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  • Fear factors: Ranking the Eagles’ road to the Super Bowl, from the real Rams to the fraud Bears

    Fear factors: Ranking the Eagles’ road to the Super Bowl, from the real Rams to the fraud Bears

    It’s a weird year in the NFL. Each of the traditional powers is missing something. Everything we fret about with the Eagles are worries in Kansas City and Buffalo.

    The Chargers have failed to take the next step. The Lions and Ravens might miss the playoffs. Brock Purdy just threw three interceptions against the Panthers. Drake Maye is a great quarterback. Do the Patriots really have a great roster?

    Something to be thankful for: Nobody else is great, either.

    We’ll see that on Friday, when the Eagles host the Bears. Chicago is among the more fraudulent 8-3 teams we’ve seen.

    Here is a look at all of the NFC teams that matter more than the Bears.

    1. Rams (9-2)

    It sure feels like 2025 is setting up for a Rams-Eagles NFC championship game that could launch an era-defining rivalry. The only thing missing right now is a big Rams win. The Eagles have beaten them four times over the last three seasons after initially replacing them as NFC champs in the 2022 season. But the Rams have walked away from the last two outings feeling like the Eagles’ equals if not betters.

    Nick Sirianni just gave Kevin Patullo a vote of confidence. He didn’t have a choice.

    First came that snowy 28-22 playoff loss when the Rams gave away six points on fumbles and still had a first down on the Eagles’ 21-yard line with 1 minute, 25 seconds remaining and a chance for a go-ahead touchdown. Then came Week 3, when L.A. blew a 26-7 lead and still had a shot at a game-winning 44-yard field goal with three seconds left only to have Jordan Davis block it and score a touchdown to boot.

    The Rams are due. Sean McVay is too good of a coach, Matthew Stafford too good of a quarterback, and Les Snead too good of an executive to not eventually announce it to the rest of the world. What they’ve done in the four years since they won the Super Bowl is every bit as impressive as the mini-dynasty that Nick Sirianni, Jalen Hurts, and Howie Roseman have put together.

    Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis brought the last meeting with the Rams to a thrilling end with his touchdown.

    Snead and McVay have orchestrated an incredible turnaround on par with the Eagles post-2017. Stafford is one of only four players remaining on either side of the football who played at least 20% of the offensive snaps in 2021, when the Rams won the Super Bowl (The others: OT Rob Havenstein, TE Tyler Higbee, CB Darious Williams). They exited their Super Bowl with a bloated cap sheet and just one first-round pick between 2017 and ’25. Now, suddenly, they are the most impressive team in the NFL. The only impressive team, arguably, along with maybe the Colts. Since losing to the Eagles, their only loss was in overtime to the division rival 49ers (more on them later). They’ve beaten the Colts, the Ravens, the Jaguars, the 49ers, the Seahawks, and the Bucs. Of their six straight wins, five have been by at least two touchdowns. Of their nine overall wins, seven have come against teams whose Super Bowl odds rank in the top half of the NFL.

    2. Detroit Lions (7-4)

    The eye test says Detroit is a team nobody should want to face, particularly at home. But they wouldn’t even make the playoffs if they started today. And they would need to overcome some considerable odds if they hadn’t pulled out an overtime win over the Giants on Sunday. The Lions’ last six games are all losable: on the road against the Rams, Vikings, and Bears; at home against Green Bay, Dallas, and Pittsburgh.

    Don’t get it twisted. They are a serious threat, one of two teams in the NFC who would have a strong argument to make to be favored over the Eagles in a playoff game at home. That’s a long shot to happen, given the tiebreaker the Eagles hold. But the Lions’ 16-9 loss at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 11 didn’t exactly establish them as the definitive favorites even at home.

    Baker Mayfield and the Bucs have a soft schedule ahead.

    3. Buccaneers (6-5)

    Tampa Bay has one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NFL. Arizona, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, and Carolina twice. Find me two losses among those, assuming Baker Mayfield starts at quarterback. Even if Mayfield misses a week or two with his sprained nonthrowing shoulder, the Bucs should be able to finish atop the putrid NFC South. That means they have six weeks to get Mayfield and Chris Godwin healthy. Which means they could easily be a threat once the playoffs arrive.

