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  • Eagles vs. Giants in Week 8: Here are the numbers that matter

    Eagles vs. Giants in Week 8: Here are the numbers that matter

    The Eagles and Giants meet for the second time in three games Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, and the Eagles will be aiming to flip the script after taking an embarrassing 34-17 defeat in Week 6 at MetLife Stadium.

    The Eagles have plenty of things they studied after that loss, and some of them showed on the field Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

    What will happen in Week 8? Here’s what some of the numbers tell us:

    23.9%

    The Eagles don’t really need a reminder of this, but the Giants offense goes as Cam Skattebo goes.

    The rookie had 110 yards from scrimmage, including 98 on the ground, two weeks ago at MetLife Stadium. He bowled over Zack Baun and then scored on the next play. Then he did a backflip.

    Skattebo accounted for 30% of the Giants’ yards that night, which is ahead of his season-long average of 23.9% of New York’s offense. If Skattebo stays at this pace, that would be the second-highest mark by a Giants rookie since 2000, behind only Saquon Barkley’s 33.5% in 2018, according to Next Gen Stats.

    The Eagles will have to tackle better if they want to slow down Cam Skattebo in their rematch with the Giants.

    The Eagles will need better answers for Skattebo. They were much better against Jordan Mason on Sunday in Minneapolis, where they held Mason to 3.8 yards per carry. Skattebo was at 5.2 a week earlier, in part because of his ability to run through tackles. Since taking over as the lead back in Week 3, Skattebo is up to 31 forced missed tackles, which trails only the San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey during that stretch.

    Brandon Graham could help the Eagles at setting the edge against the run, but it’s unclear if Graham will be ready to go for Sunday’s game.

    What to expect from Brandon Graham? Here’s how other NFL players who unretired fared.

    193

    Rookie quarterbacks tend to be beatable by blitzing them and causing havoc, but Jaxson Dart defied that law Sunday vs. the Denver Broncos.

    Dart was 8-for-14 for 193 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception when facing pressure from the Broncos, according to Next Gen. The interception was obviously a negative result, but the 193 passing yards were the third-highest total against the blitz by a quarterback this season.

    Impressive stuff from the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft.

    This isn’t a departure from his success when the teams met two weeks ago. Dart was 9 of 13 for 99 yards and a touchdown when the Eagles blitzed him. He has been blitzed on a league-high 38.6% of his drop backs, according to Next Gen.

    Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart hurt the Eagles with his legs to the tune of 58 yards and a touchdown.

    Perhaps the lesson learned from the film Sunday for the Eagles will be Denver’s success when not sending extra rushers. Against four or fewer rushers, Dart went 7-for-19. The Broncos also kept him in check with his legs. He was solid when throwing on the move, but he did not gain any scrambling yards, a departure from his previous starts.

    The Eagles have plenty to clean up there from the last matchup, and scrambling quarterbacks have been the Achilles’ heel for their defense, as Vic Fangio pointed out last week when asked about why the run defense has struggled. Dart accounted for 58 yards and a touchdown on the ground two weeks ago.

    4

    The Eagles almost doubled up their under-center play-action drop backs in Sunday’s win at Minnesota.

    They entered with just five such plays in their first six games, and on Sunday they called four play-action drop backs. Those plays resulted in four completions for 121 yards and a touchdown.

    It was a tendency-breaking day. Before Sunday, Jalen Hurts handed off on 42 of the 48 times he lined up under center.

    The Eagles have at least given the Giants something different to think about.

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 8 vs. the Giants

    2.4

    The Eagles’ running game hasn’t been good, and it was especially bad Sunday vs. the Vikings, who boast a pretty formidable defensive front. But Barkley managed just 44 yards on 18 carries, and his 2.4 yards per attempt ranked as his second-lowest output of the season.

    Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was held under 2.5 yards per carry against Minnesota.

    Here’s a big reason the running game is struggling: Barkley, according to Next Gen, has been contacted behind the line of scrimmage at a rate of 58%, the highest in the NFL. He has gained the fewest yards before contact (minus-2) among running backs with at least 30 carries directed between the tackles this season.

    Last season, Barkley gained 264 rushing yards before contact on carries between the tackles, second in the NFL.

