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Tag: nick sirianni

  • For Those Who Have Our Number; We Salute You? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Strange, isn’t it? If there is a book out there on the Philadelphia Eagles like the one that AJ Brown has been reading on the sideline — maybe the Rams can should borrow a copy? But Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers seem to have some sacred documents on how to stymie the Eagles stored in the deep annals below Raymond James Stadium.

    Many times that the Eagles have had a pivotal game against the Buccaneers — Tampa always seems to come out on top. Sure — the Eagles were dominant against Tony Dungy’s Buccaneers in the NFC Wildcard Round in the first couple years of Andy Reid’s tenure that the Eagles were in the playoffs.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    But In 1979 — when Dick Vermeil’s Eagles were ascending for the first time in decades — the Buccaneers — who had combined for a 7–37 record in 3 seasons prior — defeated the Eagles in the Divisional Playoffs 24–17. Then in 2003 — Ronde Barber’s gut wrenching interception to close Veterans Stadium. The following September at the first game of the Linc — was another loss 17–0 to Tampa Bay. Fast forward to Jalen Hurt’s first playoff game loss 31–15 at Raymond James Stadium in 2022 and two years later a 32–9 loss in the 2024 NFC Wildcard Round that left us with the image of Jason Kelce’s unbridled outpouring of emotion captured by the national media.

    But there is a silver lining when it comes to some of our painful history of Tampa Bay. Really.

    Consider this. One year after the Eagles disappointing loss in Tampa in 1979 — they won the NFC and advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. Two years after Jon Gruden’s Bucs denied the Eagles a Super Bowl appearance — Philadelphia went back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1980. 

    One year after Tom Brady and the Buccaneers ended the Eagles season in South Florida — Nick Sirianni’s Eagles were also in the Super Bowl. One year after the Eagles lost in the NFC Playoffs again to Tampa Bay in 2024 and just six months after another regular season 31–16 blowout loss at Raymond James Stadium — the Eagles completed the most magical post-season run in team history — winning Super Bowl LIX. After that week 4 loss — the Eagles went 12–1 for the rest of the season.

    Across the South Philadelphia sports’ Complex — the Phillies are preparing to dazzle us with another Red October — perhaps ending with the exhilaration of a World Series victory like the defeat of Tampa in 2008 in South Philadelphia. Perhaps — it will be the Eagles who have a surprise ending on Sunday in the South Florida heat. If history is any judge — win or lose — the sky is the limit for these Eagles — either way. 

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • A Chance to Learn  Again— From the Eagles – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    The Rams Felt That They Should Have Been In the NFC Championship. It Did Not Turn Out That Way.

    Granted, when you possess the ball last in an NFL Playoff Game— you probably can bet that you’ve got a chance to win. Games like that always come dow to the last possession. 

    But not in a January Snowstorm. Not in Philadelphia. And certainly not against these Eagles.

    Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams have had eleven months to forget what happened at Lincoln Financial Field in January 2025. For this weekend’s Eagles and Rams matchup featuring two of the youngest NFL Head Coaches — it’s the Rams — like most other NFL franchises can learn from the Eagles. Last weekend — the Eagles did the unthinkable — utilizing against the Kansas City Chiefs what has made them great— now becoming the team that waits an and capitalizes on opposing teams’ miscues and turns them into points. 

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Lose the turnover battle and you’ll surely lose to these Eagles.

    And although McVay and the Rams may still think that they (really?) should have been the team that should have advanced last year to the NFC Title Game instead of this group of Eagles who had one of the most magical post-season runs in NFL history — Los Angeles can indeed take some things from these Eagles.

    The Rams have been trying to climb back into prominence ever since winning Super Bowl LVI over the Bengals 20–17. Since that point they have been 5–12, 10–7, and 10–7 respectively. Unlike the Eagles who bounced back from a 38–35 loss in Super Bowl LVII to win Super Bowl LIX — the Rams have been trying to relive that glory of a last-minute Super Bowl win that included MVP Cooper Kupp’s ninety-two yards and two scores — a player who is now gone.

    The Eagles and Rams have a long history of tough matchups — going all the way back to their original existence as the Cleveland Rams during World War II. Five years later in 1949— the Eagles claimed their second World Championship at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s muddy field 14–0. 

    Sunday’s Eagles vs. Rams matchup on Sunday is between one team who is at the top of their game — and one who could be again. Unless of course — the Rams face the Eagles in Philadelphia in the cold conditions of January NFC Playoff Football.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • theCHIVE Exclusive: Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni No Stranger to Big Game Experience

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    Hailing from the Western side of Pennsylvania, folks like me are born and raised to hate the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s sort of a rite of passage. However, my love for the game of football trounces my hatred for Philly, so here we are.

    After winning his first Super Bowl earlier this year, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has his team in the driver’s seat atop the NFC East. Sure we’re only a few weeks into the season, but 2-0 is a pretty good way to stop the ‘Super Bowl Hangover’ narrative in its tracks.

    But how did the birds get here? I was fortunate enough to catch up with Sirianni before Super Bowl LIX, and I asked about his experience in big games.

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    Zach

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  • Eagles’ offense is barely getting by, will it improve?

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    The Eagles are 2-0, and relatively healthy. That’s what matters.

    But new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo hasn’t made anyone feel good about the Eagles’ offense — a unit that returns 10 of 11 starters from winning the Super Bowl, including offensive player of the year Saquon Barkley, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith and an offensive line with 10 combined Pro Bowl nods.

    That unit so far has gained 4.3 yards per play through their first two games, tied for the 30th most of 32 NFL teams. 

    A few more alarming numbers from the Eagles’ (early) offense so far:

    Category Stat NFL rank
    Yards per play 4.3 30th
    Passing yards per gm 119 31st
    Passing first downs per gm 5 32nd
    Yards per rush 3.9 20th
    Points per gm 22 17th
    Penalty yards 158 1st

    There are a few bright spots. They are perfect on fourth down, perfect in the red zone, 5th in the NFL on third down (48.1%) and have yet to turn the ball over.

    Still, the above numbers are lackluster at best, and with the Rams next on the slate —  a pass rush that is always among the league’s best — there is a chance it doesn’t get better next week.

    “You’ve got to take what they give you while being the aggressor and playing with aggression,” Hurts said (via The Athletic) Sunday, after barely eclipsing 100 yards passing in the win in Kansas City. “And I think we were not as patient as we could have been earlier in the game. I’d have to really assess the film to be able to follow that up. But I think in the second half, we kind of let things come to us, and we played with great instinct.”

