Tag: sports-trending

  • 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 …

    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.”

    “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.”

    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.”

    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.

    “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.

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

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

    There are a lot of questions surrounding the Eagles after their collapse in Dallas on Sunday, their third loss of the year, and easily their worst.

    Here’s what former players and media are saying about the game and where the Birds go from here …

    Who deserves the blame?

    The Eagles got off to a hot start on offense against the Cowboys, building an early 21-0 lead, and looking like an offense finding the form that had evaded it in previous matchups against Detroit and Green Bay.

    But the Birds failed to score a single point after that, going scoreless over the game’s final 40-plus minutes and allowing the Cowboys to come all the way back to win the game, 24-21.

    Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton said on First Take on Monday that, despite being extremely high on many of the Birds’ players, it’s concerning that there hasn’t been one game where the Eagles’ offense has truly put it all together and shown what they are seemingly capable of for 60 minutes.

    “A team of that caliber, we don’t expect those things to happen to them,” Newton said. “The thing that’s alarming is, the first three drives you score, you come out with a bang, we impose our will. The last eight drives, nothing. The frustration stems from, when are the Philadelphia Eagles are going to put it together, all together?

    “You’re starting to say, is it the offensive coordinator? Is it the quarterback? The players? That’s where my frustration comes in. When you have that much talent, and to not have one game — here we are in [Game] 11 — to not be able to say, they figured it out.”

    A ‘one-dimensional’ offense

    So, how concerned should fans be about the state of Kevin Patullo’s offense right now? ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky says very.

    “I’m very concerned about the offense, because it’s not good enough to beat good teams,” Orlovsky said. “It will not be good enough to beat a team like the Packers in the playoffs, the Rams in the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs.

    “They’re one-dimensional. They’re pass-only success when it comes to the offense’s ability. Their offensive line loses one-on-ones, they’re predictable in the run game, Saquon [Barkley] has not made people miss in space nearly as much as he was last year, and their routes — you can be predictable on offense if you’re creative with your route concepts. They’re not.”

    Damien Woody and Rex Ryan agreed on Get Up that the Eagles’ offense was “elementary,” especially compared to more advanced NFL offenses like the Los Angeles Rams or even the Dallas Cowboys. In 2024, the Birds were able to crush teams up front with their offensive line, but Woody, a former NFL offensive lineman, said they can’t do that anymore.

    “Their offensive line is nowhere near what it was in previous years,” Woody said.

    Art of the call

    Prior to Sunday’s game, Nick Foles discussed on his podcast what he sees as the biggest issues with the Eagles’ “superpowered” offense, which hasn’t been able to get into a good rhythm this year.

    Dallas Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland defends A.J. Brown in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium on Sunday.

    Foles, like Orlovsky, called out the Eagles’ route designs, which haven’t put A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the best position to get open, which in turn prevents Barkley from finding the holes he found last year. The former Eagles quarterback told co-host Evan Moore that the Birds utilize “simplistic” route trees (or the combination of routes a player can run at a given time) that don’t create space for the players, forcing them to get open and make plays on their own.

    “The great teams, those guys are wide-open. Even when I’m watching with [my wife] Tori, she’s like, ‘Why are these guys so wide-open?’” Foles explained. “And I’m like, ‘Well, it’s a complementary route to a deep route. … You need those downfield shots because it puts more pressure on the [defensive backs], it opens up more one-on-one matchups, but you’ve got to have complementary [routes], because then the DB can’t key and can’t guess.

    “So the creativity is key as a play-caller, and calling the plays at the right time. … There’s just an art. And I don’t see that this year. I don’t think anyone sees it. Fans that are passionate Eagles fans — because I’ve been to Philly several times — and you hear, every time I run across Philly fans, ’Man, what do you think is going to happen with the offense? What’s going on? Is this Jalen [Hurts]?’ I’m like, ‘Listen, it’s a team thing. 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.