    4. 49ers (8-4)

    Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Like I said, the field is weird this year. Who else would you put ahead of San Francisco? The Eagles are the only legitimate contender of the NFC’s three-loss teams. They already beat Green Bay on the road. Seattle is quarterbacked by Sam Darnold and will be playing as a wild card with the Rams winning the division. The Bears are the fakest of them all. You’ll see that on Friday.

    Eagles QB Jalen Hurts deserves criticism, but what are we arguing about?

    The 49ers? They are faker than they usually are. The Fred Warner injury — out for the season — was the final deal-breaker. They sorely miss Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the offensive side. San Francisco is only a threat to the Eagles if the Eagles turn out to be the team they’ve looked to be over the last several weeks. That team is capable of losing to anybody with a competent quarterback and a great head coach.

    5. Cowboys (5-5-1)

    This is not recency bias. The Cowboys would be second on this list if you could guarantee me that they would make the postseason. As it stands now, they will probably need to win two out of three against the Chiefs (home), Lions (road), and Chargers (home) just to have a reasonable chance of qualifying for the postseason. And that’s assuming they beat the Vikings, Commanders, and Giants.

    Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott running for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Eagles.

    That being said …

    If all of that happens, then we’d be foolish to consider the Eagles as anything better than a coin flip in a playoff game against the Cowboys, whether at home or on the road. Dallas has outplayed them even this season, once in a game the Eagles should have lost and, more recently, in a game the Eagles should have won. In both games this season, the Eagles have struggled to find an answer for CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Dak Prescott is playing at a near-MVP level and gives the Cowboys the advantage at quarterback. Mostly, this is a referendum on the rest of the NFC.

    6. Seahawks (8-3)

    Look, Darnold has been better than anybody could have envisioned after the Jets drafted him at No. 3 overall. But he is still the biggest reason to doubt that Seattle has been anything more than the beneficiary of a light schedule. The Seahawks’ best wins have come on the road in Pittsburgh in Week 2 and on the road in Jacksonville in Week 6. It’s definitely worth something that they put up 414 yards of total offense and nearly beat the Rams despite Darnold throwing four interceptions. But, then, Darnold threw four interceptions.

    Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean forcing a fumble by Packers quarterback Jordan Love on Nov. 10.

    7. Packers (7-3-1)

    Jordan Love is the most overrated quarterback in the NFL, and Matt LaFleur might be the most overrated play-caller. Not a good combination. The Eagles already beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field on a night when a better team would have beaten them. No worries here.

    8. Bears (8-3)

    For whatever reason, I’ve watched more of the Bears this season than virtually any other team. At no point have they looked capable of beating even a semicompetent team. That holds true for some of the games that they’ve actually won. Caleb Williams is missing something. I think we will see that on Friday.

  • Undermanned Sixers can’t keep up with Magic in 144-103 loss

    Undermanned Sixers can’t keep up with Magic in 144-103 loss

    Anthony Black scored 27 of his career-high 31 points in the first half, Franz Wagner added 21 points and the Orlando Magic routed the injury-depleted 76ers 144-103 in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.

    Orlando’s Jalen Suggs was ejected with 27 seconds left in the first half after receiving two technicals during a heated altercation between the teams.

    Tyrese Maxey scored 20 points to lead the Sixers, whose absences included Joel Embiid (right knee injury management), Paul George (right ankle sprain) and rookie VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness).

    Sixers’ Trendon Watford leaves Magic game with left adductor strain

    Orlando improved to 3-0 in the Cup and the Sixers dropped to 0-3.

    The game was tied at 35-all after the first quarter before the Magic took control in the second period. Philadelphia fans started showering boos on the court when Orlando went up 17 points with 5½ minutes left.

    The frustration spilled onto the court with 27 seconds before the break when the altercation led to Suggs’ ejection.

    A scuffle between Sixers’ Andre Drummond and Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr. led to Jalen Suggs’ ejection.

    The Magic dominated the second quarter, outscoring Philadelphia by 26 points in the period to take an 86-60 lead at halftime.

    Trendon Watford limped to the bench with just over four minutes left in the first half and did not return due to a left adductor strain.

    Embiid missed his eighth game in a row and 11th this season. The seven-time All-Star and 2023 MVP began the season recovering from left knee surgery, limiting him to 20-to-25 minutes when available, but has since had issues with his right knee.