    Hurts has always been an instinctual player, as well as a winning player. And perhaps it’s possible that you don’t need to score 30 points per game or throw for even 250 per game to win in the NFL. But at some point, the offense is going to have to take advantage of having so many good players. Brown has six catches for 35 yards so far. Two seasons ago, he had 106 catches for 1,496 yards, with basically the exact same teammates.

    Last season, the Eagles rode Barkley’s historic 2,000-yard season, paired with Hurts’ instincts and the offensive line, to 4.9 yards per carry and one of the best running offenses in history. Something feels different.

    “I think the expectation is that you’re gonna pick up right where you left off,” head coach Nick Sirianni told the media Sunday afternoon. “There’s steps to this, right? There’s steps for all the teams that are playing right now, and there’s steps to get better. So as you’re getting better, our goal is to play our best football by the end of the year. As you’re getting better, find ways to win, get better, and then repeat.”

    A two-game sample size is nothing. It’s hardly cause for true alarm. It’s early. But the first two games under Sirianni have never been quite this bad on offense, despite his preference for no preseason reps for his starters and a constant turnover in his offensive coaching staff. 

    There is a noticeable difference in the offense’s early performance this season:

    Year PPG YPG
    2021 (1-1) 21.5 381.0
    2022 (2-0) 31.0 470.5
    2023 (2-0) 29.5 340.5
    2024 (1-1) 27.5 387.5
    2025 (2-0) 22.0 258.0

     

    No Sirianni-led team has ever had fewer yards, and the 2021 Eagles were far inferior (they scored just 11 points on the 49ers in Week 2 that season). 

    The defense is already showing it’s one of the league’s best. Is this just the new reality? Is this a ball-possession offense that is going to tush push and grind its way to wins?

    The next few weeks will be very informative. The Rams, Buccaneers and Broncos are the next three games on the slate and none of them have an easy defense to post big numbers against. The Eagles might keep winning, but they also could keep frustrating fans and fantasy football enthusiasts for a while longer. 

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    Evan Macy

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  • Chiefs vs Eagles: Sirianni Expecting a Tough Test in Super Bowl Rematch – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    This blog contains links from which we may earn a commission.Credit: NFL/YouTube

    The Philadelphia Eagles will get an early test of their Super Bowl credentials when they go head-to-head with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

    The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22 to claim the NFL championship last season and will be eager to lay down a marker this time around.

    Despite heading into the 2025 season as the reigning champions, the Eagles have spent the summer playing down their chances of going back-to-back. 

    Their reluctance to talk themselves up has had a knock-on effect elsewhere, with several NFL pundits overlooking them when discussing this season’s title race.

    For example, in a recent interview with Betway Insider, former NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper predicted that the Minnesota Vikings would emerge victorious at the Super Bowl.

    ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) computer model has also jumped on the bandwagon, predicting that the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills will contest the big game in February.

    The FPI gives the Eagles a 9.5 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl, which seems surprisingly low given the manner of their success last term.

    The Eagles have the opportunity to demonstrate why they should not be underestimated when they go head-to-head with the Chiefs again this weekend.

    Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was made to look second-rate by the Eagles’ dominant defensive unit in the last Super Bowl, which allowed Jalen Hurts to strut his stuff during the game.

    Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score to earn Super Bowl MVP honours. He threw for 221 yards as the Eagles cruised to an impressive victory.

    While Sunday’s game will present a different challenge, given that it will be played in Kansas, the Eagles will fancy their chances of securing a positive result.

    They triumphed 21-17 on their last visit to the Arrowhead Stadium in 2023. The Bills were the only other team to defeat the Chiefs on their own patch during that season.

    Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni is expecting a tough battle and says both teams will try to learn from their recent matches when they face each other this weekend. 

    “We’ve played them every single year, so you’re constantly looking at those tapes and you have a plan of what you do when you play a team again, and you go through that process,” Sirianni said.

    “From that, you can expect things they did successfully to come again in different forms, and you can expect things they may not have done successfully that they change a little bit.”

    PHOTO: NFL/YouTube

    The Eagles’ chances of victory in Kansas would be significantly boosted if they can find a way to become more effective with their running game. 

    Running back Saquon Barkley was shackled by the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s plan holding him to a season-low 2.3 yards rushing on 25 carries.

    Barkley had similar troubles in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, recording just 3.3 yards per carry on 18 runs at Lincoln Financial Field.

    When considering that he ran for more than 100 yards in 11 games last year and had an NFL-record seven touchdown runs of 60-plus yards, it is easy to see why the Eagles need Barkley to fire.

    The Chiefs will be desperate to set the record straight against the Eagles, especially after failing to impress in their first game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

    A 27-21 defeat in Brazil has put the Chiefs on the back foot, and they cannot afford a similar outcome against the Eagles, setting up what promises to be a thrilling clash.

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    PHLSportsNation

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  • FOCO Releases Big Dom Philadelphia Eagles Bobblehead – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    This blog contains links from which we may earn a commission.Credit: FOCO

    Bring the legendary sideline presence of Big Dom to your collection with the Philadelphia Eagles Big Dom Bobblehead from FOCO!

    This officially licensed collectible captures Big Dom in an Eagles sweatsuit, ready to represent the Birds.

    PHOTO: FOCO

    Whether you’re an Eagles diehard or just love the iconic figure who’s become a Philly fan favorite, this unique bobblehead is a must-have for any true fan’s shelf. Add a little grit, green, and game day energy to your display — Big Dom style!

    Where to Find More Philadelphia Eagles Gear?

    The bobblehead above is just a sampling of the full selection of Eagles merchandise offered by FOCO.

    FOCO is the prime location for officially licensed sports merchandise, and their love of the game is seen in all their products, from their apparel to their collectibles.

    If you don’t like what you see above, check out hundreds of additional options with FOCO’s full Eagles catalog. 

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    PHLSportsNation

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  • Delivering the Dagger. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    How Fearless Calls Are the Formula for An Eagles Repeat for the Franchise.

    It started here during Doug Pederson’s tenure, quickly becoming the hallmark of the franchise’s first two Super Bowl victories. Aggressive offensive play calls, placing dust on special teams units and leaving the offense on the field on 4th and short, and trading conservative play-calling for an attacking downfield mentality. But it’s one thing to make those calls during the NFL regular season — quite another during the Super Bowl.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    With time running down in the second half — the Eagles already up (27–0 —) were one score away from putting the game away and securing the franchises’ second Super Bowl win. After Kansas City turned the ball over on downs courtesy of Avonte Maddox in one of his last plays as an Eagle knocking the ball away from DeAndre Hopkins — the entire globe thought that the Eagles would run the ball to keep the clock moving — almost.