    19

    Rookie edge rusher and Philadelphia’s own Abdul Carter is having a pretty good rookie season with the Giants. The No. 3 overall pick leads the NFL with 19 quick pressures, according to Next Gen, and has 29 total pressures this season. Only seven players have generated more pressure. A quick pressure occurs when a player pressures a quarterback within 2.5 seconds on a passing play.

    Carter has caused havoc, but he was nullified two weeks ago when Lane Johnson held him without a pressure across 14 matchups. Carter managed just two pressures in that game, according to Pro Football Focus, his lowest single-game total this season.

    72.9%

    We highlighted the Eagles’ playoff chances in this exercise last week, and it’s worth following up here.

    Consecutive losses in games the Eagles were supposed to win put them in a precarious spot, trending toward being a coin flip to make the playoffs, according to FTN Fantasy’s projections. But the win against the Vikings bumped the Eagles’ playoff chances nearly 14 points to 72.9%.

    The Eagles are one of six NFC teams with a 5-2 record. Getting to 6-2 before the bye would be helpful, and would likely increase that playoff percentage slightly.

  • Jalen Carter, Landon Dickerson, Nakobe Dean among five reasons Eagles will win the rematch vs. Giants

    Jalen Carter, Landon Dickerson, Nakobe Dean among five reasons Eagles will win the rematch vs. Giants

    Nobody saw it coming. Not even the Giants.

    “Quite honestly, nobody really expected us to put up a performance like this,” Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart said afterward.

    Maybe we should have.

    One of the more shocking upsets in recent Eagles history happened at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 9, when the 1-4 Giants got their second win over the 4-1 Eagles, who were defending Super Bowl champions and the winners of the last seven truly meaningful games against their closest NFC East rivals.

    Should it have been so shocking?

    After all, the Giants’ losses came at the Commanders, who had the services of since-injured quarterback Jayden Daniels; at the Cowboys, who have the No. 1 offense; at home against the Chiefs, a current dynasty; and at the Saints, where Dart, in his second start, committed three of the Giants’ five turnovers.

    Can the return of Brandon Graham fill the leadership void on the Eagles defense?

    Further, the Eagles played without two Pro Bowl players, defensive tackle Jalen Carter and guard Landon Dickerson, and they lost top cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the second quarter.

    So, maybe the Giants weren’t so bad, and, clearly, the Eagles weren’t as deep as they needed to be.

    A lot has changed in two weeks. That should make all the difference come Sunday afternoon.

    1. Dickerson is healthy

    Dickerson was the seventh-best guard in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus, when he was named to his third straight Pro Bowl and played in his second Super Bowl in three seasons. He has dealt with knee surgery that cost him most of training camp, a back injury that limited him in September, and an ankle injury that cost him the Giants game. He’s still ranked in the middle of the pack.

    Eagles guard Landon Dickerson celebrates with wide receiver Devonta Smith after Smith’s touchdown in Minnesota on Sunday.

    Dickerson was his healthiest this season last Sunday in Minneapolis, and the resulting grade showed it. Even with fifth-year backup Brett Toth playing at center for the first time next to him, Dickerson dominated.

    Toth was Dickerson’s replacement in the loss to the Giants. Things did not go well.

    2. Carter is healthy

    The Eagles built their defense around Carter, who has succeeded Fletcher Cox as the franchise’s core defensive player. Carter’s injured heel cost him the game against the Giants, but the 10 days between the Giants game and the trip to Minnesota not only gave the heel time to heal (heh heh), it also allowed his sprained right shoulder to strengthen.

    The shoulder cost him time in training camp and, intermittently, during the regular season. It also made him a horrific tackler: the worst, in fact, among all NFL defenders, according to PFF.

    Also, he’s finally in good enough shape to be effective for more than half an NFL game. Of course, there’s no viable reason he should not have been in better shape to start the season.

    You don’t run on your shoulder.

    Eagles’ Jalen Hurts again roasts Carson Wentz; A.J. Brown says ‘Just throw me the bleeping ball’

    3. Jalen Hurts found his rhythm

    In Minnesota, Hurts and his top three receivers, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert, finally appeared to be in sync. Hurts threw for 326 yards and had a perfect 158.3 passer rating for the first time in his career.

