Philadelphia might have mild weather this holiday week, with light rain showers and likely no snow on Christmas. However, more people will be on the roads and in the sky, traveling to holiday destinations, than in recent years.
Holiday weather should be much milder this week, despite earlier forecasts calling for snow Monday evening, said Ray Martin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. Monday and Tuesday have a chance for light rain showers, and if temperatures drop, maybe snow, but there should be little to no snow accumulation.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Northeast will be warmer, drier days for travel, according to AccuWeather. Millions across the South and Midwest will experience the warmest holiday on record, though.
Whether it’s the expected good weather or people getting their post-COVID travel confidence back, roads and airports are expected to be packed this week, according to data from Philadelphia International Airport and INRIX, a national travel analytics firm.
Winter coats are out on a cold morning at a bus stop at 15th and Market Streets on Dec. 15.
Holiday weather this week in Philadelphia
While no snow will likely fall on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in the Philadelphia region, Tuesday and Friday have chances for precipitation that could bring rain and ice to Philadelphia, and possibly snow north of the city, said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Monday: The best weather this week. Warmer, drier, and less windy.
Tuesday: Rain showers in Philadelphia during the morning commute, but no snow. Possible rain, sleet, or snow in Montgomery and Bucks Counties. Lehigh Valley could receive an inch or more of snow.
Wednesday: No precipitation, but expect wind gusts up to 30 mph. The evening is expected to bring lots of cloud coverage. “Rudolph will definitely need his red nose out and about,” Roys said.
Thursday: Misty weather or light rain scattered across the region throughout the day.
Friday: Stormy weather with precipitation. Philadelphia has a chance for rain and possible ice, but Upper Bucks County and the Lehigh Valley could get snow.
The weekend: On Saturday and Sunday temperatures are forecast to range from the mid-30s to 50 degrees, with a slight wind. Rain is possible Sunday.
The scene at the TSA checkpoint line in Terminal B at Philadelphia International Airport on Nov. 9.
Holiday travel in the Philadelphia region
Expect longer travel times this year as more people hit the road and sky to get to their holiday destinations.
Airports and flying
Philadelphia International Airport will see a 5% increase in the number of travelers this week compared to the same period last year, with more than 1 million people expected to come through the airport from Wednesday to Sunday, Jan. 4.
PHL’s heaviest traveling days:
Friday, Dec. 26: 94,028 expected passengers
Monday, Dec. 29: 93,096 expected passengers
Saturday, Dec. 27: 92,954 expected passengers
Travelers should arrive two hours before their flight to ensure they get to their gate on time, said Heather Redfern, an airport spokesperson. PHL also has an online travel tips guide for more guidance on easier travel.
The Inquirer operates a year-end PHL tracker for up-to-date information on airport delays and airline performance.
Traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway on Oct. 26.
Driving and peak travel times
A large portion of the holiday travel already occurred this past weekend, but the increased holiday traffic continues.
Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve historically see lower vehicle traffic as people have reached their holiday destinations, according to INRIX. However, Friday is expected to be busy as travelers make their post-Christmas Day moves. “But, remember, crashes or severe weather could create unexpected delays,“ their year-end report warns.
Best travel times for driving in Philadelphia
Most of the traffic congestion this week will come after Christmas Day, with Friday being the busiest, INRIX reports.
To avoid peak traffic, drivers should steer clear of the roads on Monday and Tuesday, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The best time to travel on those days is before 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day will have minimal traffic impact, according to INRIX.
The following days will have some of the busiest roads all year: From Friday to Sunday, the worst travel times will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. To avoid congestion, drivers should leave for their destinations before 11 a.m.
“Last week, I went to Philadelphia, but it was closed,” is the sardonic line by comedian W.C. Fields that my husband, chef Ari Miller, has frequently referenced through the years. He has brought it up when sitting down with me for a 6 p.m. dinner (eating early is a habit I picked up sometime during the pandemic, when I left the restaurant industry), or designing his own menus. But most recently, used when debuting his own late-night menu at Post Haste, to even his own surprise.
New late-night menus have been proliferating again in Philly. (Also, let’s define “late” as after 10 p.m.)
What’s on these menus? There are burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, loaded fries, and hot dogs, but designed and dressed up by chefs using the same premium ingredients that go onto their dinner menus.
The Wagyu hot dog at Almanac in Old City, topped with tonkatsu sauce, Japanese slaw, bonito flakes, and nori.
Upstairs from Ogawa’s elegant, brightly lit omakase counter, you can let down your hair and ascend into Almanac’s semi-anonymous dark. Come January, the cocktail bar will extend its surprisingly voluminous late-night menu, featuring yuzu and miso glazed wings, an ethereally crispy karaage chicken sandwich, Wagyu hot dog, and barbecued eel donabe, among other refined Japanese comfort foods, until 12:30 a.m.
“Almanac’s food menu is crafted using the same high-quality ingredients chef Carlos Wills sources for Ogawa’s omakase counter, reimagined with a fun, casual twist. Designed for grazing and sharing, the dishes are snack-sized—perfect for enjoying alongside a drink,” said owner Vy To.
Rittenhouse’s dancerobot, a collaboration between chefs Jesse Ito and Justin Bacharach, just debuted a late-night menu last week, served Fridays and Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., with hot dog-stuffed buns, and spicy fried chicken, and some quick-serve baos off the regular dinner menu.
The just-opened Pine Street Grill is serving its usually $22 burger for $20 between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., paired with a 20-oz. beer.
The burger at Pine Street Grill, 2227 Pine St.
