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Tag: Philadelphia Eagles

  • Eagles 2024 Fantasy Football Guide – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles 2024 Fantasy Football Guide – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

    The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the best offenses in the NFL, if not the best.
    For the fans’ sake, that’s good for fantasy football leagues around the country.

    Which Eagles should you draft? How might they perform? That’s what I’ll try to answer.

    For simplicity, I’ll reference points per reception (PPR) formats, as there are different discussions in non-PPR leagues.

    Saquon Barkley, Running Back

    The Eagles’ new starting running back, Saquon Barkley, whom they paid handsomely, is going off the board pretty early in most leagues. He is seen as give or take, one of the five best running backs this season.

    Especially with a playmaker like Barkley, he should get high-end usage and be somewhat involved in the passing game as well. Behind a competent offensive line (an elite one, at that), he should soar as long as he’s healthy.

    It’s a worthwhile concern to take issue with a potential lack of touchdowns due to how many weapons are on the offense. This can limit Barkley’s upside. There’s a very high floor here but a questionable ceiling. Could he really be the best running back in fantasy?

    A.J. Brown, Wide Receiver

    Simply put, A.J. Brown was a league-winner last season. Averaging 19.9 PPR points per game from Week 3 to Week 16, this player demolished the competition. He showed his upside even with big names in the fold—this is a good top receiver in all leagues with more than a couple of people.

    Brown is magical with the football in his hands, so a decreased target share isn’t much of a worry. If he’s healthy, he’ll get plenty of looks. He only had seven touchdowns in 2023, so the sustainability of his play leans more optimistic than pessimistic.

    Jalen Hurts, Quarterback

    The time to maximize Jalen Hurts’ stock was a long time ago, but it now seems that the fantasy world has caught onto his status as a top-tier player. It’s tricky when dealing with quarterbacks, as a lot of people will tell you that you’re better off waiting until later rounds to take one. That’s only true in some instances.

    Assuming your league has anywhere from eight to around 12 participants (and just one quarterback slot), which should be a large majority, there are options out there aside from the elite names. But to truly contend for a championship, you must have an answer. For example, there’s a low likelihood that teams who were streaming quarterbacks late in the season did much of anything in the playoffs—that’s a vital position.

    If you can trust yourself to scope out future breakouts who are going low in drafts, such as rookie Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders, then it’s justified to avoid a quarterback and take another position. But if you want to be confident in a vital spot in the lineup, taking someone like Hurts makes sense. He can pass and run, and he should be one of the leaders in rushing touchdowns (which are worth more than passing touchdowns) thanks to the “Brotherly Shove.”

    DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver

    Even in competition with Brown and others, DeVonta Smith got his fair share of targets last season. From Week 8 to Week 16, he averaged 17.4 points, even in a crowded offense. As a secondary receiver, this is one of the higher-end options.

    Betting on talent in fantasy is never a bad idea. Though Smith could soar in a situation where he isn’t behind one of the best receivers in the world, this is a gifted player who could take charge any given week. There’s some consistency here, but you’re looking for games that he can blow open. In the Eagles’ offense, he absolutely has the chance to do that.

    If you’re in a championship game, that’s the kind of upside you dream of.

    Dallas Goedert, Tight End

    Dallas Goedert used to be one of the best tight ends in fantasy, but he had a disappointing season in that regard in 2023. There’s a ton of competition for involvement, and, unfortunately, players like Barkley, Brown, Smith, and even Hurts take the ball out of his hands. This isn’t a bad upside bet, though.

    Touchdowns are massive for tight ends since they don’t get the ball a ton, but Goedert only had three last season. And there’s just not a lot of confidence we see that number soar, but there’s a non-zero chance that it does. In bigger leagues (closer to 16 or more people), this might actually be a smart play. But he’s a low-end starter in your standard 8-12-man league.

    Jake Elliott, Kicker

    There aren’t many kickers better than Jake Elliott, either in real life or in fantasy football. He has been especially incredible over the last two seasons for the Eagles, aided by a dominant offense.

    Most assume that there isn’t a difference between the top kickers and those on waivers, which is true to some extent. However, you could be gaining a point or two on a week-to-week basis when looking at his averages. We’ve all lost games by that margin—it almost feels like it happens all of the time. In my personal case, it happened in a championship game in a friend’s league last year (it was actually by 0.06 points).

    Kickers matter, too.

    If you want the best option and some upside, it’s not crazy to go for someone like Elliott when skill positions are still flying off the shelves, especially when you’ll statistically end up cutting them anyway.

    Eagles D/ST

    It would be best to leave this defense and special teams unit on waivers. The Eagles’ defense was one of the worst in the NFL last season, yet their most memorable splash in the offseason was a running back.

    Some improvement here can happen, but it might only be a good idea to stream this defense if they have a favorable matchup. Even that wasn’t always the best bet—their lack of sacks, takeaways, and overall inability to stop offenses resulted in some low-end quarterbacks feasting.

    Deep League Targets

    Suppose you’re in a very deep league, such as with 32 players; both Jahan Dotson and Will Shipley appear to be decent bets. There’s some upside here.

    With Dotson, it feels like an injury to either Brown or Smith would be the path here. Obviously, you never want players to get hurt—these athletes have families to feed. However, the reality of the sport is that it can happen to anyone. That would theoretically allow Dotson to get a big target share. It’s a sad way for that pick to pay off, but it’s something to understand. He’s a strong option with whom Hurts could fall in love anyway, perhaps. Hopefully, his emergence is what wins him over, and not someone getting hurt.

    As for Shipley, he might not even get more reps than Kenneth Gainwell, another running back for the Eagles. The rookie has been pretty good in his action, though, and could be a solid early-down option in some instances. It’s hard to come by running backs in 32-man leagues so that big performances can win you a matchup. Shipley can maybe provide a few points here and there with a couple of 10-point showings if the Eagles like him enough and he hits his stride. That’s an unlikely outcome, but it’s not impossible. With that being said, there isn’t enough upside to consider him in normal leagues with a dozen or fewer players, but he’s intriguing if you have way too many football friends.

    There’s a saying that you should try to avoid drafting based on your personal rooting interest. But in the Eagles’ case, you’re justified in doing so.
    If anything, some of these players might be undervalued.

    PHOTO: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • Philadelphia’s Eagles Soar Amidst Season Challenges: A Betting Perspective – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Philadelphia’s Eagles Soar Amidst Season Challenges: A Betting Perspective – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Philadelphia Eagles are navigating through a season filled with both triumphs and challenges.
    As fans, you are likely on the edge of your seat with every game.

    This article dives into the betting angles and what to consider as the Eagles continue their journey.

    With the NFL season in full swing, the Philadelphia Eagles have proven to be a team worth watching closely.

    Their performance this year has been nothing short of exhilarating, bringing both high hopes and some uncertainties for fans and bettors alike.

    Whether you are a seasoned bettor or new to the world of sports betting, understanding the nuances of this team’s journey is crucial for making informed decisions.

    Eagles’ Current Season Performance

    PHOTO: Bazoom AI

    As of now, the Eagles have showcased a mix of resilience and skill that keeps fans optimistic. They have faced tough opponents and risen to the challenge, which is important for bettors to consider. In games where they were underdogs, they often outperformed expectations, making them an intriguing team for top sites not on gamstop that are just one click away. This unpredictability can be both exciting and daunting for those placing wagers.

    One factor to keep an eye on is the team’s injury list. Key players’ health status can significantly impact game outcomes and betting odds. Staying updated with the latest news on player conditions will help you make more accurate predictions. Additionally, analyzing past performances against similar opponents can provide insights into future games.

    Key Players to Watch

    The Eagles boast a roster filled with talent, but certain players stand out due to their impact on games. For example, quarterback Jalen Hurts has been a pivotal figure this season. His ability to read defenses and make quick decisions has led to some impressive victories. Additionally, wide receiver DeVonta Smith’s agility and catching prowess add another layer of excitement to the Eagles’ offensive lineup.

    On the defensive side, names like Darius Slay cannot be overlooked. His performance often dictates the effectiveness of the Eagles’ defense, which is crucial in close games. Understanding these key players’ roles and how they match up against upcoming opponents can give you an edge in your betting strategy.

    Betting Strategies for Eagles’ Games

    When considering placing bets on the Eagles, it’s essential to look beyond just their win-loss record. Factors such as home-field advantage, weather conditions, and recent form play significant roles in game outcomes. For instance, teams tend to perform differently at home versus away games, which can influence your betting choices.

    In addition to traditional bets like point spreads and money lines, exploring prop bets can offer unique opportunities. These bets focus on specific aspects of the game or individual player performances rather than just the final score. This approach allows you to leverage your knowledge of the Eagles’ strengths and weaknesses effectively.

    As you follow the Philadelphia Eagles this season, staying informed about their performance trends and player updates will be vital for successful betting.
    Analyzing various factors such as injuries, key players, and betting strategies can enhance your chances of making profitable bets. 

    PHOTO: Bazoom AI

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    PHLSportsNation

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  • Another Depth Concern Addressed, Eagles Trade For Jahan Dotson – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Another Depth Concern Addressed, Eagles Trade For Jahan Dotson – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    With teams needing to trim down rosters by nearly 40 spots in the next 5 days. Roster moves are inevitable, and the Eagles kicked things off with two roster changes, releasing CJ Uzomah, and signing Jason Poe. A necessity to bolster the OL with concern over Tyler Steen’s injury.

    Like most teams, we might not see the Eagles starters in this weekends final preseason game. Giving an indication of most of the 53-man roster, days before the deadline.

    However with injury reports already growing, there was a position of concern.

    What would happen to the Eagles offense if they were to lose DeVonta Smith or A.J Brown at any point of the season?

    Thursdays Trade

    The Eagles kicked Thursday morning off with a trade announcement. And one that’s hard to complain about.

     

    Trading a 3rd and two 7th round picks to add what will likely be the teams WR3, and to gain a third 5th round pick for next years draft is excellent work from the Eagles front office. Leaving a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th also available for the upcoming trade deadline on November 5th.

    With the trade for Dotson, the Eagles WR depth should seemingly be in place. With AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith being the WR1&2, pushing for another season with matching 1000+ receiving yards, while Dotson & Campbell should be the WR3/4.