    What followed was a play-action fake to Saquon Barkley and a 46-yard soaring strike to Devonta Smith. It not only sealed the game — but also broke the backs of the Chiefs. 

    For the Eagles — who open the season on Thursday night right here against the Dallas Cowboys and have one of the hardest schedules in the NFL — that brash approach to offense may just be one of the keys to success yet again in 2025. 

    The Eagles are the team that everyone is looking forward to on the schedule. Teams want play them — and want to be them. That means that they will go all out in order to stifle the Eagles potent offensive attack. Last season’s commitment by then offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to ride Saquon Barkley and the running game and develop passing off of that — will not be as easy in 2025.

    Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni has laid out the Eagles approach to 2025 already — no repeat championships — only a new championship for a brand new season with a fresh approach. It may be a good thought — though keeping the aggressive nature that not only has come to define the Eagles and their brash Head Coach — but has brought them hardware. 

    And incorporated into a fearless game-plan — can deliver even more this year — including the occasional dagger at just the right moment.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Eagles odds and ends: Nick Sirianni says team ‘won’t be out’ for Super Bowl banner unveiling

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    The Eagles will be unveiling a championship banner on Thursday night, but the team itself won’t be out there for that. 

    It’s on to the new season for them, on to the Cowboys. 

    “Yeah, I didn’t know it was banner night,” head coach Nick Sirianni told the local media at the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday. “We won’t be out for that.”

    Up to you how much you want to buy into Sirianni’s awareness (or unawareness) of Thursday night’s pregame festivities at Lincoln Financial Field, but it does run consistent with the thought process that the players and the coaches have been trying to adhere to all summer. 

    For them, last year was last year. It’s a clean slate, everyone’s starting at zero again, and from Jalen Hurts to Jordan Mailata and all throughout the roster, “title defense” and “reigning champs” are terms they’ve gone out of their way to avoid using. 

    “I think from the outside, I think the city and everybody’s been talking about it, but this building has been locked in,” receiver A.J. Brown said of last season’s Super Bowl run. “We put that to bed long ago. We’re just ready to go. That’s over with.”

    It’s back to zero, but with a new reminder up in the rafters now of where the Eagles want to get back to, and how recently they’ve been there. 

    It can be hard to keep your eyes forward after such an incredible run, such a massive celebration, and such a short offseason. 

    The 2018 Eagles arguably fell into that trap coming off the 2017 underdog run. 

    The 2025 Eagles, though, are trying not to make the same mistake.

    But full disclosure, the 2018 team wasn’t on the field for the banner unveiling either seven years ago. They emerged from the tunnel right after. They just had a groggy first half against the Falcons, with boos from the home crowd snapping them back to reality. 

    Again, the 2025 Eagles want to avoid that.

    A few other odds and ends on the Birds ahead of a much-anticipated Week 1…

    All that glitters is gold

    When the Eagles do finally take the field on Thursday night, Saquon Barkley’s Midnight Green uniform will look a touch different from the rest. 

    The NFL shield on the collar of the star running back’s jersey will shine in gold rather than the usual silver as part of a new initiative from the league to better recognize its individual award winners, per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg.

    The 2024 league MVP (Buffalo’s Josh Allen), Offensive Player of the Year (Barkley), Defensive Player of the Year (Denver’s Patrick Sutrain II), Offensive Rookie of the Year (Washington’s Jayden Daniels), and Defensive Rookie of the Year (the L.A. Rams’ Jared Verse) will each have the gold shields on their jerseys for the duration of the upcoming season, which should make for a unique visual that highlights star players, albeit from up close – and maybe sells a few more jerseys, too. 

    The NFL began putting special “PREM1ERE” patches on the jerseys of rookies playing in their first game a couple of years ago, and has also had active Walter Payton Man of the Year award winners wear patches forming the silhouette of the legendary running back on their chests prior to that. 

    The gold shields will be another means of spotlighting the faces of the league, and for the Eagles, the near-generational star that produced highlight after highlight on the way to a 2,000-yard season, and above all, a title. 

    A look away from the field

    Staying with Barkley, Amazon announced on Wednesday that it will premiere a feature-length documentary about the Eagles star running back on Oct. 9 through Prime Video, simply titled “Saquon.”

    Here’s the teaser trailer:

    Using footage that goes back through the past five years, and with Martin Scorsese credited as an executive producer, the documentary is set to give fans a closer look into Barkley’s rehab back from an ACL tear suffered in 2020, the growing rift that sent him on his way out of New York and eventually to Philadelphia, and then, the unbelievable season with the Eagles that quickly followed, all while getting a glimpse into who Barkley is away from football. 

    Prime Video is also home to “Kelce,” the documentary that focused on the Eagles’ beloved former center that was released in 2023 and became a must-watch for Eagles fans. 

    “Saquon” should easily fit into that category, too, and right alongside the Eagles’ divisional matchup against the Giants that night, which also happens to be on Prime.

    Brace yourself

    If you’re heading to the game Thursday night, you’re likely aware of the SEPTA situation already, but just in case: Give yourself a plan and plenty of time.

    SEPTA is currently a mess, with no express lines going to and from the Sports Complex in the cards right now as the state tries to figure out the transit budget. 

    It’s gotten to a point where on Tuesday, Lincoln Financial Field’s social media accounts issued a travel advisory stating that parking lots will open earlier and asking to keep tailgates contained so that as many parking spots as possible can be available. 

    The transit situation is fluid, but frustration getting to the game and leaving it on Thursday night seems inevitable right now. 

    It’s not a good look considering the MLB All-Star Game and the FIFA World Cup are both on their way here next summer.

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    Nick Tricome

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  • A Look Ahead to Top Betting Lines for Eagles This Season – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    After a strong season last year, the Philadelphia Eagles remain among the top contenders in 2025.

    As the new season is before us, sportsbooks are already showing the first odds that would let fans place their bets.

    While you’re analyzing and placing bets, fans can also have more fun playing casino games with a sports theme. You can even find NFL-themed games among the best-paying pokies that are available at https://onlinepokiesmates.com/best-paying-pokies/, which are a popular way of spinning the reels if you’re a football fan.

    Some of these games feature the Super Bowl theme because it’s the biggest sports event in the US.