At Messina Social Club, Eddie Konrad makes a roast pork sandwich ($12) that’s only available late night. It’s served on a Martin’s Big Marty seeded roll and served 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Make it a Messina Happy Meal, where you get a shot, a can of Coors Banquet beer or wine, and the sandwich for $18.
The pork sandwich at Messina Social Club is only available on the late-night menu, served with potato chips.
The pork is dry-cured overnight with salt and brown sugar, roasted low between 275 and 300 degrees for six to eight hours, then pulled apart with tongs.
It’s then chopped up and “its drippings are emulsified with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and MSG,” said Konrad. “This mixture coats the pork, then we adjust the seasoning and top it with a tablespoon of chopped giardiniera, horseradish, and roasted garlic aioli.”
The assembly then takes eight minutes, a crucial number, according to Konrad. “It has to be turned out by the front-of-house staff, and it has to be perfect. They’re busy.”
When I polled chefs and other restaurant workers for where they went post-dinner shift, everyone inevitably named gas stations, restaurants in Chinatown that have since shuttered, and Taqueria La Prima (a fine option but proffered by five different stumped chefs).
Among the restaurant industry crowd, workers have long descended upon Fountain Porter for its excellent cheeseburger, which tastes like someone’s dad grilled it in the backyard, served until 2 a.m. Through closing and reopenings, Sonny’s Cocktail Joint, open until 1 a.m. or midnight, depending on the day of the week, also courts a post-dinner shift crowd, with cracker-thin pies and buffalo chicken dip.
So why the turn to late night? At Post Haste, anyway, it just makes sense.
“The bar is already open those hours, until midnight Wednesday through Saturday. It made sense to have food available while the bar is serving drinks. Last call for food is now 11:45 p.m.,” said Miller. Post Haste’s late-night menu is served Wednesday through Saturday, but its regular dinner menu is pay-as-you-can on Sunday, an option designed with “our industry colleagues in mind. Industry people work all days of the week.”
The accompanying late-night drink specials are bait for industry folks, fueled by Negronis and fernet.
“We wanted to have an option for people to get off their shifts at those hours to get some decent food as opposed to a short-order sandwich,” said Miller.
The late-night menu is simpler than their dinner menu, which features a long list of delicate, handwrought pastas. “It’s crafted so that one person in the kitchen can execute it. We took the fussy dishes off.” It may be 11 p.m., but hey W.C. Fields, Philadelphia is still open.
After a slow start that saw them trail 10-7 at halftime, the Eagles managed to take over in the final 30 minutes — securing a 29-18 win over the Washington Commanders and punching their ticket to the playoffs, becoming the first repeat NFC East champions since 2004.
Now, the 10-5 Eagles will prepare to travel to Highmark Stadium to play the 11-4 Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Most of the discourse surrounding the division champs has been centered on Nick Sirianni’s decision to go for two late in the game, whether the Birds are the best team in the NFC, or if they still have to prove themselves ahead of the postseason.
Here’s what they’re saying about the Birds ahead of their game with the Bills …
Nick Sirianni cited math in his decision to go for two late in the win over the Commanders.
‘I thought it was the wrong call’
One of the biggest storylines centered on Sirianni’s decision to go for two late in the Commanders game to give the Eagles a 19-point lead. At the end of the two-point conversion, a fight broke out between Washington and Philadelphia players, resulting in three ejections.
Former Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner reacted to the play call and the aftermath on 94WIP.
“Let me say this,” Joyner said. “I thought it was the wrong call. But, [Sirianni’s] the head coach, he can do what he wants to do. But, isn’t it amazing? Isn’t it amazing that biggest whiners, the biggest criers, are the losers? Shut the [expletive] up and take the L. OK. Because y’all was like dancing around last year like y’all was really going to do something because you knocked our quarterback out, you know, with a cheap shot. That wasn’t bush league?
“Then you bring your [expletive] here in the NFC championship game and you get run out of here. You run out of here like little church mice. You don’t say nothing. Now, all of a sudden you’re chiming in again. Shut the [expletive] up.”
‘The championship runs through Philly’
OnThe Speakeasy podcast, former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho were asked the question: Are the Eagles the best team in the NFC?
“When did we let it go,” McCoy said. “We were the defending champs last year. We were the NFC champs. See, y’all forget a lot, though. I don’t forget. Last year, we won the whole NFC East. Last year we won the whole NFC. Last year we won the whole league, the Super Bowl. Why y’all forgot? Because we had a couple bad games. Because our Super Bowl quarterback had a couple of bad moments. We’re still the Eagles and we still put on a show. And the championship runs through Philly.”
To Acho, Saturday’s game showed the complete package of what the Eagles could be. Jalen Hurts completed 22 of 30 throws for 185 yards with A.J. Brown as his favorite target, and gained 40 rushing yards on seven carries. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley finished with 132 yards on 21 carries to contribute to the team’s 207 total rushing yards.
“I think the Eagles are who we thought they were supposed to be all season,” Acho said. “Saquon [Barkley] really got active today. And then on top of that, A.J. Brown, he finally got active today. … This was maybe one of two or three complete games the Eagles have played all season. … The Eagles checked every single box you could hope and expect that they check.”
After a three-game skid, the Eagles have managed to bounce back with two consecutive wins over the 2-13 Las Vegas Raiders and the 4-11 Commanders, two teams that have struggled throughout the season.
“These games are momentum,” McCoy said. “It’s not about the opponent. It’s about getting us back in that groove. Getting us back with that motivation. Because when we get to the playoffs, we’re going to be rolling baby. … Resumés matter, playoff experience matters. And the way the offense is kind of clicking, the defense is making plays, I’m ready to roll.”