    Much had been made about the ineffectiveness of the passing game through the first six games, but, as we warned when the season began, injuries to Brown and Smith kept the passing attack from practicing as a complete unit the entire preseason, which is why the preseason (and preseason games) exist. Hurts is always gun-shy. He’s much more gun-shy when he’s not comfortable. Last Sunday, for the first time, he looked comfortable.

    Also, the team changed offensive coordinators for the third consecutive season.

    Also, the offensive line has played just one of seven games from start to finish with its starters intact, and that’s why the Eagles won at Kansas City.

    New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart scrambles during an Oct. 9 matchup with the Eagles.

    4. Familiarity

    There’s a little more tape on Dart, whose elusiveness and fearlessness are a formidable combination. Combine that with unpredictability, and you get a kid who will make a lot of plays but will also make a lot of mistakes.

    A lot of the tape on Dart shows Eagles defenders getting roasted.

    Don’t expect much more of that sort of tape from Sunday’s game.

    5. Return of the Macks

    Nobody commanded more respect in the Eagles locker room last season than 15-year veteran defensive end Brandon Graham. His return from retirement Tuesday will resound whether or not he takes a snap on Sunday.

    A close second: third-year linebacker Nakobe Dean. Before he injured his pectoral muscle in the playoffs last season, he ranked 10th among all linebackers in overall defense, seventh as a pass rusher, according to PFF, and his impact as a tackler in his return Sunday was dynamic: He had six tackles, three solos, and a tackle for loss … on just 23% of the defensive snaps.

  • What to expect from Brandon Graham? Here’s how other NFL players who unretired fared.

    What to expect from Brandon Graham? Here’s how other NFL players who unretired fared.

    Tom Brady was 44 when he retired for 40 days before he changed his mind and went back to the playoffs one more time with Tampa Bay in 2022.

    In 1974, former Eagles linebacker Maxie Baughan left his defensive coordinator gig at his alma mater, Georgia Tech, to go back to the NFL as a player-coach with Washington. He was a backup and played in two games.

    Brett Favre was 40 when he decided to come out of retirement for the second time and join the Minnesota Vikings in 2009. He stuck it twice to his old team, Green Bay, won the NFC North, then led the Vikings all the way to the NFC title game.

    Reggie White returned from retirement at 38 with the Carolina Panthers in 2000. He played in all 16 games but recorded his lowest single-season sack total (5½) in a Hall of Fame career.

    Can the return of Brandon Graham fill the leadership void on the Eagles defense?

    Then there’s Bronko Nagurski, who, in 1943, came out of retirement to play with the Chicago Bears, who needed players because many of theirs were fighting in World War II.

    All of this is to say not all unretirements are created equal.

    What does the historical data mean for Brandon Graham, who is back with the Eagles after retiring from football seven months ago? Maybe nothing — human bodies aren’t created equal, either. Or maybe something, as there may be relevant context.

    Former Eagle and Packer Reggie White (92) came out of retirement to sign with the Panthers in 2000.

    Is Reggie White’s case similar?

    White was 38 when he decided to end his one-season retirement to join the Panthers, and Graham turned 37 a few weeks after retiring in mid-March.

    But White, one of the best defensive ends of all time, was coming off a 16-sack, first-team All-Pro, Defensive Player of the Year 1998 season when he retired. Graham was playing well with the Eagles last year, but his season was cut short by injury, and his sack numbers dropped off a cliff one year earlier in 2023.

    White still was disruptive to opponents, but he wasn’t his normal high-production self in a more limited role in Carolina. It is a physical and demanding position, not that Graham needs any reminder of that.

    James Harrison went back to the Steelers for a second stint at age 36 in 2014.

    The Harrison comparison

    James Harrison officially retired in August 2014, but his retirement essentially lasted a similar length as Graham’s. Harrison played the 2013 season with Cincinnati and wasn’t in a training camp in the summer of 2014.

    But after the Steelers suffered some injuries early in the 2014 season, the linebacker was back with his former team at the age of 36. He was still productive, too, with 45 tackles and 5½ sacks in 11 games.

    Could unretired Brandon Graham play as soon as Sunday against the Giants?