    Joel Embiid, Paul George to miss Sixers’ NBA Cup matchup with Orlando Magic

    George, who signed a four-year, $212 million deal with Philadelphia prior to last season, made his season debut on Nov. 17 after offseason knee surgery. He missed the following game, played the next two before sitting out against Orlando.

    For Orlando, Paolo Banchero was sidelined for his seventh consecutive contest with a left groin strain.

    Up Next

    The Sixers travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Friday night (7:30 p.m., NBCSP).

  • Sixers’ Trendon Watford leaves Magic game with left adductor strain

    Sixers’ Trendon Watford leaves Magic game with left adductor strain

    Trendon Watford exited Tuesday night’s game against the Orlando Magic after suffering a left adductor strain with 4 minutes, 7 seconds before the intermission. He will not return to the game, the 76ers said.

    The Sixers’ reserve power forward grabbed the inner part of his left leg while passing the ball before falling to the court. After being helped up, Watford was assisted to the locker room.

    Joel Embiid, Paul George to miss Sixers’ NBA Cup matchup with Orlando Magic

    He had eight points, one rebound, and an assist in 11 minutes. He was 2-for-2 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line.

    Watford averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds through his first 13 games. The Sixers trailed the Magic, 86-60, at halftime.

  • Kevin Patullo says his unit has ‘got to get rid’ of penalties that slowed the Eagles’ offense in Dallas

    Kevin Patullo says his unit has ‘got to get rid’ of penalties that slowed the Eagles’ offense in Dallas

    The NFL’s leader in punts after three plays did not have any such three-and-out drives in the first half of Sunday’s 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

    The Eagles built their 21-0 lead behind an offense that moved the ball efficiently through the air and looked more creative than it had in the two weeks prior. They got the ball after halftime and immediately completed a pass to Grant Calcaterra for an 8-yard gain to move the ball to their own 40-yard line.

    Then, a penalty that offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo seems to think was a turning point of sorts happened. On the ensuing second-and-2, the Eagles put Matt Pryor on the field in their jumbo set and called a run-pass option that got Dallas Goedert free in space. Jalen Hurts hit his tight end for a 20-yard reception that moved the ball to Dallas’ 40-yard line. But the Eagles weren’t lined up right, and an illegal formation penalty knocked them back to a second-and-7. Two incompletions later, the Eagles punted.

    It was a sign of things to come, as penalties — including another that wiped out a 16-yard gain in the fourth quarter and kept the Eagles out of the red zone — helped keep the Eagles off the scoreboard after taking a 21-0 lead 18-plus minutes into the game.

    Eagles wide receiver Devonta Smith is tackled by Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson in the third quarter of Sunday’s game in Dallas.

    “I think when you look at the first half, it was kind of one of those deals where — and we talked about it today as an offense — we were able to do what we wanted to do, keep on track, keep the pace going, keep ahead of the sticks, and keep it moving,” Patullo said Tuesday. “In the second half, we came out, we went empty, we got a completion, and then we had an illegal formation on an explosive.

    “When you have a penalty on an explosive, which flipped the field around on us, it was a 20-yard gain, now all of the sudden you’re behind the sticks.”

    Banged-up offensive line and inability to run is ‘crippling this offense,’ according to two former Eagles

    Penalties have been a problem for the Eagles, who have drawn the seventh-most flags in the NFL. The offense accounted for seven on its own and four in the second half Sunday.

    “We talked about it, we went through all the drives and we’ve got to do a better job as a staff and as a whole unit in general with this stuff of just continuously pressing onto this issue,” Patullo said. “Because it’s been something that’s appeared and we know it’s there and we just got to get rid of it.

    “That’s kind of what stopped us in the second half. … We had some penalties, we had some things go on that if they go the other way we’re talking a whole other deal right now. It’s a whole other game, and we know that, and that’s what’s disappointing and that’s what’s frustrating.”

    Patullo, who Nick Sirianni said Monday will continue calling plays, said there was “a lot to be encouraged from” with the offense on Sunday.

    “But at the same time, when those things happen, when you go into the locker room after the game, the frustration level is high because we know how close we were, and if those things don’t go the way they go it’s a whole other outcome,” he said.

    Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni walks off the field after the Eagles lose to the Dallas Cowboys 24-21 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025.

    Penalties, of course, weren’t the only thing that halted the Eagles. They seemed to take their foot off the gas a little bit, and their inability to run the ball showed up once again. Saquon Barkley tallied just 22 yards on 10 attempts. The lack of a running game has hampered the offense for most of the season.

    “We’re trying pretty much anything and everything we can to find ways to get him going,” Patullo said. “I know that the guys are excited for something new this week to see if we can get it going.”

    Vic Fangio expects to have safety Reed Blankenship available on Friday vs. the Bears

    Injury report

    The Eagles listed five players as nonparticipants in their estimated practice report following Tuesday’s walk-through ahead of Friday’s home game vs. the Chicago Bears.

    Xavier Gipson (shoulder), Brandon Graham (groin), Lane Johnson (foot), Drew Mukuba (ankle), and DeVonta Smith (shoulder/chest) were all listed as out.

    Barkley (groin), Reed Blankenship (thigh), and Landon Dickerson (knee), meanwhile, were listed as limited. Adoree’ Jackson, who was being evaluated for a concussion Sunday after leaving the game, was listed as a full participant.

  • FIFA lays out the rules for the World Cup draw

    FIFA lays out the rules for the World Cup draw

    GENEVA — The 2026 World Cup draw next week will reward the four highest-ranked teams — Spain, Argentina, France and England — who will be placed in separate sections of a new tennis-style seeded tournament bracket.

    FIFA said Tuesday the top four teams in the latest men’s rankings will, if they finish top of their respective round-robin groups, avoid each other until the semifinals of the June 11-July 19 tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

    Defending champion Argentina with Lionel Messi and top-ranked European champion Spain with Lamine Yamal therefore can ensure they do not meet until the final at MetLife Stadium near New York.

    “To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semifinals have been established,” FIFA said in a statement, aiming to reward teams whose consistent good results have raised their world ranking.

    Lionel Messi celebrates scoring a goal for Argentina in September.

    At previous World Cups, the path for teams into and through the knockout phase was decided by which group they were drawn into.

    The draw ceremony for the first 48-team World Cup will be held Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump.

    Projecting the USMNT’s World Cup roster after its last game of the year: Several locals in; surprises on the bubble

    The 42 teams that already qualified include Iran and Haiti which FIFA expects will play exactly where they are drawn regardless of complicated politics those countries have with the U.S. The 16 host venues for the 104 games include 11 cities with NFL stadiums in the U.S., three in Mexico and two in Canada.

    The other six entries will be decided in March when European and global playoffs brackets are scheduled, and those teams all will come out of the draw pot of lowest-ranked teams.

    Spain’s Lamine Yamal (right) is the soccer world’s new superstar.

    That means four-time champion Italy could be a dangerous option in the draw on Friday of next week that will set the match schedule by placing teams in 12 round-robin groups of four teams each.

    Europe has 16 teams in the lineup and a maximum of two can be drawn into any one group. The other 32 teams in the tournament cannot be drawn in a group with a team from the same continent.

    The three co-hosts are among the 12 top seeds in the draw, which is scheduled to take about 45 minutes during a show lasting about an hour and a half, FIFA said. The U.S. will open on June 12 against a team from pot 3, then face a team from pot 2 and close the group stage against a team from pot 4.

    The Union’s Danley Jean Jacques celebrates helping Haiti reach its first men’s World Cup since 1974
    Kylian Mbappé led France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final.

    World Cup draw seedings

    Pot 1: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, United States, Mexico, Canada.

    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, Curacao, 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.

    International fans with World Cup tickets coming to America next summer can get a priority visa appointment. Here’s how.
  • Oklahoma State to hire North Texas’ Eric Morris as new football coach

    Oklahoma State to hire North Texas’ Eric Morris as new football coach

    Oklahoma State has chosen North Texas’ Eric Morris as its new head football coach, the school announced Tuesday.

    Morris has been the head coach at North Texas since 2023. The program went 5-7 his first season, but now is 10-1 and contending for a American Conference championship and College Football Playoff berth. The Mean Green are No. 21 in the Associated Press’ Top 25 poll.

    Morris has a reputation for helping quarterbacks, having coached, developed or recruited Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, John Mateer, Cam Ward, Chandler Morris and Drew Mestemaker.