    Some may have been hoping for Johnny Wilson to crack the roster, but it just didn’t make sense in the wake of a serious injury to one of the starters, the Eagles required depth – and forcing a 6th round pick into a large role could end the same way Quez Watkins tenure did. 

    This way, even the Eagles WR3/4 will have had previous 500+ yard seasons, and look to expand their roles in Kellen Moore’s offense.

    Dotson’s Time As a Commander

    In 2 years with the Commanders, Dotson put up the following stat lines:

    2022 – 35REC on 61TGT, 523Yards, 7TD, 12GP

    2023 – 49REC on 83TGT, 518Yards, 4TD, 17GP

    Both years Dotson finished 3rd in Receiving yards on the Commanders, behind Curtis Samuel and Terry McLaurin.

    Something else to note for the Commanders performances was the inconsistency in QB play. A team that Dotson (and others) saw Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke and Sam Howell all have drastic levels of play across two seasons.

     

    With Campbell & Dotson looking to make impacts with their new team. Will either, or both of these receivers see a 500+ yard season? 

     

     

    Photo Credit: Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Crushing the Champs at Candlestick – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Crushing the Champs at Candlestick – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    It’s Been 30 Years Since the Eagles Dominated the World Champions at Candlestick Park.

    Thirty years ago — in an early October meeting in 1994— two of the NFC’s most formidable teams faced off at Candlestick Park. Since the 1980s, Buddy Ryan’s Eagles and Bill Walsh’s 49ers had some truly memorable games.

    Now, two disciples—Rich Kotite for the Eagles and George Seifert for the 49ers—lead both clubs.

    Much like in 2024, the Eagles and 49ers were two of the most formidable teams in the NFC.

    From the opening kickoff, the 2–2 49ers were out-hustled and outplayed by the 2–1 Eagles in almost all phases. With Randall Cunningham directing the opening drive, Charlie Garner sprinted for a one-yard touchdown run. After Eric Allen then intercepted Steve Young, Garner scampered 24 yards for the second score — a play that included a great block by Fred Barnett on Deion Sanders at the goal line.

    By the time Randall Cunningham found Victor Bailey for a 32-yard score — the Eagles were up 23–8, and the rout was on. One highlight for Eagles fans came in the third quarter, with the Eagles up 33–8. In the middle of a Steve Young play call, backup quarterback Elvis Grbac raced onto the field and replaced Young — leading to a sideline tirade by Young with Coach Gary Kubiak.

    Garner would end up with 111 yards on 16 carries and another 28 yards receiving.

    As with most great Eagles moments in the 1990s, the victory was short-lived. George Seifert’s 49ers would go on to beat Stan Humphries and the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl that year, 49–26. The Eagles would squander at a 3–1 start and finish 7–9. New Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie would fire Rich Kotite at the end of the season and hired Ray Rhodes. One year later — in a bitter quarterback controversy with Rodney Peete- Randall Cunningham would play his last game as an Eagle in Dallas in 1995.

    We’ll always have Candlestick Park — October of 1994.

    PHOTO: WikiCommons

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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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  • 5 Most Memorable Nick Foles Games as an Eagle – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    5 Most Memorable Nick Foles Games as an Eagle – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    After 11 years, Nick Foles has called it quits—he’s retiring from the NFL. Fittingly, he’s doing it as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at his five most unforgettable performances with the team.

    5. 2018 Week 16 vs. Houston — Playoff Hopes Stay Alive

    Following an injury to starter Carson Wentz in 2018, Foles took over in an impossible situation. He had started that season due to the former still recovering from an ACL and LCL tear the season prior, but things were rocky once Wentz went down for the second time. Sitting at 6-7, the team’s only real chance was going undefeated the rest of the way and getting some help on top of that. Upsetting the 11-2 Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 was a start, but the 10-4 Houston Texans were up next—Foles took charge.

    Not only did Foles set his own career high in passing yards with 471, but he set the franchise record, too. Completing 35 of his 49 attempts (71.4 percent) basically fresh off the bench with four touchdown passes to just one interception, he was incredible. It was enough to clinch an intense 32-30 win at home, setting up a do-or-die Week 17.

    That was another game that the Eagles won, so they finished 9-7. But they had a problem. Needing the Chicago Bears (who had already clinched the playoffs and were thus content with benching their starters) to beat the Minnesota Vikings, things still looked dire. As fate would have it, the Bears came through and Philadelphia made the postseason.

    Say, how did the Eagles do in those playoffs?

    4. 2018 NFC Wildcard at Chicago — Double Doink

    If we’re just looking at individual performances from Foles, this one is far closer to average than good stats-wise. He wasn’t even on the field when the most memorable play of this game happened, but he’s the one who made it possible. Let’s revisit Cris Collinsworth’s notoriously-coined “double doink” affair in wildcard weekend against, ironically, the Bears.

    Following three consecutive wins at the end of the 2018 regular season (of course, including the one against the Texans), the Eagles were back in the postseason when it looked like they had no chance. Against the soaring Bears, Foles—but especially Philadelphia‘s defense, admittedly—kept the game close.

    He had a sufficient day moving the ball with 25 completions on 40 attempts (62.5 percent), 266 yards in the air, and two touchdown passes versus two interceptions (one of which was a ball wrestled out of Wendell Smallwood’s hands). But his last drive of the game—with everything on the line—is when he stood out. Taking the Eagles all the way down the field with a roaring Soldier Field crowd making that just a bit harder, Foles was as cool as a cucumber and threw for a sweet touchdown on fourth-and-goal.

    The Bears swiftly drove down the field, but the Eagles’ defense gave themselves at least a slight chance by making Bears kicker Cody Parkey take a stab at a 43-yard attempt. The kick was partially blocked and went off both the left upright (single doink), the crossbar (double doink), and out—Foles and the Birds lived to see another day with a 16-15 victory.

    3. 2013 Week 9 at Oakland — Seven Touchdowns

    Tying what could very well be an unbreakable NFL record (more so due to the “code” and not any athletic limitations) would probably be first on the list for most quarterbacks who only started 63 total games in the league, but not for Foles—we’ll see why in a bit. Getting back to this matchup, passing for a whopping seven touchdowns in a 49-20 win against the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders was a game to remember.

    Foles had fewer incompletions (six) than touchdowns on the day, throwing for 406 yards on 28 pass attempts. He threw for his last touchdown with some time to spare in the third quarter, evidence of how hard this record is to beat—games aren’t ever close enough to justify keeping a starting quarterback off the bench after that seventh touchdown pass. There’s a code that teams do respect, so Foles should be in the history books for a very long time.

    The impressiveness of passing for seven touchdowns aside, this was a huge victory that set up great things to come for Philadelphia. Starting the season 3-5 and scoring just 10 points combined against their division rival Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants at home in the previous two weeks, things were spiraling for head coach Chip Kelly and his team. But that all changed with this win.

    The Eagles won seven of their last eight games, clinching the NFC East title and finishing with a 10-6 record. The playoffs were a bit of a heartbreaker, losing to Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on a last-second field goal in the wildcard round, but this record-setting afternoon for Foles made that a reality. You know, if that season did go poorly, perhaps the Eagles wouldn’t have signed him in 2017. That’s purely speculation, but the 2013 season was his defining run and probably a big reason why he was brought back.

    Speaking of which, why was 2017 so special, anyway?

    2. 2017 NFC Championship vs. Minnesota — Hungry Dogs Run Faster

    Following a 10-2 start to their season, the Eagles lost Wentz to that aforementioned ACL and LCL tear for the rest of their 2017 season—he was basically the undisputed MVP of the league at this time. Foles, signed to be the backup in the offseason after contemplating retirement during his post-Eagles days, was there to take over for a Philadelphia team starving for a championship. On paper? That sounds pretty bad.

    And, immediately, almost nobody believed in him. In fairness, there was really no reason to even after he clinched out a low-scoring nail-biter against the Atlanta Falcons to make it to the NFC Championship in the first place. Foles, with all the pressure in the world and a Super Bowl berth on the line, had what was quite easily the best performance of his career since that Raiders game—four-and-a-half years later.

    Against what was regarded as the NFL’s best defense at the time by many, Foles torched the 14-3 Minnesota Vikings. On 33 throwing attempts, he had 26 completions (78.8 percent), 352 passing yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He led the Birds to a 38-7 massacre—and their first trip to the Super Bowl in 13 years.

    With a performance like this, that’s when real hope started to be put in Foles. One game doesn’t completely sell anyone on a player, but people were at least starting to respect the Eagles somewhat. The team was still an underdog heading into the Big Game, but they proved one thing, in the words of legendary center Jason Kelce: “Hungry dogs run faster”.

    1. Super Bowl LII vs. New England — Ending the Drought

    The hungry dog did indeed run faster against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at what was arguably the peak of their dominance. Foles didn’t just win, and he didn’t just win Super Bowl MVP. He had one of the best performances in Super Bowl history—pretty good for a “backup quarterback”.

    PHOTO: —

    With tens of millions of people watching across the country, Foles made each and every one of them remember his name. He completed 28 of his 43 passes (65.1 percent) for 373 yards, passed for three touchdowns, caught one on perhaps the most iconic trick play in history, and threw just one interception that wasn’t his fault, anyway—it was bobbled. Most importantly, he won the game 41-33 and gave Philadelphia its first Vince Lombardi Trophy in history—it took them 52 tries.

    For this game, Foles will always be a hero in the city of Philadelphia. The sentimental value (perhaps somewhat unfairly) makes this the most important performance in Philadelphia sports history. Nothing will ever top it. This was a city that hadn’t seen a professional sports championship in 10 years, and its most popular team—the Eagles—hadn’t won since 1960.

    Tears were shed, poles were climbed, lifelong fans got a long-awaited moment of triumph, and a city was brought together. Foles was the biggest reason for that.

    They say championships are a team accomplishment—fair enough. But when we look back at Foles’ career, one piece of information is essential to remember. This backup out-dueled the greatest quarterback to ever live with everything on the line.

    Enjoy retirement, Nick.