    Harrison then signed a two-year contract with the Steelers and ended up playing three more seasons after returning in 2014. Don’t expect the same from Graham, but Harrison’s effectiveness as a pass rusher might be a good comparison for him.

    Tight end Jason Witten left the “Monday Night Football” broadcast booth to play for the Cowboys again in 2019.

    Witten still had a little in the tank

    Graham will go from the podcast studio to the locker room, similar to how Jason Witten went from the broadcast booth back to football.

    Witten, like Graham, was 37 years old when he rejoined the Dallas Cowboys in 2019 after one year of retirement. The tight end still had it. He caught 63 passes, four of them for touchdowns, and accumulated 529 yards in 16 games. His 2017 season line: 63 catches, 560 yards, five touchdowns.

    37 is popular

    Lucky No. 37? Deion Sanders was also 37, and he chose that number for the back of his jersey when he came out of retirement to play with Baltimore in 2004 after three seasons away from the game.

    Sanders played nine games in 2004, mostly as a nickel cornerback, and still had a knack for the football. He had three interceptions and returned one of them for a touchdown. He played all 16 games in 2005 and registered registering two interceptions and 30 tackles. He was fine, but he wasn’t Prime Time.

    Graham may be fine

    All of this is mostly a fun trip down memory lane. It’s unclear what kind of shape Graham is in or whether he has lost a step after being away for a short time. Every body is different.

    But Graham’s 2024 season can, at least, be a little instructive. He was an energy booster on the field, a veteran presence off it, and a really capable edge setter who helped the Eagles vs. the run.

    They could use that right now, and it’s not hard to imagine him being like Witten or Harrison in that he still can do what a team asks him to do.

    Brandon Graham says he didn’t want to retire — and this isn’t the first time the Eagles tried to bring him back

    Graham is the biggest of the edge rushers at 265 pounds, and he could be useful helping a defense that is allowing 4.6 yards per carry, the ninth-highest average in the NFL.

    The Eagles also could use some more volume from their pass rushers, and Graham was making an impact there before a torn triceps ended his regular season in Week 12 vs. Los Angeles. He sacked Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford before the injury, his fourth time getting home in 11 games (3½ sacks). Graham still could make an impact there, even if the Eagles aren’t asking for a large snap count out of him.

    The Eagles needed Graham, and it seems like he needed them, too. Time will tell if the play matches up to the presence.

  • What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 8 vs. the Giants

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 8 vs. the Giants

    Are good vibes officially restored in Philadelphia?

    The Eagles snapped their two-game losing streak with a 28-22 win over the Carson Wentz-led Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, largely thanks to Jalen Hurts and his perfect passer rating.

    Plus, sources say that Chief Vibes Officer Brandon Graham is on his way back to the Eagles, too, to bolster an edge rusher corps that is navigating the surprise retirement of Za’Darius Smith last week.

    But to enter the bye week on a high note, the Eagles must face the New York Giants, their division rivals who handed them a blowout loss two weeks ago. The Giants will try to bounce back after a fourth-quarter collapse against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, leading to a 33-32 loss.

    Eagles still can’t run the ball, but Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and A.J. Brown made sure it didn’t matter

    Here’s what we know (and what we don’t) about the Eagles entering their Week 8 matchup against the Giants:

    Lights, camera, play-action

    The Eagles came out of the mini-bye week wanting to establish the running game. That didn’t work. Brian Flores’ defense limited Saquon Barkley to just 44 yards on 18 carries, good for a 2.4 yards per attempt (his second-lowest clip this season).

    Still, the Eagles utilized the threat of the running game successfully against the Vikings, which is a step in the right direction. The offense incorporated play-action passes from under center on Sunday more frequently than in the previous six weeks of the season.

    In Weeks 1-6, the Eagles had five under-center play-action drop backs, according to Next Gen Stats. One of them resulted in a scramble. Another went for 1 yard. The others resulted in incompletions or penalties.

    Sunday was different. Hurts had four play-action dropbacks from under center, which resulted in four completions for 121 yards and a touchdown. Why was it so effective? For one, the Eagles had established a tendency of running the ball when Hurts is lined up under center before the snap. Entering Sunday’s game, 42 of the Eagles’ 48 plays from under center were carries (87.5%).

