distracting environment, and it can be easier to make adjustments as the drive develops instead of waiting to watch tape on delay.

    Last week, Foles suggested Patullo might not have what it takes when it comes to calling plays.

    “Kevin Patullo is probably a great dude, a great coach, but there’s an art to play-calling that not everyone has and it’s not showing up this year,” Foles said.

    Kevin Patullo could benefit from move from sidelines to box, according to Nick Foles

    — Gabriela Carroll

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 12:30pm

    Vikings waive WR Adam Thielen, wants to join a contender

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 11:40am

    The NFL’s Cult of Analytics

    FOX NFL analyst Greg Olsen agreed with Nick Sirianni’s two-point attempt.

    You never start an argument with an analytics zealot because you will always lose. They have data and numbers and history. They generally ignore intangibles such as momentum, atmosphere, competition, site, and psyche.

    This matters this week because of the meaningless yet fiery debate, fueled by superb (if somewhat self-anointing) NFL analyst Greg Olsen, surrounding the Eagles’ decision to try a two-point conversion with more than three minutes to play, trailing by nine, to make it a seven-point game. It failed. That meant the Eagles needed two more possessions to win, which was unlikely considering the limited time remaining. It made more common sense to kick the PAT and make it an eight-point game.

    Nick Sirianni said, “I’m always going to go for a two in that scenario,” citing his personal research on the matter over several years. Sirianni is winning at a legendary clip, so maybe his studies show something publicly available analytics do not. Those analytics give a slight edge to doing what Sirianni did.

    But what Sirianni did virtually assured the loss. By doing so, it removed any real incentive from the defense, which had already been on the field 14 minutes more than the offense. The most realistically hopeful scenario after the missed two-point try was for the defense to hold, for the Eagles to score a TD, then for the Eagles to recover an onside kick, which happens at only about a 5% rate the past two seasons.

    Olson and his tribe used X/Twitter to preach their message, which, predictably, incensed the anti-analytics barbarians.

    It was kind of fun to watch the two sides battle, but kind of sad, too.

    Because anyone who watched that game knew the Eagles weren’t going to score another touchdown, anyway.

    Yes, Jalen Hurts is the ‘problem’ for the Eagles, not Kevin Patullo: So what?

    — Marcus Hayes

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 10:34am

    ‘He’s selfish’: Seth Joyner rips A.J. Brown

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 9:29am

    The Eagles’ path to the No. 1 seed in the NFC is difficult

    Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have a difficult path to claim the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

    There’s a new king in the NFC, and it’s the team that strolled into Lincoln Financial Field on Black Friday, ran all over the Eagles, and silenced the critics — this writer included — that said its 8-3 record was fugazi.

    Yes, if the season ended today, all roads would lead to the shirtless final boss, Ben Johnson, and his 9-3 Chicago Bears. And if that pole positioning holds, they’ll have earned it. Chicago’s final five games look like this: at Green Bay, home vs. Cleveland, home vs. Green Bay, at San Francisco, home vs. Detroit.

    In other words, the Bears are holding onto that top seed in a similar way Jalen Hurts held onto the football during that fourth-quarter Tush Push on Friday.

    There are six teams in the NFC now with eight or nine wins, and the Eagles — despite the sky falling on Philadelphia and Nick Sirianni fairly being asked about his offensive coordinator’s job status — are one of them.

    Only two teams have an easier schedule the rest of the way than the Eagles do, and neither team is in the aforementioned group.

    Cue the Lloyd Christmas line. Yes, there’s a chance.

    The math gets a little complicated, so a tip of the hat to Eagles numbers guru Deniz Selman for laying it all out Monday morning on social media.

    There’s a lot going on there. How likely is the No. 1 seed for the Eagles? FTN Fantasy puts the chances at 3.3%. Not great. But not quite the one-in-a-million odds Christmas faced in Dumb and Dumber.

    In fact, considering FTN puts the Eagles’ playoff chances at 93.3%, there’s a better mathematical chance this collapse ends with the Eagles blowing the NFC East and missing the playoffs than the Eagles securing the No. 1 seed.

    — Jeff Neiburg

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 8:14am

    Kurt Warner finds a problem, and it isn’t Jalen Hurts

    Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo during Friday’s loss to the Bears.

    NFL Network analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner took a deep dive on the Eagles’ offense following their Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears, and came away noticing a big issue in the team’s approach on offense.

    To illustrate his point, Warner spent 15 minutes on his QB Confidential YouTube channel examining a single offensive play from the second quarter, a failed third down pass to what appeared to be a wide open DeVonta Smith.

    From Warner’s perspective, what at first appeared to be a misfire by Jalen Hurts looks more like a failure to plan for defensive pressure. Specifically, the decision for Smith to run a “choice route” that led to a bad throw because he didn’t appear to be on the same page as Hurts facing a Bears’ blitz.

    “To me, this is a losing play scheme-wise because you didn’t define what you wanted to do,” Warner said. “You left too much indecision and too much guessing in a critical situation, and it’s something that cost you.”

    So why did Warner do a deep dive of the play? It appears to be in reaction to several pundits, including Brian Baldinger, blaming Hurts for making an errant throw on the play.

    “Jalen went to exactly the right place and really the only place he can go” in their offense, Warner wrote on social media.

    This is obviously just one play, but speaks to a larger issue my colleague Jeff McLane has written about — a failure along multiple fronts that has led to the Eagles offense dropping from an elite squad to the league’s ninth-worst, averaging just a few more yards per game more than New Orleans Saints.

    “If you want to know why the passing route design sometimes looks rudimentary, look at Sirianni, Patullo and their nondescript scheme,” McLane wrote following Friday’s loss. “But don’t forget the quarterback. There are swaths of the playbook that aren’t touched because Hurts isn’t comfortable with certain concepts.”

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 7:20am

    Eagles injury updates

    Lane Johnson will sit out at least one more week due to a foot injury.

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 7:15am

    NFC playoff picture: No change for the Eagles

    An Eagles fan yawns during Friday’s loss to the Bears.

    The Chicago Bears?

    Thanks to the Carolina Panthers’ upset win over the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, the Bears suddenly hold the NFC’s top playoff spot with five games remaining in the season.

    The Eagles remain in the No. 3 spot, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still hold the No. 4 spot and first place in the NFC South thanks to their win against the Arizona Cardinals, which officially eliminated Jonathan Gannon’s squad from the playoffs.

    The New Orleans Saints were also eliminated from playoff contention Sunday. Despite their loss to the Denver Broncos Sunday night, the Washington Commanders remain mathematically alive, at least for another week. Though their only path is sweeping the Eagles and winning the NFC East with an 8-9 record.

    NFC playoff standings

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    As for the NFC East, the situation is a lot tighter for the Eagles than it was just two weeks ago.

    The Birds will enter Week 14 just one game up on the Dallas Cowboys in the loss column facing a feisty Los Angeles Chargers team that has won four of their last five games.

    The Cowboys face the suddenly desperate Detroit Lions in a few days on Thursday Night Football. The New York Times is only giving Dallas an 8% chance to win the NFC East, but a Cowboys win paired with another Birds loss would change that in a hurry.

    That being said, the Eagles still remain in control of the division. Their magic number — a combination of Birds wins and Cowboys losses — is four, and the overall record of their opponents down the stretch is 24-34, including two games against the 3-8 Commanders.