    If you’re considering betting on the Philadelphia Eagles, here are the odds that are currently available.

    Keep in mind that the odds are subject to change, the same way past Super Bowl point spreads changed over time, especially when the competition progresses and teams’ performances become obvious.

    First Games in September

    PHOTO: Casey Murphy/Unsplash

    The first week of the league is placing the Eagles as favorites in both of their matches. The first one is against the Dallas Cowboys, and the second one is against the Kansas City Chiefs. The spread odds are -120 and -122, respectively. For the moneyline, the Eagles are stronger favorites with odds being -310 and -110 for the first and the second game.

    Overs and unders are a bit different. The odds against the Dallas Cowboys for under 46.5 are -115, whereas the game with the Kansas City Chiefs offers -105 for over 46.5.

    This is the first sign that the whole team is still perceived as being strong and ready to go far in the competition. This is somewhat normal due to the success of the team last time.

    Super Bowl Odds

    This year, the Eagles are considered the favorites. Here’s how the odds compare to the past Super Bowl scores and spreads. 

    Eagles currently share +750 odds to win the Super Bowl, placing them among the top 4 contenders alongside the Chiefs and 49ers. There are a couple of other teams with the same odds, but the majority of the others have lower odds of winning.

    Playoffs Odds

    When it comes to the playoffs, the odds are again saying that the Philadelphia Eagles will reach them. Odds of them making it to the playoffs are -350. On the contrary, the odds of them not reaching the playoffs are +265. That’s not so surprising, given how well the team played last season.

    Win Totals Odds

    Win Toals is the type of bet that you place on how many games the team will win over the regular season. Players can bet on to win 6, 8, or 10. If you want to bet on six, that’s impossible because there are no odds for this number of games. However, to win 8, the odds are -800, and to win 10, the odds are -250.

    These odds imply that the team will most likely achieve more than 10 wins in the regular season.

    Futures Specials

    In the futures section, there’s just one unique bet that includes the Eagles, but it’s not exclusive to them. The bet means that the Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs need to make it to the playoffs.

    Eagles, Chiefs, and Ravens each have a chance to make it to the playoffs. As these teams are likely to achieve that, the odds are -110.

    Division Winners

    Placing a bet on the NFC East Winners and the NFC Championship winner this early relies on a lot of luck. Still, that is reflected in somewhat appealing odds. The Eagles are considered favorites to win the NFC East with odds of -130.  They are also the favorites to win the NFC Championship, with the odds being +370.

    PHOTO: Caleb Woods/Unsplash

    Awards

    These are not the best for the whole team, but for the individuals on the team. The highlights include Saquon Barkley, who you can bet on as the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year with the odds of +600. He is the favorite with these odds that place him at the top.

    Lane Johnson is considered among the best protectors in the league, which is reflected in the odds of +650, which are putting him as a favorite NFL protector of the year 2025/2026.

    Even though not a favorite, Vic Fangio is the fourth candidate to be the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year, with the odds of +1000. So, plenty of nominations from the Eagles team.

    Team Specials

    This is where things get fun, as there are team specials odds that also show the strength of the Philadelphia Eagles. Here’s a list featuring the top specials:

    • Eagles to score at least one touchdown in every regular season game, with the odds of -160.
    • Eagles to beat the Dallas Cowboys at home and away in the regular season, with the odds of -125.
    • Eagles to beat the Washington Commanders at home and away in the regular season, with the odds of +110.
    • Saquon Barkley is expected to get 500+ regular-season receiving yards, with the odds of +160.
    • Saquon Barkley & Jalen Hurts to combine 2500+ rushing yards in the regular season,  with the odds of +250.
    • Jalen Carter is expected to achieve 10+ sacks in the regular season, with the odds of +300.

    First Odds Are Promising

    According to the first and betting lines that have appeared, the Philadelphia Eagles are still considered a team that could repeat the success they had last year.

    While being different from the past Super Bowl spreads, they still show who is considered to be the favorite.

    Of course, we’ll see whether that’s true once the season starts in September.

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  • Eagles RB Saquon Barkley named NFL’s No. 1 overall player

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    Last year, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley set the NFL’s record for combined rushing yards in the regular season and postseason to help the franchise win its second Super Bowl title.

    This offseason, Barkley got a boost in his paycheck, was named to the “Madden NFL 26” cover and won an ESPY for being named the NFL’s top player. 

    On Monday night, Barkley picked up another enormous accolade. He was named the NFL’s No. 1 overall player by his fellow NFL players in the league’s annual Top 100 poll. He finished ahead of Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP, and third-place finisher Josh Allen, the league’s reigning MVP.

    Barkley joined the Eagles last offseason, leaving the Giants – who drafted him second overall out of Penn State in 2018 – after six seasons for their NFC East rivals and a three-year deal worth nearly $38 million.

    He then rushed for a career-best 2,005 yards to lead the NFL and fell just 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season record of 2,105 rushing yards. Barkley totaled 2,283 offensive yards in the regular season and 574 more in the playoffs. 

    On Thursday, Barkley will start to show what he can do for an encore, as the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles open the NFL season at the Linc against the rival Dallas Cowboys. Before the game, their championship banner will be unfurled. 

    The NFL MVP might be an annual quarterback award, but the Top 100 has produced different results. Barkley is the second consecutive skill-position player to win the award, following 2025 winner Tyreek Hill, a Dolphins wide receiver. But Barkley is just the second running back to be named No. 1 since Adrian Peterson was voted No. 1 in the 2013 version, making Barkley the first running back in more than a decade to take home the distinction.

    Barkley moved up 85 spots in going to No. 1 overall. And one year from now we’ll see if he can be the first player in Top 100 history to win it in consecutive seasons. Tom Brady has been named No. 1 three times since the poll’s 2011 inception, and Patrick Mahomes has been named No. 1 twice.

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    Geoff Mosher

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  • Eagles stock watch: Parry Nickerson makes a splash as wild career continues

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    It was the third preseason game. There’s a chance you’d see better football at a high school in South Jersey than the game played between the Eagles and Jets under Friday night lights at MetLife Stadium.

    Not a ton happened with regard to the most pivotal position and roster battles, as looming decisions for the Eagles await this weekend with the deadline to cut from 90 to 53 men by Tuesday, But there were a few highlights.

    After seeing Parry Nickerson make his first-quarter interception in the 19-17 win, I was glued to his football reference page. The cornerback has had a really crazy career. Which is why I am now rooting for him as hard as any fringe Eagles player. His stock is momentarily up. I also had to dig on Eagles receivers a bit after this pillow fight — they are the easy pick for stock down.

