This must be what it feels like to be caught in an avalanche. The Eagles’ precipitous slide is one they can’t seem to escape. Just as they grab hold of the surface and wriggle their way out, they find new and innovative ways to sink even deeper, descending further from championship contention and closer to irrelevance. Their only accomplishment is finding more heartbreaking ways to lose a football game. Their only identity, no matter the country or the time zone, is complete and utter self-destruction. Aside from that, things are going great!

This week, the Birds took a trip across the pond to the home of James Bond and Idris Elba where they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Diagnosing what’s wrong with this team is like trying to piece together a thousand tiny shards of a broken mirror. They are a multitude of dysfunction. A totality of tiny mistakes. A glimmer of hope extinguished by injuries and ineptitude.

Philadelphia entered this game with a roster that looked like a hospital ward, down 5 starters due to injury, including their #1 wide receiver, starting running back, starting center, starting edge rusher, and recently retired All-World right tackle. But the papier-mâché Eagles pieced themselves together with popsicle sticks and rubber cement to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, who’ve emerged this season as one of the league’s best teams (which may be confusing for anyone waking up from a coma they’ve been in since 2012).

There was a time when playing the Jacksonville Jaguars felt easier than taking a mid-day nap. But this isn’t your “buddy’s dad who moved to Florida to start a gator farm’s” Jacksonville Jaguars. Led by NFL Villain of the Year nominee Liam Coen, this Jaguars team entered Sunday winning 11 of their last 12 games, dating back to 2025.

This game was chaotic from the jump. The Jaguars returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a holding penalty. On the same play, newly starting linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was ejected for getting in a fight with a Jaguars backup defensive lineman, causing Philadelphia to lose a key starter on defense.

But despite losing Trotter, the undermanned, outgunned Eagles fought like hell in the first half. Vic Fangio’s defense played lights out, especially defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Carter was the best player on the field and easily had his best game of the season. He was a black hole consuming offensive lineman with speed and power. In the first half alone, Carter got to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and knocked the ball out of his hands twice to force two fumbles (both of which Jacksonville recovered).

After an early 51-yard touchdown pass to receiver Parker Washington, the Eagles defense held Jacksonville scoreless the rest of the half. Carter, Jalyx Hunt, and the defensive line fed on the Jaguars offensive line, getting pressure on Lawrence and closing lanes for the Jags running game as Jacksonville continuously dug themselves a hole on offense with untimely penalties.

The Eagles offense was also finally getting a little motion in the first half. In the second quarter, the Birds pieced together a 64-yard drive and scored on a Will Shipley touchdown. On the next possession, Hurts hit Darius Cooper for a 62-yard touchdown pass to put the Birds up 14-7.

With one more chance to score before the half, the Eagles defense stopped the Jaguars on a 4th and 1 in the redzone thanks to a big tackle by Jalyx Hunt. Hunt unfortunately suffered an injury on that play and would not return. As Shakespeare once said, “every rose has its thorn.” Or maybe that was the band Poison, actually.

Unfortunately, football games have two halves. It’s a revelation the Philadelphia Eagles have yet to internalize. Once again, Sean Mannion’s offense collapsed into the sunken place after halftime. Neither team scored in the third quarter. A Quinyon Mitchell interception on the Jaguars second drive of the half gave the Eagles offense a chance. But on 3rd and 15 on the ensuing drive, Jalen Hurts was pressured and missed a wide-open, uncovered Dontayvion Wicks on a deep ball that would’ve been an easy touchdown.

After the Eagles defense made a huge goal-line stand to keep Jacksonville out of the endzone and get their offense the ball back, the Eagles offense went 3-and-out in less than a minute. A tired defense trotted back on the field with 5:27 left in the game and gave up a 27-yard touchdown pass to Parker Washington, who levitated over Riq Woolen to rip the ball out of the sky and give the Jaguars a 16-14 lead after a missed extra point.

Only needing a field goal with 1:35 left, Hurts used a healthy dose of Dontayvion Wicks and Dallas Goedert to get the Eagles in range for Jake Elliott to hit a 48-yard field goal to give them the lead (and presumably the win) with 8 seconds left. It seemed like the Eagles would come out of London with a gutsy win after another halftime collapse.

Unfortunately, 8 seconds is all Jacksonville needed. The Eagles kicked the ball inbounds, and the special teams unit allowed Jaguars return man Ameer Abdullah to return the kick for 53 yards, enough for a long field goal attempt. With 1 second left, Jaguars kicker Cam Little nailed a 57-yard field goal to snatch my soul out of my body. Game Jaguars.

As gut-wrenching as this loss was, it’s not surprising. This is the story of the 2026 Philadelphia Eagles. A team crippled by injuries with an offense as effective as hammering a nail with a sponge. In the first half it felt like they would strap on a pair of goggles and find their way through the shit storm. But these Eagles prefer to get in their own way. To make things harder on themselves.

The problem with the 2026 Eagles is the same problem that plagued the 2025 Eagles. Their issues don’t find resolutions and disappear. They compound. They fester like standing water that collects on an old roof before caving in. They are frustration incarnate. A series of miscues that allowed Jaguars coach Liam Coen to slip on a banana peel and land on a victory.

People will point to Nick Sirianni for this loss and his in-game management malpractice. And rightfully so. But the biggest indictment of the league’s winningest coach is his inability to find answers or hire people who can do anything other than cause new problems.

This is a new low. A turning point or the beginning of an end. The Eagles are below .500 for the first time in 5 years. Next week the Eagles take on a well-rested Carolina Panthers team coming off a bye who’ve had a sensational start to the season. The big picture is that this team is 2-3, and 2-3 is not a death sentence. They should have numerous starters return from injury next week. But this team feels worse than that. They are hard to watch. An emotional rollercoaster that never ends. No team in the past 20 years has won a Super Bowl after starting 2-3. It doesn’t look like the Eagles will be the first.

TRENDING UP

• Post-Phillies Fangio: The only thing the Philadelphia Phillies are good for is getting knocked out of the playoffs so Vic could focus on his day job. Despite Lawrence’s stat line, the Eagles’ defense had Trevor in a hell-in-a-cell for most of the game. This unit is improving and is the only thing giving the Eagles a chance every week. With the Eagles offense struggling, this defense is being left out to dry. If I were Vic Fangio, I’d consider throwing a roast pork sandwich at Nick Sirianni for wasting another masterful defensive performance.

• Jalen Carter: Jalen Carter chose the perfect week to animorph into a grizzly bear. The River Thames and fish and chips brought out his best self. Carter was an absolute wrecking ball, single-handedly altering the Jaguars offense in his best performance of the season. He ended the day with 5 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 sacks. That’s big boy shit. At his best, Carter is a top 3 defensive tackle in the league and looked like one yesterday.

• Dontayvion Wicks: Another solid performance from Don Wick (AKA Baba YACa). Wicks’ 5-for-63-yard stat line doesn’t look nearly as impressive as how he played. He’s become a Dallas Goedert-type beat security blanket for Hurts. He also should’ve added a long touchdown to his stat line if Hurts managed to find him wide open down the field in the third quarter.

• Quinyon Mitchell: You ever see those crazy facts like “did you know Charlie Chaplin and 50 Cent were alive at the same time?” Well, here’s one for you reader! Quinyon Mitchell (top 3 cornerback in the league) recorded his FIRST regular-season interception against the Jaguars yesterday. Shout out to Trevor Lawrence for making it possible. What a luxury it is to have Quinyon Mitchell on your team.

• Getting Healthy: Next week against the Carolina Panthers, we should see the return of Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Drew Kendall, and if we’re lucky, my sanity.

TRENDING DOWN

• Nick Sirianni: No one can take back everything Nick Sirianni has done for this franchise. But it feels like we’re getting towards the end of the road. Sirianni’s strength is culture-building. Holding players accountable, motivating them, keeping the ship moving through choppy waters. But his responsibilities on game day mostly involve in-game management, a facet of coaching that’s historically been up-and-down for him. Against Jacksonville, Philadelphia had a chance to score the game-winning field goal and give Jacksonville no time left to respond. On their last drive, the Jaguars even did them a favor by letting 20 seconds roll off the clock before calling their second timeout. With 1 timeout left for Jacksonville, the Eagles stopped the clock twice (Hurts throwing out of bounds and a Lemon out-route that went out of bounds) before the go-ahead field goal, leaving 8 seconds on the clock. Then after the field goal, the Eagles then made the confusing decision to kick the ball in-bounds giving the Jaguars a chance to return, which they did to get into field goal range. These are decisions Sirianni needs to be on top of as head coach. Not to mention, Nick lacks any answers for what ails this team offensively and never really has. I’ve historically been a Sirianni apologist. I don’t think you have the success this team has had with a head coach who adds zero value. But this season, it’s hard to see where he makes a difference or gives this team an edge and easier to see how he continues to hold them back.

• Second Half Eagles: The Eagles second half problems are devastating and date back to last season when Kevy with the Playsheet was calling 3rd and long draws. It’s like after the Eagles Super Bowl win in 2025, Patrick Mahomes hired an Etsy witch to put a curse on the Birds so that they’ll never score in the second half of football games. Honestly, great investment Patrick.

• Special Teams: Now I’ve never played kickoff coverage but I’m pretty sure a major part of it is tackling the opposing team. With the game on the line, the Eagles special teams unit couldn’t stop the Jaguars from getting into field goal range which cost this team the game.

• Tush Push Usage: The Eagles offense was at its best when it went about the first three downs knowing it could easily get that last yard required on fourth down if needed. The key to that was the tush push and the Eagles masterful technique on the much-maligned quarterback sneak. But now, the Eagles barely even push tushes. On their first drive of the game they had a 4th and 1 at their own 37 yard line. Instead of a QB sneak, they called a shotgun run attempt with *checks notes* Will Shipley. Maybe it’s the changes on the offensive line or wanting to protect Hurts, but the Eagles have no confidence in their short-yardage game right now, and it’s costing them.

• Running the Ball: The Eagles had 18 rushes for 22 yards. They averaged 1.2 yards per carry. That is very bad.

• Being Healthy: Jalyx Hunt, Tyler Steen, Quinyon Mitchell, and Will Shipley all got hurt at one point in this game. Hunt and Shipley didn’t return. Not great!

• The NFC East: Shout out to the Cowboys, Giant, and Commanders for also being trainwrecks.

Hot Takes

• The Young Offensive Line Played Ok…Kind Of…Maybe: The Eagles started their 5th offensive line combination this season, including starting Willie Lampkin, the smallest offensive lineman to start an NFL game in the past 35 years, at left guard, human giant Markel Bell at right tackle, and some guy named Jake Majors at center. Jake Majors sounds like he was named by ChatGPT. It’s a name that makes John Doe sound exotic. In pass protection, it looked like the young dudes held up ok or at least didn’t look any worse than the Eagles line has been looking over the past few weeks. Willie Lampkin led the way on Will Shipley’s first regular-season touchdown. Run blocking is another thing (which they did not do well), but I’d be interested to see how these guys develop as the season (from hell) continues.

Things Only I Care About

• Kurt Warner is Midway Through His Transition Into Becoming Santa Claus: Kurt have you fallen off your roof recently? Have a craving for milk and cookies? Beard coming in thick? I’ll see you in late December, brother.