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • How to Manage Unpredictable Weather During Game Seasons – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    How to Manage Unpredictable Weather During Game Seasons – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Philadelphia sports enthusiasts often face the challenge of unpredictable weather impacting their favorite games. Understanding how to navigate these changes can ensure you don’t miss out on crucial moments.
    This article provides practical tips and insights to help you stay prepared and enjoy the game season despite the weather.

    Unpredictable weather can be a significant hurdle for sports fans and players alike.

    Whether you’re cheering for the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field or catching a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park, knowing how to deal with sudden weather changes is essential.

    This guide will help you stay informed and ready for any weather-related surprises during the game season.

    Understanding the Importance of Preparation

    One of the most critical aspects of dealing with unpredictable weather is preparation. Always check the weather forecast before heading out to a game. Bringing appropriate gear, such as raincoats, umbrellas, and warm clothing, can make a huge difference in your comfort level. In addition, ensuring that stadiums are equipped with tools like football field line painter can help maintain the quality of the playing field even during adverse weather conditions.

    PHOTO: amazonaws.com

    Being prepared also means considering the impact of weather on transportation. If you’re driving to the game, factor in extra time for potentially slower traffic due to rain or snow. For those using public transportation, check for any weather-related delays or cancellations. Having a backup plan, such as ridesharing options, can be invaluable if your primary mode of transport is affected by inclement weather. Remember, arriving at the game dry and comfortable sets a positive tone for the entire experience.

    Staying Informed About Weather Updates

    Real-time weather updates are crucial for fans attending live games. Utilize reliable weather apps and websites to stay updated on any changes that might affect your plans. This way, you can make informed decisions about whether to attend a game or take necessary precautions while traveling to the stadium.

    Staying informed not only helps you prepare better but also ensures you don’t miss any exciting moments due to unforeseen weather disruptions.

    Why It Matters for Game Strategies

    Weather conditions can significantly influence game strategies and outcomes. For example, heavy rain can make the playing surface slippery, impacting player performance and increasing injury risks. Coaches and players need to adapt their strategies based on current conditions, making it crucial for fans to understand how these factors come into play. Being aware of how weather affects gameplay enhances your overall viewing experience and appreciation for the sport.

    Leveraging Technology for Better Experiences

    Technology has become an invaluable tool in managing unpredictable weather during game seasons.

    From advanced meteorological tools that provide precise forecasts to stadiums equipped with retractable roofs, embracing technological advancements can significantly improve your game-day experience.

    Staying connected through social media platforms also allows you to receive real-time updates from official team accounts, ensuring you’re always in the loop.

    PHOTO: amazonaws.com

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  • Eagles 2024 Preseason Preview – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles 2024 Preseason Preview – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2024 preseason is now just a week away. Let’s preview the action.

    Eagles’ Three Opponents

    The Eagles have three opponents this preseason, one of which is at home and two of which are on the road. Let’s take a look.

    At 7:30 PM EST on Friday, Aug. 9, the Eagles visit the Baltimore Ravens for their first contest. Baltimore had won 24 straight games in the preseason with their last win ironically being at home against Philadelphia, then they lost two straight to end the streak in 2023.

    At 7:00 PM EST on Thursday, Aug. 15, the Eagles will visit the New England Patriots for their second preseason showdown. We’ll presumably see rookie quarterback Drake Maye take some snaps for them, so it could be a packed crowd.

    The Eagles will finish their preseason slate during a 1:00 PM EST game against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Lincoln Financial Field. Minnesota hasn’t won a preseason contest since Aug. 24, 2019.

    Eagles’ Preseason Struggles

    Since winning the Super Bowl in 2017, the preseason has not been kind to the Eagles record-wise. Though a win-loss record doesn’t mean that much when you’re tracking individual results, it hasn’t been pretty.

    Philadelphia has a 3-11-2 record in the preseason following their Super Bowl victory. With a minus-156-point differential in that span, they’re losing each game by just under 10 points—that’s especially surprising considering how low-scoring the games tend to be.

    Below are their season-by-season results since 2018 (with the exception of 2020, which was canceled). Their point differential is in parenthesis:

    • 2023: 0-2-1 (Minus-15)
    • 2022: 1-2 (Minus-40)
    • 2021: 0-2-1 (Minus-43)
    • 2019: 1-2 (Minus-20)
    • 2018: 1-3 (Minus-38)

    Considering their struggles (and the dominance of the Ravens), don’t expect the Eagles to sweep the slate or anything. Based on their last five showings in the preseason, the opposite is probably more likely.

    Four Eagles to Watch

    PHOTO: —

    This preseason, there are plenty of players to look out for—here, we’ll highlight four in particular. That list consists of offensive lineman Mekhi Becton, running back Will Shipley, wide receiver Johnny Wilson, and edge Jalyx Hunt.

    Becton is an interesting one due to his potential. The New York Jets’ top draft pick from 2020, his athleticism is what makes him stand out. He could hold a decent role with the Eagles in 2024 depending on injuries. He’s probably not an instant starter, but he could certainly work his way up there.

    Taken in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Shipley has reportedly impressed the Eagles’ coaches. While Saquon Barkley clearly has the starting running back spot taken, the former could take some reps from Kenneth Gainwell during the season as the second-string running back. Shipley could be a solid option for the Eagles, so he should get some usage in the preseason.

    Wilson is a big receiver who was taken in the sixth round of the 2024 class. He should be allowed to take over during preseason—it’ll be interesting to watch. Parris Campbell seems to be the firm third-string wideout behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but Wilson could get some snaps in the regular season.

    Hunt was drafted in the third round of this past draft by the Eagles as a highly athletic threat on the edge. He should get some reps in the regular season and perhaps get a sizable role pretty soon for a third-round pick.

    With only a month left until the start of the 2024 regular season, Eagles football is very close. The preseason should serve as a small taste of what’s to come.

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • Training Camp, Hall Of Fame and 2024 Preseason: The NFL Is Back! – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Training Camp, Hall Of Fame and 2024 Preseason: The NFL Is Back! – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Today marks the first day of the NFL season with an actual game being played.
    I was lucky enough to share that day with the Eagle’s open practice. 

    Hall Of Fame Game

    The Eagles might not have had any relations to this year’s Hall of Fame class, including Steve McMichael and Devin Hester, giving the Bears their second appearance at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in the last six years. But they might soon, with some Eagles greats who have recently retired, like Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce.

    Perhaps the Eagles will end their 18-year absence one day, with 17 nominees in the 2024 class. Or once either of these recently retired players hits eligibility five years from now.

    And for those who think 62 or 91 might not make the hall one day, here’s a glimpse at their resumes.

    • Fletcher Cox: 6x Pro Bowl / 1x All-Pro / HOF All-2010’s Team / Super Bowl 52 Champ
    • Jason Kelce: 7x Pro Bowl / 6x All-Pro / Eagles-Record 145 Consecutive Starts / Super Bowl 52 Champ

    Open Practice!

    On the other side of Thursday was the Eagles open practice, and if you’ve been as impatient as I have for football season, then today was a pretty good day.

    Nearly 50,000 fans showed up at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, and almost 75% of the Linc was filled for practice. 

    And the offense didn’t disappoint, with Hurts posting the following stat line to end the day.

    We’re only five weeks out from the Eagles opening the season against the Packers in Brazil.

    And while they still have plenty to make up for last season’s disastrous end, we still have preseason games to get through before we get there.

    Preseason

    The Eagles will have three preseason games in the coming weeks:

    • @ Baltimore Ravens
    • @ New England Patriots
    • @Minnesota Vikings

    For once, the Eagles won’t host the Vikings in the regular season to start their year; instead, it’ll come one week earlier in their final preseason match.

    Regardless if the Eagles starters see any real action in the coming weeks, there are plenty of names to look out for, but they might not even see much of the playing field this season.

    Jalyx Hunt

    After cutting Barnett late last season, the Eagles’ defensive line depth weakened. After acquiring Huff and moving on from Reddick, they would need more insurance in the defensive end position. Enter the Eagles’ third-round pick.

    If Vic Fangio is committed to playing those who deserve playing time, we may see more rookies play than we have in the past. While that opens the door for the rookies, it could also limit some of the other playmakers on the roster.

    Isaiah Rodgers

    The Eagles had Rodgers tucked away on the suspended list for most of last season, and now that the year is beginning, we’re finding out the Eagles have a massive logjam in the secondary.

    Multiple rookies, Mitchell and DeJean(injured), as well as plenty of other sophomores and veterans, are vying for a roster spot. 

    However, Rodgers is getting reps with the first team, so there are even more questions about who might play in the preseason.

    If Rodgers is penciled in as a starter, we won’t see much from a player who hasn’t seen playing time in almost 18 months.

    We’ll find out next week which Eagles will get to suit up for their first preseason game, less than a week away.
    Football is back!

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles/Facebook

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Pre-training camp NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs and 49ers reign, Texans and Bears on the rise

    Pre-training camp NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs and 49ers reign, Texans and Bears on the rise

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    The longest offseason in major professional sports will be over by the end of the week. Five NFL teams have already opened training camp. Twenty-three more start on Tuesday, and the remaining four kick off Wednesday. The Hall of Fame Game between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears is less than 10 days away.

    So we can officially say the NFL is back, and the power rankings are just as happy about that as the rest of you. The preseason rankings start where last season’s rankings ended — with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at the top — but there’s been some movement down the line. The Hall of Fame Game participants, for instance, are among the biggest risers because of one young quarterback who has already proven himself and another who everyone expects to soon.

    On with the list:

    Last season: 11-6 in regular season, Super Bowl champions

    The last time the Chiefs failed to make the NFL’s final four, Matthew Stafford was a Lion, Ryan Tannehill was a Dolphin and Ben Roethlisberger was an active player. That was 2017. Since then, Patrick Mahomes has won 15 playoff games (more than all quarterbacks but Tom Brady and Joe Montana) and never finished a season as a starter short of the AFC Championship Game. Mahomes is 28 years old. If he plays as long as Brady, that means 17 more years to pad what could be an otherworldly stat line.