    “They’re in more of a trajectory of the 2023 season … I would argue that they’re more on that trajectory than last year’s trend line, but at the same time, I do know that they have the players.”

  • Tom Brady backs Kevin Patullo, Nick Sirianni gets fed up with refs, and more from Eagles-Cowboys broadcast

    Tom Brady backs Kevin Patullo, Nick Sirianni gets fed up with refs, and more from Eagles-Cowboys broadcast

    Well, that was a disaster.

    The Eagles went up 21-0 early in the game but allowed 24 unanswered points from the Cowboys to lose, 24-21, Sunday in Dallas. If you turned the game off in rage after the Eagles’ second-half fumbles and miscues, here’s everything you missed on the Fox broadcast …

    Brady backs Eagles offense

    Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ passing offense have earned a lot of critics through the first 10 games of the season. The Birds ranked 28th in passing yards per game coming into Sunday.

    But one person who’s not criticizing Hurts and Kevin Patullo’s offense? Tom Brady.

    “You hear critiques about the style of the passing offense, that it’s remedial, I totally disagree,” Brady said. “He’s got a lot of full-field reads, he’s looking to the right, he did a great job earlier in this game on that comebacker to Saquon Barkley, scanning the field. He just doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way, and that’s what you need from your quarterback.”

    Brady continued to praise Hurts during the game. He also complimented Hurts’ chemistry with A.J. Brown, despite the discourse off the field in recent weeks.

    “It doesn’t look like there’s any issue to me,” Brady said.

    Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown had a touchdown called back because he didn’t get his second foot down before touching the pylon.

    Pylon cam

    It didn’t occur to me that the pylon cam wasn’t in the actual pylon, and that there was a separate pylon that contains the camera.

    But after Brown’s near touchdown was called back because he didn’t get his second foot down before touching the pylon, the instant replay clearly showed two pylons, just inches away from each other.

    “Really good skills to differentiate the actual pylon from the pylon cam,” play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt said. “Could have knocked them both down.”

    “We have way too many pylons down there. A.J. did a great job,” rules expert Dean Blandino said.

    Is it necessary for the pylon cam to also be shaped like a pylon? Feels like there could be a clearer way to differentiate.

    Carter’s trash talk

    Jalen Carter lasted longer than five seconds on the field in the rematch vs. the Cowboys — unlike his early ejection in the season opener for spitting on Dak Prescott.

    That doesn’t mean he cooled down with the trash talk. After Prescott’s red zone interception, Carter had a few choice words for Prescott, which got caught on the broadcast.

    Sirianni gives it to the refs

    Nick Sirianni was not pleased with the officials after a DeVonta Smith offensive pass interference call early in the fourth quarter.

    “What the [expletive] are you doing?” Sirianni appeared to scream to the official.

    “Nick is definitely letting the ref know. ’It didn’t look like what it was. We weren’t trying to pick him,’” Brady joked.

    The refs followed that up with a Brown false start in the fourth quarter, so clearly they were not intimidated.

    Eagles punter Braden Mann had to re-punt late in the game because of a penalty on Kelee Ringo.

    Confusing re-kick

    Brady and Burkhardt were confused after the Eagles had to re-punt the ball on fourth down, after Braden Mann booted one more than 70 yards.

    The pair theorized the kick potentially hit the scoreboard, which is an automatic re-kick, but after reviewing the tape, they couldn’t figure out where that could have happened.

    “If it hits the scoreboard, that’s basically a do-over,” Burkhardt said.

    It turned out, the Eagles had committed a penalty on the play, and the Cowboys elected to have the Birds attempt another punt. It worked, and Dallas got better field position the second time around.

    “They had a player going out of bounds on the play, the Cowboys took a penalty and elected to re-kick,” Blandino said.

  • Tyrese Maxey ‘spreads joy’ during his fourth annual holiday turkey giveaway

    Tyrese Maxey ‘spreads joy’ during his fourth annual holiday turkey giveaway

    Tyrese Maxey’s breakout season continued on Thursday night when the 25-year-old guard scored a career-high 54 points in the Sixers123-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The All-Star continues to grow as a veteran leader in his sixth season with the Sixers — but his personality and impact off the court often steal the show.