    NFC East standings

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    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 7:10am

    Eagles reportedly losing front office exec

    Dave Caldwell worked for the Eagles for parts of five seasons after being fired by the Jaguars in November 2020.

    A member of the Eagles’ front office staff will be joining a college football program.

    Eagles senior personnel director/advisor to the general manager Dave Caldwell will become the University of Florida’s college football general manager, per multiple reports. On3.com first reported the news.

    Caldwell will join the staff of Jon Sumrall, the Tulane coach that multiple outlets reported is finalizing a deal to take over the Gators program.

    Caldwell joined the Eagles in 2021 after an eight-year stint as general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent time with the Atlanta Falcons (2008-12), Indianapolis Colts (1998-07) and the Carolina Panthers (1996-97) prior to to his Jaguars tenure.

    With name, image and likeness realities and the transfer portal taking over college athletics, Power Four programs have increasingly sought dedicated general managers with the experience to handle the acquisition and compensation details of players.

    Florida finished the 2025 season at 4-8.

    Reports: Eagles front office exec Dave Caldwell becoming Florida GM

    — Devin Jackson

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 7:05am

    Justin Herbert may be forced to miss Eagles-Chargers

    Justin Herbert broke his non-throwing hand Sunday and will undergo surgery.

    The Eagles will face the Chargers in a pivotal Week 14 matchup Monday, but Los Angeles may be without their star quarterback.

    Justin Herbert suffered a broken left hand during Sunday’s win against the Las Vegas Raiders. Coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters Herbert is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday and might night be able to play the Birds on Monday Night Football.

    Herbert was a bit more optimistic about his chances of being on the field.

    “I’m treating it as if I’m playing on Monday,” Herbert told reporters.

    Herbert suffered the broken left hand in the first quarter, but missed just a handful of plays before returning to the field. He got a lot of support from running backs Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson, who combined for 180 yards rushing Sunday.

    That’s not promising for the Eagles, who just gave up 281 yards rushing to the Chicago Bears.

    If Herbert isn’t able to play, Trey Lance would get the start for the Chargers.

    — Rob Tornoe

    2025 Eagles schedule

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 12/01/25 7:00am

  • The Washington Post snubbed Philly on list of America’s best sports cities. Here are nine reasons they’re wrong.

    The Washington Post snubbed Philly on list of America’s best sports cities. Here are nine reasons they’re wrong.

    The Washington Post’s opinion section enlisted nine writers to share which American city they think deserves the title of the nation’s best sports city.

    Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Boston — even the likes of Kansas City and Cleveland got a mention. Which city was snubbed? Philadelphia.

    Taking a look through the comments of their recent Instagram post promoting the list, not to mention the nearly 800 comments on the column itself, we’re not the only ones who raised an eyebrow at the exclusion of Philly from the list.

    So we got nine of our own writers to argue why Philadelphia is the nation’s best sports city. Enjoy.

    It means more to us

    Mike Sielski, sports columnist

    Philadelphia is America’s best sports city because sports — not national sports, not the Olympics, but the teams and athletes here — is the lingua franca of the town and the great connector of the city and its surrounding suburbs and communities. Do you flinch when someone says the name Chico Ruiz or Joe Carter? Do you smile at a random mention of Matt Stairs or Corey Clement? Then you know and love Philadelphia sports.

    It’s America’s best sports city because Philadelphia is a provincial, parochial region where the love of and devotion to the teams’ histories and traditions are passed down from one generation to the next — a succession of unbroken bonds over a century or more. Did you sit out on your front stoop on a summer night and listen to Harry and Whitey call a Phillies game over the radio? Do you still sync Merrill and Mike’s broadcast to the TV telecast? Do you know who J.J. Daigneault is? Then you know and love Philadelphia sports.

    Eagles fans professed their love in ink after the team’s Super Bowl LIX win. These are some of our favorites.

    It is America’s best sports city because you can walk down the street here after an Eagles loss or a Phillies loss or a Sixers loss and know that those teams lost just from the vacant looks on the faces of the passersby. Do you turn up the talk-radio station on those terrible Monday mornings? Do you remember where you were when Kawhi’s fourth bounce fell through the net? Then you know and you live and you die with Philadelphia sports.

    Most of all, Philadelphia is America’s best sports city because people here care more and sports here matters more than it does anywhere else. If you don’t believe me, go ahead. Tell a Philadelphia sports fan that your city, your teams, your traditions are better. Go ahead. Dare ya.

    Philly fans celebrate the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win in near City Hall.

    Nobody parties like us

    Stephanie Farr, features columnist

    Philadelphia is undoubtedly the best sports city in the United States and it has everything to do with our fans, who are as passionate and dedicated as they come. Here “Go Birds” is a greeting, talking trash is an art form, and being a part of it all is totally intoxicating, even if you’re completely sober (which, to be fair, most of us aren’t).

    Nobody celebrates a major win like Philly — by partying in the street with Gritty and Ben Franklin impersonators, dancing with Philly Elmo and his drum line, and climbing greased poles. When the Phillies won the NLCS in 2022, I watched Sean “Shrimp” Hagan climb a pole and shotgun seven cans of Twisted Tea thrown to him by the crowd. To his credit, at some point Hagan realized he was too drunk to get down safely and waited for firefighters to bring a ladder.

    “It couldn’t have happened without the crowd being so [expletive] Philly,” he told me. “What other city’s first thought when they see a guy on a pole would be to throw him a beer?”

    Do our Bacchanalian celebrations border on absolute lawless anarchy? Yes, but if you want to live safe and know how something will end, go watch a Hallmark movie. This is Philly, where we are fueled by the raging fire of a thousand losses — even when we win — and we thrive off the unpredictability of life.

    Go Birds.

    What Philly — and Philly sports fans — taught me about fandom | Stephanie Farr

    Yes, we’re really that crazy

    David Murphy, sports columnist

    In my early 20s, I lived in Tampa for a brief stint. The downtown area is small enough that all of its neighborhoods are in proximity to each other. My apartment was in a section popular among locals for its dining and nightlife scene. But it was close enough to the hotel district to be in the eye of the storm when the Eagles came to town.

    One Saturday evening in late October, we were sitting at a popular outside bar when the place was suddenly overcome by a wave of midnight green. Everywhere you looked, there were packs of Eagles fans who looked like they hadn’t seen the sun in two months. They swaggered through the place in their Brian Dawkins jerseys with zero regard for humanity. They ordered their Bud Lights in multiples of two and yelled Eagles chants at each other as horrified young women clung desperately to each other and wiped errant sloshes of domestic Pilsner off each other’s going-out clothes. A friend of mine stepped off the patio to have a cigarette. He returned with a stunned expression on his face. “An Eagles fan just peed on my foot,” he said with a mixture of anger and respect.

    Tampa got the last laugh the next day when Matt Bryant kicked a walk-off field goal from 62 yards out. But I always think of that weekend when people ask me if Philly sports fans are as crazy as their reputation.

    An Eagles fan sits on top of the traffic light post at the intersection of Broad and Pine Streets after the team won Super Bowl LIX in February.