    By establishing that tendency (and continuing to do so with 15 under-center runs on Sunday), the Vikings aligned a safety in the box in anticipation of the run, especially when the Eagles utilized Fred Johnson as an extra offensive lineman. The Eagles made them pay by occasionally breaking that tendency, especially on the 79-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith, which occurred when the offense was in that jumbo package.

    “We had an answer for it,” Barkley said of Smith’s touchdown play. “We called it at the right time. That’s the beauty of this game. They can do whatever they want, but we should always have answers. I think that’s the mentality we’ve got to continue to get back to.”

    Marcus Hayes: Eagles’ Jalen Hurts again roasts Carson Wentz; A.J. Brown says ‘Just throw me the bleeping ball’

    Could we see more play-action passes from under center? And could the Eagles’ success in doing so on Sunday thwart defenses from loading up the box when Hurts lines up under center? That would benefit Barkley, who is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry this season, far behind the league’s average of 4.3.

    Nick Sirianni noted Monday that the uptick in under-center plays was a byproduct of the self-scout from the mini-bye week. He emphasized the importance of meshing the running and play-action passing games seamlessly, as it challenges the defense to convert from run to pass on the fly.

    “We will see how things move forward as far as the ways we want to attack,” Sirianni said. “Every game calls for different things. This is what this game called for, and these are some of the things that came off our self-scout. We’ll continue to work and find ways to get better.”

    Feel the Burns

    Barkley hasn’t been getting a consistent boost in the running game from the Eagles’ offensive line this year. The group has been reeling from injuries. Cam Jurgens suffered the latest, exiting Sunday’s game after the second drive with a knee injury.

    With Jurgens’ status in question for the rematch against the Giants, the Eagles could turn to a backup at center, which could present all sorts of challenges against a formidable defensive front.

    Giants edge rusher Brian Burns had four sacks over the last two games, including dropping Jalen Hurts twice on Oct. 9.

    The Giants exploited the Eagles’ weaknesses on the offensive line in their last matchup. Brett Toth started at left guard in place of the injured Landon Dickerson (ankle). Brian Burns notched two sacks against the left side of the offensive line, once on a stunt and another from 3 yards off the line of scrimmage.

    Burns has four sacks in his last two games, after adding two more in their loss to the Broncos. The good news for the Eagles is that Dickerson started and finished Sunday’s game against the Vikings. His presence against the Giants would help stabilize the left side of the line and minimize Burns’ impact when he lines up on that side.

    But if Jurgens can’t play, the Eagles could turn to Toth at center. He would be tasked with keeping Dexter Lawrence, the three-time Pro Bowler, at bay.

    Jalyx Hunt’s pick-six and timely sacks help Eagles defense deliver in win over Vikings

    Lawrence hasn’t been as disruptive as a pass rusher as he was last season and hasn’t posted a sack this year. Still, Lawrence is an important part of the Giants’ defensive front, ranking fourth on the team with 15 “stops,” which Next Gen Stats defines as tackles that result in a successful play for the defense.

    Scramblin’ man

    The last time the Eagles faced the Giants, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart got his legs going. He scrambled five times for 42 yards and a touchdown, which helped him reach career highs of 58 rushing yards and 13 attempts.

    Vic Fangio’s defense has struggled at times to prevent quarterbacks from breaking loose. Unsurprisingly, Patrick Mahomes did the most damage against the Eagles this year (seven scrambles for 66 yards), but even Wentz, 32, had a couple of long third-down scrambles totaling 28 yards late Sunday as the Vikings attempted a comeback.

    Improved tackling would be a good place for the Eagles to start. Dart forced three missed tackles against the Eagles, according to Pro Football Focus. That was a new achievement for Dart, who didn’t force a missed tackle in any of his three other starts this season.

    New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart finished with 42 yards on five scrambles against the Eagles on Oct. 9.

    The rookie quarterback did not scramble against the Broncos, although he made passing plays on the move. According to Next Gen Stats, Dart completed four of six passes for 101 yards and a touchdown when running over 8 mph. Keeping Dart contained will take a group effort from the Eagles, in terms of the pass rush and coverage.