  

• London NFL Fans go hard: Beware of this Jaguars fan from London who is the most terrifying person I’ve ever seen. Or this man dressed as a full Eagle at the game with his wife and child. Real sickos over there. I absolutely love it. Keep London NFL games weird.

  

  

• 9:30 games: I went into this game thinking about how nice it is to wake up and watch football. You pour a hot cup of coffee and enjoy a slow morning before sitting on the couch and embracing emotional torture from the Philadelphia Eagles for 3 hours.

• Liam Coen is Wario Nick Foles: No I will not explain myself.

  

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I’ve never seen the Pyramids of Giza or the Roman Colosseum, but I have seen Lane Johnson drive a defensive tackle into the dirt. I have seen what happens when a 6’6”, 325 lb kid out of Eastern Texas pulls together all of that superhuman athleticism and all of that football intellect to become a brick wall for 60 minutes. Lane Johnson was a kaiju. Godzilla in midnight green. I’ve seen him make world-beating pass rushers look like turnstiles. He’s your favorite pass rushers’ nightmare’s worst nightmare.

Yesterday, after a start to the regular season that could best be described as a car driving off a cliff, the Philadelphia Eagles right tackle announced his retirement. To say that the Eagles will miss Lane Johnson is beyond an understatement. Johnson was a suit of armor for the entire Eagles offense. He made sure the only thing to touch the quarterback was oxygen. He made every single player around him better and was one of the quiet forces behind the most successful era of Philadelphia Eagles football ever. He was a legendary lineman that most teams possess only in their wildest dreams. And luckily, we got to live ours.

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Philly is a blue-collar city with a deep respect for any athlete possessing the confidence that comes from hard work. We praise those with the gravitas to dig their hand in the dirt on the off chance they pick up a diamond. It’s no wonder we’re a town that makes offensive linemen into stars. And few of those stars shone brighter over the Delaware Valley than Lane Johnson.

Selected 4th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft as the first draft pick of the Chip Kelly era, Johnson comes out on the other side of a 13-year career as a 6x Pro Bowler, a 2x 1st Team All-Pro, a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, and most importantly one of the biggest drivers behind the only two Super Bowls the Philadelphia Eagles have ever won.

The numbers speak louder than a car horn on Broad Street. Johnson is the highest-graded right tackle Pro Football Focus has ever tracked. Since 2017, he’s ranked 1st in fewest sacks allowed per game and 1st among offensive tackles for fewest hits allowed per game (according to The Score’s Brenden Deeg). He’s only gotten better with age, allowing just 4 sacks out of 2,485 pass-blocking snaps since 2020 (according to SI’s Jeff Kerr).

He was the foundation of the house that the Eagles offense is built on. You never worried he wouldn’t be there to support it. But when he wasn’t, the Eagles felt it. Since 2013, the Eagles are 122-63-1 with Lane Johnson and 18-30 without him. He guarded the right side of Michael Vick, Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez (sorry, had to throw that in there), Carson Wentz, Nick Foles, and Jalen Hurts.

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When the Eagles needed hungry dogs to run faster, he wore the mask that became a symbol and led that 2017 Eagles team to the mountaintop against Bill Belichick and Tom Brady’s dynasty. When they needed him again, he helped Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense launch an improbable beatdown of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. He was the throughline. The constant through all of the trepidations that rocked the Eagles. No matter how bad things got, at least we had Lane Johnson shoring up the right side of the line.

Beyond the Super Bowl wins and Pro Bowl performances, Johnson also showed the relatable vulnerability of a superhero. He battled anxiety and depression through the rigors of football. The only thing more difficult than blocking J.J. Watt is the weight your own mind can place on you. A city like Philadelphia can be a difficult place to play ball, on top of the innate pressures of being a professional athlete. We all have moments where it feels like our own brain has us against the ropes. Lane felt it, was honest about it, and worked to overcome it while putting himself in a position to help others and raise awareness.

He was nominated for a Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2023 for his work around mental health awareness and supporting military families. As Jason Kelce said of Johnson in 2021:

“I think that Lane has been a very underappreciated player in the league for a long time and I think in particular I think he’s not as out in the open or boisterous a personality but I think some of the things he’s overcome and persevered through has helped a lot more people than people realize.”

With Johnson’s sudden retirement, the Eagles plummet into a dark realm of uncertainty. Already parting with legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland this offseason after his 13-year tenure (which started at the same time as Johnson’s), the Eagles lose another staple of the Super Bowl era. An already doomed season has the potential to collapse underneath them. Now on their third offensive line combination this season, the Eagles will be approaching their fourth. Depending on what happens with Cam Jurgens, who is currently in concussion protocol, the Eagles will have three new starters against the Jaguars in London this week. They will look to human giant Markel Bell to learn on the job while the rest of the offensive line coalesces under a new wide zone blocking scheme.

But that’s for me to crash out about while watching football at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday while working on my British accent as the Eagles play in London. For now, we celebrate one of the rare superheroes to walk through Philadelphia. A certified Hall of Famer who could block the sun if he wanted to. The man who always did the dirty work no matter who stood across from him. He was the Eagles’ great protector. The equal and opposite reaction. The Great Wall of Philadelphia.

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The Philadelphia Eagles are a bad football team. They holistically and emphatically suck. They are a 10-car pileup on the road to nowhere. They play with the fire of an old cigarette in a wet ashtray. Their offense is a cold, lifeless collection of mismatched parts and ideas that never coalesce. They play with a sincere lack of joy and less love for the game than an accountant at a law firm counting down the days until retirement. I’d rather watch milk curdle or TikTok videos of someone powerwashing a deck. As the great poet William Shakespeare would say, “This team is ass.” If an alien landed on Earth and I told them, “Hey Alien, did know that this was the best team in the world two years ago,” they would simply decide that world is not worth saving.

On a rainy October afternoon, the Eagles embarrassed themselves by letting the Los Angeles Rams (everyone’s favorite preseason Super Team) and Sean McVay (everyone’s favorite offensive playcaller and hair gel super user) come into South Philly and show the country who this team really is. McVay, to that point, had never beaten Nick Sirianni. Until yesterday.

The Rams beat the Birds 24-20 in a game that can best be described as “gross.” The Eagles entered the game without DeVonta Smith (the only reliable source of offense on this team), Lane Johnson (the only person who can reliably block on this team), and Zack Baun (the only person who can reliably tackle on this team). But despite the injuries, the Eagles gave us a little bit of hope by holding onto the lead for most of the game. They say it’s the hope that kills you, but I’d argue it’s the inability to generate any offense whatsoever.

Thanks to bad weather and poor play by Los Angeles (who were missing Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett), the Eagles were still in it. They scored first after Andrew Mukuba recorded the defense’s first takeaway of the season, leading to a Jake Eliott field goal. The Rams stormed back to tie the game a 3 with a field goal of their own, and the Birds answered by settling for a 56-yard field goal after a big Tank Bigsby run was called back due to holding, and Jalen Hurts took a sack on a 3rd and 13 (something he loves to do apparently).

A 41-yard return by Britain Covey (who may have been one of the only people to play well in this game) in the second quarter put the Eagles in position to score a touchdown on a miraculous Darius Cooper catch where Cooper elevated and pulled the ball away from a defender in position to make the interception to bring the Eagles up 13-7. On the Rams’ following drive, an insane tight window pass from Stafford to Rams tight end Tyler Higbee set up a Puka Nacua jet sweep into the endzone to tighten the score to 13-10.

On the Rams’ last drive of the half, Matthew Stafford threw an interception to Cooper DeJean to get the Eagles the ball back before halftime. A Rams pass interference penalty on Dontayvion Wicks put the Eagles in scoring position, where Hurts tossed touchdown number 2 to Darius Cooper to bring the Eagles up 20-10 in the half.

But you’ve seen this story before. You know how it ends. The Birds enter halftime with all the momentum in the world despite their best efforts. And then at halftime they forget how to play football. Again, it’s the hope that kills you. The belief that this time will be different. Because it never is. I wrote this after last week’s game against the Bears, and it still applies:

The Eagles are 5-6 on Monday Night Football in the Sirianni era. Right now, they are not a hard team to beat. All you need to do is hang on for dear life in the first half and watch them absolutely collapse offensively in the second half while their defense eats up minutes and gets exhausted.

The Eagles failed to get a first down in the third quarter, including a bad decision where Nick Sirianni went for it on 4th and a long 1 on the Eagles’ own 38-yard line despite the fact that the Eagles offense had the pulse of a rock.

In the 4th quarter, a slew of Tank Bigsby runs gave the Eagles the opportunity to score with 1st and goal from the 9-yard line. After three stuffed runs, the Eagles had a decision to make: either go for it on fourth down to score a touchdown or kick the field goal to go up 23-10. They chose to go for it despite being unable to generate any offense all day and could not convert.

The Rams drove 98 yards on the next drive to score a touchdown on a Kyren Williams run to make it 20-17, and now were only down by a field goal. The Eagles offense went 3-and-out again, and Matthew Stafford took the Rams 79 yards before they scored on another Kyren Williams run to go up 24-20. With one last opportunity for a game-winning drive, the Eagles responded by…going 3-and-out.

All of the Eagles’ failures from this season and last season were on display in this shitshow implosion. Poor offensive design and execution, vomit-inducing coaching decisions, low-level quarterback play, and the defense folding like a flip phone when they couldn’t afford to. The injuries also piled up in this game. The Eagles lost Saquon Barkley to a hamstring injury in the first quarter, they lost Jonathan Greenard to an ankle injury, and Quinyon Mitchell to a knee injury in the third quarter, and Tank Bigsby went out in the fourth quarter.

But the main story of this game is how fucking terrible the Eagles’ offense is. They are historically bad, and went 0-12 on third down, their worst mark in 25 YEARS! Do you know how many bad Eagles offenses I’ve watched in the past 25 years? Here are some gross numbers:

• The Eagles had 172 yards yesterday compared to the Rams’ 415 yards.

• The Eagles currently have the 4th lowest offensive yards per game, next to teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Miami Dolphins, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Tennessee Titans.

• The Eagles have the 2nd lowest passing yards per game, only above the Vikings and BELOW the Dolphins.

• According to Deniz Selman, they are the worst under center offense in the league by success rate.

• According to The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia, they had 68 net passing yards, which is their lowest total in a regular-season game in 23 years

I want to say that we should believe. That we should give a brand new offensive scheme time to come together. That growing pains are normal and natural with a seismic philosophical shift like this. But this offense has shown zero signs of being competent. There is no indication that their potential is higher than this. Jalen Hurts is regressing, Nick Sirianni’s influence is too large, and Sean Mannion is in his third year coaching and has no bank of experience to call on. The dudes in charge have no understanding of what the problems are or how to fix them.

The offense is like a deadbeat boyfriend who refuses to get a job and asks his girlfriend for gas money to go hang with the boys. Unfortunately, Vic Fangio’s defense is out of gas money and can no longer support a failing offense while they sort out their own problems. I at least have hope that the defense will improve, but this offense is a miserable viewing experience. And it’s been that way since the Eagles hoisted the Lombardi Trophy two years ago.

I’d ask Nick Sirianni and Sean Mannion to do some self-reflection, but they are the least trustworthy to evaluate this situation. This is a fundamentally broken and directionless team. The ghost of Kevin Patullo still haunts this place, and it looks like he was only a symptom of a much larger issue. The Eagles are not a good football team. They are not contenders. And until they prove otherwise, they are the worst part of your week.