    There are a lot of different prerequisites that a city needs in order to consider itself a great sports town. For instance, it must be an actual city, one with history and character that stands on its own even without sports. Furthermore, a great sports town requires a certain level of market penetration. Sports must sit atop the pedestal in a way that it doesn’t in places like New York and L.A. There must be a critical mass of folks who are born and raised, which eliminates pretty much any city south of the Mason-Dixon and west of the Mississippi. The list is a short one. Boston, Chicago, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Detroit, maybe Milwaukee.

    From there, the thing that sets Philly apart is the people. They are a strange lot, prone to overexcitement and, every now and then, over-indulgence. But, man, do they care. You see it any time one of their teams hits the road. You hear it, too. There is an energy that is difficult to define but impossible not to feel. It’s the secret sauce of this place. And, yeah, it’s the best.

    Flyers fans once joined a club by getting hit by a puck. It made them ‘feel special’ — and protected the team.

    We own our losses

    Matt Breen, sports features writer

    A veteran Eagles reporter wrote recently that last Sunday’s Eagles-Cowboys game was the Birds’ worst ever loss to their rival. They blew a 21-point lead, exposed some glaring flaws, and lost on a walk-off field goal. Fair point. But it was pushed back immediately on social media. You think this loss was bad? That’s what makes Philadelphia a great — maybe the greatest — sports city. We celebrate our wins like no other but we also wear our losses forever. This was a brutal loss but we still remember that botched chip shot on Monday Night Football in 1997. And that blowout loss in the playoffs while we were stuck inside during the Blizzard of ‘96. Oh yeah, remember what happened in 2010?

    I don’t know if any city in the U.S. holds onto losses more than Philly. We do that because we care. We lose sleep when the Phillies blow a save, have a bad week if the Eagles lose, still can’t believe they didn’t call the Islanders offside, and are still waiting for Ben Simmons to dunk it. So yeah, that’s why it means more here when the teams do win. Because we care so much when they lose. You can have L.A., Seattle, and Kansas City. I’ll stay in Philly.

    The 10 most haunting Philly sports moments since 2000, from Ronde Barber’s pick-six to Ben Simmons’ pass
    A Phillies fan holds up a sign paying tribute to another viral Phillies fan before the team’s 2025 home opener.

    We feed off being underdogs

    Julia Terruso, politics reporter

    Look, I’m not pretending to be neutral here. I went to spring training in Clearwater in pigtails as a child. I fell in love at an Eagles tailgate and flew to London to watch the Phillies play the Mets on my honeymoon. But even non-Philadelphians would be out of their minds not to put us in the top three — let alone the top nine.

    Rooting for the Phillies, Sixers, Eagles, and Flyers is a cross-class, cross-generation rite. We’re one of only eight U.S. cities with all four major teams, and our stadiums are actually accessible — yes, Los Angeles, I’m looking at you. Tickets are (mostly) affordable, the crowds are electric, and the fervor is real. We boo because we care. And unlike other cities, we don’t sneer at bandwagoners. The citywide greeting is “Go Birds,” and the uniform is fair game for the lifer who knows about pickle juice and The Process, along with the new Fishtown transplant who couldn’t diagram a wheel play but looks fantastic in kelly green — because everyone looks fantastic in Kelly green.

    But the thing that really makes Philly a great sports town is our shared history of heartbreak and near-misses that drives us forward. We’re used to being underestimated. So go ahead, leave us off your list, WaPo. Underdogs run on disrespect, and we’ve got miles to go.

    I wore a Pirates hat around Philadelphia. And all I got was love. | Opinion

    We wear our fandom on our sleeves — and heads

    Abraham Gutman, civil courts reporter

    Stand on the South Street bridge at 7 a.m. and you’ll know the time of year, and that says it all. The rivers of medical professionals walking and biking back from their night shifts, and those heading to their morning duties, give it away in unison. Red caps? It must be October. Kelly and midnight green beanies? The NFL playoffs are coming. Blue or black starred jackets? The NBA playoffs are underway and our hearts will soon be broken, again.

    I am a Philly transplant who comes from the tradition of European soccer, where rivalry between teams from the same city is the driver of passion. I always thought that there is nothing more electric than winning a derby game, and having your team crowned as the city’s best. But Philadelphia taught me that I was wrong. There is something more electric: a city united, together, declaring love to its teams in every nook and corner.

    Jubilant Eagles fans dance around a fire on Broad Street after the Birds beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

    Philadelphia isn’t just the best sports city in America (“next year on Broad?”), it’s an organism that breathes sports fandom unlike any other place.

    The days of throwing snowballs at Santa or batteries on a hated player are far gone. This is the city that gave a struggling shortstop who just arrived in town a standing ovation, that travels in droves so E-A-G-L-E-S chants come through the broadcast of every away game, and has a community of sickos who rode with its Sixers through one of the weirdest experiments in NBA history.

    The electric energy isn’t confined to the city lines. It’s a moment that every Philadelphian cherishes. Don an Eagles hat in any other city in America, or even abroad, and you are more likely than not to lock eyes with a stranger passing by.

    “Go Birds,” they inevitably say.

    “Go Birds!” you respond.

    Nothing beats that. And if you don’t like it. All good. We don’t care.

    A basement shrine to Philly sports fandom, featuring pieces of the Vet and Spectrum

    We have our own language

    Jeff Neiburg, Eagles reporter

    The Washington Post’s opinion section has been having a rough go of it. Which makes me wonder if this list, too, had to be cleared by the Amazon overlord, and maybe Jeff Bezos just hates Philadelphia?

    I mean … Cleveland?

    The size and scale of the two recent Eagles parades speak for themselves. The fact that there used to be a jail in the bowels of Veterans Stadium speaks for itself. Attending one Phillies playoff game at Citizens Bank Park would speak for itself. “Go Birds,” is a passing “hello” to a fellow Philadelphian in another town, a phrase of familial camaraderie. Due respect to Los Angeles, a city I love to be and eat in. But the sheer number of sports that happen in a place doesn’t make it a good sports city. That’s not human. People and passion make a place.

    The Penn Relays at Franklin Field are one of just a few annual sports traditions in Philadelphia.

    We have much more than pro sports

    Tommy Rowan, cheesesteak/Philly history expert

    A criteria would have helped, but really, any discernible or coherent formula would have really pulled that Washington Post list together. Here, instead, are three reasons why Philadelphia is one of the cornerstone cities in American sports …

    History: The fabric of American sport was woven here. The Heisman Trophy is named after John Heisman, who played at Penn. The Phillies are one of the key reasons fans are allowed to keep foul balls that land in the stands. All because an 11-year-old Phillies fan didn’t blink when the team had him thrown in jail for larceny.

    Tradition: We’re more than pro sports. We’ve hosted the annual Army-Navy game, and the Dad Vail Regatta, and the Penn Relays. Tennis found an American foothold at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.

    Passion: Support is an undergarment. This city has passion. Fandom here is passed down from generation to generation, just like their houses. And sure they’re loud, and they generally take it the worst of any fanbafan base. But they’re vocal, they’re informed, and they care. These teams mean something to these people.

    Sports fans start young in Philly, as fandom gets passed down from generation to generation.

    We know our stuff

    Ariel Simpson, sports trending writer

    Oct. 9 was a tragic day for Philly sports fans. The Phillies season ended with a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Eagles suffered a devastating 34-17 loss to the New York Giants, and the Flyers dropped their season opener to the Florida Panthers.