    K.C. Keeler tries to boost his team’s confidence as Temple prepares for No. 21 North Texas

    “For many reasons, including the kind of person he is and the lasting relationships he builds with his players, Coach Morris is the perfect fit as the next leader of Cowboy Football,” Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg said. “The future is bright for OSU Football and I look forward to introducing him and his family to our team, our former players and all Cowboy fans.”

    The hire is pending board approval.

    North Texas leads the country in scoring offense and total offense this year, and the team has reached the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1959. Mestemaker, a redshirt freshman walk-on, leads the FBS in yards passing.

    North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker leads college football in passing yards.

    North Texas said in a news release that Morris will coach through this season.

    “On behalf of the University of North Texas, I want to express our deep gratitude to Eric for everything he has done for Mean Green Football over the past three seasons,” North Texas athletic director Jared Mosley said.

    Morris will step in for Mike Gundy, who was fired in September during his 21st season. Doug Meacham is 0-8 as the interim coach. Oklahoma State is 1-10 heading into its season finale at home against Iowa State on Saturday.

    Morris was head coach at Incarnate Word for four seasons, then was an assistant at Washington State before becoming head coach at North Texas. He was offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, his alma mater, from 2015 to 2017 and has been an assistant at Houston.

    North Texas will host Temple (5-6, 3-5 American) on Friday (3:30 p.m., ESPN).

  • Week 13 NFL power rankings roundup: How far did Eagles fall after collapse at Dallas?

    Week 13 NFL power rankings roundup: How far did Eagles fall after collapse at Dallas?

    The Eagles (8-3) scored 21 points in the first half of Sunday’s game against Dallas (5-5-1). But the second half was a different story. The Birds were held scoreless, allowing the Cowboys to score 24 consecutive points to win the game.

    Even after the Eagles beat Green Bay and Detroit, many power rankings remained skeptical about their offensive performance. Being shut out in the second half by a team that allows the second-most points per game in the NFL (28.5) did not help.

    On a short week, the Birds host the Chicago Bears on Black Friday. Here’s a look at where the Eagles stand in the latest round of power rankings as the season enters Week 13 …

    Eagles will wear appropriate uniforms for Black Friday — and are asking fans to do the same

    The Athletic: Third

    The Athletic expressed skepticism about a litany of elements surrounding the Eagles but ultimately moved the team down only one spot.

    “The Eagles blew a 21-0 lead to the Cowboys, Saquon Barkley never got going on the ground and the vibes in Philly look miserable,” Chad Graff and Josh Kendall wrote. “And yet, they’re 8-3 and remain one of the most talented rosters in the league.”

    Saquon Barkley averaged just 2.2 yards per carry against the Cowboys, the lowest that he’s had in a game since he was with the Giants in December 2023.

    Sports Illustrated: Third

    Sports Illustrated is still high on the Eagles’ ability to win games. But it was critical of the team’s ability to close them out when leading.

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts breaks a tackle on his way to a first-quarter touchdown run on Sunday.

    “The Eagles had a dominant first half and tried to play clock control in the second half against Dallas to avoid the kind of situations that occurred anyway: Jalen Hurts in critical third-and-mediums where he is prone to take devastating sacks,” Conor Orr wrote. “Still, the fact that Lane Johnson does not need Lisfranc surgery and could be back before the playoffs means that this team can continue to win despite the constant clamoring to the contrary.”

    ESPN: Fourth

    The loss to the Cowboys moved the Eagles down two spots. This week, ESPN opted to highlight each team’s best Thanksgiving memory. The outlet decided on the Eagles’ 27-0 win over the Cowboys in 1989, nicknamed the “Bounty Bowl.”

    Nick Foles, former QBs on Kevin Patullo, Eagles offense: ‘There’s an art to play-calling that not everyone has’

    “Rumors swirled heading into the game at Texas Stadium that coach Buddy Ryan had put a $200 bounty on former Eagles kicker Luis Zendejas, who had some critical words aimed at Ryan after leaving the team,” Tim McManus wrote. “That seemed to be confirmed when Eagles linebacker Jessie Small decked Zendejas on a kickoff, leaving the kicker shaken and angered. The game helped fuel one of the fiercest rivalries in all of football for decades.”