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TRENDING UP

• Darius Cooper: The lone positive from this game was the continued emergence of Darius Cooper. Without DeVonta Smith, Cooper assumed the role of de facto WR1 and caught two touchdown passes, one of which is a catch-of-the-year nominee. Cooper deserves more playing time and to be a bigger part of this offense.

• Special Teams: They looked great. Kelee Ringo is a menace as a gunner, and Britain Covey had some huge returns. Jake Elliot hit two field goals. Braden Mann punted pretty well. I don’t know we need something to celebrate.

TRENDING DOWN

• The Nick Sirianni/Sean Mannion Experiment: In hindsight, it’s kind of insane of the Eagles to think that bringing in a first-time coordinator to right the ship for a team trying to contend immediately was the best course of action. Especially when so many first-time coordinators have failed under Nick Sirianni (more on that later). Sean Mannion could very well be an excellent offensive mind, but I have no fucking clue because the Eagles refuse to go all-in on his style of offense. This offense is a Frankenstein of failed concepts. It’s a fusion of Nick Sirianni’s offensive principles and the Shanahan-McVay style, which feels as messy as a collaboration between Shaboozey and Beethoven. What results is an offense that severely lacks identity and doesn’t do anything well. Sirianni needs to let go of the wheel and see if Mannion can figure this out his way, or everyone will go down with the ship.

• Jalen Hurts: Two weeks after Hurts led a game-winning drive against Tennessee (which should’ve been more of a red flag than we allowed for at the time), he looks shell-shocked and unsure of himself. Hurts’ play is best encapsulated by the potential game-winning drive against the Rams, where he held onto the ball too long and allowed himself to get sacked with time running out. He takes too long to make decisions, doesn’t trust his blocking, and refuses to throw with anticipation. He is regressing, some of which is due to coaching (more on that later). He is another symptom of a bad offensive system and in the past two weeks hasn’t proven himself to be capable of elevating this offense when they need him to.

• Being Healthy: The Eagles got mauled by the injury tiger, losing Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Greenard (who just returned last week from a pectoral injury), Quinyon Mitchell, and Tank Bigsby. Those are four huge losses for a team that was already without Landon Dickerson, DeVonta Smith, Zack Baun, and Hollywood Brown. Every team is affected by injuries, but the Eagles are not built to sustain losses like this.

HOT TAKES

• Nick Sirianni Should Not Be Paired with First-Time Offensive Coordinators: The Eagles are a modern front office that loves analytics. So here’s a stat for you: When the Eagles have former offensive coordinators reprise their role with the team, they’ve been to two Super Bowls and won one. When they’ve had first-time offensive coordinators, they’ve suffered monumental collapses and lost in the first round of the playoffs twice.

  Nick Sirianni is many things, but he is not adept at identifying and developing coaching talent. Whenever he is paired with a first-time coordinator, the team flounders. This could be for two reasons: The first is ego. He could be a coach who can’t help but put his hands in the honey pot. One who insists on having a bigger hand in the offensive design than it seems and won’t let go. An experienced coordinator is less likely to be agreeable and has more weight to push back on Sirianni’s bad ideas. The second and also most likely, is that he does not have the answers. An experienced offensive coordinator is more likely to find the right buttons to push based on what they’ve done in the past. They are a better collaborator with a head coach who stinks as an offensive strategist. The jury is still out on Mannion, but the early returns show that Sirianni needs an adult in the room to get the offense going.

• The Eagles Made Bad Offseason Coaching Hires: Knowing this was a pivotal season for the Eagles offense and for Jalen Hurts, they supported him by giving Hurts a first-time quarterbacks coach in Parks Frazier, who has only been a part of historically bad team collapses and has no measure of success in the past, pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard, who was fired by the Buccaneers after last season, first-time coordinator Sean Mannion, and Chris Kuper, who was fired by the Minnesota Vikings after their line fell apart. These are not really the decisions of a team looking to get back to the Super Bowl.

THINGS ONLY I CARE ABOUT

• London Innit! The Eagles take on the Jaguars in London next week. I honestly fuck with a 9:30 am football game. Unfortunately for my girlfriend, I will be doing my British accent for the full 3 hours of the game, which sounds slightly Jamaican and slightly Australian. Please pray for her.

• First Half Hope: I watched this game at a bar with my buddy Mike Filano. After the first half, I made him record a message where he said, “As an Eagles fan you have to feel good after this first half…the defense is coming up huge, this team will only go as far as the defense, given some of the challenges the offense is facing. Looking forward to a great second half.” I wish I could go back in time and warn him.

Welcome to a little series we do here at Burds of a Feather called My Worst Sports Take, where I interview my friends on their controversial sports takes. My Worst Sports Take is sponsored by my cats, who are currently spitting up on one of my nice carpets.

The city of Philadelphia is quick to make enemies. It’s in our nature. Outside of fans of opposing sports teams, people who are weird about Jalen Hurts, and being a member of the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies, the easiest way to become an enemy of the city is to be an underperforming contributor to one of our sports teams. Namely, a player whose effort comes and goes in the moments when their team needs them the most. We’re a blue-collar town who wants our athletes to care about the game as much as we do.

Unfortunately, the Philadelphia 76ers have a few of those players in the shadowy past of The Process. As we celebrate a seismic offseason for the Sixers, we also remember the broken road that got us here. And namely, one of the players at the center of it: Tobias Harris.

Despite being a pretty nice guy, the 6’ 8” small forward who made a lot of money rarely played like it. After the Sixers lost that fateful 2nd round series against eventual NBA Champion Toronto Raptors due to four fateful bounces that ripped my heart out of me chest, Tobias was one of the core players left standing. Along with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, Harris was supposed to be a building block for the Sixers to continue their success from the 2018-2019 season. But in the years that followed, frustrating play and an inability to live up to his billing as a max player capable of elevating the team made Harris one of the most disliked figures in Philadelphia sports.

But is Tobias Harris really a villain? My homie argues that maybe he isn’t. Keenan is a basketball lover, one of the genuinely smartest people I know, and the certified ball knower behind the Stretch Four Podcast, which he hosts along side (required listening for all Sixers fans). Keenan tells me why he thinks Tobias Harris isn’t the villain, why the 2019-2020 Sixers would win in a street fight, and why Tobias Harris is one of the best in the business at getting the bag.

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Keenan: Let me paint a picture for you, Jeremy. You tell me what you would do in this scenario. You are at work, and you do your job well. You might not necessarily be a star at your company, but you do your job well. You fill an important role.

You’re explaining my career right now. So this is perfect.

Keenan: And then ownership comes up to you and says, “Hey, we love what you’re doing. You’re an important part of this team. You could be part of something. And so we want to give you just the most money we possibly could because we like you and we kind of have to spend this money right now. Would you say no? I wouldn’t say no. And Tobias Harris didn’t say no.

I mean, I think that’s a good point. What player would say no to that situation?

Keenan: Not many. In fact, I would argue that is why this LeBron offseason was so strange, because it’s very rare that you have a player that could command a lot more money who says, “Ah, you know what? No, I’m good. I’m just going to do this for the love of the game.”

And like, put yourself in Tobias’s situation. His dad is acting as his agent. He’s trying to hook up his family with as much money as possible. You only have so many contracts in the NBA, if you’re lucky. There are only so many opportunities to really cash in. So you’ve got to maximize those situations.

That’s fair.

Unlike LeBron, most people aren’t playing 24 years in the league. They get a couple of opportunities. So if the Sixers come around and say, “Hey, I want to give you a max deal.” You might in your mind be like, “I’m not really a max player.” But you’re going to take that max contract because why wouldn’t you? You’re setting up your family for lifelong success.

Tobias Harris is not the problem. The contract is absolutely the problem. The leadership making that decision is absolutely the problem. But it’s not really Tobias’ fault. Because if you swap out the expectation of a max deal and tell me that you got a guy that’s going to give you, I don’t know, like 17 and 7 and play serviceable, if not slightly plus defense, I’ll take that every time. At a position of need, doesn’t need the ball, finds ways to be impactful. I’ll take that every time.

What you’re saying is that LeBron is doing the reverse Tobias Harris.

Keenan: The anti-Tobias.

That makes a lot of sense. What do you think is the ceiling for a player like Tobias?

Keenan: The fourth-best player on a championship team. Not the worst starter on a championship team, but a starter on a championship team for sure. Like he’s Toni Kukoč. That’s his role. It was important. He could score if you need him to.

Actually, that might be mean to Toni Kukoč because he could score a little more. But you know what I mean. No one’s mad at Harrison Barnes on those Warriors teams, but he played a very important role and got paid off of that important role.

Is he better than Harrison Barnes?

Keenan: Yes, because Harrison Barnes was in a perfect situation. Harrison Barnes wasn’t really relevant before or after. Tobias was a borderline All-Star before he got to Philly. In fact, that’s how he got to Philly. I haven’t seen Harrison Barnes do that.

I think Tobias is a guy that, if he’s your best player, your team’s probably not going to be that good. But he could be your team’s best player. He has that skill set. And like in San Antonio, now that he’s there, I think he’s going to thrive. He’s kind of exactly what that team needs. He provides you with a steady hand. He’s like a great guy in the locker room.

Good culture fit.

Keenan: Great culture fit.

So how did the Sixers get that evaluation so wrong? Especially after a season where they lost in dramatic fashion to the Raptors and chose to re-sign him out of that crop of stars (Jimmy Butler, J.J. Redick, etc.).

Keenan: So I think it’s more complex than just the Sixers. The problem is the NBA salary cap. It’s not so much your value as a player; it’s your value relative to your team. Like, you just have slots now. Players aren’t really paid their value. They’re paid their ranking on your team.

And so at that point, Tobias was arguably our best available option. I know Jimmy Butler famously was like, “You picked Tobias Harris over me.” But that wasn’t really what happened. So we got stuck in a position where it was like, well now you have to spend this money. You can’t lose everyone.

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Jimmy made it clear that he didn’t know who was in charge here, which is very accurate. And this was at a point where Brett Brown was coaching, but he was like sort of the GM, but then like Elton was sort of in charge, so no one really knew what was happening. And so Jimmy was like, “This is too messy. I’m out of here.”

And then that leaves you with, well, we can’t lose Jimmy and Tobias, and we have a max slot available. You’ve got to fill it. And yes, we could have let Tobias walk. But at that point, who are you signing? This is, what, the 2019-2020 NBA offseason? I don’t know who you’re signing at that point that fits a need.

I mean, you weren’t going to sign Kyrie. You had Ben Simmons. You were committed to him. Kawhi made it clear he was trying to go to LA. So beyond that, who were you really signing? Kevin Durant decided he wanted to have his own team at that point. And then you’re talking about Kemba, Khris Middleton. These are your next best options. That’s why we ended up with Al Horford.

Do you feel like in addition to being an NBA salary cap issue, this was also an ownership issue?

Keenan: Oh, for sure. Because if you have a good franchise in place, Jimmy probably doesn’t walk or force his way out, I should say. And then you get to keep Jimmy Butler. So yeah, it’s definitely a fault on the Sixers culture. There were a lot of problems. I mean, you know, you had a GM that had burners, right?

(Laughs)

Keenan: To defend himself against criticism. That’s crazy. You can only get away with that if you’re an NBA Hall of Famer, which Bryan Colangelo is not.

Really bold move and really not understanding how the internet works.