    Carter’s return

    Speaking of keeping Dart contained, Jalen Carter returned to action Sunday after missing the Week 6 game against the Giants with a heel injury.

    Wentz certainly felt his presence. In the second quarter, a simulated pressure left Carter one-on-one with Blake Brandel, the third-string center. Carter breezed past Brandel and launched himself toward Wentz, forcing the quarterback to make an ill-advised throw over the middle to Jalyx Hunt, who snagged the ball and returned it for a pick-six.

    Eagles open as heavy favorites vs. Giants despite recent blowout loss to New York; updated Super Bowl, MVP odds

    Even though Carter has been banged up this season, between heel and shoulder injuries, the Eagles could have used his talent and physicality against the Giants. In his absence, the group finished with a 26.5% pressure rate against New York two weeks ago, its lowest of the season, according to Next Gen Stats.

    Carter attempted to make up for lost time on Sunday. He led the team with six pressures against the Vikings, according to Next Gen Stats. His fourth-quarter stunt with Jordan Davis provided the initial pressure on Wentz that helped Joshua Uche register his first sack with the Eagles.

  • Eagles-Vikings: Start time, announcers, how to watch and stream

    Eagles-Vikings: Start time, announcers, how to watch and stream

    The Eagles look to end both a two-game losing streak and get their offense going when they take on the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday afternoon on Fox.

    The offense’s inconsistency has Birds fans shaking their heads in frustration, including SportsCenter anchor and Phoenixville native Kevin Negandhi.

    “If you had the chance to fix the Eagles offense.. what would you do?” Negandhi asked on social media earlier this week.

    The post drew a number of responses, including one from Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski, who mockingly suggested, “Be bold. Punt on first down.”

    ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, a former Jalen Hurts critic turned believer who happens to be married to an Eagles fan, outlined some concrete steps he thinks the Birds should take to wake up their sleepy offense:

    “I would put Jalen under center a little more and try to get the run game going at the defense,” Orlovsky said during an appearance on Up & Adams Friday. Not only are the Birds shotgun centric and don’t do much play action, Orlovsky said their play selection was predictable based on how the team lines up.

    “You can tell if it’s going to be a run or a pass based on where Saquon’s lines up,” Orlovsky said.

    Both head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo acknowledged this week the Eagles offense had become predictable, largely because of a lack of success on first and second downs.

    “We’ve got to eliminate those third-and-longs. Third-and-seven plus in the NFL is tough,” Patullo told reporters. “The defense is dictating to you at that point.”

    The good news for the Eagles is that they have been in this position before and have been able to turn things around. As my colleague Olivia Reiner writes, the Birds were in a similar situation coming off a Thursday night game in 2024 and 2021, and in both cases the Eagles’ offense was able to bounce back.

    It won’t be easy. The Vikings have the second-best pass defense in the league and are only allowing 19.4 points per game. But their rushing defense has slipped and Carson Wentz will be under center, so anything is possible.

    Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream Eagles-Rams Sunday:

    What time and channel is the Eagles game Sunday?

    Greg Olsen will call Eagles-Vikings Sunday on Fox.

    Sunday’s game between the Eagles and Rams is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Eastern on Fox.

    Former tight end turned NFL analyst Greg Olsen will be back in the booth for his second Eagles game this season.

    With Olsen’s normal partner Joe Davis calling the American League Championship Series on Fox (and dealing with dead mic issues), Adam Amin will handle play-by-play Sunday. Pam Oliver, in her 31st season with Fox, will report from the sidelines.

    Eagles-Rams will also air on the radio on 94.1 WIP, where fans can listen to the familiar voices of Merrill Reese and former Eagles receiver Mike Quick. WIP host Devan Kaney will handle sideline reporting duties.

    Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen, and Dave Gerhardt will call the game in Spanish on La Mega 105.7 FM in Philadelphia, 93.9-FM in Atlantic City, and 103.3-FM in Vineland/Millville.

    Both radio broadcasts can be streamed from anywhere on the Eagles’ website, while fans in Philly can also stream them on the Eagles app.

    Eagles vs. Vikings: Everything you need to know about the Birds’ Week 7 matchup against Carson Wentz

    Eagles-Vikings streaming options

    Eagles-Vikings will stream on Fox One, Fox’s new subscription streaming service. It will also stream on the Fox Sports app, though you need to log in with your cable provider.