    Last season: 12-5, lost Super Bowl

    The 49ers are the NFL’s narrative busters. Need a top-10 quarterback to compete at the highest level? Nope. San Francisco has gone to two Super Bowls and two more NFC title games with Brock Purdy and Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. There are consequences for missing on a top-five quarterback? Not for the Niners. This team traded three first-round picks to draft Trey Lance No. 3 in 2021 and hasn’t missed a beat despite Lance already being off the team. Kyle Shanahan, despite his near misses, might be underpaid.

    GO DEEPER

    One big question for all 32 NFL teams ahead of training camp: Caleb Williams’ debut and more

    Last season: 12-5, lost NFC Championship Game

    The Lions have won more games since Nov. 6, 2022 (22), than they did in the previous 1,769 days (18). These are giddy times in Detroit, and the Lions have responded by throwing cash around, extending quarterback Jared Goff, offensive lineman Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to big-money deals this offseason. Maybe just as importantly, Detroit retained offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who led the Lions to the fifth-best offense in the league last season based on EPA (expected points added) per play, according to TruMedia.


    Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Lions have fans excited about the possibilities in 2024. (Nic Antaya / Getty Images)

    Last season: 10-7, lost in AFC divisional round

    For most of the NFL’s history, calling a team the Lions of the AFC would have been fighting words. Not anymore. The Texans are the cross-conference counterparts of the Lions, which is to say they are their conference’s best-vibes team. After C.J. Stroud’s remarkable rookie season, Houston is going all in behind its young quarterback, re-signing tight end Dalton Schultz and adding wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon to an offense that scored 45 points against one of the league’s best defenses in Stroud’s first career playoff game. If the Texans can survive being this offseason’s hot team, it could be a special season in Houston.

    Last season: 13-4, lost AFC Championship Game

    The 2023 Ravens were the NFL’s best team for long stretches. The 2024 Ravens are something different. Baltimore has added Derrick Henry but lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, linebacker Patrick Queen, safety Geno Stone, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, three starting offensive linemen and about 10 percent of a quarterback. Reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson appears to have lost more than 20 pounds. Will he be the same player who has led Baltimore in rushing and passing each of the last five years? Probably.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    In his new home with the Ravens, Derrick Henry is still competing against himself

    Last season: 11-6, lost in AFC wild-card round

    In the first four seasons of Deshaun Watson’s career, he had a passer rating of 104.5, a 2.4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and was off target on only 6.4 percent of his throws, according to TruMedia. It’s why the Browns sent three first-round picks, a third and two fourths to the Texans to acquire him. In two seasons in Cleveland, Watson has a passer rating of 81.7, a 1.6 TD-to-interception ratio and has been off target on 15.8 percent of his throws. Last year’s Browns still won 11 games. If Watson and running back Nick Chubb (coming off a knee injury) can return to form this year, Cleveland will be a contender.

    Last season: 12-5, lost in NFC wild-card round

    In the last three seasons, the Cowboys have won 36 regular-season games and one playoff game. Owner Jerry Jones is so fed up that he … did basically nothing this offseason to improve the team. Head coach Mike McCarthy is back (with a new defensive coordinator — Mike Zimmer, who replaced Dan Quinn). Linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Royce Freeman were Dallas’ only free-agency additions. Plus, quarterback Dak Prescott will be playing with a $55 million cap hit and in the final year of his contract this season because the Cowboys don’t seem concerned about getting an extension done.

    Last season: 9-8, lost in NFC divisional round

    Green Bay was the fourth-youngest playoff team in NFL history last season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. In the second half of the season, the Packers’ offense was eighth in the league in scoring (23.7) and fourth in yards per play (6.0), and they won seven of their last 10 games. In the playoffs, Green Bay put 48 points on the Cowboys and then lost by just three to the 49ers in the divisional round. Coach Matt LaFleur and 25-year-old quarterback Jordan Love seem to be getting along fine.

    Last season: 11-6, lost in AFC divisional round

    Only the Chiefs have a longer active streak of double-digit-win seasons than the Bills’ five. Whether Buffalo can continue that streak is one of the league’s most interesting questions. It lost Diggs, Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davious White, Mitch Morse, Tyrel Dodson and Leonard Floyd in the offseason. That means more of the load falls on quarterback Josh Allen, who already carries plenty for the Bills. In the last five seasons, no player has averaged more fantasy points per game, according to TruMedia. It’s not an exact match for on-field value, but it’s a pretty good indicator.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    Next man up to next big thing: Terrel Bernard climbs to centerpiece of Bills defense

    Last season: 11-6, lost in NFC wild-card round

    Questions abound in Philly. Will new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s system suit quarterback Jalen Hurts? How will the offensive line hold up without “the other Kelce,” center Jason who, like his brother Travis, is a future Hall of Famer but, unlike his brother, is not dating Taylor Swift and is now retired? But the biggest question is: What the heck happened last season? The Eagles lost six of their last seven games, and their point differential (minus-59) was the fourth worst in the league during that stretch, suggesting something more than personnel fits was amiss with the one-time juggernaut.


    Can Jalen Hurts and the Eagles rebound after their late-season collapse in 2023? (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

    Last season: 10-7, lost in NFC wild-card round

    The Rams won seven of eight to end the regular season and dropped a one-point game to the Lions in the playoffs. In the offseason, they remade their secondary and fortified their offensive line. And just like that, 38-year-old coach Sean McVay is back in the fray in the NFC. McVay enters his eighth season already in the top 100 of all-time head-coaching wins (70). Just two years ago, he coached a five-win team and the media job offers were piling up. Now, he’s coaching a contender again.

    Last season: 11-6, lost in AFC wild-card round

    Through Week 15 last season, the Dolphins led the NFL with 31.5 points per game. From Week 16 through a wild-card round playoff loss, they were 30th in scoring with 15.5 points per game. Did defenses figure out the league’s fastest offense? Did injuries catch up to Miami? Was it just that they played better teams down the stretch? Yes to all three, but coach Mike McDaniel has had an entire offseason to adjust, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa should have lots of motivation playing in the final year of his contract.

    Last season: 7-10, missed playoffs

    Aaron Rodgers is ninth all time in the NFL in passing yards (59,055), and he realistically could pass Dan Marino and Matt Ryan this year to move to seventh. He’s fifth in passing touchdowns (475) and could pass Brett Favre to get to fourth. These numbers are provided here in case anyone forgot Rodgers actually plays football. And usually pretty well. If he can do that again this year after playing only four snaps before snapping his Achilles tendon last year, the Jets will be legitimate contenders. New York returns most of a defense that was second in the NFL in expected points added last season.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    Inside the celebration of Mr. Irrelevant and Jets rookie Jaylen Key

    Last season: 9-8, missed playoffs

    The defense that quietly helped power Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI completely fell apart last season. The Bengals gave up 6 yards per play, the worst number in the league. That’s going to have to be corrected if the vaunted return of Joe Burrow is going to mean much. The quarterback played only 10 games last season because of a wrist injury that everyone in Cincinnati hopes is behind him. In the last three seasons, Burrow’s passer rating (101) is the fourth best in the league, and he’s going to need to be special again this year.


    The Bengals are counting on a big season from Joe Burrow, who is returning from a wrist injury. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

    Last season: 7-10, missed playoffs

    A quick NFL history lesson: This team used to be referred to as the Monsters of the Midway. That’s right. The Bears were once good but have had only one winning season since 2012 and one playoff win since 2006. So why are Bears fans so giddy? No one in the NFL has added more in the offseason. The list includes No. 1 pick quarterback Caleb Williams, No. 9 pick wide receiver Rome Odunze, veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, safety Kevin Byard and running back D’Andre Swift. They also overhauled their entire offensive coaching staff.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    Always a late bloomer, Montez Sweat is living up to his star potential with the Chicago Bears

    Last season: 5-12, missed playoffs

    Jim Harbaugh won 11 games in his second season as the University of San Diego’s head coach. He won 12 games and an Orange Bowl in his fourth year at Stanford. He won double-digit games in each of his first three seasons as coach of the 49ers. He won 10 games in his first year at the University of Michigan and a national title seven years later. The former quarterback is an odd duck, but he can coach. And now he has quarterback Justin Herbert, who has topped 4,700 passing yards in two of his four professional seasons.

    Last season: 7-10, missed playoffs

    The Falcons gave 35-year-old quarterback Kirk Cousins the largest total-money free-agency deal in NFL history (four years worth up to $180 million) and then spent the No. 8 pick on University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. That’s how scarred Falcons owner Arthur Blank and his executives were after two years of alternating Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder as the starting quarterback. Cousins will be playing in the McVay offensive system thanks to Atlanta’s hiring of former Rams defensive coordinator (and before that Atlanta interim head coach) Raheem Morris as head coach.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    Offseason observations from all 32 NFL teams: Chiefs’ rebuilt WR room, Kirk Cousins’ impact

    Last season: 9-8, missed playoffs

    Entering his second season, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is 15th in the NFL’s MVP odds, according to BetMGM. His odds are as good or better than those of Cousins, Christian McCaffrey, Justin Jefferson and many more proven players. So it seems the betting markets are putting as much pressure on the young quarterback as the Colts, who seem to be expecting Richardson to be some sort of Superman despite playing only four games in 2024 before a shoulder injury ended his season. He averaged 144 passing yards and 36 rushing yards per game in his four starts, during which Indianapolis went 2-2.

    Last season: 9-8, missed playoffs

    If you allow Seattle to have a mulligan on the 2009 season, when Jim Mora went a forgettable 5-11 before being fired, the Seahawks have had only two head coaches since 1999. Mike Holmgren held the job for 10 years, and Pete Carroll just finished a 14-year stint. Now it’s Macdonald’s turn. The former Ravens defensive coordinator was a college graduate assistant just 11 seasons ago and is taking over a team that could go either direction. The hopes of Macdonald and the Seahawks rest on quarterback Geno Smith, who is on a career-redefining run in Seattle.

    Last season: 10-7, lost in AFC wild-card round

    After 17 almost maddeningly consistent seasons in Pittsburgh, it seems like coach Mike Tomlin is going one way or the other in a big way this year. He has two new quarterbacks who come from starting jobs — Russell Wilson and Justin Fields — and a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith. Tomlin has never had a losing season in Pittsburgh, but this offensive mix might end that. Or it might rejuvenate a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. Wilson and Fields both bring dynamic talents to the mix, and Smith has a good history with athletic quarterbacks. It should be fun to watch either way.