Keenan: Also, if you’re going to do that, don’t defend your collars. It’s pretty clear that, oh, that’s you. You can talk about the decisions that he made. There’s no Bryan Colangelo fan who’s like “leave his collars alone.” Of course it’s you.

Can I read you the 2019-2020 Philadelphia 76ers roster?

Keenan: Please. I want to see how much PTSD you get.

There’s Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Seth Curry, Joel Embiid, of course. Josh Richardson, James Ennis, Tobias Harris, Al Horford, Furkan Korkmaz, Shake Milton, Raul Neto, Kyle O’Quinn, Norvel Pelle, Mike Scott, Ben Simmons, the ghost of Zhaire Smith, and Matisse Thybulle.

Keenan: I’ll tell you what, man, that’s a back alley team. Like, they might not win a lot of games, but I’ll take that team in a fight.

If this is like Street Fighter and you’re doing like a two-on-two fighting situation, who are you taking out of this?

Keenan: I’m taking Lot K, Mike Scott.

Gotta take Mike Scott.

Keenan: And...that’s a good question. I want to take Kyle O’Quinn, but he might be too happy. There’s part of me that wants to take Jo, but then Jo might get hurt. You know what, Ben Simmons.

You think so?

Keenan: Quiet as it’s kept, people forget. Remember when Joel had that little scrap with KAT, and Ben was the one that came in, and I think he had KAT in the headlock at one point. He’s Australian, you know. He’s got a little mean streak to him.

I think Mike Scott and Ben Simmons could do some damage. James Ennis kind of seemed like a wild bol too, but I don’t know.

Keenan: James Ennis might be crazy. You know Norvel Pelle also could have been a little crazy.

So the 2019-2020 Sixers are the All-Fight Club Team in recent Sixers history.

Keenan: They may not play deep into the summer, but I’ll take them to SummerSlam.

Do you feel the fan perception of Tobias Harris was driven by his salary? Or do you feel like sometimes Tobias is at fault?

Keenan: Oh no, it’s 1000% both. Because there were moments, namely his last game as a Sixer, where you’re like, you’re going out with a whimper. But I think a lot of it was just the expectation that we put on him.

I’m looking forward to next season. If the Sixers have a bad game, you know, the starters are not having their greatest performance, I don’t think people are going to be mad at VJ (Edgecombe). You know? But if VJ was on a max contract, then people would probably be mad at VJ. You’re not living up to that money.

So a lot of it is the contract, but also there were absolutely times when Tobias would just not show up. I mean, I think he only took a handful of charges over the time he was here. One, that’s such a Philly thing to focus on. But on the same token, you put yourself in good defensive position, you’re going to run into a couple of charges. It just seems like he was never really trying as hard as he could have when you wanted him to.

Wait, I had no idea about that.

Keenan: Yes, he famously drew ZERO offensive charges through 378 games. That’s over 12,400 minutes.

That’s insane. Zero? He couldn’t even get one?

Keenan: No. That’s half a decade. He spent half a decade pretty much playing every game because he was a pretty durable guy. That’s another valuable quality. Tobias was going to play. Sometimes to your dismay, he was going to be available.

Unbelievable.

Keenan: It’s really fascinating. Especially when the stat is literally someone just running into you. Tobias Harris, all-time bag getter. He’s a top 25 most-paid NBA athlete.

What? Really?

Keenan: Per year, he’s #22. Just behind Jokic and just above Klay Thompson.

This begs the question: Who would you give the Tobias Harris Award for Bag Getting?

Keenan: (Immediately) Bradley Beal, 1000%.

Is he in the top 25?

Keenan: He’s 13th.

Oh, my God.

Keenan: Brad Beal sits between Kyrie and Giannis at almost $343 million career.

You almost can’t be mad at it, you know?

Keenan: Tobias Harris could have been Bradley Beal. This is my point. Bradley Beal was just the best player on a bad team. But he was never going to be that guy. John Wall was there, and it was like, “Oh, you’re kind of fun, I guess. You’re coming up.” And then John Wall was out. So it’s like, alright, well, somebody’s got to shoot. So Brad Beal, here you go. Here’s the keys. Here’s a lifetime green light. We have to put up points.

I love the analysis of Bradley Beal’s career as “well, somebody’s got to shoot.”

Keenan: That’s really it. You look at his numbers. He’s never been efficient. It’s just like, yeah, he’s a pure volume scorer. Give him enough shots. Sure. He’s going to give me 25.

So really we should be calling this the Bradley Beal Award for Bag Getting.

Keenan: Yes. I would argue Tobias has provided more value.

Wow. Than Bradley Beal?

Keenan: Than Bradley Beal. Because if you don’t have Bradley Beal, if you’re Washington, you maybe lose a few more games. And you might be out of your hole a little faster. Somebody else I would throw in that conversation is Zach LaVine.

Zach LaVine is an all-time bag getter.

Keenan: But Zach LaVine, at least early in his career, sells you tickets because he’s winning dunk contests. But he’s never contributed to winning. I’m fairly certain if you look at his career on-off numbers, his team is better with him off the floor than they are with him on the floor. So like... you know, it’s tough to say he contributes to winning, but he’ll sell tickets.

It’s kind of like a tale as old as time with, like, player evaluation, where you’re like, player A is in a bad situation. We bring him to this new situation, and he’s, you know, maybe he’s going to be even more efficient. Does that ever work out?

Keenan: Probably not. I mean, Tobias maybe, because his value wasn’t just scoring. Like Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal, if they’re not taking 25, 28 shots a game, they’re not really doing much for you. There was a point where Zach LaVine was like a plus defender, but then he got hurt a bunch of times, and now he’s a fine defender, I guess.

Tobias can at least do other things that contribute to winning. He doesn’t always do them. But he can. So, again, if you are not relying on Tobias to be an important factor, then he’s a great player to have. But if you need him to play well to win, you’re going to be disappointed.

Yeah.

Keenan: I think you can put Tobias in a good situation. I think San Antonio is a great situation for him where he can just be a 3-and-D guy and be like a veteran leader. He can be a steadying force for them. But if you sent him to Minnesota. That’s not going to do it. He would just be like a worse Julius Randall.

A worse Julius Randall? That is nightmare fuel.

Keenan: I guess it was one game with Tobias where I was like, “I’m glad we had Tobias tonight.” He had that one game-winner on the road at the Lakers. That’s all I got for him. It was a lovely moment. And I was never expecting it again.

My favorite thing about this conversation is how fair you’re being to Tobias Harris, but also the pure resentment that I can hear in your voice. You’re being very fair, but you’re slowly but surely going back to the time when Tobias Harris was on the Sixers and thinking, “ugh, that fucking guy.”

Keenan: It wasn’t his fault, but at the end of the day it didn’t make it any less frustrating that it wasn’t entirely his fault.

What do you think was the most frustrating part of his game when he was on the Sixers?

Keenan: Passing up open shots. It’s just like, dog, you’re only here to shoot jump shots when you’re open. Or like, just take an easy drive to the basket. He’s what, 6’8”? 6’9” maybe? Just go to the cup. Get fouled. Do something.

My goal in this conversation is also to get you to the point where you convince yourself of the other side. Where you’re like, “Maybe it was his fucking fault. You know what, I change my take.”

Keenan: The situation wasn’t his fault, but he did not do himself any favors.

He did not do himself any favors at all.

Keenan: I didn’t have much animosity towards post-Sixer Tobias until he started talking shit about the Sixers. And he was like, " Enjoy the play-in.” And I was like, “Who do you think you are?”

It’s also like, you made so much money. What do you have to be mad about?

Keenan: Why are you mad at us? Because we expected you to play well? When we were giving you $183 million!?

How much do you think fans should care about how much these guys are being paid, and how much of a role does it play in how we perceive a lot of these players?

Keenan: That’s a good question. I think it plays a huge role, but it shouldn’t necessarily dictate how hard we are on them. As long as they are giving max effort. I think that’s the thing. When Tobias was frustrating were the moments where it seemed like it wasn’t his max effort, or maybe he was shying away from the moment. I can live if you take a shot that’s in the flow of the offense and miss. I’ll live and die with that, you know. But it’s when you don’t take that, and then end up taking a worse shot, and I’m like, alright, well you’re getting paid all this money, so at least take that shot.

If you’re looking at a sport like baseball, it doesn’t matter until the salary cap comes in two years. Who cares? It’s not my money. You’re not stopping anyone else from making any money, theoretically. It’s only the budget of your owner.

But in the NBA, if I wasn’t paying Tobias Harris, could I be paying two people? Could I be paying a competent backup point guard and someone that would be giving Tobias Harris-esque numbers? Probably. So yeah, then you get a little more frustrated because it’s like opportunity costs.

But yeah, I think for me, it comes down to effort. You’re not necessarily going to always live up to a max contract in performance, but you can live up to a max contract in effort.

Where do you think giving Tobias Harris a max contract ranks in terms of worst decisions the Sixers have made?

Keenan: Oh God, it’s not even top 10. Which is the crazy part. And maybe it’s 10.

Maybe it’s 10.

Keenan: Maybe it’s 10, but there are plenty of worse things that we did. And that’s the beauty and the tragedy of The Process. We had such a unique opportunity where we openly said the quiet part out loud and were like, we are actively going to suck in an effort to get stars. And we kept that mantra throughout and just made so many poor decisions on the way to doing that.

Like taking a center three times in a row in the draft. Sure you did hit on one of them. That was good. But like hiring a guy that, you know, maybe could be a head coach. Brett Brown was fun, but like we probably hung around and hung on to Brett Brown a little too long.

It’s almost incredible that we’re at the point where LeBron James wanted to come and play on this team. It’s kind of like a miracle.

Keenan: It’s fascinating.

Who do you think is more hated in Philadelphia sports, Tobias Harris or Daryl Morey?

Keenan: I think it’s got to be Tobi, unfortunately. I don’t know, though. That’s a good question. Like, for me, it’s hard. You’ve got to really screw up to be more hated as an executive than a player because there’s only so much you can do as an executive. But Tobias was at least like a good dude, at least until he left and was like talking shit about us.

And Daryl Morey is a liar (laughs), you know?

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Every so often you’ll go to a bachelor party that has that one guy. He’s usually the bachelor’s buddy from college or work that he hasn’t seen in a while. Your friend talks about how great this guy used to be, but he got married, had a couple of kids, and settled down since. But then the guy shows up at the bachelor party a little too rowdy for a cabin in the mountains, gets extremely drunk on tequila he brought for himself, says a bunch of weird things, and throws up on the rug of the Airbnb.

That friend is the Philadelphia Eagles. One week after a heroic last-minute win against the Tennessee Titans (you know, the kind of effort that shouldn’t be required against teams like the Tennessee Titans), the Birds drunkenly stumbled onto the national stage for Monday Night Football and passed out in the bathtub. The Eagles lose from time to time, but they rarely get blown out. In fact, the Eagles haven’t lost by over 20 points since the 2023 Wild Card round when they lost to the Bucs 32-9 and their defensive coordinator was Matt Patricia (a man with a pencil who never seems to do anything with it).

On a night when Bears third-string quarterback Case Keenum got the call to start, nothing went right for the Eagles. Unfortunately, and simultaneously, everything went right for the Bears. Case Keenum sought to exorcise his demons against Philadelphia after losing to the Birds in the 2017 NFC Championship Game during his miracle run in Minnesota. In what should’ve been an easier effort against a third-string quarterback who’s been in the league since I was in college (and I am not young), the Eagles folded like lawn chairs. They played like Rocky if Apollo Creed pulled his hammy, had his out-of-shape buddy who hasn’t fought in 10 years fight for him, and the buddy knocked out Rocky in the first round.