    Take a look:

    Stock up: Parry Nickerson, CB 📈

    Nickerson, 30, was a Jets sixth-round pick who was flagged for taunting after his first NFL tackle. He’s been the very definition of a journeyman since then. Here’s how his career has panned out after appearing in all 16 games as a rookie in 2018:

    • Nickerson was traded to the Seahawks for a seventh-round pick. He was then released, signed to the practice squad and then released again.
    • He signed with the Jaguars where he, again, was released three times with a PS stint in the middle. He appeared in four games.
    • He signed with the Packers, who activated him just once.
    • He became a Viking and was signed and released (with PS appearances in the middle) three more times. He appeared in four games, making one tackle.
    • He was signed and released three more times (a pattern?) by the Dolphins, with whom he recorded five tackles in five games played.
    • He won a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles in 2024 as a member of their practice squad.

    Friday night, he did everything he could to make a statement that he deserves what will likely be either another designation to the Eagles’ practice squad, or maybe a job on someone else’s 53-man roster.

    Nickerson was shot out of a cannon starting at slot cornerback, making a pair of really impressive tackles early. Then he anticipated a Brady Cook pass and snatched it for a turnover that led to a field goal.

    The transaction section of Nickerson’s football reference page has the word “released” on it a ridiculous nine times, and “waived” four more. He’s scratched and clawed his way to $3.6 million in career earnings for seven different NFL teams (via Spotrac). Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose cash total in 2025 is $42 million, will earn that in six quarters. 

    That’s life in the NFL for you.

    Stock down: the receivers 📉

    It would be easy to rag on third-string quarterback Kyle McCord for his pretty awful interception Friday — slinging an overthrown deep ball into double coverage for basically no reason.

    But he actually did flash a little bit, making a few good throws throughout the game and leading a handful of scoring drives (most of them resulting in field goals). He’s still finding his footing as a pro and the 2025 draft pick will likely remain with the Eagles after cuts are made last week.

    He didn’t get a lot of help in the game, and with at least five of his 20 incompletions coming due to ugly drops, we’re going to pass some of the blame to the receivers in this one.

    With Johnny Wilson out for the year, there is assumably a wide receiver spot wide open for the taking. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson are locks, and recently acquired John Metchie is probably the leader to be WR4 on the roster. The fifth spot could go to a variety of guys — though we should say one of the drops was from Metchie himself.

    Darius Cooper and Ainias Smith, each top candidates to slide into that final spot, each had a drop as well. Smith is showing some value as a punt returner, and he flashed with a touchdown catch last week. Cooper is a camp darling who has a real chance of making the 53.

    Elijah Cooks and E.J. Jenkins (a tight end) also had drops.

    But the depth wide receivers really underachieved Friday. In addition to all the drops, wideouts combined to catch just 11 of 21 passes for 97 yards in the game. Sure, the quarterback play might not have been great, and the Eagles’ backup offensive line isn’t exactly a strong suit right now. But Jets second- and third-stringers should have offered Philly’s receivers a real opportunity to break out.

    It’ll be interesting to see if the Eagles carry five or six receivers on Tuesday.

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    Evan Macy

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  • Will The Eagles Make Another Move In August? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Eagles are one of the most active organizations when it comes to making trades.

    Just one month after winning Super Bowl LIX the Eagles made two trades. 

    The first move swapped C.J Gardner-Johnson with Kenyon Green, which also saw the Eagles move up from the 6th round to the 5th round in 2026. However, last week both players were injured and will most likely miss the start of the regular season.

    The other trade (on the same day) was a swap of Quarterbacks. The Eagles acquired pick 164, (used in the trade up to acquire Jihaad Campbell) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The price? Super Bowl champion QB Kenny Pickett.

    With a handful of trades up and down throughout the 2025 Draft. The Eagles spent the rest of the spring focused elsewhere.

    Then in June. The Eagles fixed one of their prior free agent errors by sending Bryce Huff to the 49ers for a 2026 conditional 5th round pick. Bringing their total picks in the 2026 draft to 10, with an expectation to receive an additional 3 comp picks.

    Making Moves In August

    The most recent move to add to the Eagles August history is the trade for CB Jakorian Bennett. Adding to the CB2 camp competition between Mac McWilliams, Kelee Ringo and Adoree Jackson.

    A simple player for player swap saw the Eagles add to the secondary, and in return the Raiders added Thomas Booker to their defensive line.

    Below we’ll look at the Eagles history in August, with a whopping 9 trades during the final month of the offseason in the Nick Sirianni era.

    2024

    • 8/22 PHI traded 2025 3rd and two 2025 7ths to WAS for WR Jahan Dotson and a 2025 5th

    2023

    • 8/29 PHI traded a 2025 6th to DEN for TE Albert Okwuegbunam and a 2025 7th

    2022

    • 8/15 PHI traded WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to SEA for S Ugo Amadi
    • 8/24 PHI traded S Ugo Amadi and a 2024 7th to TEN for a 2024 6th
    • 8/30 PHI traded a 2023 5th and two 2024 6ths to NOLA for S C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a 2025 7th
    • 8/31 PHI traded WR Jalen Reagor to MIN for a 2023 7th and a 2025 4th

    2021

    • 8/27 PHI traded a 2022 6th to JAX for QB Gardner Minshew 
    • 8/30 PHI traded OL Matt Pryor and a 2022 7th to IND for a 2022 6th

    With a multitude of trade acquisitions for both starters and depth pieces happening in the month of August. Will the Eagles stay with their current roster? Or is another trade brewing with the 53 man roster deadline less than two weeks away on August 26th?

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Nick Sirianni’s Fiery Disposition – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Nick Sirianni’s Fiery Disposition – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

    Do Nick Sirianni’s Fiery Antics Alone Disqualify Him From Success With the Eagles?

    Sixty years ago, in 1964— a plane flew over Franklin Field during an Eagles Game with a banner fluttering behind it. This wasn’t some random Philadelphia advertising campaign or a flag flopping a positive message for the Philly team in the daytime breeze. This was the clear-cut message funded by the fans that read, “Joe Must Go.”

    The Eagles were far removed from the team that won an NFL Championship on the same Franklin Field six years earlier — and spirited Head Coach Joe Kuharich was on the hot seat. Pacing up and down the sideline with his blue suit, tie, and hat, flailing his arms, and looking for the water cooler for the occasional swig — Kuharich became famous for his animated sideline antics before finally marching in the other direction.