Philadelphia ‘still has a lot to prove’
McCoy and Acho may have faith in the Eagles’ chances in the postseason, but former NFL quarterback Cam Newton may need some more convincing.
“They ain’t close [to reaching their potential],” said Newton on ESPN’s First Take. “They played the league’s worst team and that’s what you’re supposed to do. … I don’t want to hear Saquon Barkley talk about the woes in Philadelphia. If you want to hear something, put the camera in front of A.J. Brown. Because A.J. Brown is going to tell us the truth, the gospel. He was telling us everything we knew and we needed to know in Philadelphia before it even happened. And he was being painted as the villain.
“But if you’re playing against the league’s worst team — a homecoming game, as we obviously know that to be — why would we believe that Philadelphia’s issues are fixed all of a sudden? So, at the end of the day, I’m looking at a dynamic to say hey, I need to see way more people [saying] ‘We don’t believe you, we need more people.’ And in that type of dynamic, Philadelphia is a team that still has a lot to prove, not only to the world but to themselves as well.”
"They ain't close. … Philadelphia is a team that still has a lot to prove not only to the world, but to themselves."@CameronNewton on how close the Eagles are to reaching their potential 👀 pic.twitter.com/VYWyNdDXy9
A former Temple guard who worked on coaching staffs at two Philadelphia universities placed hundreds of bets on professional and collegiate games while he was a volunteer coach, the NCAA revealed.
Khalif Wyatt, who served as an assistant volunteer coach for the men’s basketball team at West Chester University from July 2022 to spring 2023, placed 498 bets on professional and collegiate games between July and November 2022, totaling $176,326, according to the report released Thursday.
None involved West Chester teams.
Wyatt, who worked as a director of player development at his alma mater Temple before moving to the Long Island Nets in the NBA’s G League in September, declined to comment.
As part of the NCAA’s penalty, Wyatt was suspended from 15% of the regular season during the first season of his employmentif hired by any other NCAA member. He would not be able to participate in coaching activities during that period.
What does the violation mean for West Chester?
The NCAA began its investigation in 2024, when it was investigating another men’s basketball team. During that inquiry, sportsbook operator FanDuel reported Wyatt’s gambling. West Chester did not provide sports betting education to Wyatt, a volunteer coach, until 2023, according to the report. The NCAA found the university also responsible for Wyatt’s gambling.
The university was fined $2,500 and is on NCAA probation until December 2026.
A spokesperson for West Chester said, “Though the infraction was committed by a former short-term volunteer,” the school complied with the NCAA’s sanctions. It has further strengthened its compliance education, the spokesperson said.
Temple did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Khalif Wyatt was a standout player at Temple.
Who is Khalif Wyatt?
Wyatt, 34, grew up in Norristown and attended Norristown Area High School. He was a standout guard at Temple, where he helped the Owls earn two Atlantic 10 titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in four consecutive seasons.
He finishedhis career with 1,576 points, 295 assists, and 273 rebounds andwas named Atlantic 10 and Big 5 Player of the Year. He remains the program’s all-time leader for most 30-point games (seven) and is one of three Temple players to score more than 30 points in two NCAA Tournament games.
After his college career, Wyatt spent nearly a decade playing overseas in China (2013-14), Israel (2014-19), and the Philippines (2019-20).
Where has he coached?
Wyattwas named to Temple’s staff as its director of player development in July 2023, after previously having served as an assistant coach at West Chester.
Wyatt spent two seasons with the Owls before leaving for a job with the Brooklyn Nets’ G League team as a video coordinator this offseason.
Wyatt told The Inquirer in 2023 that he had hoped to be a Division I head coach or work in the NBA.
What is the NCAA gambling policy?
The NCAA bans student-athletes, coaches, and athletics staff members from participating in all sports betting activities, regardless of sport or division — includingprofessional sports.
In late November — after six college men’s basketball players had their eligibility revoked over allegations of sports betting — the NCAA rescinded a rule change that would have allowed student athletes to bet on professional sports.
Are there other local college betting incidents?
Former Temple guard Hysier Miller, who overlapped one year with Wyatt on the Owls’ staff, is permanently ineligible to compete in the NCAA after having placed dozens of bets, including some against his team, during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
The Neumann Goretti graduate placed 42 parlay bets totaling $473 on Temple games, and three of those were against his team.
Former Temple special assistant coach Camren Wynter and former graduate assistant Jaylen Bond also violated NCAA rules by betting on professional and collegiate sports. Their bets did not involve Temple.
According to the NCAA, both coaches received one-year, show-cause orders, a penalty in which any new hiring school would have to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions to state why it shouldn’t face discipline for hiring the coach, and a suspension of 10% of regular-season contests during his first year of employment.
In late November, Temple president John Fry and athletic director Arthur Johnson wrote in a statement that the NCAA found no evidence of point shaving or wrongdoing by the university.
Two men were shot on Monday morning inside the Frankford Transportation Center, police said.
The shooting occurred at 8:51 a.m. inside the building at 5223 Frankford Ave. Two men got into a fight, and one man took out a gun and shot the other in the shoulder, according to SEPTA spokesperson John Golden. The fight continued over the gun, and the original shooter was shot in the hand by the man with the wounded shoulder, Golden said.
Both men were hospitalized and taken into police custody. SEPTA police transported one man to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, and the other to Temple University Hospital. Both men are in stable condition.
Police are investigating the incident, but no charges have been announced.
In November, another man was shot in the leg around the same time of morning on the same block near the Frankford Transportation Center.