In this game, Case Keenum could not be stopped from the start. He played like he took that drug that Bradley Cooper did in the movie Limitless. I expected a Scooby-Doo mask pull in the postgame interview where Keenum revealed that he was actually Tom Brady. He immediately led the Bears down the field to score on a Luther Burden toss where Burden ran through the defense like he was Jerome Bettis.

Ben Johnson was in his bag, devising a game plan that used a heavy dose of play-action, misdirection, and a “good enough” run game to put the Eagles’ linebackers in conflict and open up space in the Birds’ secondary. Keenum was hitting crazy backfoot throws like he was Patrick Mahomes, including a beautiful 20-yard fadeaway pass with Jonathan Greenard in his face to Luther Burden (who, for this game, was prime Percy Harvin). Keenum used Chicago’s slew of wide receivers to make magic. The Eagles defense had moments where they would hold the Bears, but untimely penalties and missed tackles kept giving Chicago fresh opportunities.

On the other side of the ball, a disjointed Eagles offense found some juice in the run game. Saquon Barkley wound the clock back to 2024, averaging around 6 yards per carry in the first half and saw success on outside zone runs. Hurts, though inconsistent, had moments where he got going with the quick passing game. But what killed the Eagles throughout this game were awful turnovers.

On the Birds’ second drive, Tank Bigsby got the ball punched out of his arms after catching a swing pass from Hurts, giving Chicago possession in the redzone. The Eagles defense managed to keep the Bears from scoring, and the Eagles offense responded accordingly, using the outside zone run game and quick passing attack to work into scoring position. On a Jalen Hurts scramble, Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson delivered an atrocious late hit on Hurts as he was running out of bounds. Jalen was forced to leave the game to get checked for a concussion and was replaced by Andy Dalton, who immediately delivered a disaster class. After Saquon Barkley got the Eagles 1st and Goal from the 2-yard line, the offense was stuffed on 1st and 2nd down run plays before Dalton threw an interception in the endzone.

Despite the shitshow, the Eagles were only down 10-7 entering the half. They finished the first half with a beautiful drive as Hurts took them down the field and snuck in for a touchdown with one second left on the clock.

And then the roof caved in. Philadelphia’s second-half allergy flared up. The offense stopped working like your buddy who refuses to get a job. The Birds went 3-and-out on their first THREE DRIVES of the second half. They couldn’t run the ball, couldn’t block, couldn’t pass, and no one could get open. It’s like Sean Mannion took a bathroom break and asked ChatGPT to call plays. On their last drive of the third quarter, Jalen Hurts threw an interception directly to former Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards.

For the Bears, Keenum continued cosplaying the Human Torch. After scoring a field goal on their first drive of the second half, Keenum hit Kalif Raymond for a 41-yard touchdown pass on a busted coverage to build the Bears’ lead to 20-7. Following that T.J. Edwards turnover, the Bears iced this one early in the 4th quarter on a drive where they ate up clock, converted short yardage plays, or let the Eagles’ defense commit a penalty to pick up the first down, and ended up scoring a touchdown on a Case Keenum QB sneak, which was really just a 38-year old man falling forward uncontested. 27-7 Chicago.

The Eagles are 5-6 on Monday Night Football in the Sirianni era. Right now, they are not a hard team to beat. All you need to do is hang on for dear life in the first half and watch them absolutely collapse offensively in the second half while their defense eats up minutes and gets exhausted. The Bears had possession of the ball for 13 minutes longer than Philly. The Eagles committed 10 penalties for 61 yards. They were not tough, detailed, or together. They lack any defining qualities. An offense that is going through growing pains is faking it like a Shanahan/McVay offense until they make it. Jalen Hurts has high highs and baffling lows. Saquon Barkley has yet to put together a complete game. Cam Jurgens cannot play left guard for the life of him, and the line went from a strength to a wet paper towel. And Vic Fangio’s defense doesn’t generate enough pressure or turnovers to make up the difference.

With the Rams coming into town next week, this Eagles team has way more questions than answers and way more weaknesses than strengths. They are a long way from where they could be with no map to get there.

Trending Up

• DeVonta Smith: I can’t say enough about the Slim Reaper. When the ball gets to him, he’s as reliable as a seeing street race in a Fast and Furious movie. The only highlight the Eagles offense had in this game was a beautiful catch by Smith over the head of Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

• Quinyon Mitchell: Mitchell had some noteworthy pass breakups in this one. He continues to be the most (only) reliable piece of the Eagles defense on a week-to-week basis.

Trending Down

• Vic Fangio’s Game Plan: Ben Johnson’s Bears beat the Eagles last Black Friday by using a combination of misdirection, play-action, and a run game that converts on short downs to grind this defense down. The Bears beat the Eagles last night by using a combination of misdirection, play-action, and a run game that converts on short downs. Brian Flores gave away the recipe to stop this offense last week by frontloading the box with defenders, but Uncle Vic said, “I have my own recipe, thanks.” The Eagles defense was put in hell by the Bears’ misdirections, stretching them laterally and forcing them to guess. It would’ve been nice to see Vic break tendency on this one. Or for the Eagles defenders to make a tackle or two.

• The Entire Offense: The worst part about the Eagles offense is that they’re not outright bad. They don’t have America’s Funniest Home Videos-style screw-ups like the Los Angeles Chargers. They are anemic. A slow and painful death. Their ineptitude slowly sinks in like severe dehydration. We knew with this many wholesale changes and a first-time offensive coordinator, there would be growing pains. But this is what they signed up for by bringing in a first-time coordinator, an offensive line coach who was fired for not doing more with less in Minnesota, and a first-time quarterbacks coach who’s been adjacent to dumpster fires in the past. The Eagles have some issues time and familiarity will fix. But they also have some rot at the foundation that time won’t heal. The offense has less rhythm than the dancefloor at a Noah Kahan concert. They don’t seem to do anything well.

• Marcus Epps: This man cannot tackle. The Eagles safeties are more of a liability than I thought. The one thing the Eagles miss with Reed Blankenship is a sure tackler. They do not have that at the safety position right now.

• Jalen Hurts: Jalen was inconsistent. He had some incredible moments, but it feels like he’s still getting comfortable with the offense while the offense is failing. It’s like interior decorating a house that’s falling into a sinkhole. He needs support from the line and the run game, while making quicker decisions when he can.

• Makai Lemon Screen Plays: Blow this play off the face of the earth.

• The Tight End Room: The Eagles tight end room is about as deep as a Ying Yang Twins song. Without Dallas Goedert, they’re relying on a newly signed late-30s Zach Ertz coming off a major injury, a practice squad TE in EJ Jenkins, and a guy whose defining quality is blocking in Johnny Mundt, to make some magic. This room is bad, and it’s limiting an offense that wants multiple TEs on the field.

Hot Takes

• The Eagles Look Undisciplined: Nick Sirianni has been lauded for stressing the fundamentals. “Tough, Detailed, Together” is the mantra for this Eagles team. But in this game, the Eagles lacked all three. The defense was defined by missed tackles and penalties. The offense racked up penalties of their own and struggled to block or run the ball. A team that has long been defined by its strength in the trenches no longer excels on the offensive or defensive line. This is a team that looks sloppy and undisciplined. The Bears outplayed them last night, but the Eagles gave them every opportunity to do so.

• The Defensive Line is a Problem: This season we expected to see a dominant Eagles defensive line with a newly extended Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, Jalyx Hunt set to take the next step, Jonathan Greenard filling the shoes as the premier pass rusher, and strong depth pieces in Arnold Ebiketie and AJ Epenesa. Unfortunately, none of that has come to fruition. Fangio’s defense prefers not to send additional rushers as blitzers, putting stress on the line to get pressure. But the line is getting bullied by every offensive line they face. Case Keenum had all day to make the Eagles pay with no pressure in his face. Without pressure, this defense is falling apart from the inside out. And when they can’t stop the run when they need to the most.

• Fix the Third Quarter: Hire a consultant or something. The Eagles’ struggles in the third quarter are sinking this team.

Things Only I Care About

• Nick Sirianni Screaming at Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson Over the Jalen Hurts Hit:

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The darkest times can require the brightest moments. Moments that need heroes. Those built to both accept the reality of their situation and command it. Ignoring time and odds and probability to meet that moment. Think Batman in Batman Returns. Or Batman in The Dark Knight. Or…uh…Batman in the Robert Pattinson one. On a 100-degree day in Tennessee, the Philadelphia Eagles needed heroes.

The Eagles honky-tonked into Nashville to take on a downtrodden Titans team on what felt like the surface of the sun (or, as Nick Sirianni poetically described it, “hot as shit”). This is a Titans team that hired two bald former flameout New York head coaches to turn around their fortunes.

If you’ve never been to Nashville, it’s best described as a town whose main mode of transportation is a Pedal Pub driven by bachelorettes that blasts Party In The U.S.A. Eagles fans took over the city, making Nissan Stadium feel like a home game. You could hear an EAGLES chant with such clarity it felt like someone was yelling it directly into your ear.

In what should’ve been a blowout against the Titans (a team named the exact opposite of how they’ve performed on the field in recent history), the Eagles instead opted for a close game (side note: You don’t usually see the words “close game” paired with the words “Tennessee Titans.” Much like you don’t see Tennessee Titans paired with the words “winning” or “I want to watch”).

The Eagles celebrated Halloween early by going full Jekyll and Hyde. After a 15-play, 64-yard opening drive that brought the Birds inside of the red zone, Jalen Hurts threw an interception to Titans safety Amani Hooker, who returned it for 92 yards. A few plays later, Cam Ward snuck the ball into the end zone to give the Titans the lead at 7-0. A backbreaking decision by Hurts and one this team could not afford so early in the game.

But in response, the Eagles’ offense did this thing they do sometimes where they flash their potential. Like a really good first date or getting 3 of 4 numbers right on a scratch-off ticket. Hurts responded by completing his next 12 passes. Saquon Barkley left early with a stinger, but Tank Bigsby took the reins and made the most of his opportunities, often running through hordes of defenders to nail down extra yardage and scoring his first touchdown of the season. The Birds had their next two drives go over 10 plays and scored touchdowns on each one.

The passing game was electric. Hurts navigated endless pressure in the pocket to dice up Tennessee’s secondary, including a beautiful 22-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith (Wide Receiver 1 on the depth chart and in our hearts). The Eagles dominated time of possession in the first half, holding the ball for 22 minutes, which is the approximate length of that Fresh Prince episode where Uncle Phil takes on those pool sharks.

The defense held Cam Ward and Tennessee’s offense down like a smooth shot of whiskey. But before halftime things changed. Ward and the offense used two explosive plays to get into field goal range and sneak points before the halftime bell.

There’s hell and then there’s the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter. Momentum shifted. Philadelphia’s offensive line blocked as well as toilet paper trying to stop a rocket. Hurts was under constant pressure, the running game crumbled, and the offense was immobile. Titans All-World defensive Tackle Jeffrey Simmons delivered relentless pressure that collapsed Philadelphia’s paper-mache offensive line and limited the offense.