    The Steelers offense should be more interesting than last season with quarterbacks Russell Wilson, left, and Justin Fields playing in new coordinator Arthur Smith’s system. (Joe Sargent / Getty Images)

    Last season: 9-8, missed playoffs

    The Jaguars and their quarterback are the NFL’s Rorschach test — is this team the AFC South favorite led by one of the league’s best quarterbacks or is it teetering on the brink of a rebuild? It depends on how you squint. Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 pick in 2021, has topped 4,000 passing yards in each of his two non-Urban Meyer-coached seasons, but his touchdown-to-interception ratio since joining the league (1.5) is 27th in the last three years. That’s Daniel Jones and Garoppolo territory. Meanwhile, Jacksonville went 15-5 from Week 12 of 2022 through Week 12 of 2023 and then lost five of its last six to fall out of playoff contention.

    Last season: 9-8, lost in NFC divisional round

    Most of the Buccaneers’ offseason work consisted of holding on to their own free agents — quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. chief among them. The status quo feels fine to the Bucs these days after four straight seasons making the playoffs. That has happened only once before in the team’s 47-year history. A fifth straight trip would set a team record but likely will require holding off a restocked Falcons team in the NFC South. Given the recent history of both teams, the Bucs probably like their chances.

    Last season: 7-10, missed playoffs

    Jefferson became the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league this offseason when he signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension. That raise comes with heightened workplace expectations because instead of playing with a veteran quarterback in Cousins, Jefferson will have some combination of journeyman Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy this season. Jefferson already has 4,825 receiving yards, the most by any player in his first three seasons. He’ll have longtime Packers running back Aaron Jones to help on offense this season.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    Who are the NFL’s underrated and overrated teams? Why Packers, Bengals could be dangerous

    Last season: 6-11, missed playoffs

    The Titans will attempt to play a football season without Henry this year. Maybe it’ll work, but it feels like a bad idea. Since being selected 45th in the 2016 draft, Henry has accounted for 24 percent of Tennessee’s yards from scrimmage. In place of the bruising Henry, new head coach Brian Callahan has added running back Tony Pollard and wide receiver Calvin Ridley to pair with DeAndre Hopkins around young quarterback Will Levis.

    Last season: 9-8, missed playoffs

    New Orleans’ cold war against the salary cap continues. The Saints, who are scheduled to be $88 million over the cap next year, are paying a lot of old players a lot of money this year. Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore, Cameron Jordan, Derek Carr and Taysom Hill, all 29 or older, are their highest-paid players and on the back end of their peaks. If free-agency addition Chase Young can jump-start his career, it will help.

    Last season: 8-9, missed playoffs

    The Raiders signed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to the third-largest free-agency contract of this offseason, so they’re not acting like a rebuilding team. Just a thought, maybe it’s time they did. Las Vegas has had only two winning seasons since 2002 and will be quarterbacked by Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew this season. In defensive tackle Maxx Crosby and wide receiver Davante Adams, the Raiders have two of the most coveted trade pieces in the league. The Raiders can miss the playoffs without Crosby and Adams the same as they will with them, and they could restock with lots of high draft picks if they move them.


    Is Raiders star Maxx Crosby in Las Vegas for the long haul or will he be traded this season? (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

    Last season: 4-13, missed playoffs

    The Commanders signed a host of second-tier free agents in March, but the big move came in April when they drafted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick. It looks to be a long build behind Daniels. The Commanders were 25th in scoring (19.35 ppg) and last in points allowed (30.5 per game) last season. Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was hired in the offseason to fix things after a long courtship with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson proved unfruitful.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    Winners and losers of NFL offseason: Are Bills, Cowboys headed in wrong direction?

    Last season: 6-11, missed playoffs

    Giants fans should keep Oct. 19 clear on their calendar. That’s when the Georgia Bulldogs will be playing the Texas Longhorns, and chances are at least fair the Giants’ next quarterback will be on the field. With Georgia’s Carson Beck, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, the 2025 quarterback draft class should have plenty of options. Of course, maybe Daniel Jones (and his $41 million, soon-to-be $58 million cap hit) will be the answer. His career 22-36-1 record and career 6.6 yards-per-attempt average, which ranks 39th in the NFL in the last five years, would suggest otherwise, though.

    Last season: 4-13, missed playoffs

    The first Patriots season without Bill Belichick as head coach since Bill Clinton was president starts with a question at quarterback. How long can veteran Jacoby Brissett hold off No. 3 pick Drake Maye? That’ll be up to new head coach Jerod Mayo, the former New England linebacker and linebackers coach. Both Maye and Mayo should get some grace as they start their careers because New England is 29-38 in the last four seasons (yes, that’s how long Brady has been gone).

    Last season: 4-13, missed playoffs

    The Cardinals enter coach Jonathan Gannon’s second season with more optimism than has been earned by the team’s eight wins in the last two seasons. Quarterback Kyler Murray got some help this offseason in the form of No. 4 pick wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., but it’s the defense that really needs a boost. Arizona gave up the second-most points (455) in the NFL last season. The Cardinals have been the most generous team in the league over the last two seasons, allowing 904 points.

    Last season: 8-9, missed playoffs

    Sean Payton’s career post-Drew Brees hasn’t gone much better than Belichick’s did after Brady left New England. Payton is 17-17 in two seasons without Brees — one in New Orleans and last year in Denver. Payton thinks he’s found the answer in rookie quarterback Bo Nix, whom the Broncos took with the 12th pick of the first round. Not many people agree with him. Nix was widely considered a second-round prospect who padded his college numbers in a quarterback-friendly offense at Oregon. In fact, Denver’s entire quarterback room — Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson — makes it seem like Payton just wants to prove how good he is as a quarterbacks coach.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    What does success look like for Sean Payton in Year 2 with the Broncos?

    Last season: 2-15, missed playoffs

    Maybe the Panthers really, really wanted Dave Canales as their head coach. Or, maybe more high-profile candidates were scared off by the combination of owner David Tepper and quarterback Bryce Young. Canales had a nice year as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator in 2023, but it was his only season as a coordinator. If he can reverse Young’s career track, none of that will matter. The former Alabama quarterback’s 5.5 yards per attempt in his rookie season were the fewest for any quarterback in the last eight seasons.

    (Top photo of C.J. Stroud: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)

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    The New York Times

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  • A Giant Mistake – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    A Giant Mistake – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    A Giant’s Blunder Will Make Eagles Greatness In 2024.

    In 2024 America, reality TV is peaking. That’s a key reason why, after 20 years, this season of HBO’s NFL reality show Hard Knocks is one of its most popular, with an audience of around 4.4 million people.

    This season, the wildly popular HBO series produced an off-season series of episodes that follow New York Giants General Manager Joe Schoen through the NFL player negotiations, roster management, and the 2024 NFL Draft — highlighting their nearly hundred years of existence started by Tim Mara for a $500.00 investment in 1925. The Giants have always been part of the Mara family.

    Usually, any TV series on the New York Giants would be as interesting to Eagles fans as a time-lapse series on the creation of the Dallas Cowboys.

    The show is complete with Giants’ talent evaluation, salary negotiation, NFL Combine scouting, and minute-by-minute access into the New York Draft Room as they navigate the expanded $255.4 million per team 2024 salary cap rise of north of $30 million from 2023. Sound repulsive?

    Hold the phone.

     PHOTO: —

    One recurring plot that the reality series continues to return to is the ongoing negotiation with their star offensive player — twenty-seven-year-old running back Saquon Barkley. Unable to come to a deal with the All-Pro Philadelphia phenom running back who played at Penn State in college and in whom in 2023 — the Giants placed an adjusted franchise tag with a value of $10.1 million fully guaranteed and up to $11 million, including incentives deal. The tag was adjusted to include a $2 Million signing bonus.

     PHOTO: —

    The Eagles added the former New York Giants Running Back Saquon Barkley. In college at Penn State, Barkley ran for almost 3,900 yards, had nearly 1,200 yards receiving, and over 500 yards in kickoff and returns. He was a 2-time Big Ten Running Back of the Year, six-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, and still holds school records for most rushing yards as a freshman, a sophomore and the most total yards in a game.

    As the #2 draftee by the New York Giants in 2018, Barkley was offensive rookie of the year and a Pro Bowler twice.

    Stumbling through all of the nauseating, negative Eagles slights was well worth it to see Joe Schoen’s horrified New York Giants’s Assistant GMs and scouts watching ESPN’s coverage of Barkley arriving at the Novacare Complex and becoming a Philadelphia Eagle.

    HBO’s Hard Knocks has yet to cover the Philadelphia Eagles. Halfway through episode 3 of the series, New York Giants President and CEO John Mara walks into Schoen’s office and says:

    “I’m going to have trouble sleeping at night if Saquon goes to Philadelphia. He’s our most popular player by far.”

    Yup, it’s definitely worth watching, Eagles Nation.
    You’ll be glad that you did.

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Top 10 Historic Moments of the Eagles – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Top 10 Historic Moments of the Eagles – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Philadelphia Eagles, with their passionate fan base and rich history, have created many memorable moments in the NFL.
    From thrilling victories to unforgettable plays, the Eagles have a legacy that resonates with football enthusiasts.

    Here, we explore the top 10 historical moments that have defined the Philadelphia Eagles.

    1) Founding of the Philadelphia Eagles // 1933

    The Philadelphia Eagles were established in 1933 when the Frankford Yellow Jackets went bankrupt. Bert Bell and Lud Wray purchased the franchise rights, birthing the Eagles. Despite early struggles, the foundation was laid for a team that would become an integral part of NFL history. The Eagles’ journey from these humble beginnings to a celebrated franchise is a testament to their resilience and determination.

    2) First NFL Championship // 1948

    In 1948, the Eagles won their first NFL Championship under head coach Earle “Greasy” Neale.The Eagles defeated the Chicago Cardinals 7-0 in a blizzard, showcasing their grit and determination. Steve Van Buren, one of the team’s legendary players, scored the only touchdown, securing the Eagles’ first title. This victory marked the beginning of a successful era for the franchise.

    3) Back-to-Back Championships // 1949

    PHOTO: Unsplash

    The Eagles defended their title successfully in 1949, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 14-0 in the NFL Championship Game.