    That very next day, I wandered the streets of Philadelphia in what felt like a walk of shame. The heartbreak could be seen on each fan’s face as they still sported their favorite team’s colors. And when asked about the losses, each fan gave me a full breakdown of what needs to be done in order for the teams to be more successful.

    That’s what makes Philly such a great sports city. Not only are the fans passionate, but they are knowledgeable when it comes to their sports teams. Sure, sometimes they may rush to call for a head coach to be fired or boo their own teams, but that’s only because they care so much.

    They wear their heart on their sleeves and they expect more from each team. And when they do succeed, they show up and celebrate like no other. If you need an example, look no further than the city greasing its light poles in an attempt to stop fans from climbing them in celebration.

  • Gavin Sidwar has high expectations — and sights set on La Salle’s first state title in over a decade

    Gavin Sidwar has high expectations — and sights set on La Salle’s first state title in over a decade

    La Salle senior quarterback Gavin Sidwar has many admirers, including a fan who asked him to autograph a $5 bill on Saturday. But Sidwar also likes to consider himself just one of the guys, as he enjoys going out to eat all the time with those big lugs on the Explorers’ offensive line.

    “He could call a handoff to me, and I would be confident in him,” said Grayson McKeogh, the mighty left tackle.

    McKeogh, a 6-foot-7, 275-pound senior, will throw blocks next year at Notre Dame, but Sidwar, the offensive line and all of his La Salle teammates have one more week to play football together, culminating in the PIAA Class 6A state championship game this Saturday.

    Sidwar, a 6-3, 190-pound senior with remarkable composure and impeccable touch, plans to play football at the University of Missouri next year. But that can wait. The Explorers (12-1) have not played for a state title in 15 years and have not won one since 2009.

    Explorers quarterback Gavin Sidwar (7) throws the ball against North Penn on Nov. 29.

    With frightening ease, they powered to a five-touchdown halftime lead this past Saturday against District 1 champion North Penn (12-3) and rolled to a 49-14 victory in a state semifinal before an overflow crowd at Central Bucks South. Central Catholic (13-1) of Pittsburgh awaits La Salle in the state championship.

    The Explorers opened the season by beating the Vikings in a nonleague game outside Pittsburgh, 23-6. La Salle’s season has included just one setback: a 39-36 Catholic League loss Sept. 26 to Roman Catholic (11-3), which plays Bishop McDevitt for the 5A state title on Friday.

    Since the PIAA expanded to six classes in 2016, the Catholic League champ is 8-0 in the 6A state semis against the best team in the Philly suburbs. But all seven of those previous victories were by St. Joseph’s Prep, La Salle’s archrival. The Hawks won seven state titles.

    Northeast High QB Jayden Boyd was shot in September while playing video games. Then he played on Thanksgiving.

    But it is, finally, someone else’s turn. La Salle, whose 2024 season ended with a 21-14 loss to the Prep in the District 12 title game — the Explorers’ only loss — has rebounded this fall to beat the Prep twice: by 31-20 on Oct. 4, then by 24-14 on Nov. 1 for the district title.

    Sidwar played only the first half against North Penn, completing 14 of 19 passes for 246 yards and four touchdowns, including a 40-yarder and a 72-yarder. He spent the rest of the afternoon on the sidelines, helmet off, his shaggy black hair tousled, cheering on the reserves.

    “We’re going to play teams that are good, but we’re a good football team, too,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’ve just got to go out and play fast, play physical and play disciplined. Be us. Don’t press. It’s just a football game that we’ve been playing since we were kids. So play the game, not the occasion. Just go out and play football.”

    Gavin Sidwar (7) raises his helmet with his fellow teammates in celebration for beating St. Joe’s Prep on Nov. 1.

    La Salle is not quite unstoppable. Much to the displeasure of second-year coach Brett Gordon, the Explorers lost two fumbles against North Penn and were penalized eight times. He told his huddled team at midfield afterward, “I’m counting on you all to fix it.”

    Sidwar threw a couple of passes Saturday that he’d like to have back. But Gordon said later that Sidwar has become even better after the Roman loss. In three state playoff games, he has completed 71% of his passes for 802 yards and nine touchdowns — and no interceptions. La Salle won those three games by a combined score of 129-35.

    “Just when we think he’s got it all figured out, he figures out a way to continue to improve,” Gordon said. “He’s built for this, and he’s put in the work.”

    For Haverford High’s Liam Taylor, playing on Thanksgiving is his last hurrah on the gridiron

    It does help that Sidwar has a mountainous line and astonishingly talented receivers, including Joey O’Brien, the 6-3 senior who is also bound for Notre Dame. O’Brien, who is projected as a college safety, made two brilliant leaping catches on Saturday.

    “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and he proves it every day,” O’Brien said. “You always get a clean spiral, every time. And he doesn’t get too high or too low. He knows there’s more to be done. If we play our game, there’s nobody beating us.”

    Sidwar spreads it around. His 72-yard touchdown pass Saturday was to Jimmy Mahoney, a 5-8 speedster who missed the previous two games with an injury. Sidwar flipped a short pass to Mahoney, who scored with the help of a couple of downfield blocks.

    “They make it really easy,” Mahoney said of his teammates.

    Mahoney said of Sidwar: “He’s making big-time plays — especially at big times. Every single game, he’s getting better.”

    Explorers quarterback Gavin Sidwar (7) looks on during the PIAA Class 6A football semifinal game between La Salle College High and North Penn.

    Sidwar has clearly benefited from working with Gordon, 46, who led La Salle to two Catholic League championships as a quarterback before playing at Villanova and serving as a La Salle assistant. La Salle has won 22 of 24 games with Gordon as its head coach.

    As he told his team after Saturday’s game, “We set out two years ago on this mission, to get right here, right now.”

    This team won’t get a chance to avenge its loss to Roman, which also has a terrific senior quarterback, the Akron-bound Semaj Beals. La Salle and Roman, and Sidwar and Beals, are generally considered to be interchangeable, No. 1 and No. 2 in the state.

    Brett Gordon keeps his late father in mind as La Salle continues its run in state playoffs

    Gordon smiled when he said of his senior quarterback, “He has set his expectations so high.”

    Before he posed for photos after the game on the field Saturday with a stream of friends, family, and fans, Sidwar said, “We’re not going to leave anything unturned at this time of the year. It’s all or nothing at this point.”

    He said of North Penn, “We knew they were good. We knew they had a good coach over there,” in Dick Beck. “But if we executed our game plan, we weren’t going to get stopped.”

    Fans cheer during the PIAA Class 6A semifinal game between La Salle College High and North Penn at Central Bucks South High School in Warrington on Saturday.
  • Why Philly is a great sports city | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Why Philly is a great sports city | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Ask any Philadelphian and they will gladly tell you that the city is among the nation’s best when it comes to sports.

    They’ll tell you that you won’t find a more passionate, knowledgeable, and, at times, unique fan base in the country.

    The Washington Post disagrees.

    The Post’s opinion section recently asked nine writers to name their top contenders for America’s top sports town. But Philly wasn’t one of them. So we asked nine of our own writers to make the case why Philadelphia is the best sports city in the nation — and they didn’t disappoint.

    — Vaughn Johnson, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

    ❓What do you think makes Philadelphia a great sports city? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    The root cause of the Birds’ offensive struggles

    The Eagles have the highest 3-and-out rate in the NFL.