Meanwhile, Tennessee’s offense punished an exhausted Eagles defense in the run game and with timely downfield throws to Calvin Ridley and Elic Ayomanor. The combination of Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard (who I will be calling Tony Poultry because it’s funny to me) ripped off chunk runs. The Titans tied the game at 17 a piece with a Cam Ward scramble to the end zone. Towards the end of the 4th quarter, thanks to a 27 yard run by Tyjae Spears on a 3rd and 22, the Titans scored the go-ahead field goal to make it 20-17.

The Birds had 2:25 to go to exorcise their demons against Tennessee, a team they haven’t beaten on the road since the ‘90s. But heroes don’t panic. Jalen Hurts took the field and slowed down time. With his favorite crunch-time target Dallas Goedert out of the game due to injury, no running game to be seen, and relentless pressure, Jalen Hurts added another line to the legend.

And he did so by trusting in DeVonta Smith. The two synced up to work the Eagles down the field. Hurts hit Smith for a 22-yard pass on a 3rd and 6. And later hit Smith again for an insane 19-yard catch on another 3rd and 6. With 9 seconds to go, Hurts took the snap and found training camp hero Darius Cooper for a 3-yard touchdown pass. Ball game Birds.

On a day where the heat was as relentless as the pass rush. Where nothing was going well. The Philadelphia Eagles still found a way. Jalen Hurts still found a way. Oftentimes, NFL analysts don’t like to qualify winning as a skill. It’s hard to measure on an individual level. But at some point you need to take out your crystals and believe in the cosmic. That some people possess the innate ability to absorb the pressure around them. That some combination of nature and nurture can condition someone to turn the impossible into the inevitable. They say pressure makes diamonds, but Jalen Hurts has been shining for a long time. If doing what it takes to win is an art form, Jalen Hurts is Picasso.

The Eagles have a lot to clean up before a stretch against the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and Jacksonville Jaguars. But for now we’re fortunate to come out of Music City with a W.

TRENDING UP

• QB1: Jeffrey Simmons said the Titans needed to make Jalen Hurts a quarterback to win, and Hurts obliged. Jalen was dynamic in this one. To respond to an opening drive near-pick 6 by completing 12 straight passes shows his mental fortitude. He navigated the pocket well and delivered an iconic game-winning drive. Send this tape to Dan Orlovsky, the dude who claimed that Justin Herbert plays “the way it should look” and Jalen Hurts doesn’t. The same Justin Herbert who lost to both the Cardinals and Raiders at home.

• WR1: If there was any question that DeVonta Smith could fill the void left by A.J. Brown, it’s been more than answered. On a day where the offense struggled, Smith reeled in 10 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, including two 15+ yard catches on the final drive, each more impressive than the last.

• Darius Cooper: Cooper caught the game-winning touchdown which was the first of his professional career. A player who’s been getting shine all offseason is finally blossoming.

• First Half Dontayvion Wicks: First half Dontayvion Wicks is Marvin Harrison. Or Jerry Rice. Or Anquan Boldin. Or Clark Kent. Wicks was a first-down machine, catching big passes when Hurts needed him most. Wicks is quickly becoming a favorite target of Hurts. Now we just need that to translate to the rest of the game.

• Tank Time: I’ve been beating the drum for Tank Bigsby to get more carries for a long time. With Saquon Barkley leaving the game, we finally got a taste of Tank Time. Bigsby’s 13 carries for 33 yards don’t look impressive, but the way he ran did. He received little to no blocking from the Eagles offensive line and frequently ran through defenders to squeak out extra yardage, resulting in a touchdown on the Eagles second drive of the game. Let Tank spin!

TRENDING DOWN

• Paper-Mache Offensive Line: I mentioned last week how the Eagles offensive line will take some time to come along. They’re learning a new scheme and in this one swapped two positions on the interior of the line with second-year man Drew Kendall at center and Cam Jurgens switching to left guard. But this week, the line was abysmal. The integrity of the inside of the line collapsed which made All-Pro tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson look bad. They couldn’t stop pressure from Jeffrey Simmons and the Titans front seven all day. They made no room for the Eagles running game. What was the strength of this team is its greatest weakness, with pretty much the same personnel. Cam Jurgens, especially, looked rough at left guard. I don’t know the answer here other than hoping that with time they can get their sea legs. New offensive line coach Chris Kuper was booted from Minnesota after last season because he didn’t have any answers when their line fell apart due to injuries. We don’t know if he can be trusted to fix this thing. Without a strong line, this Eagles offense is dead in the water.

• Run Defense: This week they allowed a combination of Tony Poultry and Tyjae Spears to run for over 100 yards on Fangio’s defense, with most of those coming in key game situations. I’m willing to forgive given the heat index on this one, but in the first two weeks of the season the Eagles defense has been unable to stop the run game in key moments.

• Eagles in the Third Quarter: The worst third quarter team last season struck again. Today, the Eagles went 3-and-out twice in the third quarter while also coming away with a field goal. This team continues to struggle after halftime, forcing them to rely on late game heroics to churn out a win. It’s a trend that doomed the Eagles last season and could impact them again this season.

• Early Down Eagles: The Eagles are a very bad early down offense. This stat from SumerSports says it all.

HOT TAKES

• This Team is in Desperate Need of Jonathan Greenard: Though the Birds came away with two sacks in this one, including a timely sack by Jalen Carter at the end of the game, the pass rush hasn’t been the most inspiring these past two weeks. Jalyx Hunt has yet to take the leap we all expected and none of the Eagles depth pieces have flashed. The Eagles need a finisher. Someone who can take advantage of the double teams on the interior and hit the quarterback. Someone like…Jonathan Greenard. Once Greenard gets back it could take him a bit to get up to speed, but this is an Eagles defense that is struggling to create pressure without some juice from him.

• I Would Have Kept Cam Jurgens at Center: Shout out to Drew Kendall for coming into a hostile situation in his first NFL game and keeping the offense on track on the game-winning drive. But Jurgens absolutely struggled at left guard. Granted he was going up against Jeffrey Simmons who stays on demon time. But in the long run, I think you cap the potential of the whole front by shifting a potential All-Pro center to another position rather than finding a new left guard. Hopefully Jurgens and the whole line can get up to speed, but this feels like an unnecessary risk for me.

• Playing in the Heat is the Worst Weather: The beauty of football is in sometimes getting kicked in the teeth by the weather. But I am of the belief that playing in sweltering heat is the worst. Cam Jurgens mentioned that players had their cleats melting during the game. In the heat, there’s really nothing you can do. I can barely walk to my car in the heat. Imagine getting hit by a 300 lb man. Snowstorm? They have gear to keep you warm. Rainstorm? They have gear to keep you dry. But in the heat? You’re fucked.

THINGS ONLY I CARE ABOUT

• Drew Brees. Beloved QB. Bad Commentator: Dear Drew, you don’t have to do this. You had a great career. Why don’t you open a car dealership or coach at a DIII college? Did you think it was good analysis when you said that Jalen Hurts should lower his shoulder and fight two yards for a first down in the first quarter? Did you really mean it when you said there is no better route runner in the NFL than Calvin Ridley? Have you even been watching the game? Go live your life. Be free of Sundays. Cut a ribbon on a new parking complex or run for office, I don’t know man anything but this.

• Robert Saleh is Top Bald Man: If you are concerned about male pattern baldness I want you to look at Robert Saleh. The man has a perfectly symmetrical head. He is every bald man’s wildest dreams. He needs to be in commercials for head polish (is that a thing) or start his own shaving line called “Just for Balds.” As a coach, the jury is out. As a bald man, he is a star.

  

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I spent the last week in Sicily. I say this both as a humble brag and a warning that my body is currently 50% arancini, 40% Aperol spritz, and 10% water. The island was lush and beautiful. It felt like some sort of alternate reality where I woke up and got Freaky Friday’d into a Rick Ross music video. I ate a lot of pasta and raw fish and pasta with raw fish on top (which also sounds like a Rick Ross lyric). But what I was really hungry for was something that the land could not provide.

As intoxicating as Italy is it can’t match the creature comfort of the NFL Fox theme song. Or the strange excitement of Fox’s weird CGI robot/transformer whose sole purpose is to look cool while holding a CGI football (editor’s note: The robot’s name is Cleatus. And there’s a great Fast Company article that dives into his origin story. Like did you know the idea for Cleatus was created by the 7-year-old son of current Fox Executive Vice President Gary Hartley? Or that in 2012 Fox had this Twitter account for Cleatus that was made to sound like Chuck Norris?).

Anyway football is back baby and it’s time for pure uncut Philadelphia Eagles gameplay. RIP to my future Sunday plans. The plans I’ll never know like figs falling from the tree only to rot on the beer-soaked ground (this may be the first time anyone has referenced Sylvia Plath in an Eagles article).

I huddled in a dark corner of my hotel room at 10 p.m. Sicilian time, ignoring the way the moon kissed the shimmering ocean to seek the warmth of a random pirating site I used to watch the Birds. For the Philadelphia Eagles, this offseason has brought about dramatic changes. With a defense mostly intact and flush with young talent, the offense received the largest overhaul since the start of the Nick Sirianni era (Patullo - A.J. = Mannion + new scheme + Wicks/Brown/Lemon).

And with great changes come great expectations. Like getting a new shirt in Sicily that you can’t wait to wear home, hoping people will say, “Wow, is that shirt from Sicily? That’s so sick. You are so cultured. Everyone says that about you.” Our new shirt is Sean Mannion, the new offensive coordinator, who’s aiming to evolve what the Eagles have done for years. We’ll see if it fits or if it’s as baggy as the last one.

The Eagles defense faced Mannion’s fellow ex-quarterback, who was also not very good in the NFL but is now an offensive playcalling star in the making in David Blough. Will David Blough it? Is Sean the Mannion for the job? How many puns before you unsubscribe? After crashing out against the Niners last year and with the doubters at the gate, the Eagles are looking for a John Wick-level revenge tour in 2026.

That revenge tour started with a hard-fought win over the Washington Commanders (Manders? Or as my homie Law calls them, “the Commandos”) and their head coach who dresses like a gym teacher with a heart of gold, Dan Quinn. The game featured some highs and lows, while also reminding us that the Nick Sirianni era of Eagles football embraces wins of all shapes and sizes. Our hiatus from the Birds made us forget just how ugly those wins can look. Either way, Sirianni has never lost in Week 1.

Mannion’s offensive coordinating career started off with some bangs and some whimpers. Jalen Hurts had a strong three-touchdown performance including a clutch 22-yard run on a 3rd and 18 in the fourth quarter on a drive that ended in a Dallas Goedert touchdown. Dontayvion Wicks turned from caterpillar into butterfly with a strong first half. And on the other side of the ball, the Eagles mostly held Jayden Daniels and the Manders in check until fatigue hit the unit late in the game.

But what can we learn about this Eagles team from Week 1? The first week of the season can feel like a mirage or that Twitter debate about the color of this dress. You kind of see what you want to see. Last year in Week 1 the Raiders beat the eventual Super Bowl participant New England Patriots and the Broncos barely beat the Titans. It’s hard to gauge the performance of an Eagles squad that didn’t have most of their starters play in the preseason. But Week 1 can reveal a little bit about these teams. So, what did we learn about our beloved Birds?

1. The Offensive Line Will Have Growing Pains and Regular Pains

The hardest part of evaluating the Eagles’ offensive performance in Week 1 is that the offensive line really struggled. This unit allowed Hurts to be pressured by a newly blitz-happy Commandos defense all day and struggled to find consistent running room for Saquon Barkley outside of Shayshawn’s 42-yard inside zone run of beauty.