    That was on display Saturday morning as a line steadily formed out front of the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center as Maxey hosted the Tyrese Maxey Foundation’s fourth annual holiday turkey giveaway. And this year the foundation gave away 3,000 Thanksgiving meals to Philadelphia families in need.

    “It’s growing,” Maxey said. “The foundation, my uncle, my mama, everybody that’s part of it, is doing an amazing job. I remember when I first came to it, like I said, it was just a small idea that I wanted to do and it turned grand, and that’s a really good feeling.”

    With each passing year since it started in 2022, the event continues to make massive leaps.

    In its first year the foundation gave away 400 meals. The following year, that number increased to 1,000 meals, and in 2024 the foundation gave out 2,000 meals.

    “It shows my connection with the city,” Maxey said. “I try to do whatever I can to give back, honestly. It’s just one of the many things I try to do. But for me, my family, and my foundation, I really do appreciate them for helping me bring a plan like this to fruition.

    “I want people to see that I’m not just a basketball player. I’m a person as well. I grew up in places where I wanted to give back there too. And so now I’m blessed to be able to have that impact in Philadelphia.”

    Tyrese Maxey poses with fans before his foundation provides 3,000 turkeys to families on Saturday.

    Each Thanksgiving meal included a turkey, sides, fresh produce, and sweets. Philadelphia native Ceriene M. Lofton, 71, was grateful to have the help from the Sixers guard ahead of the holiday season.

    “He is humble,” Lofton said. “You have a lot of basketball players and you have a lot of stars, they wouldn’t even give you a dime. But him doing this is a great help for the community, especially for senior citizens who can’t get out or don’t have the means to have any type of dinner. So, you know what, I really honor him and I respect him for that because he doesn’t have to do that, but he does it out of his heart.”

    Saturday’s event was just one way the Tyrese Maxey Foundation plans to strengthen the community. During the day, Franklin the Dog made an appearance and Maxey met with children, first responders, and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship founder David Feldman.

    Wearing his bright red Tyrese Maxey Foundation T-shirt, Maxey couldn’t help but reminisce on a past interaction from his 2022 turkey drive, a day after he broke his foot.

    “I was able to go, and I still walked people around and was there the entire time,” Maxey said. “I remember this one lady came up to me just crying, happy that I was there. She just didn’t think I would be here because I broke my foot the day before. … Those are the moments that we live for. That’s why I do it.”

    Tyrese Maxey’s foundation provided 3,000 Thanksgiving meals to families on Saturday.

    As the event continues to grow, Maxey has big plans for the future.

    “It’s the holiday season, I just try to spread joy,” Maxey said. “Just keep making people happy. Right now, it’s a hard time in the world. … A lot of stuff has been changing, but the more families we can feed, the more smiles we can put on people’s faces, I’m happy.”

  • Eagles vs. Cowboys predictions: Rounding up the experts’ picks for Week 12

    Eagles vs. Cowboys predictions: Rounding up the experts’ picks for Week 12

    After a strong defensive showing over the Detroit Lions — limiting the team to just nine points — the Eagles now turn their attention toward the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.

    The Eagles (8-2) are 3.5-point favorites ahead of the Week 12 matchup against the division rival Cowboys (4-5-1), and beat them, 24-20, in the season opener at Lincoln Financial Field. Here’s how experts in the local and national media are predicting Sunday’s game …

    Inquirer predictions

    We start with our own Eagles writers. Here’s an excerpt from Jeff Neiburg’s prediction …

    To read more of Neiburg’s take, plus how our other beat writers are predicting this one, check out our full predictions here.

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs with the football against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, September 4, 2025 in Philadelphia.