In late 1996, Carlos Melendez took a chance on a watering hole off the beaten path in Conshohocken and created Coyote Crossing, still one of the suburbs’ most popular Mexican restaurants. Ten years later, he opened what proved to be a short-lived outpost in West Chester before deciding to double down by expanding the original restaurant.
And that seemed to be enough until one night last year when he and his wife, Steffany, were out to dinner at Maurizio’s Bistro, near their home in Moorestown. Melendez struck up a conversation with owner Maurizio Randazzo.
“He told me, ‘You know what, Carlos? I’m tired. I’m having knee surgery, and I just don’t want to do this anymore. I’d like to sell it,’” Melendez said.
Melendez initially was reluctant to open another restaurant, but his wife urged him to look at it as a creative exercise. “And she was right,” he said.
Taco-Yote — a mashup of “taco” and “coyote” — opened Dec. 12. It’s a deliberate shift from Coyote Crossing. Moorestown is dry, so there is no bar. It’s also much smaller, with a lower price point and a menu engineered for takeout and delivery as much as for dine-in.
The al pastor pizza at Taco-Yote in Moorestown.
The food reflects Melendez’s upbringing in Mexico City and his decades in restaurants — he worked with Tequilas founder David Suro at the Carlos ‘n Charlie’s chain many years ago. The design is bold with hand-painted artwork and an intimate feel.
His mother-in-law, Ada Marina Estela, painted several pieces in the restaurant, including a prominent Frida Kahlo-inspired portrait in the main dining room. Steffany Melendez, a fashion designer, is behind “everything you see — the colors, the artwork, the aesthetic — that’s all her,” Carlos Melendez said.
Dining room at Taco-Yote in Moorestown. The portrait of Frida Kahlo was painted by Ada Marina Estela, mother of Steffany Melendez.
Central to chef Oscar Velasquez’s menu is a custom grill designed by Melendez and built by a fabricator in Tennessee, similar to one at Coyote Crossing. Fueled by charcoal and wood, it allows for live-fire cooking.
Maurizio’s pizza oven is now pumping out pizzas inspired by Mexican street food: tacos al pastor, mole poblano, shrimp, birria (with consommé on the side), and rajas poblanas.
Dining room at Taco-Yote in Moorestown.
“One of the biggest challenges with Mexican food is how it travels,” Melendez said. “If you order tacos, no matter where they’re from, by the time they arrive the tortillas are soggy, so we package it differently. We separate the protein from the tortillas. You get the protein, you get the fixings, and you get freshly made corn tortillas. That way, when you assemble the taco yourself, the tortilla hasn’t had time to absorb moisture.”
He said they apply similar thinking to pizza. “If you put sauce directly on the dough, it eventually makes the pizza soggy during transport,” he said. “We put the cheese down first. That way, the sauce isn’t in direct contact with the dough, and the pizza travels much better.”
The Cuban sandwich at Taco-Yote in Moorestown.
The menu also includes family-style meals — fajitas and similar dishes — where everything is packaged separately so customers can assemble them at home.
And then there is a Cuban sandwich.
“When I was a kid, my father [the actor Carlos Duran] would visit occasionally. My mom would drop me off at this sandwich place in Mexico [Tortas Don Polo] while we waited for him, because he was always one or two hours late. I’d sit at the counter and watch them make Cuban sandwiches for hours. I memorized the whole routine. That sandwich stayed with me. It has American cheese, Oaxaca, queso fresco, and Chihuahua cheese, pulled pork, chipotle dressing, avocado, and — very important — pickled jalapeños.” The bread is lightly buttered and heated so it’s soft.
“We put that sandwich on the menu because it’s personal,” Melendez said. “I’ve been making it for myself for years.”
Taco-Yote, 33 E. Main St., Moorestown, 856-323-5500. Hours: noon to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
The countdown to 2026 is on, and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. From New Year’s Eve dinner specials to adults-only celebrations and family-friendly gatherings, here’s how to ring in the new year in and around Media.
New Year’s Eve Events for Adults
Ship Bottom Brewery will host a “keg drop” to usher in the new year.
Now in its third year, the Swarthmore location of the brewery will usher in the new year with a keg drop. Festivities kick off around 3 p.m. and there will be live music from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., followed by a DJ from 9 p.m. until midnight, as well as food trucks.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 3 p.m.-midnight 💵 Pay as you go 📍Ship Bottom Brewery, 5 Park Ave., Swarthmore
Ring in the new year by listening to local Grateful Dead tribute band Jawn of the Dead perform at Shere-E-Punjab. Tickets are for the standing-room-only show. Separate reservations are needed for dinner.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. 💵 $40 📍Shere-E-Punjab, 210 W. State St., Media
Springfield Country Club is hosting its annual New Year’s Eve bash.
There will be à la carte dining throughout the night, and starting at 9:30 p.m., DJ Josh Jamz will be spinning tunes. Families are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍State Street Pub, 37 E. State St., Media
Families with preschool and elementary age kids can listen to music and a story, craft a disco ball, and count down to noon at this event. Registration is required.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Media-Upper Providence Free Library, 1 E. Front St., Media
Helen Kate Furness Free Library will ring in the new year by showcasing several traditions from around the world, including making a Japanese craft and eating a snack that’s meant to bring luck for the year ahead. Registration is required.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, noon-1 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Helen Kate Furness Free Library, 100 N. Providence Rd., Wallingford
Watch the ball drop from over 100 feet above Spasso Italian Grill in the borough as 2025 turns to 2026. There will be a DJ performing near Jackson and State Streets, as well.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. 💵 Free 📍Spasso Italian Grill, 1 W. State St., Media
The restaurant at the Inn at Swarthmore will serve a special prix fixe menu for New Year’s Eve that gives comfort food a spice-forward twist. The three-course menu includes starter options like roasted cauliflower soup, cider-braised pork belly, fennel-crusted yellowfin tuna, and truffle mushroom arancini. Entrée options include filet mignon, sea bass, stuffed pork loin, and winter squash gnocchi. The meal will be capped with a poached pear tart or gingerbread truffles. Dinner will be served from 4 to 9 p.m., and the bar will be open until midnight.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 4-9 p.m. 💵 $75 📍Inn at Swarthmore, 12 S. Chester Rd., Swarthmore
The Wallingford BYOB is offering a five-course meal for New Year’s Eve that includes a first course soup; a salad, tuna tartare, or foie gras second course; scallops for the third course; entrées like pork belly, Scottish salmon, and filet and shrimp; and a dessert of hazelnut chocolate mousse. A half-dozen oysters are also available to add to the meal for $21.