This is a reminder that the Birds’ offensive line is shifting to a wide zone system, the foundation of the Shanahan/McVay offense and something none of these linemen have ever done before. It’s supposed to make things easier on the offensive line by requiring a little less thinking and keeping lineman off an island. But still, it is brand new.

The communication on the line at times was worse than when I fail to pick up hints that my girlfriend wants me to do the dishes. The main issue was the interior line, especially Landon Dickerson, who played like a swing door. We now know that Dickerson’s struggles were due in part to a bone bruise on his knee that is landing him on IR for the next four games.

Dickerson will be replaced by second-year man Drew Kendall out of Boston College who had a strong preseason. The Eagles are fortunate to boast solid depth on the line this year. Still, we’ll see if the rest of the line can keep the wheels on track while they try to round the learning curve.

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2. From Dontayvion Wicks to Don Wick

In this space we don’t use the name Dontayvion. We refer to the Eagles’ newest gem of a wide receiver simply as Don Wick. A man on a mission for revenge like you blew up his house and stole his puppy. When the Eagles traded for Wicks, the reviews were mixed. He’s a talented route runner with explosive play ability but had a serious case of rocks for hands with the Packers.

In Week 1, Wicks showed the ceiling is the sky. He caught a beautiful 64-yard pass from Jalen Hurts off play-action and capped off his half with a 9-yard touchdown. Wicks is an explosive playmaker who complements DeVonta Smith well. Unfortunately, Wicks and most of the offense came to a screeching halt in the second half. But if Hurts had time to navigate the pocket, I guarantee we would’ve seen a bigger day from Don Wick. I’m excited to see how he continues to grow in his expanded role in the Eagles offense.

3. This Eagles Defense is as Great as Their Offense Allows Them to Be

This Philadelphia Eagles defense has the potential to be the best unit that Vic Fangio has coached in Midnight Green. The Eagles defense mostly kept Jayden Daniels and this surprisingly potent Manders offense in check until the end of the game. Everything looked hard for Washington outside of some timely chunk plays (which unfortunately is all it takes to stay in the game). In a rare down game, Cooper DeJean had potentially his worst performance as an Eagle since his first start in Tampa Bay in 2024, getting worked by Stefon Diggs in the slot.

Zack Baun was a miracle. He is one of those players who can singlehandedly stop an offensive drive. He is a bulldozer and a black hole. On one drive, Baun defended a pass against Stefon Diggs before blowing up a screen pass to Jacory Croskey-Merritt on the next play. His story has officially shifted from NFL success to one of the greatest linebackers I’ve ever seen play the game.

This defensive line only accumulated one sack for the day but pressured Daniels relentlessly. And this was a line without star addition Jonathan Greenard, who’s out with a pectoral injury suffered in training camp. Daniels had to call his number multiple times to keep the Commandos in it, including one ridiculous first-down conversion where he outspun two Eagles defenders. (Side note: LSU learned that when you call Jayden Daniels’ number, make sure to retire #5 afterwards or he might come for you. My nephew recently added 3+2 in kindergarten and is facing a cease and desist from Daniels team.)

The secondary limited Terry McLaurin to two catches for 14 yards with his first catch not coming until the fourth quarter. The safeties held strong aside from a miscommunication on a Commanders touchdown pass to rookie Antonio Williams. What killed this defense was the Eagles offense. The Birds lost the time of possession game, holding the ball for 26 minutes compared to Washington’s 33. The defense looked absolutely gassed at the end of this one and were bailed out by a baffling shovel pass call from David Blough for a two-point conversion that would’ve tied the game.

If the Eagles can get their run game going in these second halves and give their defense a chance to rest, this unit could truly be great.

4. The Eagles Need to Exorcise Their Third Quarter Demons

A calling card of the vaunted Kevin Patullo shitshow offense was the Eagles’ inability to do anything in the third quarter of games. Unfortunately, Patullo left that card on the playsheet. Due to the inefficiency of the offensive line, the Eagles couldn’t settle into their run game in the second half and therefore struggled to incorporate the play-action concepts they had success with. The Eagles went 3-and-out on 3 out of 5 drives in the second half. They were stuck in the mud. Hopefully as the line patches things up, this team can get back to strong starts and using a healthy dose of the run game to keep momentum going.

5. The Aggression of Sean Mannion’s Offense

It’s hard to judge Mannion’s debut. The same way it’s hard to judge the taste of a coffee when you just brushed your teeth. But one thing that was encouraging is how aggressive Boys-2-Mannion loves to be. The Eagles generated the 5th-highest explosive play rate in Week 1, according to Sam Hoppen. There was the 64-yard pass to Wicks, the beautiful 17-yard rip from Hurts to Dallas Goedert for a touchdown, and the 42-yard run by Barkley. It’s great to see Mannion take advantage of Hurts deep ball superpower and keep this Eagles offense aggressive.

6. Jalen Hurts Gets a Software Update

I love saying things like we as a society for things that we as a society most likely aren’t thinking as a whole. Anyway we as a society are too hard on Jalen Alexander Hurts. The Hurts arguments fail to mention the moments he is a ceiling raiser. He’s a coach’s son. A player who embraces the offense until circumstances dictate otherwise. This game, the circumstances dictated otherwise and Hurts raised the ceiling when the team needed it most.

Despite being under relentless pressure, Hurts played a great game. He threw for three touchdowns and delivered a beautiful 22-yard scramble late in the game to keep the Eagles in it. But Hurts’ true superpower is his ability to improve. He is a software update incarnate.

Both of his touchdowns to Goedert were delivered in the middle of the field, part of the field where he’s struggled in the past. He rarely seemed rushed despite the endless pressure from the Manders front seven (a stark difference from earlier in his career). He perfectly placed a pass to DeVonta Smith on the sideline for 31-yards. Hurts is obsessed with process and has seemingly fully embraced Sean Mannion’s offense. I think this is just the start of what could be a special year for him.

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7. Dallas Goedert Still Has “Fuck It I’ll Do It Myself” Mode

This is simply a celebration of Dallas Goedert. A dude who perpetually the Eagles are like “I don’t know should we bring him back” only to bring him back and have him win games by himself. The dude has the rare ability to tap into what I call “Fuck It I’ll Do It Myself Mode.” He is a walking touchdown. A secret weapon. A missile in Midnight Green. His second touchdown of the day was a pass from Hurts he stomped for 42-yards into the end zone. The rest of the talent on this offense makes us forget the special connection he has with Hurts. The Man Named After A City at times is the most important person on this Eagles offense.

8. Can the Eagles Turn a Lemon into Lemonade?

I like Makai Lemon. I think he has the potential to be a special receiver. But injuries in training camp have limited how much he’s been able to come along. The Eagles are working this wide receiver room with a positionless basketball like mentality. That’s showcased in how they used Lemon in Week 1.

At his best, my guy Makai is a dynamic slot receiver. That’s where his skills are best suited. But the Eagles moved Lemon all over the formation. It’ll be something to keep track of as the weeks go on. I hope the Eagles mostly rely on Lemon in the slot (where his lone catch out of the flat came from) as the rookie gets acclimated to the NFL. It will be a slow start for Lemon, but I have faith he’ll get there if the Birds play this right.

I have this theory that every sport is better when it resembles professional wrestling. And that’s not just because I grew up on a healthy diet of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and the Undertaker. Or because my buddies and I used to drag a twin mattress into the backyard and practice suplexes. Or because you can probably find me at an Eagles tailgate doing my best Stone Cold Steve Austin impression, slamming two Miller High Lifes together which everyone me gets very upset about.

It’s because sports at their best are mythology. Age-old narratives of heroes versus villains. Good versus evil. Rocky versus the Russian. Conquering unbeatable odds and seeing a bad guy get what’s coming to them. It’s the essence of the stories we retell about our favorite teams and our favorite moments.

No one understands this better than professional wrestling. Character development is woven around babyfaces (heroes) and heels (villains). The storylines are captivating even when they’re outlandish (anyone remember that time The Rock threw Stone Cold off of a bridge). But lately in professional sports, especially in professional football, we’re seeing more heroes and fewer heels.

I first thought about this in 2024. Early in the NBA season, the national narrative centered on the decline of NBA viewership. Adam Silver and his billionaire overlords lost their grip on the game. The season felt boring and uninspired, and the NBA lost 30,000 viewers per game that season, according to Sportico. Then Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the dead of night.

Viewership jumped 16% after the trade, according to Sportico. Aside from the shock and awe of one of basketball's premier players being sent to one of the NBA’s premier teams in a lopsided deal, the Luka trade gave us something else. A singular heel to unite against: Nico Harrison, the ex-general manager of the Dallas Mavericks. Nico was someone to root against. Someone to make memes about. The league took off and never looked back.

As a football fan, I’d argue that the NFL could use the same juice. Gone are the days of Brady and Belichick’s dominance or Ndamukong Suh stomping on people (ok maybe don’t bring that back). The NFL is already an engaging product. But to take it to the next level, it needs its next great heel.

So I hit up my friend Roy Burton, a diehard wrestling and sports fan who covers Philly sports for The Broad Street Line and PHLY Sports. Roy and I talk about what makes a great heel, why we’re seeing fewer of them, and who could be the next great villain for the 2026 NFL season.

To kick it off, could you explain what a heel is and what role a heel traditionally plays in wrestling?

ROY: So a heel in wrestling is the general definition of a “bad guy.” But more importantly, they’re a foil to the babyface, or the “good guy.” You could theoretically have two good guys fight each other, but that’s not the drama. The drama is when you have the villain versus your clean-cut, All-American good guy. It’s the story of time, right? Protagonists and antagonists, good versus evil. There are always opposite sides of the spectrum. The heel plays that role.

It’s like David versus Goliath or me versus Costco on a Sunday morning. Mortal enemies.

ROY: Yeah, it’s like anybody versus the Wawa parking lot, right? There are certain battles you can’t win.

What makes a good heel in wrestling?

ROY: Obviously, they were the ones who break the rules and cheat and things like that. But more than that, great heels really lean into it. A great heel will beat you up and then get on the microphone and say, “You know what? I just beat you up because I saw you standing here.” Like it’s onsight, they’ll show up backstage and stomp you out.

I feel like you bring up a good point about the charismatic nature of a heel, right? Do you feel like all heels are kind of magnetic in a weird way?

ROY: I think my favorite heels are the ones who had the mic skills. Like Ric Flair right? You know, jet-flying, limousine-riding guy shows up with the Rolex in a fur coat. You could put a microphone in front of him, and my man would just go off for minutes and just go crazy. “Dusty Rhodes, you’re a piece of trash, you know, son of a plumber,” like he’ll just go off. It’s like, well, I’m not supposed to like this guy, but he’s so charismatic.

It’s like, well, I kind of wish I could get this off in real life. I wish I could kind of say this to the authority figures in my life, because that seems cool.

When you threw this topic at me, I was thinking about Dillon Brooks (Phoenix Suns player), right? I’m not the biggest Dillon Brooks fan in the world. But him showing up at a Lakers game just to see LeBron lose...that’s an insane level of hate. That’s the epitome of being a heel.

Yeah, Dillon Brooks is such a good example because one of the main benefits that he brings to a team is his ability to pick somebody out of a lineup and just be like, “I hate that dude.”