    It would be unfair to pin the Eagles’ 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears on Jalen Hurts, even if his two turnovers and ineffectiveness as a passer were contributing factors.

    Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo’s inability to scheme to the quarterback’s strengths, while also covering for his weaknesses, again was the primary reason for another inept showing from the offense. The same could be said for their game plan in the run game.

    Jeff McLane examines why you can blame the listless Eagles offense on a number of causes. Just be sure not to forget the quarterback in your diagnosis.

    Nick Foles’ diagnosis is for Patullo to move from the sidelines to the box, where he’s spent his time on gameday since 2021 before becoming offensive coordinator. Here’s what the national media is saying about the Birds following their loss to the Bears.

    The Eagles also suffered a loss to their front office, as senior personnel director/advisor to the general manager David Caldwell is headed to the University of Florida to become the football program’s general manager.

    Next: The Eagles (8-4) will travel to Los Angeles for a Monday night showdown against Justin Herbert and the Chargers (8-4) at SoFi Stadium. (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)

    Should the Sixers trade Paul George?

    Paul George scored 16 points against the Hawks on Sunday.

    The Paul George experience has not gone the way the Sixers thought when they signed him to a four-year, $212 million deal in the summer of 2024. Should the team try to move him ahead of the trade deadline?

    Beat reporter Keith Pompey answers that question and more in his latest Sixers mailbag.

    Meanwhile, the Sixers lost the Hawks in double overtime, 142-134, on Sunday. Tyrese Maxey led the way for the Sixers with 44 points, while Joel Embiid returned after missing nine games and scored 18 points.

    Next: The Sixers (10-9) will next hit the court on Tuesday to host the last-place Wizards (2-16) at Xfinity Mobile Arena. (7 p.m., NBC Sports Philadelphia)

    Rick Tocchet’s calm approach

    The Flyers are currently third in the Metropolitan Division.

    There are different ways of coaching. Some coaches are fiery and use that to spark their team. Other coaches, like Rick Tocchet, appear to maintain a cool, calming presence.

    Now the owner of 300 wins in the NHL after Saturday night, he knows the Flyers are just 24 games into the season, and there’s a long road ahead. And although every moment is important, he doesn’t get too wrapped up in the ups and downs and momentum shifts of every game.

    Get more of Jackie Spiegel’s takeaways from the Flyers’ win over the Devils.

    Next: The Flyers (14-7-3) host the rival Penguins (12-7-5) at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Flyers won their first meeting, 3-2, back on Oct. 28. (7 p.m., NBC Sports Philadelphia)

    The Nittany Lions’ uncertain future

    Penn State defeated Rutgers on Saturday.

    Penn State players and fans have lobbied for Terry Smith to take over as coach after he turned around the team and ended the season on a three-game win streak. But will the university remove Smith’s interim title?

    Greg Finberg examines the program’s uncertain future.

    Sports snapshot

    Trionda, a giant replica of the official ball for the FIFA Wold Cup 2026 is displayed in Zurich, Switzerland.

    FIFA World Cup draw: FIFA’s World Cup draw is this week. Here’s what to know before, during, and after Friday’s event.

    La Salle’s state title quest: The Explorers have not played for a state title in 15 years and last won the crown in 2009. They’ll have a shot in the PIAA Class 6A title game this Saturday.

    A Palestra classic: Penn and La Salle played a regular-season nonconference game that didn’t count toward the Big 5 standings. But the Quakers’ win felt like the real thing.

    ‘Nova is moving on: A dominant first half allowed Villanova to conquer Harvard, 52-7, in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

    Standings, stats, and more

    Want to know where the Eagles stand in the NFC playoff picture after Week 13? Here’s a place to access your favorite Philadelphia teams’ statistics, schedules, and standings in real time.

    Mike Sielski’s take …

    Head coach Nick Sirianni talks with offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo before the Eagles played the Minnesota Vikings in October.

    After another rough outing for the Eagles offense, Sirianni defended Patullo, his first-year offensive coordinator. But as Mike Sielski wrote following the loss to Chicago, it may not matter if Jeffrey Lurie decides changes must be made to save a season that is on the brink of spiraling out of control.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Dave Caldwell, Gabriela Carroll, Greg Finberg, Owen Hewitt, Jeff McLane, Keith Pompey Mike Sielski, Jackie Spiegel, and Jonathan Tannenwald.

    Hope you all had a happy holiday weekend! Thanks for reading and be on the lookout for us again tomorrow! — Vaughn

    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.

  • Dave Dombrowski’s biggest offseason headache? The bullpen, not the Phillies’ lineup.

    Dave Dombrowski’s biggest offseason headache? The bullpen, not the Phillies’ lineup.

    The lack of hand-wringing about the Phillies bullpen this offseason isn’t too surprising. By the time everyone finishes worrying about the offense, their palms are raw. Nearly half of the starting lineup from Game 1 of the NLDS is no longer under contract. They need to re-sign or replace their catcher, left fielder, center fielder, and designated hitter. The guy who was their longtime right fielder is a $20 million sunk cost. Other than that, the bats are looking great.

    But, hey, save some angst for the later innings. Dave Dombrowski has 99 problems and a pitcher is one … namely, a pitcher who is capable of locking down high-leverage situations. Even if Jhoan Duran is the guy he has been throughout his career, and if Matt Strahm is the guy he has been during the last three regular seasons, if Jose Alvarado is the guy he was in 2022-23, the Phillies will still need a fourth guy who is better than Orion Kerkering was even before he short-circuited in Game 4 of the NLDS loss to the Dodgers.

    Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering posted a 3.30 ERA in 2025.

    That’s true whether Dombrowski realizes it or not. You’d think he would by this point in time. But, then, you’d be thinking. Everyone knows the cliche. Doing the same thing over and over is the definition of Dombrowski’s bullpen plan. As the nation at large celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there’s a very good chance that the Phillies will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of realizing they need another reliever six days after the season starts. The Masters isn’t the month of April’s only tradition unlike any other.

    Phillies’ plan to get to the Dodgers’ problematic bullpen as soon as possible will require patience

    It’s getting to the point of mathematical certainty. If ’n’ is the number of high-leverage arms the Phillies need in order to win a postseason series, then ’n-1’ is the number of such arms the Phillies actually have. Feel free to alert the Fields Medal committee.

    Look at the list of relievers who have pitched make-or-break innings for the Phillies over the last several postseasons.

    Craig Kimbrel? The Phillies probably win a World Series if they have an elite shutdown arm to pitch the ninth inning of Game 3 and/or the eighth inning of Game 4 in the 2023 NLCS.

    David Robertson? He faced three batters last postseason, all in Game 1 of the NLDS, two of whom scored.

    Jordan Romano? Nope. Just kidding. He didn’t pitch a make-or-break inning in the postseason. Actually, he didn’t pitch any innings.

    Jesús Luzardo? He was exactly what the Phillies needed out of the bullpen in the 10th and 11th innings of Game 4 against the Dodgers. There was only one problem. He was their No. 2 starter. And he will be again.

    Phillies president of baseball operations David Dombrowski is tasked with building the Phillies’ bullpen.