    The Ringer: Fourth

    The Ringer moved the Birds down just one spot following the loss but wondered about the team’s inconsistent play translating to the playoffs.

    “The Eagles are uber-talented, they’re proven winners, and they’re building one of the league’s best defenses … but they also check every box of a fake contender. Philadelphia has one of the worst second-half offenses in the league, averaging just 8.8 points and 144 yards after halftime this season (both sixth worst in the NFL),” Diante Lee wrote. “Being risk averse helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl last season, but it’s currently taking away all the team’s margin for error.”

    The Los Angeles Rams remained in the No. 1 spot, and the Seattle Seahawks and Broncos were ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.

    CBS Sports: Fifth

    The outlet moved the Eagles down two spots and was critical of the offensive play-calling in the second half.

    “How did they blow a 21-0 lead in losing to the Cowboys with Saquon Barkley getting just 10 carries? They have offensive issues in a big way,” Pete Prisco wrote.

    Eagles running back Saquon Barkley finished with 10 carries for 22 yards against the Cowboys.

    The last time Philadelphia lost after leading by 21 points was during Andy Reid’s first game as head coach, in September 1999.

    Yahoo! Sports: Fifth

    Frank Schwab had the Eagles falling four spots from No. 1, with the Rams, Seahawks, Broncos, and New England Patriots, taking the top four spots.

    “This is a significant drop for the Eagles, but their offensive issues are tough to ignore after that debacle at Dallas,” Schwab wrote. “Saquon Barkley continues to be very quiet. Everyone knew his 482 touches last season might be an issue, and those predictions seem prescient.”

    Eagles open as Black Friday favorites vs. Bears. Plus: How loss to Cowboys impacted NFC East, Super Bowl odds

    Even though Barkley sat out the final game of last year’s regular season, his 345 carries led the league and 50 more than his previous career high in 2022.

    NFL.com: Sixth

    The Eagles were dropped three spots by NFL.com, which expressed growing concern about the offense’s production.

    “After three drives, it felt like the Eagles’ passing problems were fixed. By the game’s end, it was clear they very much were not,” Eric Edholm wrote. “Whatever rhythm they found early on started dissipating quickly.”

    The Rams stood No. 1 on NFL.com’s list for the second straight week following a blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

    USA Today: Sixth

    The outlet moved the Eagles down one spot and pointed out a season-long strength of Nick Sirianni’s team: limiting turnovers.

    “Much as it feels like this team suffers from self-inflicted wounds, Philly’s six turnovers are the league’s fewest,” Nate Davis wrote.

    Xavier Gipson and Barkley both fumbled during Sunday’s game.

  • Banged-up offensive line and inability to run is ‘crippling’ Eagles offense, according to Jason Kelce

    Banged-up offensive line and inability to run is ‘crippling’ Eagles offense, according to Jason Kelce

    Since Lane Johnson was first drafted by the Eagles in 2013, the team is 15-25 without him. For comparison, the Birds are 120-62-1 when Johnson has played.

    The right tackle’s absence hurt the Birds’ offense in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, Jason Kelce said on Monday Night Countdown, but it wasn’t the only problem.

    “He has meant so much to the Philadelphia Eagles,” Kelce said. “In pass [protection] they leave him one-on-one on an island at a higher rate than anyone in the league. He does it all extremely well, but it’s not just him this year, the whole offensive line has been banged up.”

    Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson have both been injured up this year, with Jurgens missing two games due to a knee injury and Dickerson missing one with an ankle injury. The left guard also tore his meniscus in preseason.

    “They’ve been a top 10 rushing unit, as an offense, the Eagles have, every year since Jalen Hurts has been the starter. This year is the first year they have really struggled to run the football,” Kelce added. “A lot of it comes down to being banged up and not being the cohesive unit they have been, and healthy, in the past, but it is crippling this offense right now.”

    Nick Foles, former QBs on Kevin Patullo, Eagles offense: ‘There’s an art to play-calling that not everyone has’

    The longtime Eagles center wasn’t alone. Super Bowl-winning defensive end Chris Long also pointed to the Eagles’ offensive line struggles as a major reason for the offense’s continued inconsistency.