    When your team is undefeated in Philly, you get a little slack. When your team ekes out a win against one of the worst AFC teams to move to one game above .500 after looking anemic over the last ten months with one of the most talented offenses in the NFL — you don’t. Last week, Nick Sirianni walked behind the Eagles sideline and once again began screaming at fans as the seconds ticked away in a 20–16 win over the Cleveland Browns.

    In Nick Sirianni’s fourth season as Head Coach — we’ve seen the passion and fire he brings to the Eagles sideline.

    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni on the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni on the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

    In his second year, Sirianni’s 9–1 Eagles pulled off a comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts on the way to Super Bowl LVII. With seconds left in the game — Sirianni walked behind the sideline and started screaming at some fans behind the bench area. He evidentially didn’t get the message that this wasn’t how to handle yourself.

    In 1976 — an unruly fan at Veterans Stadium screamed at Eagles Head Coach Dick Vermeil as he was running out of the tunnel. Attempting to get into the stands after the fan — Vermeil was ironically restrained by former Eagles great Chuck Bednarik. After four seasons as Eagles Head Coach — Joe Kuharich was finally fired in 1968. His most significant fault — winning just enough to keep the Eagles out of the running for the top draft pick that year. He was a running back from USC named O.J. Simpson.

    Nick Sirianni better put the headset back on, stay on the sideline, and keep winning.
    A lot of winning.

    PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Is Adding a New Dynamic to the Offense – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Is Adding a New Dynamic to the Offense – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

    When the Philadelphia Eagles signed running back Saquon Barkley in the 2024 free agency period, it was a big deal.
    Not only has he been good, but he has also added a new dynamic to the offense.

    Barkley Is as Good as Advertised

    So far, Barkley has lived up to the hype and more. Looking at basic metrics, he averages 0.7 more yards per carry (5.3 versus 4.6) than D’Andre Swift was as the king of the running back position last season. Despite having an offensive line without Jason Kelce on it—this isn’t even Barkley’s full form.

    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

    The appeal here is both Barkley’s efficiency and explosiveness. First, we’ll start with the former. For the third season in a row, he is top 10 in rushing yards over expected (RYOE) with 133 in the early stages. The investment here has been well worth it, as he has gained yardage at a much higher rate (1.52 yards per attempt) than he theoretically should.

    That total is being inflated because of a few plays in particular, though. Barkley has always been an explosive football player, but 11 explosive carries (rushes with at least 10 yards) in 91 attempts certainly adds something to an offense. That’s nearly three more explosive carries per 100 attempts than Swift last season, which is well worth the increased cost of a big-name running back.

    When the Eagles’ offense was stalling against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3, he took matters into his own hands and rushed for a game-changing 65-yard touchdown. Down 3-0 in the fourth quarter, Barkley’s contributions made a loss become a win. He did this in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, too, but it was a bit too little, too late for the Birds. Still, a player who can flip the field is invaluable.

    Should Barkley See More Usage?

    Barkley is averaging 21 touches per game this season. Is that enough?

    There are a lot of mouths to feed on a fully healthy Eagles offense, but Barkley might just be the most important. While there hasn’t been a game this season where he’s had a ridiculous workload, his two highest-usage games were the ones where the Eagles scored the most and second-most points in a game this season.

    Barkley wasn’t signed to be the face of the Eagles’ offense. Jalen Hurts has a responsibility to keep defenses honest with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but he might be relying on his arm a bit too much. Though it’s probably not in his future, could a 30-carry game be beneficial to the offense?

    This is a fair question to ask, seeing as the 2024 campaign hasn’t been Hurts’ brightest. He has been far from poor, but it’s plausible that Barkley can be the piece to elevate the unit.

    The Eagles hit a grand slam with Barkley’s signing.
    He has added a new dynamic to the offense and emerged as a player Hurts can depend on if he needs a safety blanket.

    PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • 15 Minutes That Changed the World (Or at Least Philadelphia) – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    15 Minutes That Changed the World (Or at Least Philadelphia) – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Moment in Time When Nick Sirianni’s Eagles Were Changed Forever.

    Shortly after you absorb that euphoric feeling of your team winning a Super Bowl — you immediately want to feel it again.

    Not fifteen minutes after Tom Brady’s final Hail Mary Pass in Super Bowl LII fell short in the end zone — the priority shifted from celebration to preservation.

    What would it take for the Eagles to return to claim another Lombardi Trophy?

    The wait for another shot at NFL immortality wasn’t as quick as initially wished for, but it wasn’t as long as it could have been.

    With the departure of Doug Pederson and ushering out of former quarterback Carson Wentz — whose own ego had prevented him from reaching greatness in Philadelphia— the Eagles were focused on a re-tooling.

    Just two years after the Eagles hired 39-year-old coach Nick Sirianni and committed to 23-year-old quarterback Jalen Hurts — the Eagles whose seemed like its bold offense could never be stopped from scoring — were back in the Super Bowl once again.

    When the Eagles advanced to Super Bowl LVII and powered their way to a 24–14 lead through two quarters — it looked as though not even a short halftime to regroup could save Andy Reid’s Chiefs and a hobbled Patrick Mahomes.

    Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) attempts the tackle during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
    Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) attempts the tackle during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports PHOTO: Denny Medley/Imagn Images

    During that fifteen-minute window — with Rhianna crescendoing her greatest hits on a stage at the 50-yard line — something happened to the Eagles. Perhaps it was arrogance, overconfidence, or inexperience. Perhaps it was a feeling that they were better than the game itself. Perhaps it was a combination of all of these.

    What happened during the next 30 minutes was that a Head Coach—once skewered in Philadelphia for nearly fourteen years for not being able to make in-game adjustments—flipped the script on the Eagles. He gave his injured quarterback quick throws, attacked the Eagles’ defense in different ways, and contained Philly’s devastating offensive attack.

    The team that wins the second half wins the game. That is exactly what happened.

    Nick Sirianni’s Eagles never recovered from that moment. Even when the Eagles were eking out wins at 10–1 last season, something didn’t look right. When they went 1–6 the rest of the way, something certainly didn’t.

    Many people didn’t want Nick Sirianni back this season. But making a convincing argument to stay — he did. At an early bye week, the Eagles are 2–2. They return from Tampa after yet another shellacking to a team that doesn’t have a talent level equal to Philadelphia.

    Since 2016, the Eagles have spent too much time purging themselves of coaches and players who utilize arrogance as a defining quality. The last coach and franchise quarterback to try to plow forward, driven by this sense, left the Eagles in an eventual rebuild.