    Nobody wants to admit this, but the best way to fix the Phillies offense is to build a roster where the offense doesn’t need to matter so much. It’s easy to forget that the Phillies took a 1-0 lead over the Mets into the eighth inning of Game 1 of the 2024 NLDS before Jeff Hoffman and Strahm combined to allow five runs in the eighth. As lopsided as that series felt in hindsight, the Phillies were two shutdown innings away from potentially heading to New York with a 2-0 series lead. They also blew a 1-0 lead when the bullpen allowed four runs in the bottom of the sixth in Game 4.

    Bryce Harper and Trea Turner are fast approaching the points of their careers where the next season probably won’t be as good as the previous one. Same goes for Kyle Schwarber, assuming the Phillies re-sign him. J.T. Realmuto is already there, and re-signing him is still their best option at catcher. At some point, building an elite bullpen becomes a more feasible option than counting on a Max Kepler bounce back season.

    Exploring three trades the Phillies could make to address their offseason needs

    Unless we assume that John Middleton is going to bump up his spending to the level of the Dodgers, then we’re wasting our breath arguing that what the Phillies really need is Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso. It would be a silly thing to assume. If you are worth $2 billion, then a $100 million contract is 5% of your net worth. Even us common folk aren’t lighting our cigars with $1,000 dollar bills.

    Which brings us to the real issue with the Phillies’ bullpen. You have to squint a lot harder to see a fiscally sound path to improvement. The Orioles just signed closer Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million deal after a lackluster campaign. Braves closer Raisel Iglesias took a big step backward last season and will be 36 years old next year. He just re-signed for one year and $16 million.

    Chances are, both of those deals will look awful a year from now. Look at last year’s market. Of the 12 relievers who signed for an AAV of $8.5-plus million, seven finished with an ERA north of 4.30, five of whom had an ERA over 5.00. That group doesn’t include the Mets’ A.J. Minter, who pitched only nine innings after signing for two years and $22 million.

    Essentially, the success rate on big-ticket bullpen signings was 33%. Even that is overstating things. The Dodgers spent a combined $39.9 million in AAV on Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and Blake Teinen. The odds said that one of them should have panned out. But none of them did.

    Unless the Phillies are willing to shell out $20-plus million for Edwin Diaz, they’ll be fishing in treacherous waters. There are a lot more Jordan Romanos than Josh Haders, at pretty much every price point. Dombrowski has found value before with Strahm, Hoffman and Alvarado. He’ll need to do it again in order to win this offseason.

  • Sixers mailbag: Does it make sense to try to trade Paul George before the trade deadline?

    Sixers mailbag: Does it make sense to try to trade Paul George before the trade deadline?

    The 76ers will look to beat the Washington Wizards for the second time in as many meetings when the squads play Tuesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    The Sixers took a 139-134 overtime victory over the Wizards on Oct. 28 at Capital One Arena.

    Washington takes a 2-16 record into Monday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Wizards were riding a 14-game losing streak before defeating the Atlanta Hawks, 132-113, on Tuesday. They followed that rare win with a 119-86 road loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

    The Sixers’ season has 2024-25 vibes with Joel Embiid and Paul George missing substantial time

    The Sixers dropped to 10-9 after Sunday’s 142-134 double-overtime loss to the Hawks. Since defeating the Wizards, the Sixers have lost nine of their last 15 games.

    So the Wizards are a good opponent to help break out of their funk. Well, find out more on Tuesday.

    In the meantime, I’ll answer a few of your mailbag questions.

    Missed out on the party? No worries. Submit questions for next time by tweeting @PompeyOnSixers to X with the hashtag #PompeysMailbagFlow.

    Sixers VJ Edgecombe greets Jared McCain during a break in the Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers NBA game at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

    Q: Jared McCain is looking so much better in the last few games! Is he still wearing the heavy knee brace under the white sleeve, or has he graduated to a smaller brace or no brace? — @Bob_Zampini

    A: Thanks for starting the mailbag! McCain has looked good in the last few games. The second-year guard averaged 16.7 points while shooting 47.4% on three-pointers in the three games before Sunday’s contest against the Hawks.

    McCain stopped wearing the heavy knee brace he had worn upon his return last month, after tearing the lateral meniscus in his left knee on Dec. 13. But he started wearing what he called “just a smaller little thing on my [left] leg” during his two-game assignment with Delaware Blue Coats on Nov. 13 and 15.

    Q: Would it make sense for the Sixers to try to trade Paul George before the trade deadline? It may impact the Sixers’ playoff chances this year, but it would free up valuable salary cap space and possibly get a first-round pick in return. Is that a realistic option? — @Topsheff88

    A: It depends on his level of play and how competitive the Sixers are heading into the trade deadline. At this time, the Sixers’ brass and coaching staff should be all in on making a deep postseason run, knowing that anything else could cost them their jobs. And in George’s first three games back, he’s been a solid complementary player to Tyrese Maxey.

    The nine-time All-Star opened his first four games as an aggressive scoring option. Afterward, George did a good job running the Sixers’ offense in the half-court and provided solid defense.

    Sixers forward Paul George shoots the basketball against the Miami Heat on Sunday, November 23, 2025 in Philadelphia.

    But I get it. He underachieved last season and has been hampered by injuries after signing his four-year, $212 million contract on July 6, 2024. And the 35-year-old isn’t getting any younger. Trading him would allow them to shed the final two seasons of his deal.

    The Sixers’ season has 2024-25 vibes with Joel Embiid and Paul George missing substantial time

    George would have to play at a high level for a team looking to add a key piece for a playoff run to shed a first-rounder, among other things, in return. And if he’s playing at a high level and meshing well with Maxey, the Sixers must ask themselves, are they still willing to trade him?

    Q: What do you think the starting five will be (and should be) when Kelly Oubre Jr. and VJ Edgecombe are back? Obviously, the center position will depend on Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond’s health — @GermanChoco1ate

    A: I keep going back and forth with Oubre and Dominick Barlow being the fifth starter. Both have played great, and deserve to be in the lineup. However, I’m going with Oubre, George, Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, and Maxey. Barlow would be the seventh man behind Quentin Grimes.

    Oubre has been the Sixers’ X Factor this season.

    Before he suffered an LCL sprain in his left knee, Oubre’s averages of 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals took a back seat to the play of the Sixers’ stellar backcourt pairing of Maxey and Edgecombe in the first 12 games.

    But Oubre excels when the ball is moving, and he did a solid job of guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player.

    Sixers Kelly Oubre Jr dunks the ball to give the Sixers a 123-116 lead in the fourth quarter of the Toronto Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers NBA game at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.

    The Sixers have definitely missed his impact in the last seven games. For them to be competitive, Oubre must get healthy and resume playing at a high level. His importance to the team, especially as a perimeter defender, is the reason why he needs to start.

    Q: Is there any way to trade Embiid once he is reasonably healthy? — @dumasroxx

    A: There’s always one of two teams willing to take a gamble. But the 31-year-old is making $55.2 million this season, and his three-year, $193 million extension begins next season.

    That’s a tremendous amount of money for a team to take on for a player with an extensive injury history. I noted before that a team president of basketball operations would have to be really secure in their job to make that trade. And that hasn’t changed.

    Now, if Embiid can play at 80% of his former self, his addition to most teams makes them instant championship contenders. But if he gets injured and is unable to play, that could go down as one of the worst trades in NBA history.