    National media predictions

    Now, here’s a look at how the national media feel about Sunday’s matchup …

    • ESPN: ESPN is leaning toward the Eagles. Six of their 10 NFL analysts picked the Eagles.
    • NFL.com: In a near sweep, four of five panelists are taking the Birds this week.
    • CBS Sports: Similarly, six of eight CBS panelists are choosing the Eagles over the Cowboys.
    • Sports Illustrated: Sports Illustrated is leaning toward the Eagles, with four of six writers taking the Eagles.
    • USA Today: It’s the same at USA Today, with four of six liking the Eagles this week.
    • Bleacher Report: Bleacher Report’s panelists pick against the spread, and only three of seven think the Eagles will cover the 3.5 points.
    • Sporting News: Vinnie Iyer has the Eagles winning, 27-24. But, like others, he also doesn’t think they’ll beat the spread.

    Local media predictions

    Here’s what the media in Philadelphia think will happen on Sunday.

  • Eagles drama is ‘disrespectful’ to Jalen Hurts; DeSean Jackson stirs the pot; and what else they’re saying

    Eagles drama is ‘disrespectful’ to Jalen Hurts; DeSean Jackson stirs the pot; and what else they’re saying

    It’s Dallas Week — and there’s plenty of drama. But it all seems to be focused on the 8-2 Eagles, not their sub-.500 opponents on Sunday, the Cowboys.

    Despite a four-game winning streak and a 3.5-game lead over the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East, most of the discourse surrounding the defending Super Bowl champions has come off the field.

    From the fallout following a report that there have been internal frustrations with Jalen Hurts to A.J. Brown’s continued disappointment with his contributions on offense, here’s what they’re saying about the Birds ahead of their upcoming game against the Cowboys …

    ‘So disrespectful to Jalen Hurts’

    During Sunday’s postgame show with former Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner, longtime Eagles reporter Derrick Gunn said “there’s a lot of people in that organization that are frustrated with the quarterback situation right now.”

    When Hurts was asked to respond to the comments, he held himself accountable and said the frustrations haven’t been brought to him directly. Although Hurts didn’t voice his own frustrations with the report, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky called it “disrespectful” toward the QB.

    “What’s going on with Hurts is so disingenuous and disrespectful to Jalen Hurts,” Orlovsky said on ESPN’s Get Up. “And I’m not the biggest Jalen Hurts fan. All this dude does is literally, everything that everybody begged every other quarterback to do — or knocks them for not doing.

    “All he does is win. All he does is be obsessed with football and winning and doing what’s best for the team. And we’re just finding ways to knock him and take shots at him or report this about him or that about him. We heard this stuff last year about him being disliked in the locker room and he never wavered. He never flinches. And it’s this constant attack.”

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown late in Sunday night’s win over the Detroit Lions.

    Since the 2022 season, Hurts has recorded a 51-15 record, made two Super Bowl appearances, winning one and earning a Super Bowl MVP. Despite his success, the quarterback still seems to face plenty of scrutiny.

    “We kill guys — Joe Burrow doesn’t win enough, Dak Prescott doesn’t win enough, Mathew Stafford didn’t win enough in Detroit, Josh Allen doesn’t win enough, he can’t win the big game — and all Hurts does is everything we beg those quarterbacks to do,” Orlovsky said. “And all we want to do is kill him because it doesn’t look the same way, or the way that we want it. And I’ve done it [criticized him] before in the past as well.

    “I don’t understand why we are obsessed with trying to knock Jalen Hurts right now when he does the only thing that people actually care about.”

    ‘I hate seeing this’

    Orlovsky isn’t the only one upset hearing about the drama that’s reportedly taking place within the Eagles. Former center Jason Kelce responded to the Gunn report on 94 WIP and shared some insight about what it’s like inside an NFL locker room and the emotions at play.

    “I think that there are frustrations within a team that build up, continually,” Kelce said. “And I think Jalen gets a lot of the highlighting of that, again, because he’s the quarterback. … Lane [Johnson] and I didn’t talk for an entire offseason. Lane is like one of my best friends. Like, I love that guy. And this is part of being on a team. There are so many ups and downs. I’ve gotten into yelling matches with Jeff Stoutland, a guy that I consider like a second, almost like a father.