    “This team has been built around the offensive line since we won a championship,” Long said on his Green Light podcast. “That team was built around the offensive line. This team is built around the offensive line. We always talk about, who’s the main character. The main character has always been the offensive line.”

    “Now the main character is not perfect, it puts strain on the passing game. You can talk about the coordinator — I don’t know how much of it is the quarterback or the coordinator just not knowing what the [expletive] to do. If anything short of a Super Bowl, you’re going to hear a lot of stuff come out about the behind the scenes, because it’s just not functional right now.”

    Long questioned what the team will look like in a “post-[Jeff] Stoutland” world because the driving force of the team has always been the running game and the high-powered offensive line — and Stoutland has been the coach of that unit for more than a decade.

    Because of the inconsistencies from half to half, Long is also worried about a potential playoff matchup. The team is talented enough to pull out wins, but it has been very up-and-down.

    Week 13 NFL power rankings roundup: How far did Eagles fall after collapse in Dallas?

    “They’re almost better off being down 14 points because it forces them to open the offense up, rather than being up 14 points, a la the [Los Angeles] Rams game,” Long said, referring to the Week 3 win when the Eagles rallied from a 26-7 deficit.

  • Vic Fangio expects to have safety Reed Blankenship available on Friday vs. the Bears

    Vic Fangio expects to have safety Reed Blankenship available on Friday vs. the Bears

    Vic Fangio said Tuesday he expects to have Reed Blankenship available to play in Friday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

    Blankenship, the 26-year-old starting safety, suffered a thigh injury in the third quarter of the Eagles’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday while making a tackle on running back Javonte Williams. He did not return to action, requiring Sydney Brown to take over his role in the Eagles defense.

    The news of Blankenship’s improved health is a boost to a banged-up secondary. Sources told The Inquirer on Monday that Drew Mukuba, the Eagles’ rookie safety, will require surgery to repair a right leg fracture he suffered on what was essentially the second-to-last play of Sunday’s game.

    Nick Sirianni says the Eagles are ‘searching for answers’ on offense, but Kevin Patullo will call plays

    With Mukuba likely on his way to injured reserve, Fangio said Brown is the next man up to start on Friday. Brown, the Eagles’ 2023 third-rounder out of Illinois, played 26 defensive snaps on Sunday, conceding two Jake Ferguson receptions for 26 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.

    Fangio was complimentary of Brown in his efforts to stay ready as the third safety this season.

    “I think he’s been doing a good job in practice with the reps that he does get,” the Eagles defensive coordinator said. “He’s done a good job staying in tune in the meetings, in the walk-throughs, and I’m excited to see how he does.”

    The Eagles will have other depth options at safety on game day behind Blankenship and Brown. Fangio acknowledged that Michael Carter, the 26-year-old defensive back whom the Eagles acquired from the New York Jets ahead of the trade deadline, has been serving as the fourth safety for the last three games.

    Additionally, Fangio said there is a chance that Andrè Sam, the 2024 undrafted free-agent safety out of LSU, will be elevated from the practice squad to the game day roster.

    Cooper at cornerback

    The Eagles also saw attrition at cornerback, as Adoree’ Jackson entered the concussion protocol in the third quarter after making a tackle on Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens.

    When Jackson exited the game, Cooper DeJean assumed the outside cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell on a mostly full-time basis. (Kelee Ringo also played one snap on the outside.) Carter took over for DeJean as the nickel cornerback. Fangio called the duo the “next best combination” beyond the starting pair.

    Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb makes a big catch in front of Cooper DeJean in coverage on Sunday.

    It was a tough showing for DeJean. He allowed four receptions on five targets for a team-high 148 yards, according to PFF. However, Fangio wasn’t outwardly critical of the 22-year-old defensive back.

    “He got beat a couple times,” Fangio said. “I thought he was tight, just at the catch point, got beat. It’s going to happen some.”

    If Jackson can’t play on Friday, Fangio said that “it’s possible” he rolls with the same combination of cornerbacks that ended the game on Sunday. He has been pleased with the contributions of the 5-foot-10, 184-pound Carter, who conceded just one reception on three targets for 7 yards against the Cowboys, according to PFF (although two of those targets were drops).

    “I think he’s a good player,” Fangio said. “Good, natural football player. Understands the game. Has got good instincts. Got good technique to his game. He’s quick. We’re pleased to have him.”