    This back-to-back championship victory cemented the Eagles’ status as a dominant force in the league. The team’s defense, led by Hall of Famers Chuck Bednarik and Pete Pihos, was instrumental in their success, laying a strong foundation for future teams.

    4) Chuck Bednarik’s Career // 1949-1962

    Chuck Bednarik, known as “Concrete Charlie,” is one of the most iconic players in Eagles history. Playing both linebacker and center, Bednarik epitomized toughness and versatility. His career, spanning from 1949 to 1962, included numerous memorable moments, such as his game-saving tackle in the 1960 NFL Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers. Bednarik’s legacy is a cornerstone of the Eagles’ storied history.

    5) 1960 NFL Championship Victory

    The Eagles’ 1960 NFL Championship win against the Green Bay Packers remains a defining moment. Led by head coach Buck Shaw and quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, the Eagles triumphed 17-13. Chuck Bednarik’s famous tackle on Packers’ fullback Jim Taylor as time expired secured the victory.This game was significant as it was the only playoff loss for legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi.

    6) Miracle at the Meadowlands // 1978

    One of the most famous plays in NFL history, the “Miracle at the Meadowlands,” occurred on November 19, 1978. With the New York Giants leading and attempting to run out the clock, a botched handoff resulted in a fumble recovery and touchdown by Eagles’ cornerback Herman Edwards. This improbable victory remains etched in the memory of Eagles fans and is a symbol of never giving up.

    7) Reggie White’s Dominance // 1985-1992

    Reggie White, known as the “Minister of Defense,” was a dominant force on the Eagles’ defensive line from 1985 to 1992. White’s extraordinary skill and relentless play made him one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.He amassed 124 sacks with the Eagles, leaving an indelible mark on the franchise. White’s impact extended beyond his on-field performance, inspiring future generations of players.

    8) Donovan McNabb Era // 1999-2009

    Donovan McNabb’s tenure as the Eagles’ quarterback marked a period of sustained success. Selected second overall in the 1999 NFL Draft, McNabb led the Eagles to five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl appearance.His leadership and playmaking ability revitalized the franchise, making the Eagles perennial contenders. McNabb’s era is remembered for its highs and his significant contribution to the team’s legacy.

    9) Super Bowl LII Victory // 2018

    The Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018, is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the franchise’s history. Led by backup quarterback Nick Foles, the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in a thrilling game.The “Philly Special,” a trick play resulting in a touchdown pass to Foles, became an iconic moment. This victory ended a long championship drought and solidified the Eagles’ place in NFL lore.

    10) Introduction of Jalen Hurts // 2020-Present

    Drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jalen Hurts has quickly become the face of the Eagles’ future. Hurts’ dynamic play and leadership have injected new energy into the franchise. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs has made him a dual-threat quarterback, drawing comparisons to the league’s elite.As Hurts continues to develop, the Eagles’ future looks bright, promising new historical moments.

    Conclusion

    The Philadelphia Eagles’ history is rich with unforgettable moments that have shaped the franchise and its passionate fan base.From their early championship victories to recent triumphs, the Eagles have consistently demonstrated resilience, excellence, and a deep connection to their supporters.

    As fans continue to bet on NFL games online and cheer for their team, these top 10 historical moments serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Philadelphia Eagles.

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  • Could The Eagles Add To The Defensive Line? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Could The Eagles Add To The Defensive Line? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The problem between the 2022 and 2023 Eagles defense. (Other than not being able to get a single stop most games). Was the change in production from the defensive line.

     

    From having four 10+ Sack players. (Reddick, Sweat, Hargrave & Graham)

    To only a single 10+ Sack player. (Reddick)

    The 2022 Eagles might’ve fallen short of the Bears 72 Sack record in 2022. But they were nowhere close to repeating that total, only recording 43 sacks last year. Ranking 20th league wide.

    There’s plenty of reasons as to what might have fully derailed the Eagles season. Giving up an average of 30.3 points in the final 6 games of the season, including a 32 point defeat to the Buccaneers in the Wildcard round. Somehow, the team that gave up the least passing yards in 2022, with an average of 171.6 yard against per game. Became the team that gave up the 3rd most, with 255.7 passing yards against in 2023.

     

    Overuse Down The Stretch

    The Eagles defensive line finished the season injured and not as deep as it started. After playing multiple overtime games, the Eagles were never the same following the win against Buffalo. Where the Defense played 95 Snaps, and what seemed like the point of no return for the season.

    Below is the DL and its share of snap counts across the season

    Player Total Snaps Snap % Snaps Played Vs Buffalo
    Haason Reddick 862 74.18% 83
    Josh Sweat 828 71.26% 81
    Fletcher Cox 684 58.86% 22
    Jalen Carter 563 48.45% 76
    Jordan Davis 519 44.66% 62
    Milton Williams 494 42.51% Missed Game
    Brandon Graham 395 33.99% 26
    Nolan Smith 188 16.18% 11
    Marlon Tuipulotu 162 13.94% 32
    Derek Barnett 99 8.52% Cut/Signed with HOU
    Kentavius Street 87 7.49% Traded To ATL
    Moro Ojomo 68 5.85% Missed Game

    Had the Eagles not over-relied on their starters and played more of their depth. Perhaps the major burnout at the end of the year would have saved them from not being able to get off the field. Add on the fact they traded away Street and Cut Barnett at the trade deadline. The Eagles defense was without 2 more players to pick up the snaps.

     

    This Years Additions

    Much like the last few seasons, the Eagles have successfully drafted players before their predecessor’s had retired. From Kelce to Jurgens. Cox to Davis/Carter.

    Now that the Eagles have gone and made acquisitions throughout the offseason. They’ve been able to add Bryce Huff, Jalyx Hunt and Julian Okwara to the OLB position. With the expectation Nolan Smith will also see a larger role in his 2nd season, similar to his fellow Bulldog teammates.

    But with countless DBs and only so many roster spots available. It feels like the Eagles further additions could come along the defensive line. (When haven’t they). Additions such as Genard Avery, Ndamukong Suh, Robert Quinn, Linval Joseph have all been acquired throughout the last few seasons.

    You can’t always prevent injuries, and if defense wins championships. Then depth could be necessary down the stretch. Could a name like Chase Young come up in a few months if the Saints finally blow it up? Or perhaps the Eagles go big game hunting and see if the Chargers are committed to a rebuild, and are interested in shopping Khalil Mack?

     

    There’s still a long way to go till the Week 9 Trade Deadline. But Eagles training camp begins next week, and then we’ll finally get our first taste of the Eagles season to come that is just around the corner.

     

    Photo Credit: Cooper Neill / Getty Images

     

     

     

     

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  • Three Eagles Veterans Who Can Continue Making An Impact In 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Three Eagles Veterans Who Can Continue Making An Impact In 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Last week I discussed 3 new Eagles who could make an impact in 2024. From new faces on the defense, and changes to the offense. There isn’t many reasons to doubt what the 2024 Eagles should bring.

    With Training Camp and Preseason starting in the coming weeks. We’ll get a closer look at some of those players still vying to make a final roster spot before the 53 mans are due August 27th. While we might not see much of some of the Eagles veterans during those preseason games. There’s still a bottom line to expect from some players that have been around the organization for most of their careers.

     

    Josh Sweat

    Entering the offseason, it wasn’t clear if the Eagles were going to keep Josh Sweat or Haason Reddick in the future, as both would have been on expiring deals after this season had they not made a move for Bryce Huff.

    Now, there’s more expectation from Sweat with a contract season looming. The Eagles drafted Sweat with the 130th pick in the 2018 Draft. Did they expect him to put up an 11 Sack season in 2022? Or 11th in Pressures last season?

    The Eagles made a statement keeping Josh Sweat for the final year of his deal. With the additions of Bryce Huff and Jalyx Hunt, some pressure might be off of Sweat, but the Eagles should expect to see something similar to his 2022 season if they’re going to continue with Sweat in the picture.

     

    Jake Elliott

    We need to make one thing abundantly clear. The Eagles probably weren’t even close to being 10-1 if not for Jake Elliott’s performances last season.

    Throughout the year, Elliott made 30/32FG’s, and 45/46XP’s.

    Some impactful kicks that saved games include:

    • The Eagles only points in the 2nd half against the Patriots Week 1. With kicks made from 56, 51 and 48 yards.

    • The Commanders Week 4 Overtime game, that frankly didn’t need Overtime. From 54 yards.

    • To give the Eagles a chance in OT to beat the Bills, was this 59 yard FG.

    • Elliott scored 15 of the Eagles 33 points in the Week 16 win against the Giants. Going 4/4 FG including 3XP.

    Makes sense why the Eagles locked up Elliott to a 4-Year extension worth $24M this offseason. Now under contract until 2028.

     

    Darius Slay

    Coming into his 5th season on the Eagles. Slay has seen it all. From the Nate Gerry seasons, to the start and end of the Gannon Era, and then most of whatever Sean Desai and Matt Patricia brought to the table.

    Slay missed 4 games near the end of the Eagles season, including the games against the Seahawks, Cardinals and Giants. Perhaps if the Eagles had their true CB1 to end the year some of the defensive lapses that cost them games could have been prevented.

    However with a new year brings new opportunity. And if Slay ends up as a Captain again, there’s going to be higher standards for a presences many doubted during the turmoil of the Eagles collapse. And with all the new Cornerbacks looking to make their own roster spot.

    If the 6x Pro-Bowler is able to return to form, the Eagles secondary could become one of the best in the league after this years draft class.

     

     

     

    The Eagles report to Training Camp in 11 days. Where we’ll get another weeks look at the team before their open practice on August 1st.

    What rookies are you going to have your eye on?

     

    Photo Credit: Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports

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  • Philadelphia Eagles’ Defense Is Ultimate X-Factor for 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Philadelphia Eagles’ Defense Is Ultimate X-Factor for 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the worst defenses in football. They had one of the best offenses to combat that, so they were still a great team, but their upside was capped as a result.

    With a new defensive coordinator as well as some more pieces to work with, that unit is the ultimate X-factor of the Eagles’ 2024 season.  It has the potential to be great, but can it? What might that actually do for Philadelphia?