    The game will also stream on any so-called skinny bundle that carries Fox, including fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream. Most offer a free trial.

    If you live in Philadelphia or any other TV market where the game is airing, you can also stream the game on NFL+, the league’s subscription streaming service, which runs $6.99 a month.

    If you’re looking to stream the game for free and you live in or around Philadelphia, your best option is to use a digital antenna, since the game will air on broadcast television on Fox 29.

    NFC East standings

    Despite two straight losses, the Eagles remain in first place in the NFC East heading into Week 7.

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    The last time the Eagles lost three straight games was …

    After starting the season 10-1, the Eagles ended the 2023 season by losing five of their final six games, including three straight against the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks.

    You have to go all the way back to 2020 to find the last time the Eagles have lost four straight games.

    The good news is Sirianni is 8-0 against NFC North teams, including the playoffs, and the Eagles have the second-best road record (26-11) in the league since he because head coach, according to the Associated Press.

    Other NFL Week 7 games on TV in Philly Sunday

    • Rams at Jaguars (in London): 9:30 a.m., NFL Network (Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Sara Walsh)
    • Commanders at Cowboys: 4:25 p.m., Fox29 (Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi)
    • Giants at Broncos: 4:25 p.m., CBS3 (Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins)
    • Falcons at 49ers: 8:20 p.m., NBC10 (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark)

    Eagles-Vikings live updates

    Staff writers Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, and Jeff Neiburg will be covering the action live on Inquirer.com.

    Notes and observations about the game can be found at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

    Eagles-Vikings: Live updates

    Eagles news

    Retired Eagles star Brandon Graham, seen here on the golf course in August.

    Eagles 2025 schedule

    • Week 1: Eagles 24, Cowboys 20
    • Week 2: Eagles 20, Chiefs 17
    • Week 3: Eagles 33, Rams 26
    • Week 4: Eagles 31, Buccaneers 25
    • Week 5: Broncos 21, Eagles 17
    • Week 6: Giants 34, Eagles 17
    • Week 7: Eagles at Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m. (Fox 29)
    • Week 8: Giants at Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m. (Fox 29)
    • Week 9: Bye week
    • Week 10: Eagles at Packers, Monday, Nov. 10, 8:15 p.m. (6ABC, ESPN)
    • Week 11: Lions at Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 16, 8:20 p.m. (NBC10)
    • Week 12: Eagles at Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 23, 4:25 p.m. (Fox 29)
    • Week 13: Bears at Eagles, Friday, Nov. 28, 3 p.m. (Amazon Prime Video)
    • Week 14: Eagles at Chargers, Monday, Dec. 8, 8:15 p.m. (6ABC, ESPN)
    • Week 15: Raiders at Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 14, 1 p.m. (Fox 29)
    • Week 16: Eagles at Commanders, Saturday, Dec. 20, TBD (Fox 29)
    • Week 17: Eagles at Bills, Sunday, Dec. 28, 4:29 p.m. (Fox 29)
    • Week 18: Commanders at Eagles, TBD (TBD)
  • Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Vikings in Week 7: What you need to know and a prediction

    Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Vikings in Week 7: What you need to know and a prediction

    The Eagles travel to face the Minnesota Vikings in a Week 7 matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know about the game:

    Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known for blitzing a lot.

    When the Eagles have the ball

    We’ve seen Nick Sirianni switch it up offensively coming out of mini-byes or byes before, with the emphasis often placed on the run game. The guess here is that he will take the same approach this season. The Eagles desperately need to get Saquon Barkley going on the ground. There have been glimpses in the last few games, but play caller Kevin Patullo hasn’t stuck with it enough for various reasons.

    The Vikings’ run defense offers an opportunity to get on track (of course, so apparently did the New York Giants last week). They rank 24th in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per rush and have allowed 132.2 yards a game. The Eagles haven’t won as much at the point of attack, but Minnesota is light on its defensive line. Landon Dickerson (ankle) could return at left guard, but playing at far less than 100% hasn’t helped.