  • FIFA’s World Cup draw is this week. Here’s what to know before, during, and after Friday’s event

    FIFA’s World Cup draw is this week. Here’s what to know before, during, and after Friday’s event

    The FIFA World Cup is rapidly approaching, but before the world’s premier international tournament hits U.S. soil this summer, FIFA will assign qualifying nations into groups for the tournament during its highly anticipated final draw.

    Here’s everything you need to know about Friday’s event.

    When and where is the tournament draw, and how can I watch?

    The World Cup draw, which will determine the groups for the round-robin stage of the tournament, will take place on Friday at noon. The event will be hosted by the Kennedy Center in Washington and broadcast live on Fox. Its coverage of the draw will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. FIFA’s event, which begins at noon, is expected to last about an hour and a half, with the draw itself accounting for about 45 minutes of that time.

    Medford native Brenden Aaronson (right) and the U.S. will find out their pairings as one of three host nations on Friday.

    What teams are in the draw?

    Forty-two national teams, including cohosts Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., have already qualified for the World Cup and will be included in the draw.

    Six spots remain available for the World Cup, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in its history. Four of the remaining six qualifying spots will be awarded to the top four teams in the European Federation’s 16-team playoff, which will conclude in March. The other two spots will be awarded to the top two finishers at the FIFA Playoff Tournament, also in March.

    Philadelphia is on a long list of potential cities for the 2031 women’s World Cup

    At Friday’s draw, the six qualifiers yet to be determined will be represented by placeholder slips, four for Europe and two for the intercontinental FIFA playoff.

    Here’s a full list of the qualified teams by confederation, plus a look at participants in the European playoff and the FIFA Playoff Tournament:

    Cohosts: Canada, Mexico, United States

    Asian Football Confederation (AFC): Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan

    Confederation of African Football (CAF): Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia

    Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf): Curaçao, Haiti, Panama

    South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

    Oceania Football Confederation (OFC): New Zealand

    Lionel Messi will most likely play in his final FIFA World Cup with Argentina this summer.

    Union of European Football Associations (UEFA): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

    UEFA 16-team playoff (four qualifiers): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Poland, Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, and Wales

    FIFA World Cup 26 Playoff Tournament (two qualifiers): Bolivia (CONMEBOL), Democratic Republic of the Congo (CAF), Iraq (AFC), Jamaica (Concacaf), New Caledonia (OFC), and Suriname (Concacaf)

    FIFA lays out the rules for the World Cup draw

    How does the draw work?

    Qualified nations will be divided into four pots based on their FIFA World Rankings positions. Pot 1 will contain the nine best-qualified teams in the rankings, as well as the three cohosts. The host nations have already been assigned to groups — Mexico will be in Group A, Canada will be in Group B, and the U.S. will be in Group D. The remaining teams will be assigned to the other nine groups, one team per group.

    After all the teams in Pot 1 have been drawn, the draw will move to Pot 2, selecting one team for each of the 12 groups. The process will repeat with Pot 3 and Pot 4, resulting in 12 groups of four teams. During the tournament, the top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout rounds. The top eight third-place finishers in the 12 groups will also advance, completing the Round of 32.

    Though the draw determines tournament groups, FIFA is also looking ahead to the knockout rounds. FIFA will structure the knockout bracket so that the top four teams in its rankings — Spain, Argentina, France, and England — will not meet before the tournament semifinal, provided that they each finish first in their respective groups. It is the first time the World Cup will use a tennis-style bracket for knockouts.

    Here’s a complete look at the pots that will be used on Friday:

    Pot 1: Canada (B1), Mexico (A1), U.S. (D1), Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany

    Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia

    Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

    Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European playoff winner 1, European playoff winner 2, European playoff winner 3, European playoff winner 4, Intercontinental playoff winner 1, Intercontinental playoff winner 2.

    Lincoln Financial Field is one of 11 venues in the United States that will host next summer’s World Cup.

    Which teams are coming to Philly?

    The draw should help determine which international sides will play in Philadelphia this summer. FIFA’s tournament schedule shows that Philly will host group stage games for Groups C, I, and L, and two for Group E, alongside a Round of 16 match. Fans will not be able to track which teams are coming to Philly during the draw, as the current tournament schedule does not give specific placeholders for the group stage matchups.

    Which Union Players Should Stay or Go? Swipe and decide

    The World Cup schedule will be updated on Saturday after the draw, with the paired teams assigned to venues along with kickoff times. The updated schedule will include which teams will play group stage matches in Philly from Groups C, E, I, and L, as well as the time for the Round of 16 match on July 4.

    Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (right) is presented with a novelty World Cup ticket by FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Oct. 10.

    Can I still buy tickets after the draw?

    Yes. Fans interested in buying tickets for World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field can enter ticket lotteries for individual group-stage games via FIFA’s random selection draw.

    The lotteries will begin accepting entries on Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. and close at the same time on Jan. 13.

    After the random selection draw phase of ticket sales has finished, any remaining inventory will be released on a first-come, first-served basis closer to the beginning of the tournament. Single-match and multimatch hospitality packages are also available through FIFA.

    FIFA’s first-come, first-served phase will be the last opportunity for fans to buy tickets directly through FIFA. After that, tickets will be available only through resale on the secondary market.

  • WNBA and players union extend CBA deadline to Jan. 9

    WNBA and players union extend CBA deadline to Jan. 9

    NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and players union agreed to an extension of the current collective bargaining agreement to Jan. 9 just before their current deadline ran out Sunday night.

    Just like the previous extension, both sides have the option to terminate the extension with 48 hours advanced notice.

    The two sides had announced a 30-day extension to the original Oct. 31 deadline. That extension was set to expire Sunday night just before midnight. They met over the holiday weekend hoping to come an agreement.

    With nothing urgent on the immediate horizon except for the expansion draft for Portland and Toronto, it would be unlikely that either side would exercise terminate the extension.

    Last season’s expansion draft for Golden State was held in December.

    Free agency would be the next big thing for both sides to deal. That usually is done in late January. This is an unprecedented offseason with all but two of the league’s veterans free agents. Players signed one-year deals last season knowing there would be huge salary bumps when a new CBA is agreed upon.

    When the previous CBA deal expired in 2019, both sides agreed upon a 60-day extension and a new one was eventually ratified in January 2020.

  • Chargers QB Justin Herbert breaks bone in non-throwing hand vs. Raiders; status for Eagles game uncertain

    Chargers QB Justin Herbert breaks bone in non-throwing hand vs. Raiders; status for Eagles game uncertain

    Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert broke a bone in his left, non-throwing hand and will undergo a procedure on Monday, coach Jim Harbaugh said after Sunday’s 31-14 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

    Herbert was injured in the first quarter on a 1-yard scramble, then threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston on the next play for a 7-0 lead after the Chargers’ first possession.

    Trey Lance replaced Herbert for eight plays before the starter returned to finish the game. Herbert was 15 of 20 for 151 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Lance completed his lone pass for 9 yards. Herbert, 27, also rushed three times for 8 yards.

    Harbaugh was uncertain if Herbert will miss any games. Herbert wore a glove on his left hand and what appeared to be a splint on his middle fingers after re- entering the game.

    “I know that he’s as tough as they come,” Harbaugh said. “You know, taped it up, (wore a) glove and played a great game.”

    The Chargers (8-4) host the Eagles (8-4) in Week 14 with Herbert having an extra day to recover as the game is next Monday night.