    Eagles’ Defensive Woes in 2023

    In terms of expected points average (EPA) per play last season, the Eagles had the third-worst rushing defense and the fourth-worst defense overall. With their EPA per play allowed being nearly seven times higher than the closest playoff team (0.058 versus the Green Bay Packers 0.009), Philadelphia’s offense did all of the heavy lifting in 2023—ideally, that can’t be happening again.

    The Eagles, while going 11-6 and threatening to boast the best record in the NFC before an abysmal six-game stretch to end the season, were 30th in points against across the NFL and seventh in points for. The offense kept them in games, but they were never able to win in a blowout because the whole 53-man roster was never able to put it together. Whether it was the offense or defense not doing their fair share, something always went wrong—that is poised to change.

    Can the Eagles Return to Form with Fangio?

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    We can’t say for certain how much the Eagles’ defense will improve—if at all—but overhauling the coaching staff on that side of the ball and emphasizing the secondary in the 2024 NFL Draft should definitely help. Bringing in Vic Fangio, a long-time defensive guru and Pennsylvania native, a voice like his should definitely change some things around. Seeing as he hasn’t manned a bottom-27 defense in terms of points since 2005, it’s safe to say he’ll be an upgrade for the Birds.

    He should do especially well (or, at least, not as poor as Sean Desai and Matt Patricia) because of one big reason: the potential in the group he is taking over. There is simply too much talent to be outdone by 29 or more teams in the league.

    When the Eagles went to the Super Bowl in 2022, they had the fourth-best defense in EPA per play but did rank 23rd against the run. With their elite pass defense, they had the eighth-best points-against rate in the league—it should come as no surprise that they went 14-3, as they coupled that with the league’s third-best offense.

    Considering the fact that the Eagles added Saquon Barkley during the 2024 offseason, there isn’t too much of a reason to believe their offense will actively get worse. Yes, they lost Jason Kelce, but a player of Barkley’s talent would rather inspire that Philadelphia’s offense can be better—that unit should soar no matter what.

    But the defense? That’s where everything is a complete mystery. Going from 70 sacks to a measly 43 from 2022 to 2023 and severely regressing in pass defense, having a bolstered secondary with Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson could help out more than words can describe.

    The sky is the limit for Fangio here, but can he put it all together? Will the Eagles’ defense be poor again? Will it be around average (which would be a significant upgrade from last season)? Or can it be great, perhaps taking Philadelphia back to their Super Bowl expectations from 2022? That’s what’s on the line.

    Fangio doesn’t need to field the NFL’s best defense, because that would be asking for far too much. However, he has the tools to work with to help the Eagles shine in 2024. He has never won a Vince Lombardi Trophy partially due to a lack of roster talent through the years—the 65-year-old finally has it.

     

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  • Current Roster Candidates for the Eagles’ Hall of Fame – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Current Roster Candidates for the Eagles’ Hall of Fame – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame is an exclusive place where only the best of the best can find their names. Which current players might find themselves there, as well?

    Shoo-in: Lane Johnson, Brandon Graham

     PHOTO: —

    Both of the players here have had incredibly long and successful careers with Philadelphia, essentially making them locks for the team’s Hall of Fame. These are two different cases, so let’s take a look.

    Lane Johnson is one of the most accomplished Eagles ever, being one of the best players on the Eagles’ Super Bowl roster in 2017, plus being a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro. He has played in 143 regular season games with the Birds from 2013 to the present, so he has seen a lot in his tenure.

    Speaking of a player who has seen a lot, we get to Brandon Graham. It took him a while to spread his wings and fly, but he was one of the best Eagles at his peak—he was a key figure on the Super Bowl team and several elite defenses. Making perhaps the biggest play in team history, putting up 73 sacks in 195 games, plus receiving a Pro Bowl nod in 2020, there’s just no way that Philadelphia can leave him out.

    More Likely Than Not: Jake Elliott

    Jake Elliott has been at it long enough to deserve to be in the “shoo-in” territory here, but he has been an Eagle for about half the time as Johnson and Graham. Still, that doesn’t mean he is any less incredible. Yes, he is a kicker, but he has consistently been a great one.

    Elliott has flourished in the clutch, which is an area where many other kickers falter. He was terrific in 2017, and from there he has really only gotten better. Over these past few seasons, he has gotten a Pro Bowl nod and been a second-team All-Pro. One of the NFL’s most accurate kickers from 2021-2023, he has seemingly already done enough to join David Akers in the Eagles Hall of Fame.

    Maybe/Too Early to Tell: Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Jalen Carter, Rick Lovato

    This is the territory where we get the most subjective. They won’t all get in, but all of these seven players at least deserve a mention.

    Jalen Hurts’ case is pretty obvious. He has only completed three seasons as the Eagles’ starting quarterback thus far, but his time in Philadelphia over just the last two seasons has been sensational. He finished second in MVP voting in 2022 and was the favorite at some points during 2023, so the potential is there. The 25-year-old still has a lot to show before he can be put in the Eagles Hall of Fame with players like Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb, but there is definitely a world where it happens.

    DeVonta Smith has even more to prove than Hurts does, but we shouldn’t put it past him to be among the Eagles’ greats. Averaging over 1,000 receiving yards across his first three seasons in the NFL, the 25-year-old is clearly pretty special. He has a ton of talent and is a big reason why Philadelphia made it to the Super Bowl in 2022, so he has that going for him. If he can win a championship or have a long tenure with the Eagles, that would be his ticket to eternal glory.

    A.J. Brown is our first player here to not be drafted by the Eagles, but he is freshly 27 years of age and has put up two of the best receiving seasons in the history of the team. From 2022-2023, he has an incredible 2,952 yards and 18 touchdowns on 194 receptions. If he can keep that up for a few more years, it would be an inevitability for him to make the team Hall of Fame.

    Jordan Mailata is an interesting case because he doesn’t have any accolades on his resume, but it is clear from both the eye test and the advanced stats test that he is sensational. The 27-year-old tackle is lovable and genuinely really good at what he does. He would probably need a Super Bowl win and perhaps some individual accolades to make an Eagles Hall of Fame nod happen, but it’s not like either of those are unrealistic.

    Landon Dickerson is in a similar boat, but he has two Pro Bowl nods through just three seasons in the league. The Eagles projecting to be a great team both now and in the future should do wonders for his Hall of Fame case—a championship could set him over the top.

    Jalen Carter, while just a sophomore in the NFL, lived up to his draft hype in his rookie campaign. Finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, greatness could be in his future. We shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves, but there is obvious potential here.

    Rick Lovato probably deserves to be considered, but he is also a long-snapper. He has played in 118 regular season games with the Eagles, has a Super Bowl championship to his name, and made the Pro Bowl in 2019. Perhaps it’s a stretch considering the position, but maybe it’s time to give a long snapper some love. Really, there is not much else he could have accomplished at this stage, so he deserves a mention.

    Seeing as the Eagles have 10 different players on their current roster who could potentially make it to the team Hall of Fame (and perhaps a few more), there’s a lot of greatness in their group. Some of them are bigger stretches than others, but there is still an immense level of talent in their 2024 roster. Can they put it all together?

     

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  • New Eagles That Need To Make An Impact In 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    New Eagles That Need To Make An Impact In 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Eagles may have made some drastic changes throughout the roster. But there’s still some uncertainty about the depth chart. But with the new coaching changes and acquisitions made in the offseason (and yet to come), there’s plenty of players who will have their opportunity to make an impact on the roster.

    Below are a few standouts to look forward to in the regular season.

    Bryce Huff

    The biggest change to the Eagles defensive line is going to be the swap of Haason Reddick for Bryce Huff.

    In his 4 seasons with the Jets, Huff put up 17.5 sacks (with 10 coming in his last season), as well as 21 QB hits and 10 TFL in the 2023 season. During that season Huff only played 480 defensive snaps (42.22%). When you look at the workload that Haason Reddick had on the Eagles last year, with 862 defensive snaps (74.18%). Reddick posted 11 sacks, 23 QB hits and 13 TFL.

    Huff will have big shoes to fill in his opening season with the Eagles. But with a defense the Eagles have gone all out on, hoping to turn things around from the #26 rank they had last season, and 31st in passing defense.

     

    Will Shipley

    With the 127th pick in this years NFL Draft, the Eagles selected running back Will Shipley. Shipley had 827 yards and 5 rushing touchdowns in his final season at Clemson. Could the Eagles need to reduce Saquon Barkley’s workload, Shipley should be the best available backup. Fans and opponents saw the Eagles overuse of Kenneth Gainwell last season, with only 364 rushing yards. And unless his offensive woes(4.3ypc) were also due to Brian Johnson’s uncreative offense. He should be on a very short leash as the Eagles longest tenured back.

     

    There won’t be much to expect from Shipley in his rookie season if all goes well. But in the event of injury, the Eagles RB depth will need to come into play. And if Kellen Moore’s new offense can bring out the best in all 3 backs, perhaps they’ll be able to make their way into more top 10 rankings.

     

    C.J. Uzomah

    Something I spent most of last season hoping the Eagles would address, was adding another tight end to the roster.

    When they signed CJ Uzomah along with Kellen Moore becoming the new offensive coordinator. The offense was going to get some new looks. Uzomah might not have had much to show for his 2 seasons with the Jets, but joining a backup role behind Dallas Goedert might be the perfect setup for his next season.

    Throughout Moore’s OC seasons, his teams 1&2TEs had the following stats:

    2019(Cowboys)
    Jason Witten – 63Rec, 529Yards, 4TD
    Blake Jarwin – 31Rec, 365Yards, 3TD

    2020(Cowboys)
    Dalton Schultz – 63Rec, 615Yards, 4TD
    Blake Bell – 11Rec, 110Yards, 0TD

    2021(Cowboys)
    Dalton Schultz – 78Rec, 808Yards, 8TD
    Blake Jarwin – 11Rec, 96Yards, 2TD

    2022(Cowboys)
    Dalton Schultz – 57Rec, 577Yards, 5TD
    Jake Ferguson – 19Rec, 174Yards, 2TD
    Peyton Hendershot – 11Rec, 103Yards, 2TD

    2023(Chargers)
    Gerald Everett – 51Rec, 411Yards, 3TD
    Donald Parham – 27Rec, 285Yards, 4TD
    Stone Smartt – 11Rec, 155 Yards, 1TD

    With productive seasons from multiple TEs across multiple seasons and including a 2nd team should mean good things for the coming Eagles offense. If Dallas Goedert stays healthy for all 17 games of the season, the Eagles might be able to expect a 1,000 yard season from him, let alone how many yards they’re able to get from their TE2, arguably C.J. Uzomah until listed otherwise.