On New Year’s Day, White Dog Cafe is again hosting its Pajama Brunch, which encourages attendees to wear their PJs to the restaurant, where an à la carte menu will be available. Reservations are encouraged.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
It’s easy to criticize the refs, but this weekend NFL officials really gave fans and announcers a few things to complain about.
One was a key late play during the New England Patriots’ win over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night.
With a little more than three minutes remaining, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey appeared to outright tackle Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte on a deep pass. Despite an official watching just yards away, no flags were thrown, to the surprise of everyone on NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcast.
“It’s not really hard — that’s pass interference,” NBC rules analyst and former official Terry McAulay said.
Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Terry McAulay voice their shock about pass interference not being called against the Ravens on a Patriots deep ball. 🏈🦓🎙️ #NFL#SNFpic.twitter.com/CEGfOgTVA5
Earlier on Sunday, during the Carolina Panthers’ win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, officials missed what appeared to be a blatant fourth-down penalty.
With a little under five minutes remaining and the game tied, Panthers defender Princely Umanmielen hit punter Riley Dixon after he kicked the ball, which should have resulted in a penalty and a first down. Instead, officials called holding on the Buccaneers and missed the running-into-the-kicker penalty altogether.
“I think when you fixate watching the hold, maybe you miss that contact on the punter,” Fox rules analyst and former official Mike Pereria said during the broadcast. “It is contact to the body. I would have had running into the kicker.”
Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira points out that officials in Bucs-Panthers missed a running into the kicker penalty due to their focus on a holding call. pic.twitter.com/pfZJfEG3dL
Then there’s the controversial ending of the Pittsburgh Steelers-Detroit Lions game, in which Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown lateraled to quarterback Jared Goff for what would have been the game-winning touchdown.
On the play, St. Brown was called for pass interference, negating the touchdown. But both head official Carl Cheffers and CBS announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo did a poor job explaining why the Lions didn’t get another play
“By rule, that penalty is not enforced and there is no replay. The game is over,” Cheffers said.
Lions almost just had the craziest walk-off touchdown in recent memory
Instead the referees called an offensive pass inference on Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Steelers survive pic.twitter.com/KbHFFsnRlr
NFL rules stipulate if the offense commits a foul with no time remaining, “there shall be no extension of the period. If the foul occurs on the last play of the half, a score by the offense is not counted.”
Goff appeared to cross the goal line with no time on the clock, but the play wasn’t reviewable. If Goff had run into the end zone with time remaining, the Lions could have been given another shot.
After the game, Cheffers called it “a pretty complex play.”
“We have the original player who had the ball lose possession of the ball. So, we had to decide if that was a fumble or a backward pass because of course we have restrictions on the recovery of a fumble inside of two minutes,” Cheffers told pool reporter Nolan Bianch. “We ruled that it was a backward pass, so the recovering player was able to advance it and that recovering player advanced it for a touchdown.”
“We had to rule on that and then because of the offensive pass interference, it negates the touchdown. Because it is an offensive foul, we did not extend the half. Therefore, there is no score and there is no replay of the down,” Cheffers added. “That’s the way the rule is written.”
It also wasn’t the only controversial call to end the game. With 22 seconds left, Goff hit St. Brown on a one-yard touchdown pass, which would have won the game. But officials called pass interference on Lions receiver Isaac TeSlaa, negating the go-ahead score.
“The reporting official on that play told me that the offending player picked one of the defenders, creating an opportunity for the offensive player to make the catch,” Cheffers said.
Eagles fans will be rooting for Philip Rivers and the Colts tonight.
Fans across the Delaware Valley will be rooting for 44-year-old Philip Rivers to lead the Indianapolis Colts to victory tonight against Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers.
Why? A Colts win preserves the Eagles’ slim hopes of ending the season as the NFC’s No. 1 seed and securing a first-round bye.
The Eagles aren’t the only team that has a stake in tonight’s outcome. Here’s a rundown.
If the Colts win:
The Eagles will remain alive in the hunt for the NFC’s No. 1 seed
The Colts will remain alive in the hunt for the AFC South title
If the 49ers win:
The Bills, Jaguars, and Chargers will all clinch playoff berths
The 49ers will still be on track to land the No. 1 seed by winning their final two games against the Bears and Seahawks
If the Colts do win tonight, here’s what needs to happen in Week 17 for the Eagles to enter Week 18 with a shot at landing the No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs:
Eagles win vs. Bills
Bears win vs. 49ers
Panthers win vs. Seahawks
A Los Angeles Rams loss to the Atlanta Falcons would also help the Eagles, but the Birds just need the Rams to lose one of their final two games.