    “This thing brings out emotions and sides of people because you all want to win so badly. I hate seeing this, and the only way out of this, and I mean this fully, you talk to people. You be accountable, you try and work this out. I mean, it’s not that much different than what you do in your marriage, right? You try to be accountable to what you’re doing wrong, what you’re failing in. You try to take accountability to alleviate the burden off of other people. These are the ways you maintain relationships and maintain a team functionality.”

    ‘[There’s] something else going on’

    Leading up to the report, there was plenty of drama surrounding star receiver A.J. Brown — from cryptic social media posts to voicing his frustrations on a Twitch stream with Janky Rondo. Former Eagle DeSean Jackson believes there’s something more going on between Brown and Hurts.

    “You can tell when the interest ain’t there, it ain’t there,” said Jackson on the House of Action podcast with Clinton Portis. “It’s something else going on. And I got a great relationship with [Brown]. I respect him. I can’t say it. But I know it’s something else going on. It’s not all about football, it’s not all about X’s and O’s. I’ve been there. I’ve had situationships with QBs that I didn’t necessarily like. I’m just going to be honest. And when it ain’t there, it sticks out like a sore thumb. That’s all I’m going to say.”

    ‘Take away winning and it’s a muck down there’

    Despite their 8-2 record, the Eagles haven’t found their identity offensively. The passing offense has been inconsistent and Brown hasn’t put up the same production as past years. On the ground, Saquon Barkley is on pace to finish with just over 1,100 yards, after finishing with 2,005 last year.

    On ESPN’s First Take, former quarterback Cam Newton discussed what he perceives to be massive problems hidden behind the team’s winning record.

    “You don’t get reports like this from thin air, they’re coming from somewhere,” Newton said. “When you’re not getting opportunities to make plays, the frustration then comes to say like ‘Yo, we’re an offense that is well capable of producing way more. Are we winning the football games? Yes. Is it becoming a distraction that I’m voicing my opinion because I want to hold my team accountable and there’s an expectation here to dominate? Yes.’

    “The Philadelphia Eagles have been able to mask a lot of their deficiencies because they have been winning. Take away winning and it’s a muck down there.”

  • HBO releases trailer for in-season ‘Hard Knocks’ featuring the Eagles and NFC East

    HBO releases trailer for in-season ‘Hard Knocks’ featuring the Eagles and NFC East

    Ahead of the 2025 season, HBO and NFL Films announced its in-season edition of Hard Knocks would follow the NFC East, which meant behind-the-scenes access to the Eagles, as well as their division rivals — the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants.

    At the time, it sounded like cinema.

    Following one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, one that featured the reigning Super Bowl champions, as well as some of the biggest names in the sport — including the Eagles’ A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts, Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin, and Giants’ Russell Wilson and Malik Nabers — seemed like appointment viewing.

    However, it took a turn after a number of setbacks plagued each team. The Commanders (3-8) lost star quarterback Daniels to a dislocated elbow in Week 9. The Giants (2-9) have started three different quarterbacks and fired head coach Brian Daboll. The Cowboys (4-5-1) have battled inconsistency while adjusting under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer. Even the Eagles (8-2), who are running away with the division, are still trying to figure out their offense and drama continues to surround Brown.

    It’s not exactly the tight race fans were expecting — but there’s still likely to be plenty of drama. Fans can now get an early look at the series after HBO revealed its first trailer.

    Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East will premiere on HBO on Dec. 2 and can be streamed on HBO Max. New episodes will premiere every Tuesday throughout the end of the NFL regular season and into the playoffs.

  • A look at the custom cleats and causes the Eagles are supporting for NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative

    A look at the custom cleats and causes the Eagles are supporting for NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative

    It’s not just Dallas week for the Eagles. It also happens to be the start of the NFL’s 10th annual My Cause My Cleats initiative, which allows players to wear their hearts on their feet — by highlighting a charity of their choice with custom cleats through creative artwork and designs.