    For the Eagles to return to the euphoric feeling of the NFC Championship Game win against the 49ers in 2023, it will take an adjustment of this team back to good fundamental football and a new approach for one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses. 

    PHOTO: Denny Medley/Imagn Images

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Eagles Woes Continue, 2-2 Heading Into The Bye – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles Woes Continue, 2-2 Heading Into The Bye – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    After another pitiful performance in Tampa Bay, the Eagles sit tied for 2nd in the NFC East.

    Hopefully the Eagles can avoid meeting the Buccaneers in the Wildcard round, again.

    Moving on to the early bye week at 2-2 isn’t the end for the Eagles, but it isn’t instilling much hope.

     

    Offensive Woes

    Sure the Eagles have been without A.J. Brown for multiple weeks and spent a game and a half without Lane Johnson & DeVonta Smith. But they only average 21.5 points per game in 4 games this season, which drops to 17.3 not including the packers game.

    This is also a team that has 8 turnovers on offense and 8(!) 3&Outs. What gives?

    Where’s The Motion?

    Last season, the Eagles ranked dead last in motion(10.9%) While the Chargers(25.9%) were ranked 8th(Kellen Moore’s last team) while having Easton Stick start multiple games at QB.

    With the hire of Moore in the offseason, everyone was expecting a more competent offense. Now loaded with even more talent in the backfield and along the offensive line.

    But through 4 weeks…

    The Eagles are in the middle of the pack. Which becomes concerning when you see NextGenStats posting the Eagles used 65.8% in their season debut.

    Makes you question why there’s been such a decline in only a matter of weeks.

     

    • Why are the Eagles afraid of short yardage plays down 3 of their best players?

    • Down 2 of your Weapons. Why does Saquon only see the ball 10 times? No wonder the offense stalls.

    • After admitting to being the one to call a USELESS fake QB sneak in New Orleans. How much of the Offense does Nick Sirianni have control of?

    And most importantly.

    • Why does this team feel so similar to last years?

     

    The Missing Piece

    Normally, when a team cleans house, they clean house. It was already questioned last year what Nick Sirianni did as Eagles head coach following last years disastrous end. Somehow, he was able to keep his job.

    Brian Johnson was let go as the scape goat to the collapse of the offense compared to their Super Bowl season. But now in Washington, Jayden Daniels is thriving as the Commanders hold 1st place in the NFC East.

    Dennard Wilson is now the Defensive Coordinator in Tennessee, and finding some success with a team that isn’t having a great season. After spending last season with the Ravens as a Defensive Backs Coach & Passing Game Coordinator, the same position he held in Philadelphia the 2 years prior.

    There’s multiple coaches who have left the Eagles who are finding success. And yet the Eagles seem to be stagnant now 2 years after their Super Bowl appearance. Even after bringing in highly valued coordinators on both sides of the ball.

    With many inconsistencies and similarities causing concern just 4 weeks into the season. A 2-2 record might not look bad, but how many head coaches can survive a 3-8 run to end and begin seasons with high expectations?

     

    With the weakest strength of schedule in the league and 13 games still left to play. There aren’t many excuses for this Eagles team to not still be competitive and push for a top seed in the playoffs. But with the way they’ve been playing, there better be some good performances following the bye week. Otherwise the playoffs could soon be out of reach.

     

     

     

    Photo Credit: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images

     

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • What Philly’s Never Had – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    What Philly’s Never Had – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    In One Hundred Years of Football We’ve Seen It All on the Field. Almost.

    When you’ve had professional football in your city limits for a century — chances are you haven’t missed much. But if Philly football is asking for a gift from Santa in September— here is something to wish for.

    Since 1924, The Philadelphia Eagles and Frankford Yellow Jackets gave Philadelphia some incredible moments. No, we don’t have ten Super Bowl trophies or three dynasty’s. What we do have, are some cherished moments of exhilaration for one of America’s most important original cities.

    We’ve seen devastating defenses like the 1991 Gang Green and the Jim Johnson aggressive scheme of the early 2000s. We’ve seen miracle seasons that seemed to come out of nowhere like 1960 and 2017. We’ve seen dominating performances when it seemed like our teams were almost unbeatable like the 1948–1949 Eagles and the 1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets. And we’ve seen such pulsating physical performances that added the the lore of Veterans Stadium that no away team wanted to visit.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    But what Philadelphia has never seen is a quarterback who wasn’t just good enough to win the Super Bowl, but to take the Eagles back there for years to come. Many thought that the Eagles had that quarterback in Donovan McNabb, Ron Jaworski, or Randall Cunningham. But injuries, changes in coaching, as well as squandered opportunities meant that none of the Philly quarterbacks saw even one championship.

    The one time that Philly football had a signal caller that brought the Eagles multiple shiny reminders in the trophy case was Tommy Thompson. Thompson led the Eagles to championships in 1948 and 1949. They should have had one in 1947. Just like in 2022.

    Aside from Thompson, only Nick Foles, Harry Homan, and Norm Van Brocklin have won championships as NFL Quarterbacks in Philadelphia.

    None have been able to repeat.

    If Kellan Moore and Nick Sirianni can get Jalen Hurts to be the nearly unstoppable force that he was in 2022–2023, then the quarterback who came one possession from Super Bowl glory can capture his first Super Bowl title at age 26 with perhaps a decade left in his career for many more.

    If, and only if.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Why Tanner McKee Should Be QB2 for the Eagles – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Why Tanner McKee Should Be QB2 for the Eagles – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Eagles have had two exciting preseason wins so far. This was largely due to the play of second-year quarterback Tanner McKee, who has looked stellar so far through training camp and the preseason games.
    Nick Sirianni is standing firm on Kenny Pickett being QB2, but Tanner McKee has proven it should be him.

    McKee looks much better as a passer than Pickett does.

    In his most recent outing against the Patriots, McKee threw 19 passes and completed 15 for 140 yards.

    It is evident when you watch the games that Kenny Pickett isn’t any good. Against the Patriots, he had 11 completions for 67 yards. He’s already had two full seasons as a starter under his belt, and as Steelers fans will tell you, he was awful out there.

    He is a first-round pick who has proven he isn’t a good QB in the league, but McKee, on the other hand, is a 6th round pick who hasn’t gotten a chance to prove himself.

    Even if McKee isn’t that good, he’s a better option than Pickett.