Essentially, the Eagles would need to finish the season with a 12-5 record in a three-way tiebreaker with the Bears and Seahawks to nab the top playoff seed. Unlikely? Yes, but crazier things have happened.
Despite recent struggles, Eagles sticking with Jake Elliott
Jake Elliott has made just 70% of his field goals this season.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said the Eagles will not be bringing in competition for Jake Elliott as the longtime kicker has hit a rough patch late in the season.
Sirianni on Monday reiterated his confidence that Elliott will bounce back.
Elliott’s 70.8% success rate (17-for-24) on field goals is the lowest of his career. He missed a 43-yard field goal and a 52-yard try (as well as a 57-yard kick that was negated by a penalty) during Saturday’s win over Washington.
Elliott has missed five field goal attempts over the last five games. He also has a missed extra point during that stretch.
“I understand it’s a production-based business,” Elliott said Saturday when asked if he was worried the Eagles could bring in a new kicker. “You see it all the time. That’s out of my hands, that’s out of my control, all I can do is kind of put my head down and keep pushing.
“I just got to put the ball through the uprights. That’s my job, man. That’s it. It’s not any deeper than that.”
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are positioned for a long playoff run.
On The Speakeasy podcast, former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho were asked the question: Are the Eagles the best team in the NFC?
“When did we let it go,” McCoy said. “We were the defending champs last year. We were the NFC champs. See, y’all forget a lot though. I don’t forget. Last year, we won the whole NFC East. Last year we won the whole NFC. Last year we won the whole league, the Super Bowl. Why y’all forgot? Because we had a couple bad games. Because our Super Bowl quarterback had a couple of bad moments. We’re still the Eagles and we still put on a show. And the championship runs through Philly.”
To Acho, Saturday’s game showed the complete package of what the Eagles could be. Jalen Hurts completed 22 of 30 throws for 185 yards with A.J. Brown as his favorite target, and gained 40 rushing yards on seven carries. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley finished with 132 yards on 21 carries to contribute to the team’s 207 total rushing yards.
“I think the Eagles are who we thought they were supposed to be all season,” Acho said. “Saquon [Barkley] really got active today. And then on top of that, A.J. Brown, he finally got active today. … This was maybe one of two or three complete games the Eagles have played all season. … The Eagles checked every single box you could hope and expect that they check.”
After a three-game skid, the Eagles have managed to bounce back with two consecutive wins over the 2-13 Las Vegas Raiders and the 4-11 Commanders, two teams that have struggled throughout the season.
“These games are momentum,” McCoy said. “It’s not about the opponent. It’s about getting us back in that groove. Getting us back with that motivation. Because when we get to the playoffs, we’re going to be rolling baby. … Résumés matter, playoff experience matters. And the way the offense is kind of clicking, the defense is making plays. I’m ready to roll.”
Nakobe Dean left Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury
During Saturday’s win against the Commanders, Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean left the game with a hamstring injury halfway through the first quarter and didn’t return.
After the game, teammate Jordan Davis told 94.1 WIP’s Devan Kaney Dean’s injury was minor. And on Sunday, while hosting a toy drive in Cherry Hill, Dean confirmed to fans he was doing “just fine” and only tweaked his hamstring, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Ashlyn Sullivan.
Nakobe Dean is here hosting a toy drive in Cherry Hill – he will also be taking students shopping in Philadelphia after this.
Nakobe said he is doing “just fine” and his hamstring injury was just a tweak. pic.twitter.com/PsL7ISA956
Merrill Reese: Commanders are being ‘cranky’ losers
Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner and Eagles running back Saquon Barkley exchange words during Saturday’s game.
Washington Commanders coaches and players were upset following Saturday’s loss to the Eagles, stemming from a two-point try they viewed as the Birds running up the score.
The conversion led to a melee, resulting in three players — including Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen — being booted from the game.
“I can only answer for my side, what I would do,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters following the game. “Hey man, if that’s how they want to get down, then all good. We’ll play them again in two weeks.”
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters he thought the extra point gave the Eagles a better shot at winning the game, and wasn’t because kicker Jake Elliott missed two field goal attempts.
Regardless, Eagles announcer Merrill Reese didn’t think the Birds were trying to run up the score, pointing in part to the team’s decision to stop throwing the ball and playing their backups on defense.
“If you’re playing at the rate the Commanders are playing, and you’re down to your third quarterback, anything’s going to make you irritable. You’re going to be angry about everything,” Reese said during an interview on 94.1 WIP Monday. “That was not running up the score. They’re just being cranky.”
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley summed up the feelings of both teams to reporters following the game.
“This team don’t like us, and that’s just the truth,” Barkley said. “And we don’t like them, either.”
Guess this is the moment Saquon Barkley was referring to when he said "we got a little fired up on the sideline," that led to the #Eagles RB "running angry" on his 12-yard TD.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks with officials after the final playof their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s easy to criticize the refs, but this weekend NFL officials really gave fans and announcers a few things to complain about.
First up is key late play during the New England Patriots’ win over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night.
With a little more than three minutes remaining, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey appeared to outright tackle Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte on a deep pass. Despite an official watching from yards away, no flags were thrown, to the surprise of everyone on NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcast.
“It’s not really hard — that’s pass interference,” NBC rules analyst and former official Terry McAulay said.
Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Terry McAulay voice their shock about pass interference not being called against the Ravens on a Patriots deep ball. 🏈🦓🎙️ #NFL#SNFpic.twitter.com/CEGfOgTVA5
Earlier on Sunday, during the Carolina Panthers’ win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, officials missed what appeared to be a blatant fourth-down penalty.