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    The Eagles don’t major in under-center plays. They ranked 30th in snaps there. But I think we may see more of Jalen Hurts in that formation. It would conceivably help get Barkley downhill, and if successful, open up play action. They just can’t tip off defenses with their tendencies and may need to throw from under center a few times early on.

    Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is likely willing to give up yards on the ground because his No. 1 EPA-ranked pass defense has been stingy. Flores is a master of creating chaos. Yes, he blitzes a lot — a second-most 35.8% rate — but it’s his simulated pressures and disguised coverages that have given quarterbacks the most fits. The Eagles have struggled mightily against the latter two, partly because they’re often late to the line.

    Flores leans heavily on zone coverages (77%) and employs a lot of two-high safety shells, often in Cover 2 or 6. The Eagles have seen zone more than ever and have had trouble working the intermediate part of the field.

    Only 9.9% of Hurts’ attempts have traveled 10 to 19 yards, less than half the NFL average of 20.1%. Sirianni, Patullo, and Hurts have to do a better job of getting the ball to receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in space. Eagles receivers are averaging only 4 yards after the catch, which ranks 32d — last — in the league.

    Carson Wentz will make his second career start against his former team, this time with the Vikings.

    When the Vikings have the ball

    The Eagles will face former franchise quarterback Carson Wentz for the second time since he was traded in 2021. It didn’t go well for Wentz in the first round. Then, with Washington, he got overrun by the Birds’ pass rush and was sacked nine times and fumbled twice. He still holds the ball too long and wants to play the hero.

    But the Eagles’ front isn’t as ferocious and he has a solid offensive line, assuming that most of the starters are playing. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill (sprained MCL) are plus tackles. Rookie left guard Donovan Jackson is back from a wrist injury, but backup center Michael Jurgens (hamstring) and O’Neill are questionable.

    Wentz, despite his flaws, can still make throws many quarterbacks can’t. And he has arguably the best receiver in the NFL. Justin Jefferson will draw additional attention from Vic Fangio’s defense. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has followed top receivers this season, but his recent hamstring injury could hamstring Fangio’s coverage plans.

    If opposite-side corner Adoree’ Jackson, who steps back into the starting role after Kelee Ringo’s benching, is matched up against Jefferson, Fangio will likely cloud his side. Jefferson alone, for context, has matched Hurts’ 10 intermediate-length completions this season for 205 yards. Jordan Addison is a potent No. 2 receiver.

    Eagles-Vikings film: Beating disguised zone coverage looks, slowing down Justin Jefferson, and more

    The Eagles’ run defense has been leaky. They rank 20th in EPA per rush and 26th in success rate. With defensive tackle Jalen Carter (heel/shoulder) out last week, the Giants ran it down their throats. Minnesota running back Jordan Mason (4.7 yards per rush) has been effective in Aaron Jones’ absence.

    It’s been an 11-man problem in stopping the run, but the Eagles have been susceptible on the edges. That isn’t just an outside linebacker issue, but a suspect pass rush that can be traced to the ineffectiveness of the Eagles’ edges. The current group, after Za’Darius Smith’s retirement, has just one collective sack.

    Jalyx Hunt, Joshua Uche, Azeez Ojulari, and Patrick Johnson (owner of said sack) have gotten pressure at times, but if Wentz has an extra click in the pocket, you can be sure he’ll often find an open Jefferson downfield.

    Eagles beat writers Olivia Reiner and Jeff McLane will provide a preview of the game before the Eagles face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.You can tune in here.

    Extra point

    I don’t know what to make of this Eagles team through six games. I thought there would be early-season struggles, and predicted a 4-2 start. I just didn’t think it would look like this. Fangio’s unit has not played well over the last five quarters, but the offense’s second-half malaise against the Denver Broncos led to a fourth-quarter meltdown. And losing Carter and Mitchell clearly affected the Eagles at the Meadowlands. It shouldn’t have looked that pathetic.

    There are still concerns at corner, edge, and safety. And where has defensive tackle Jordan Davis been the last three games? But it’s the pains on the other side of the ball that are more disconcerting. I keep expecting talent to win out, but the Sirianni-Patullo-Hurts trinity has had more holes than holiness. I foresee a tough, grind-it-out outcome, so the game could go either way. But I have a hard time riding with Wentz.

    Prediction: Eagles 19, Vikings 17