    “I’m treating it as if I’m playing on Monday,” Herbert said. “I think they’re very hopeful for that. So, I think that’s just something that we’ll see tomorrow and get a feel for.”

  • Sixers takeaways: Joel Embiid’s motivated play, Tyrese Maxey’s missed free throws and more in loss to Hawks

    Sixers takeaways: Joel Embiid’s motivated play, Tyrese Maxey’s missed free throws and more in loss to Hawks

    Joel Embiid was motivated in his first game in 22 days.

    Just when you thought the 76ers needed more from Tyrese Maxey, the point guard showed why he’s been one of the NBA’s best players in the early season. But his missed free throws in overtime and his team’s lack of rebounding in double overtime were costly.

    Ten days of rest were good for VJ Edgecombe’s body.

    And Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder is a big fan of Dominick Barlow.

    Those things stood out Sunday night in the Sixers’ 142-134 double-overtime loss to the Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Embiid motivated

    Embiid usually looks rusty in his first game back from injury.

    That was far from the case after he missed the past nine games. This time, he looked good physically and was aggressive.

    The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder put his imprint on the game from the start, scoring the first basket 35 seconds into the contest. He later assisted on a Barlow layup that gave the Sixers a 7-4 advantage. Then Embiid added two points on a pair of foul shots to extend the Sixers’ early lead to five points.

    Embiid scored those points and had that assist along with a rebound while logging 6 minutes, 1 second in the first quarter. He finished with 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting along with four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a block in a season-high 30 minutes.

    “So tonight, obviously, I thought the first half was pretty good,” he said. “Moved really well. And we missed almost a month, and you only had two court sessions, going up and down, it’s going to be tough.”

    Embiid added that Sunday’s game felt like facing the Boston Celtics in the season opener at TD Garden on Oct. 22. He was rusty that night.

    But the 2023 MVP gradually improved. He had 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 20 minutes when the Sixers (now 10-9) faced the Celtics a second time on Oct. 31. And Embiid had his best game of the season while finishing with 29 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 130-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 8. That marked the last game he played in before Sunday.

    The Sixers’ season has 2024-25 vibes with Joel Embiid and Paul George missing substantial time

    “You build on it, and I’m not even mad about tonight,” Embiid said. “I’m just happy that I got a chance to play the game of basketball, build on it, and go from there. Next game, whether shots fall or not, I don’t really judge myself based on if shots fall or not. It’s all about how I move laterally, jumping, and all that stuff. Tonight was a good start towards that.

    “I felt good in the first half. Obviously, the second half was a little rough. I should build on what the first half looked like and go from there.”

    After intermission, Embiid had seven points on 2-for-8 shooting. He failed to score in the first overtime and didn’t play in the second.

    Embiid could have been more involved as a rebounder. He’s still rarely jumping on defense, and his lateral movement isn’t what it used to be. But effort-wise, this was one of his best first games back after an extended break.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid gets fouled by Atlanta’s Luke Kennard.

    He sat out the Sixers’ previous eight games because of right knee injury management or soreness. Before that, Embiid missed the Sixers’ 111-108 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 9 because he doesn’t play on back-to-back nights to rest his left knee. The former league MVP has already missed 12 of the Sixers’ 18 games because of his knee ailments.

    More needed from Maxey until …

    Quentin Grimes showed why he’s a legitimate candidate to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. He finished with 28 points on 8-for-15 shooting, including making 4 of 8 three-pointers, to go with 10 rebounds and four assists. Grimes also made all eight of his free throws.

    But for a while, his performance couldn’t make up for what was trending to be the worst night of the season for Maxey.

    The Hawks’ primary defenders did a solid job of defending the standout point guard.

    He still managed to finish with a game-high 44 points on 14-of-31 shooting, though. That included missing 11 of his 13 three-point attempts. Maxey did make 14 of 17 foul shots to go with seven rebounds and nine assists.

    But Maxey had just 20 points on 4-for-12 shooting — including making just 1 of 7 threes through three quarters.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey reacts late in the second overtime against the Atlanta Hawks.

    Give Maxey credit. He kept battling and scored 12 points in the fourth quarter on 4-for-9 shooting. His three-point play pulled the Sixers within three points (108-105) with 3:11 left.

    Then Maxey drained a three-pointer with 8.8 seconds left to knot the score at 115, forcing overtime.

    Maxey went on to score four points in the extra session. However, he missed a pair of foul shots that would have given the Sixers a four-point cushion with 4.6 remaining.

    “I thought I was going to make them, and we’ll figure it out after that,” he said of what was going through his mind at the foul line. “But it’s like what I get for messing with VJ.”

    Maxey was referring to playfully ribbing Edgecombe for missing a pair of foul shots with the Sixers up 117-116 with 8.5 seconds left in the season-opening victory. Luckily for them, that night neither team scored another point.

    After the Hawks (13-8) forced another overtime on Sunday, Maxey scored all eight of his team’s points. However, with Embiid and reserve center Andre Drummond (who played just six minutes) out of the game, the Sixers’ small-ball lineup struggled on the boards.

    The Hawks won the rebounding game 7-2 in overtime, which enabled them to score seven second-chance points.

    But those missed foul shots are something Maxey won’t soon forget. At the same time, he had to be exhausted, logging 52:16.

    Maxey is averaging a league-leading 40.7 minutes while ranking third in scoring at 32.3 points. He’s been forced to carry the Sixers with Embiid and Paul George (16 points, seven rebounds, game-high five steals) both missing a lot of games with injuries.

    Embiid was asked if Maxey’s standout play has added any extra urgency.

    “I do feel bad,” Embiid said. “Obviously, the minutes that he has to play, the load that he has to handle. I’ve been there. I know how it feels. You’ve just got to trust in what you’re doing, and in God, and be OK with the fact that whatever happens, happens.”

    Well-rested rookie

    Edgecombe was back in the starting lineup after missing the past three games with a left calf strain. The rookie shooting guard finished with seven points on 3-for-6 shooting, along with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 21:25.

    But the biggest takeaway was that he played with his trademark bounce and explosion that had been missing in a few games leading up to his injury. Back then, the 20-year-old looked fatigued from what had been an overwhelming amount of games to start the season.

    Barlow’s admiration

    On July 30, 2024, Barlow signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks. While he was only with the Hawks for one season, it’s evident that the power forward left a lasting impression on Snyder.

    “He really knows how to play,” Sndyer said. “And he gave us, in a stretch where we really needed someone to come in and not only give us good minutes, but kind of connect as a team. And I think it’s unusual for a player in [a two-way] position to have that kind of impact on the group.

    “So I’m really happy to see him doing well. And I’m not surprised. … He’s got a great feel for the game, can pass, handle, just a smart player. Very committed to helping the team in any way he can.”

    Sixers forward Dominick Barlow dribbles as he is guarded by Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels.

    Barlow averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 35 games with four starts last season for the Hawks. He had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal on March 4.

    However, Barlow left the Hawks in the offseason after they fired former general manager Landry Fields. Betting on himself, he signed a two-way deal with the Sixers on July 9. And he’s been one of their most impactful players.

    The 6-9, 215-pounder made his seventh start of the season on Sunday. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. The 22-year-old came into the game averaging career highs of 7.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals through nine games.