With a little under five minutes remaining and the game tied, Panthers defender Princely Umanmielen hit punter Riley Dixon after he kicked the ball, which should have resulted in a penalty and a first down. Instead, officials called holding on the Buccaneers and missed the running-into-the-kicker penalty all together.
“It’s contact to the body. I would have had running into the kicker,” Fox rules analyst and former official Mike Pereria said during the broadcast.
That missed call proved pivotal, as the Panthers marched down the field and kicked what ultimately became the game-winning field goal.
Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira points out that officials in Bucs-Panthers missed a running into the kicker penalty due to their focus on a holding call. pic.twitter.com/pfZJfEG3dL
Then there’s the controversial ending of the Pittsburgh Steelers-Detroit Lions game, where Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown lateraled to quarterback Jared Goff for what would have been the game-winning touchdown.
On the play, St. Brown was called for pass interference, negating the touchdown. But both head official Carl Cheffers and CBS announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo did a poor job explaining why the Lions didn’t get another play
“By rule, that penalty is not enforced and there is no replay. The game is over,” Cheffers said.
absolute chaos at the end of Lions-Steelers. Amon-Ra St. Brown stopped short of the goal line. flips to Jared Goff at the last second. he dives in for a game-winning touchdown… but! flags! offensive pass interference! Steelers win pic.twitter.com/Rg3Zy4SrQU
NFL rules stipulate if the offense commits a foul with no time remaining, “there shall be no extension of the period. If the foul occurs on the last play of the half, a score by the offense is not counted.”
If Goff had run into the end zone with time remaining on the clock, the Lions would have been given another play. Because of the penalty, the Lions weren’t able to review whether Goff crossed the plane of the goal line with one second remaining.
It also wasn’t the only controversial call to end the game. With 22 seconds left, Goff hit St. Brown on a one-yard touchdown pass, which would have won the game. But officials called pass interference on Lions receiver Isaac TeSlaa, negating the go-ahead score.
“The reporting official on that play told me that the offending player picked one of the defenders, creating an opportunity for the offensive player to make the catch,” Cheffers told pool reporter Nolan Bianch following the game.
Philip Rivers and the Colts can help the Eagles tonight.
The Eagles have already clinched the NFC East and will host a wild-card game at the Linc, but the Birds still have an unlikely shot at landing the No. 1 seed.
Here’s how the NFC playoff picture looks after Sunday’s games, with five teams having already clinched a postseason spot:
NFC playoff picture
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To land the No. 1 seed, Philly would need to win their final two games against the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders and get a lot of help, beginning with tonight’s Monday Night Football matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts.
The Eagles need the Colts and 44-year-old Philip Rivers to win tonight to have any hope of landing the No. 1 seed.
Here’s everything that needs to happen over the final two weeks of the season for the Eagles to end up with the top seed and secure a first-round bye:
Eagles win their final two games against the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders
San Francisco 49ers lose to the Indianapolis Colts Monday and the Bears in Week 17
Seattle Seahawks lose their final two games against the Carolina Panthers and 49ers
Chicago Bears win against the 49ers in Week 16 and lose to the Detroit Lions in Week 17
Los Angeles Rams lose one of their final two games against the Atlanta Falcons or Arizona Cardinals
If all that happens, the Eagles would finish the season with a 12-5 record and would win a three-way tiebreaker with the Bears and Seahawks.
The path to the No. 2 seed is more realistic. If the Eagles win out, all they would need is for the Bears to lose their final two games to move up to the No. 2 seed. In that case, they’d host a wild card game against the No. 7 seed, currently the Green Bay Packers.
Josh Allen injured ahead of Sunday’s game against Eagles
Josh Allen injured his ankle but finished Sunday’s game for the Bills.
There’s snow in the forecast Sunday in Buffalo, where the Eagles will take on the Bills with playoff seeding on the line for both teams.
The Bills will officially clinch a playoff spot if the Indianapolis Colts lose tonight to the San Francisco 49ers, and they’ll enter Week 17 still in the hunt for their sixth-straight AFC East title.
Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen injured his ankle during Sunday’s win against the Cleveland Browns, but X-rays taken at halftime were reportedly negative and he finished the game for the Bills.
Allen didn’t seem too concerned following the game.
“We’re gravy, baby,” Allen told CBS sideline reporter Evan Washburn following the game.
The last time the Eagles faced the Bills was 2023 at the Linc, with the Birds rallying to win in overtime. The celebrations didn’t last long, as the Eagles went on to lose five of their final six games and suffer an early playoff exit.
Saquon Barkley rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown Saturday.
Saquon Barkley had rushed for just 52 yards on 14 carries when he came to the sideline late in the third quarter. The Eagles had taken a 14-10 lead after a 17-play, touchdown-scoring drive, but they did so in spite of the struggles in the running game.
It’s been a season-long slog on the ground, but there have been glimpses of hope in recent weeks. And Barkley, who’s had to run into more stacked boxes than ever in his eighth year, felt that he wasn’t taking advantage of opportunities against a weakened Commanders defense.
“We got a little fired up on the sideline, but it was good,” Barkley said. “It’s all out of love, let’s say that. We want to do what’s best for the team when we’re winning games and hold each other accountable. But thank God it happened for me, to be honest, because it put me in my bag, as people would say.”
It was a 12-yard touchdown run off left tackle. The stat sheet account of the play doesn’t do Barkley’s seventh rushing score of the season justice. Jordan Mailata gave perhaps the best description.
“That was an angry run by Say,” the Eagles left tackle said. “Kind of expected that from him by the way he was acting on the sideline. He was just very adamant, being very positive, like, ‘Hey, we’re gonna get it.’”