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 13 vs. the Bears

    Returner revamp

    Unsurprisingly, Xavier Gipson’s decision to field a punt at the Eagles’ 2-yard line and subsequent fumble at the 7 late in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Cowboys wasn’t part of special teams coordinator Michael Clay’s plan.

    The turnover didn’t ultimately amount to a Cowboys score, as the Eagles defense forced a turnover on downs when Dak Prescott threw an incomplete fourth-and-1 pass for Ferguson at the goal line. Still, Clay acknowledged that his group has to know when to be “at the mercy of the bounce“ on the return depending on the field position.

    “Sometimes, you saw in the Rams game against Seattle, that ball hit at the 1½-foot line and it bounced out,” Clay said. “You just tip your cap. That’s a heck of a job right there. So any time we can control what we can control, we would like that.

    “But again, we’re not out there in between the white lines. We try to give as much confidence in our guys to go out there and make a play; it’s just really unfortunate that it happened at that juncture of the game.”

    Gipson didn’t just turn the ball over on the play. He also suffered a shoulder injury and was spotted in the locker room after the game sporting a sling on his right arm.

    The Eagles have a variety of options to replace Gipson as both the punt returner and kick returner (alongside Will Shipley) if he can’t play. Before the Eagles claimed Gipson off waivers from the New York Giants, running back Tank Bigsby served as a kick returner.

    Eagles running back Tank Bigsby could be an option for the Eagles on Friday as a kick returner. He returned kicks for the team earlier in the year.

    However, Bigsby muffed a kick in the Week 6 loss to the Giants that forced the Eagles offense to start a drive at their own 7-yard line. He was stripped of his kick-return duties afterward. Still, Clay expressed that he hasn’t lost confidence in Bigsby if they call upon him Friday.

    “Tank works extremely hard,” Clay said. “We’ve been working him every day. Maybe you guys see him on Thursdays catching kicks from Jake [Elliott], things of that nature. In walk-through, going through the mechanics. So he’s always in that mix for us to be a returner.”

    Meanwhile, Jahan Dotson had been serving as the Eagles’ punt returner before Gipson joined the team. Britain Covey, who spent time as the team’s punt returner over the last two seasons, is an option on the practice squad. Clay wouldn’t divulge who will be assuming those return-specialist roles against the Bears, though.

    “Obviously, the roster is so much in flux and obviously that happens to special teams so much,” Clay said. “That’s what we do. We prepare, not just one guy. We prepare the entire roster for it if someone does go down or if things of that nature.

    “So we have players in place. Howie [Roseman] does a good job with the roster, giving us an opportunity to fill that void if someone does get nicked or banged up throughout the game or throughout the week.”

  • Eagles will wear appropriate uniforms for Black Friday — and are asking fans to do the same

    Eagles will wear appropriate uniforms for Black Friday — and are asking fans to do the same

    It’s time for another blackout at Lincoln Financial Field during the Eagles’ Week 13 matchup on Black Friday.

    The team announced it will don its all-black alternate uniforms for the first time this season against the Chicago Bears. As part of the holiday matchup, the Eagles are encouraging fans to ditch their green — whether that’s midnight or kelly — and instead dress in black.

    The Eagles’ black jerseys first debuted in 2003. They added black pants to match in 2014, during the Chip Kelly era. And if that wasn’t enough, the team added a black helmet in 2022. And although this is the first time they will wear the all-black look this season, the Eagles have worn their black pants twice. They first wore them in their Week 6 loss to the New York Giants, but with their white jerseys and midnight green helmets. In Week 10, they wore black pants and matching black helmets with their white jerseys in their 10-7 win over the Green Bay Packers.

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 13 vs. the Bears

    When it comes to the black jersey, the Eagles have had quite a bit of success, especially over the last two years, defeating the Giants in both instances. During the 2023 season, the Birds defeated their NFC East rivals, 33-25, at home on Christmas Day. They most recently wore the uniform during last year’s regular-season finale, which resulted in a meaningless Birds win — nearly all the starters sat out with the No. 2 seed in the NFC already secured.

    Now, there’s much more on the line. Not only do the Eagles need a win coming off an embarrassing loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but they’re also facing a tougher opponent — the 8-3 Bears — in a nationally broadcast game.