    “My Cause My Cleats is a player-driven platform that does a tremendous job of amplifying the voices, charitable causes, and social issues that matter most,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “I am especially proud of our players for always taking this opportunity to drive change and draw attention to the organizations that work year-round to help others. The dedication of those in our building is inspiring and a testament to their ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in the community.”

    This year’s My Cause My Cleats campaign will take place during Weeks 12 and 13. While the players will lace up their cleats Sunday against Dallas, the Eagles’ coaching staff will highlight the Eagles Autism Foundation during the team’s Black Friday game against the Chicago Bears by wearing custom Nike sneakers on the sideline.

    Game-worn cleats will be auctioned off at NFL Auction, with all proceeds donated to the charities chosen by players. Ahead of Sunday’s game, we’ve picked out some of the Eagles’ custom cleats, but you can check them all out — and find out more on the charities they support — here

    Jalen Hurts’ custom Jordan 1 cleats will highlight the Jalen Hurts Foundation.

    Jalen Hurts

    Jalen Hurts will be highlighting the Jalen Hurts Foundation, which aims to “strengthen communities by servicing and advancing the youth.” Similar to last year’s cleats, the quarterback’s baby blue Jordan 1s will have the foundation’s logo painted across the toe of the shoe.

    A.J. Brown will support the A.J. Brown Foundation with his custom green and purple Vapor Edge 360 “Untouchable” cleats.

    A.J. Brown

    Similar to last year’s look, wide receiver A.J. Brown will stick with a bold colorway — sporting green and purple Vapor Edge 360 Untouchable cleats to support youth development with the A.J. Brown Foundation. The Joker-like cleats feature a silhouette of Brown walking hand-in-hand with children above the foundation’s name.

    Cooper DeJean will highlight cancer awareness and prevention with his custom cleats.

    Cooper DeJean

    Cornerback Cooper DeJean is highlighting cancer awareness and prevention with custom cleats designed to honor the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

    Representing the school’s colors, the cleats feature a yellow colorway with a painting of the hospital on the inside of the shoe. Different colored handprints decorate the cleats, and “Iowa” is painted along the outside.

    DeVonta Smith will support the Eagles Autism Foundation with custom Under Armour Spotlight Pro Suede cleats.

    DeVonta Smith

    Wide receiver DeVonta Smith will honor the Eagles Autism Foundation, wearing custom Under Armour Spotlight Pro Suede cleats that feature the autism puzzle pieces decorating an all-lime green body.

    Nakobe Dean is supporting youth development with custom cleats designed to honor Kind Hearts 4 Lyfe.

    Nakobe Dean

    Nakobe Dean is supporting youth development with custom cleats designed to honor Kind Hearts 4 Lyfe. The Eagles linebacker started the foundation to “provide community outreach programs and services that support, assist, and positively impact the lives of people of all ages.”

    Dean’s all-red cleats have the organization’s logo on the heel with its slogan, “Reaching for the hand, but touching the heart,” running along both shoes. Hearts decorate the inside of the Nike logo.

    Zack Baun’s custom Nike Alpha Menace 4 Varsity cleats highlight the Special Olympics.

    Zack Baun

    Linebacker Zack Baun is highlighting the Special Olympics. His custom Nike Alpha Menace 4 Varsity cleats feature a sleek red, white, and black design with the Special Olympics logo on the toe of the shoe.

    Britain Covey’s all-pink cleats are decorated with horseshoes to honor Bridle up Hope and the Rachel Covey Foundation.

    Britain Covey

    Britain Covey is supporting women’s mental health by highlighting Bridle Up Hope and the Rachel Covey Foundation. Its mission is to “inspire hope, confidence, and resilience in girls and women through horses and habits.” The foundation was founded after the death of Rachel Covey, Britain’s cousin, who battled depression for many years. Covey’s all-pink cleats are decorated with horseshoes and the foundation’s name.