    Tanner McKee looks like a solid passer when he’s on the field, especially since he’s throwing to wide receivers who probably won’t be on the roster. He is someone who could come in and win a few games if Jalen Hurts goes down, which he usually does at some point during the season.

    There were even people who thought McKee should have been QB2 last season, ahead of Marcus Mariota. McKee finished his college career at Stanford with 5336 passing yards and 28 touchdowns in two seasons as a starter. He was definitely a solid passer in college, and that could translate to the NFL.

    Jalen Hurts has missed games during every season since he’s been a starter. If he goes down this season, the Eagles cannot put Kenny Pickett out there.
    Philadelphia will have a much better chance to win if they put Tanner Mckee in the game, which is why he should be QB2.

    PHOTO: —

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    Nate Schweitzer

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  • Two Potential Breakout Candidates for the Eagles in 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Two Potential Breakout Candidates for the Eagles in 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    A new year is upon us, and the Eagles have many players who could make a leap forward. The outlook for this year’s squad is optimistic.

    Let’s take a look at some players who could have a breakout season.

    Jordan Davis

    Jordan Davis is entering his third season with the Eagles and is in a position to take a big step forward. With Fletcher Cox’s retirement, the Eagles will look to Jordan Davis for a bigger role.

    Davis is young, coming into this season at 24. He has had the benefit of learning behind Cox for two years, and now it’s his time to take over. Davis was seen at the Eagles Autism Challenge, where he looked noticeably thinner.

    Davis is a big guy, and his conditioning was always in question. This season, you can tell he is in better shape, and he is ready to embrace the role of a starting defensive tackle.

    Cam Jurgens

    Jurgens can break out for the same reason Jordan Davis can break out. His predecessor retired. Now that Kelce is gone, Jurgens will start at Center. The Eagles drafted Cam Jurgens, knowing he would be the guy once Kelce retired, and now his time has come. Jurgens played some right guard last year, so it will be interesting to see him transition back to center this upcoming season.

    Cam Jurgens has a ton of potential, and the Eagles are looking to him to be their center for the next 5-10 years. As fans, we can’t expect him to be Jason Kelce. Jurgens is his own person, and the hope is that he will be able to play center without having a huge drop-off in talent.

    Both Jordan Davis and Cam Jurgens have learned from some of the best players at their positions. It is time for them to step up and fill the roles they were drafted to fill.
    It is time for a new era of the Eagles inside trenches.

    PHOTO: Getty Images

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    Nate Schweitzer

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  • Eagles’ Week 1 Game vs. Green Bay Packers Will Be a Worthwhile Test – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles’ Week 1 Game vs. Green Bay Packers Will Be a Worthwhile Test – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Week 1 contest of the Philadelphia Eagles is official. They will face the Green Bay Packers in Brazil on Sept. 6, setting the stage for the 2024 NFL season.
    While it will surely be a fun experience and environment, this game will allow the Eagles to put their 2023 woes to rest. Against a young, up-and-coming Super Bowl contender, Philadelphia can start off their season right this time.

    Eagles Won Unconvincingly in 2023

    It was apparent from the moment the Eagles’ 2023 season started that they were a bit of a step behind where they were in 2022. Sure, they won 10 of their first 11 games, but they did so in an unconvincing fashion. They had many one-score games and typically played down to opponents. Their elite level of talent bailed them out of certain doom on countless occasions, and it just wasn’t a sustainable model.

     Photo: Getty Images

    Now that the Eagles have new coaches on the offense and defense as well as new voices in the locker room, that has the potential to change. While this season’s team will have a similar structure, it will be different in many senses. They can finally shake the “fraud” narrative that, frankly, ended up being true. They have to get that monkey off of their backs and look good on both sides of the ball.

    Not winning games by big margins wasn’t necessarily the Eagles’ problem. Sometimes, your best is only enough to win by one score. Therein lies the issue — the Eagles never gave their true best. Whether it was poor ball security, defensive play, or play-calling, something went horribly wrong in every game for Philadelphia. It wasn’t just against contenders — it was essentially every week.

    So, what does that mean for the 2024 team?

    Starting off strong could really help them down the stretch.

    Forming better habits might help them succeed. For arguably all 10 of the Eagles’ wins when they started off 10-1, they got away with not playing their best football. It’s ignorant to assume the team would have a perfect game all the time, but they were playing like a .500 NFL team and not the best in the league, as their record suggested. When they won by just five points against the lowly 4-13 New England Patriots in Week 1 in a game where they were arguably outplayed, things never got better. They kept winning largely because of the talent gap.

    It’s a new season now, and the talent gap between Philadelphia and Green Bay is much more subtle. The Eagles objectively have the better on-paper roster and should match up well with them, but the game will indicate where Philadelphia is at. Week 1 has been a nice indicator for them for a while now.

    In 2023, they struggled but won mostly because of their talent. In 2022, they had an explosive offense against the Detroit Lions, but they didn’t close out the game well with some defensive blunders in a 38-35 final — sound familiar? In 2021, they showed flashes on both offense and defense despite being a young team coming off of a bad season against the Atlanta Falcons. In 2020, they lost by two scores to the Washington Commanders.

    There’s no point in being redundant — Week 1 in the NFL is huge. It sets the tone for the entire season and has done so for a very long time. The Eagles don’t necessarily have to beat the Packers, but they will have to show up. A win only means something if they play well.

    Are the Packers Next Up?

    While the Packers were only 9-8 last season and won a single playoff game, they were one of the more impressive NFC teams. Despite being among the younger teams the NFL has seen in the Super Bowl era, they made the playoffs and were pretty impressive in them. They routed the Dallas Cowboys on the road in a first-half stunner, leading 27-7 after 30 minutes. In a one-score showdown, they fell to the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

    But does this make them a legitimate contender in the NFC? Will they see regression, or will progression be in their future due to their youthful nature?

    Quarterback Jordan Love was very impressive last season, so it’s possible that the 25-year-old will only continue to get better. Now that he has a full season under his belt, he could take the Packers to contention with him.

    With the NFC seemingly getting just a bit stronger from where it was entering last season, the Eagles have to prove that they are still among the best. After a disappointing season where they didn’t win as much as a playoff game, they can’t fall off the map. Week 1 can prove that.

    While the 2024 Eagles and 2023 Eagles are two completely different teams, there are some narratives that they will need to put to rest.
    Does Philadelphia have what it takes to start off strong and put up a fight against a solid Packers team, or will they falter and put themselves in a bad place early?

    Photo: —

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    Justin Giampietro

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