     

    There’s more than just the 3 players who need to make their impact known. But from the draft and free agency, these are the roles that could help define this Eagles season as a success, from positions they could have been lacking in the last few years.

     

    We only have to wait 19 more days until Training Camp starts. And after that, pre-season will be right around the corner.

     

    Photo Credit: Seth Wenig / AP Photo 

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  • Essential Things to Know About NFL Computer Picks – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Essential Things to Know About NFL Computer Picks – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    An NFL computer pick is an objective, stat-driven NFL prediction on the result of specific NFL markets that are open for that game.
    With access to increasing data, advanced stats beyond yards and completions have increased significantly in recent years.

    We may use this knowledge to get an advantage in the NFL betting markets. The computer picks run over 10,000 simulations of every NFL game to account for the possible outcomes and variables.

    It accomplishes this by predicting each player’s performance using hundreds of algorithmic variabilities, which are utilized to run simulations of entire matches.

    You can check and verify the Wunderdog.com NFL to know more details about NFL computer picks.

    How Are the Computer Picks for the NFL Determined?

    The Pickswise computer picks uses machine learning techniques as inputs to a Monte Carlo method to generate pre-game probability. This means that we account for the wide range of possible outcomes and probabilities within a particular sporting event by simulating it 10,000 times. To execute simulations, we first forecast each player’s performance based on hundreds of computational variabilities.

    The odds themselves are dynamic and are revised in response to fresh data obtained, including team news, meteorological conditions, and changes in betting markets. A value bet is defined as one that finds a difference between our forecasts and the current betting markets.

    NFL Computer Predictions: Game-Time Odds 

    Pre-game and live content is produced by our computer picks during a game. For each NFL game this season, the computer produces pre-game odds and NFL computer selections for the three primary NFL markets: money line, totals, and against the spread.

    NFL Computer Picks and Predictions Against the Spread 

    This page displays the spread line as of right now, along with the odds and probability estimates made by computer picks for each team to cover the spread.

    Since lines can fluctuate over the week, our page is updated every day to account for any changes in the spread and how they affect the NFL computer’s predictions and selections. 

    NFL Computer Predictions for Pick Scores 

    Predicting the computer selection score is the most widely used application of  NFL computer choices. Because we have an abundance of statistics at our disposal, today’s NFL computer picks can do mathematical calculations to forecast how the game will unfold and how many points each team will likely score. Our algorithm can then identify the differences and the best bets, whether the Money line, Spread, or Totals, by comparing our stars-based projections with the sportsbook’s odds. 

    NFL Computer Picks and Predictions: Over/Under

    This page displays the current point total line as the probability estimates made by our computer pick for the match to go over or under the current line, along with the odds of doing so.

    You can be confident that what you see is accurate and reflects the most recent odds and lines because our page is updated often to account for any changes in the lines and how they affect the forecasts.  

    Cash Line NFL Computer Predictions and Picks

    PHOTO: —

    The computer makes predictions on the match’s result as well. The most basic type of sports betting is money line wagering, which consists of predicting the game’s winner. The computer picks will use the results of more than 10,000 simulations it runs for every game to determine each team’s chances of winning.

    Additionally, it provides the current money line odds for each team.  

    NFL Computer Forecasts: Player Attachments 

    Player prop bets are becoming a more and more common kind of NFL betting, and the lines and odds can serve as helpful benchmarks for choosing players for fantasy football. Our computer picks runs hundreds of variables in each player’s performance to forecast player performance, which is then utilised to match simulations overall.

    NFL Computer Football Forecasts 

    Projected player stats for each game’s top anticipated players are another fantastic usage of our computer picks. You can place bets on player metrics markets like total yards throwing, receiving, or running in addition to touchdown wagers.

    In all three of these categories, our computer picks models and projects the expected yards for players.

    In-Play Probabilities for NFL Computer Predictions

    Computer picks provide live, dynamic in-game probabilities that adjust to the on-field action of the Against the Spread, Totals, and Money line markets. In addition to making pregame NFL computer picks, it presents an interesting in-game screen.

    A popular and thrilling option to place a wager while watching the action during a game is in-play betting, also known as live betting, on several online sportsbooks.

    You can bet on player props, Money Line, Totals, and Against the Spread, among other markets, with odds adjusted to reflect on-field events.

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  • Will Saquon Barkley Be The Eagles Next 1,000 Yard Rusher? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Will Saquon Barkley Be The Eagles Next 1,000 Yard Rusher? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Since LeSean McCoy did it in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. It took the Eagles 8 years to have another 1,000 yard running back. And they did it with 2 different backs in back-to-back seasons.

    Once they got that 1,000 yard season from Miles Sanders, he was on his way to Carolina with a $25.4M/4-year contract. And after Sanders’ departure, the Eagles were able to hit a home run in trading for D’Andre Swift, who put up 1,049 rushing yards in his single season with the Eagles, before signing a $24.5/3-year deal in Chicago.

    The Eagles have seen both of their last rushers leave the year after setting careers highs. Now the 7th(Swift) and 12th(Sanders) highest paid running backs in the league. The Eagles decided to go a different route.

     

    New Face In The Backfield

    Back in March, the Eagles signed their new RB1 to a massive $37.5M/3-year deal.

    The Eagles made a move for a running back that rivals the 49ers acquisition (and now extension) of Christian McCaffrey.

    Now, the 6-year Giant makes his way to Philly, as the 4th highest paid running back. Soon to play behind what was the #1 ranked Offensive Line in 2023 (per PFF). While the question still remains of how well the Eagles offensive line may be in 2024 without Jason Kelce at Center. Even ProFootballNetwork had the Eagles still at the top spot in their offensive line rankings back in April.

     

    Giants Offensive Line Woes

    While PFN had the Giants listed at 23rd following the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft, PFF had them ranked dead last at 32nd following the 2023 season, and had them ranked 29th this time last year.

    Even with some of the worst ranked OL’s in the league, that hasn’t stopped Saquon Barkley from putting up the following rushing stats

    2023 – 962 yards in 14 games
    2022 – 1,312 yards in 16 games
    2021 – 593 yards in 13 games

    With these rushing numbers, Saquon was also putting up plenty of receiving yards, even with the following QBs behind those previously mentioned bottom of the league OL’s

    2023 – 280 Rec yards – Tommy DeVito(6) / Tyrod Taylor(5) / Daniel Jones(6)
    2022 – 338 Rec yards – Daniel Jones(16) / Davis Webb(1)
    2021 – 263 Rec yards – Daniel Jones(11) / Mike Glennon(4) / Jake Fromm(2)

     

    Saquon’s Future

    On a new team that already has some of the best talent in the league, Saquon will have plenty of opportunity over the next three season with the Eagles. Finally providing Jalen Hurts a reliable receiving back under a new offensive coordinator with Kellen Moore will give the Eagles another player capable of ending up with an Offensive Player of the Year award.

     

    With training camp and pre-season just a few weeks away, how many yards do you think Saquon will put up in his first year with the Eagles?

     

     

     

    Photo Credit: Monica Herndon / Philadelphia Inquirer

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  • Eagles Cornerback Carousel: Who Will Make the Final Cut? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles Cornerback Carousel: Who Will Make the Final Cut? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Eagles wrapped up their third and final day of minicamp today. The team will hold a training camp closer to the end of July.
    Final 53-man rosters won’t be due until August 29th, but an overcrowded position noticeably stuck out throughout the week.

    How Many Corners Are Too Many Corners?

    The Eagles announced this morning that they have finally signed Quinyon Mitchell to his rookie contract.

    Quinyon was the final rookie of the Eagles 2024 draft class to be signed.

    With 14 Corners under contract and over 2 months before any final roster decisions, the Eagles will have a deep secondary. But who will make the cut?

    Similar to the last few seasons at defensive tackle, the Eagles have made acquisition after acquisition in the secondary to revamp a defense that gave up 252.7 passing yards a game, ranking 31st in Passing Yards against.

    Even with the draft picks, the Eagles will have most of the same secondary they did last season, with the following players returning.

    • Darius Slay
    • James Bradberry
    • Avonte Maddox
    • Kelee Ringo
    • Zech McPhearson
    • Eli Ricks
    • Josh Jobe

    With the additions of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Isaiah Rodgers, there will be a few odd men out unless something changes with those already under contract.

    Having too much depth isn’t a bad thing.

    During the last training camp, the Eagles had 5 options at running back before only using 3 throughout the entire season. (We’ll still never know why Swift didn’t play week 1)

    But for the Eagles’ corners, things changed throughout the last 3 days, as we’ve seen Kelee Ringo and Isaiah Rodgers at CB2 already. With Mitchell, DeJean, and Rodgers sharing 2nd team throughout the week, the Eagles might finally have the depth if multiple injuries occur once the season picks up.

    So, Who’s Out?

    During the Eagles minicamp, multiple things came up.

    The Eagles seemed to already have assessed the Safety position this offseason, bringing back C.J. Gardner-Johnson on a three-year deal. And if Maddox is ‘learning the safety position,’ that will end up being another depth piece behind those penciled-in starters.

    If Bradberry is also getting a change of scenery on the field, perhaps this is the end of the road before getting traded or cut. We’ll have to wait and see, as Bradberry went to the medical tent at the start of the minicamp and wasn’t a participant for the rest of the week.

    While I’m sure, there are plenty who may want Bradberry off the team as soon as possible. The Eagles have the cap space committed to the player, and he was a ‘part of the plans‘ (12:04) during the Combine. If there’s a team in desperate need of a corner, Bradberry might be on the block to make room for the new additions to the Eagles.

    With another month plus break before more Eagles football. Who do you have making the roster in the secondary?

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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