Barkley’s touchdown wasn’t exactly the final nail. But he drove the last spike with a dazzling 48-yard run two drives later. And backup Tank Bigsby buried the Commanders with a 22-yard bolt into the end zone of the Eagles’ eventual 29-18 win at Northwest Stadium on Saturday.
It may be no coincidence that the offensive improvement came after Sirianni asserted more of his authority on that side of the ball three games ago. There were bright moments in the overtime loss to the Chargers, but Hurts had five turnovers.
Actually, there were improvements in run design the week before against the Bears. But the Eagles defense didn’t meet its usual standard and the offense couldn’t compensate. The numbers in the last four games, though, suggest that Barkley and Co. are doing something better.
The Eagles have averaged 4.96 yards per carry over that span. In their first 11 games, they averaged only 3.91 yards.
Former Imhotep Charter star’s catch propels Bears into the playoffs
The Bears’ DJ Moore celebrates after his 46-yard TD catch in overtime beats the Green Bay Packers.
After overcoming a 16-6 deficit late in the fourth quarter Saturday night, the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers, in overtime, 22-16, thanks to a 46-yard touchdown reception from Philly native DJ Moore.
Three plays after the Bears stopped Green Bay on its drive in overtime, quarterback Caleb Williams found Moore, an Imhotep Charter graduate, off a play-action post route to score the walk-off touchdown, his sixth touchdown reception of the season.
“I just had to run, run like I did in practice and connect like we did at practice,” Moore said of his winning reception. ”It was really a practice rep but we did it in a game. Like I said, it was just amazing that we did it against the Packers.”
The victory moved Chicago to the NFC’s No. 2 seed and put the Bears in the driver’s seat to win the NFC North for the first time since 2018. The Bears haven’t made the playoffs since 2020.
Moore is the Bears’ leading receiver this year with 664 yards and is tied for the team lead in touchdowns with Rome Odunze.
Now in his eighth season in the NFL after a standout career at Maryland, Moore has scored three of his touchdowns in the last two games. This is his third year in Chicago after getting traded from the Carolina Panthers after the 2022 season and he has led the team in receiving each of the last three years.
The countdown to 2026 is on, and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. From New Year’s Eve dinner specials to adults-only celebrations and family-friendly gatherings, here are some waysto ring in the new year in and around Cherry Hill.
New Year’s Eve Events for Adults
Andy Cooney is performing for two nights in Cherry Hill.
The New York performer, known for his Irish musical renditions, will bring his band to the DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill for two nights ahead of the new year. Packages with overnight accommodations are available and include dinner, a champagne toast, and breakfast.
⏰ Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 31, times vary 💵 $185-$282 📍2349 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill
This year, Vera will transform into a winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights and snowflakes to ring in the new year. There will be a photo booth, ice sculptures, and a champagne toast at midnight.
The salon and spa geared toward kids is hosting a morning glam event, where kids can get their hair, makeup, or nails done. There will also be crafts, games, and dancing, followed by a balloon drop at noon.
Hot Wheelz is throwing several themed parties on New Year’s Eve, starting with its Bluey Year’s Eve Celebration. Taking place from 10 a.m. to noon, it includes a meet-and-greet with the character, ICEEs, and a scavenger hunt. At 12:30 p.m., Before Bedtime with Mickey and Minnie gets underway, featuring the popular Disney characters. Attendees are encouraged to wear their pajamas. At 4 p.m., New Year’s Eve Glow 2026 Countdown begins, complete with pizza, neon lights, and glow necklaces. And at 7:30 p.m., the final party of the night kicks off. Skate Into 2026 Skate Party includes pizza, a DJ, and attendees are encouraged to wear festive threads.
Bowling alley Lucky Strike is offering three ways to celebrate the end of 2025 and the start of 2026. Packages include two hours of daytime bowling, a two-hour “Sunset Bash” in the evening, or a four-hour “Ball Drop Premium” package, with options for food and a champagne or cider toast.
Hop aboard this historic vessel for views of the annual fireworks display. There are two shows: one at 6 p.m. geared toward families with little ones, and the midnight fireworks.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. 💵 $10-$125 📍100 Clinton St., Camden
Try your luck at casino-style games, listen to live music from Neo Kyma, plus tunes from DJ Makis, and hit the dance floor at this family-friendly party that’s open to the community.
The à la carte menu for New Year’s Eve includes starters like prawns, burrata, potato croquette, and oysters, while entrées include Dover sole, herb-crusted lamb, lobster risotto, and filet mignon.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, last seating at 8 p.m. 💵 Prices vary 📍300 E. Evesham Rd., Cherry Hill
The Italian restaurant has a special menu for New Year’s Eve that includes jumbo lump crab cakes, penne vodka, chicken, veal, or eggplant parmigiana, a rib eye steak, and Asiago gnocchi. The children’s menu has a cheese pizza, chicken fingers, penne with butter, ravioli, and chicken parmigiana.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, last seating at 8:15 p.m. 💵 Prices vary 📍1491 Brace Rd., Cherry Hill
The Old World Italian eatery is serving a three-course prix fixe dinner on New Year’s Eve of a starter, entrée, and dessert for $95 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Diners can also choose to order à la carte. Entrées include Chilean sea bass, filet mignon, and seafood risotto. Signature drinks, wines, and bottles of bubbly will also be available.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, open until 9:30 p.m. 💵 Prices vary 📍211 Berlin Rd., Cherry Hill
The Mediterranean restaurant will have a prix fixe menu and a DJ to ring in 2026.
⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, open until 1 a.m. 💵 Prices vary 📍 2000 Route 38 #1160, Cherry Hill
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