    Grant Calcaterra is supporting first responders by highlighting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

    Grant Calcaterra

    Grant Calcaterra is supporting first responders by highlighting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, whose mission is to “honor America’s fallen fire heroes and support their families, colleagues, and organizations,” as well as reduce the number of preventable fires.

    The tight end’s custom Jordan 1 cleats are painted to replicate a firefighter extinguishing a fire in a burning building, with the artist utilizing the Nike swoosh as the water from the hose. The organization’s logo decorates the heel of the cleats. Calcaterra previously pursued becoming a firefighter before continuing his football career.

    Joshua Uche’s custom Jordan 11 cleats support the Innocence Project.

    Joshua Uche

    Edge rusher Joshua Uche is using his platform to support social justice by highlighting the Innocence Project, which works to exonerate those who have been wrongly convicted of crimes. His custom Jordan 11 cleats are decorated in broken chains with the words “reform,” “justice,” and “equity” written across the cleats’ upper.

    Lane Johnson’s camouflage cleats honor the Travis Manion Foundation.

    Lane Johnson

    Lane Johnson won’t be playing, but the Eagles right tackle is again highlighting the Travis Manion Foundation, supporting veterans and the families of fallen military members. His cleats feature a black and gray camouflage design with a gold star alongside the outside of both cleats.

  • Vic Fangio’s best Eagles defense yet, Jason Kelce’s ‘biggest concern’ on offense, and more from ‘New Heights’

    Vic Fangio’s best Eagles defense yet, Jason Kelce’s ‘biggest concern’ on offense, and more from ‘New Heights’

    While the Eagles (8-2) topped the Lions, 16-9, on Sunday and continue to lead the division, not all has been to Philadelphia’s standard.

    Unsurprisingly, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce had some constructive criticism for what he called a “frustrating” Birds offense. He shared his thoughts on the game in the latest episode of his New Heights podcast, alongside his brother and Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce.

    Defense continues to impress

    In Jason Kelce’s view, the most notable success of Sunday’s win was limiting a potent Lions offense to just nine points. Travis Kelce also recognized the Philadelphia defense’s ability to stop Detroit on fourth down on all five of its attempts.

    “The [Eagles] defense is playing unbelievable right now,” Jason said. “Probably the best they’ve played since Vic Fangio’s been here. … And it’s at every single level of the defense. The defensive line is playing out of their minds. Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter were playing volleyball out there, batting down passes left and right.”

    One of those deflected passes turned into an interception for cornerback Cooper DeJean, who picked off Lions quarterback Jared Goff in the first quarter, leading to an Eagles field goal.

    “Batting down those passes early, that clearly got [the Lions] out of their rhythm,” Kelce added.

    After finishing with 2,005 yards last season, Saquon Barkley is on pace to finish with 1,125 this season.

    Kelce’s ‘biggest concern’ with the Eagles

    The longtime Eagles center was less satisfied with his former team when it came to the offensive side of the ball.

    He recognized the midgame blow of not having Lane Johnson on the field. The offensive tackle went down in the first quarter with a foot injury and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

    “I don’t know how long [Johnson] is going to be out, but that’s something that has decimated this offense in years past,” Kelce said. “Whenever Lane’s been out, it’s been very detrimental. Positively, Fred Johnson has played well in his snaps that he’s had to go in for Lane. But make no mistake, they’re going to miss Lane.”

    However, Kelce stated that the Eagles have wider struggles on offense to address — particularly, not maximizing their potential to run the ball.

    “We have to get the ground game going,” Kelce said. “Everyone wants to talk about this year’s offense vs. last year’s offense, and vs. previous offenses with Jalen Hurts. The number one difference is that we can’t run the football. We’re not running it at a consistent, successful rate. …

    “We have to be demoralizing in the ground game. And [the Eagles] can be. They should be, and they’re just not. It’s frustrating to watch.”