ROY: Right, exactly. He’s a good shooter, he’s a good defender. He does a bunch of other things well. He’s not exceptional, but most importantly, he just hates, right? And then his hate just gets under that opponent’s skin. Some guys can deal with it, but some guys, they get thrown off.

If we were playing 2K, his hate rating would be at a 99.

ROY: 99 on hate. Exactly.

For sports in general, do you feel like there are fewer heels than there used to be?

ROY: Yeah, there’s not that many heels, at least NFL-wise. I think, to be honest, a lot of guys just don’t wanna mess up the money, right? I think people wanna be likable. And I think if you’re the angry guy, if you’re the villain or perceived as the villain, you know people say, “Oh, well that means people won’t follow me on social media, and if they don’t follow me on social media then they won’t listen to my podcast or buy my gear” or whatever.

You’re right. Every player is a brand now. I also wonder when you’re Dennis Rodman doing what you’re doing on the Pistons in the ‘90s, the only public pressure you’re getting is from fans of the game or the media at large. You’re not really going on Twitter and seeing everybody laying into you for what you did that night. The public pressure is more omnipresent now than it used to be.

ROY: Yeah, we’ve seen it with athletes even when they don’t do bad things. They might just miss a shot, and then they’ll go on Twitter and see so much vitriol. They’re like, “All right, I gotta deactivate this. I gotta step away. I can’t be on social media.” Dennis Rodman, perfect example. The Pistons were super villains. Those are guys who just knock you in the front row. If you fouled Anthony Edwards into the first row now, it’s on First Take. That pressure is everywhere. And maybe it’s not worth the effort to kind of sully my brand in any way to be a villain.

That’s real. Also speaking of First Take, Stephen A. Smith is the ultimate heel.

ROY: Oh, absolutely.

Who do you feel like are some of the greatest heels throughout sports history that you’ve witnessed? We talked about the Bad Boy Pistons.

ROY: Yeah, Bad Boy Pistons are there. In college football, those Dennis Erickson, Jimmy Johnson, Miami Hurricanes teams. Basically they would come and say, “yeah, we’re gonna stomp you out.” And then they come and stomp you out. Like Jerome Brown rolling up in the fatigues before the Fiesta Bowl against Penn State, like that kind of crazy. Just elite heels. And they were better than you. I’d probably say Bill Belichick and those Patriots teams. But I don’t think they, like, talked it. They were a little bit different than most heels. The Spygate stuff came out, and then Deflategate came out. It became like, well, I already hated them dudes because they won the division like 15 years in a row. But now I really hate them dudes.

Alright. I’m going to read you this list of NFL heels and let me know what you think. I have Jerry Jones.

ROY: Yeah, I mean, like there’s no denying that. And again, like they haven’t won. We really are supposed to hate the Cowboys, but they haven’t won in literally three decades. But every year Jerry Jones comes out and is like, “Alright, well, I’m going to make sure you’re talking about my team.” That’s probably his most enduring legacy.

Also I hate to say this because I really dislike Jerry Jones. He’s kind of charismatic. He has a Southern drawl, he’s not afraid to beef with his own players. Like, he’s kind of charismatic.

ROY: Like I couldn’t say I wouldn’t be Jerry Jones if I was 80 years old. I couldn’t say that I wouldn’t be doing the exact same thing that he’s doing. So I get it. I’d be on the sidelines. I’d be the GM, the Player Personnel Director, Lead Scout. I’d definitely be calling plays. He’s probably a toned-down version of what I would be, so I’m like, alright, I get it.

Oh definitely.

ROY: I was saying, part of the appeal of a heel is they kind of do the things you want to do, right? And if I was in Jerry Jones’ position, I’d bring up the Madden playbook. I’m like, this is what we’re calling in the first quarter bro. This is my team. And so we’re going to call some single back ace plays, and we’re going to march down this field.

What about George McCaskey, the owner of the Bears, who is threatening to move them to Indiana?

ROY: So I think this is more like a local thing. Because I don’t think most people care. But I mean, like the Chicago people care, right? Like the Bears have been at Soldier Field for like a hundred years. And you’re moving them out of it. Like, he can’t show his face in Chicago within the city limits if that happens. That’s super heelish behavior.

He’s a little bit more of a Disney villain than a heel. He’s literally like from a Disney Channel movie trying to move the team, and the team has to win in order to stay. Ok, what about Aaron Rodgers?

ROY: I thought about him when you brought this up. But yeah, let me hear your argument.

He played for the most historic franchise in the NFL. He made jaw-dropping plays game after game. And he was just seen as a good old American boy, very much in line with Tom Brady. You know, drafted later than he should have been. He carried that spite, which us as sports fans, we love people who are very spiteful and use that power for good.

But then things started to change. I think things started to change culturally, as we got more access to our athletes in terms of what they think, what they feel. Aaron Rodgers started to kind of slide out of favor a little bit in Green Bay after they drafted Jordan Love. We saw him become this sort of a crotchety old man. Unfortunately, that also coincided with the rise of conspiracy theories. He became this guy who thinks he’s uber intelligent, knows everything about the world, and kind of treats the people around him not well. Played for the Jets, had that iconic shot of him running out with the flag, only to get injured.

ROY: That’s 100% spot on. The only reason why I wasn’t all the way bought in is that I think we kind of know this is his last year. But you’re right. In terms of heelish guys, he’s absolutely top three on the list. Early years in Green Bay, fantastic quarterback. I’ll still say to this day, I’ve never seen anybody throw a football better than Aaron Rodgers. But then he, you know, graduated from YouTube University at some point over the last six or seven years. And I was like, all right, bro.

The last one that I have is somebody that we both are close with, not physically but spiritually…Nick Sirianni

ROY: Oh that’s a good one!

He’s a very outrageous character, which is authentically like who he is, right? He’s making crazy gestures on the sidelines. He’s screaming at Chiefs fans after a last-minute win in 2023. He’s yelling at Robert Saleh in a preseason game against the Jets. He’s just like this very naturally aggressive character, which I think the team rallies around. But it rubs a lot of people outside of Philadelphia the wrong way…and inside of Philadelphia.

ROY: For sure.

And I feel like the sneaky thing about Nick Sirianni, too, is that he is a dominant coach.

ROY: Yeah, his winning percentage of all time is unbelievable. He’s unbelievably successful. Two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl title. Like, this is a franchise that did not have a Super Bowl title for the longest time. Nick Sirianni’s been to two. And it’s still like, “Hey, man, is he going to be here next year?” I don’t know. Like maybe? It’s the weirdest thing bro.

If I were the head coach of the Eagles, I’d probably act just like Sirianni. Celebrating on the sidelines, screaming at opposing fans. You know, why not? This could be this dude’s one chance to be an NFL head coach. Like, why not go out your way?

ROY: Listen man, if I’m in the Super Bowl and I dial up the dagger, I might throw a crotch chop or two out there. I might talk a little something.

Alright, I’m going to give you a few narratives for characters who I think could be heels in the 2026 NFL season. I want you to rate them on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being a babyface. 10 being like the most heel of heels. Let’s say 10 is like Ric Flair.

ROY: 10 is Ric Flair. Okay, alright.

So the first one. It’s a head coach who’s known to be a little bit saucy from time to time and is a little bit newer to the head coaching game, but is just like beloved by the media. Recently, he’s gotten into a little bit of a beef with Jaguars coach Liam Coen. He took off his shirt in the locker room after beating the Cowboys last year and was yelling. He said, “F the Packers” in the locker room last year and didn’t back down from it. What if his team, the Chicago Bears, keeps rolling and they don’t regress like most people think they will? They’re not only winning, but they’re beating up the competition. Do you think that Ben Johnson could be a 2026 heel?

ROY: I like that. I like that a lot. I don’t know if he’s Ric Flair level, but I mean, he’s probably like an 8. Like you said, he’s a very sharp offensive mind, and he isn’t scared to tell you about it. He’ll say things like, “You know, if Caleb Williams played better, we’d be even better.” He doesn’t shy away from hating the Packers. And we don’t have too many good rivalries in sports anymore, but that seems like it could be one. I can see if the Bears kind of go like 12-5 and make a deep run, maybe an NFC title game. And Ben Johnson’s the honest Ben Johnson that he’s been these last couple of years. I can see them being one of the more hateable teams in the NFL for sure.

I think it has good entertainment value. He’s somebody who’s so loved by the NFL community. But part of that is because we just haven’t really heard from him until now. I think there’s potential for him to lean into his freak a little bit, you know.

ROY: Yeah, there’s something there. Because again, last year they won a bunch of their games with less than two minutes to go. People are like, alright, you know, it’s kind of luck. Now if they have like, “legitimate wins,” he’ll absolutely make it known, like “hey man, like a lot of people doubted us, and look at us now.” So yeah, I don’t know who else is on your list, but Ben Johnson might be number one.

Number two. What do you think about 2026 Micah Parsons as a heel?

ROY: That’s a very good one. He is much like Draymond Green in that he is quick to run to that podcast and speak his mind about certain things. He really talks about the NFC East more than anybody in America.

The Eagles especially.

ROY: It’s like bro, you know you want to be an Eagle, like you want to be an Eagle, man. I don’t know what it was in the water up at Happy Valley or something, but obviously you got a whiff of something that we were cooking in Philadelphia. He never stops talking about the Cowboys. I think it’s more just Cowboy hate than anything else. So to me, he’s probably a 5-ish heel. I don’t know if it’s going to be league-wide hate. He’s just a guy who's mad about his situation.

Number three. This player is in a contract year. He’s sort of like a mid-tier quarterback. He’s been known to openly beef with his general manager and ownership for not really giving him the contract that he wants. What do you think about 2026 Baker Mayfield as a heel?

ROY: The blueprint’s there. He’s kind of been disrespected, and if I’m Baker Mayfield, I slide over the list of guys who are making $50 million, and I’m like, “Look, I’m better than at least like four or five of these guys.”

That’s real.

ROY: And if I’m Tampa Bay and I’m like bro, I’m not paying you $50 million just because those teams made mistakes. If they’re like 5-12, I would absolutely see him air out ownership or air out the GM. Because of the quarterbacks in this league in this era, he’s one of the more outspoken ones. A lot of these guys don’t really talk that much. Baker talks. Baker will not be scared to share a piece of his mind. I’d probably put it at like a 7.

Alright, next one. Do you think Jaguars head coach Liam Coen could be a 2026 heel?

ROY: Liam Coen? Hmm. I think it’s more so the team itself. I think they’re perennially underdogs. He kinda has that chip on his shoulder. I think Ben Johnson’s more heel-ish. I think Baker’s more heel-ish. I think Liam Coen would drop a little snarky comment or something like that, but he’s not going to lean all the way into it like a Sirianni. He’s probably closer to a 5 or a 6.

6 makes perfect sense for him. I think he has all the great makings of a great heel other than the fact that he is coaching in Jacksonville. Because the Jags could literally go undefeated, and I feel like not a lot of people care.

ROY: No one would care. I was surprised you didn’t bring up a possible heel with a local tie. I was thinking A.J. Brown.

So my thing about A.J. Brown is… actually, give me your case and then I’ll give him a rating.

ROY: Do I need a case for A.J. Brown? The man who won a Super Bowl title and came out like days later on Instagram saying, “Man you know I thought the Super Bowl would be great I thought it would fill all my needs I don’t really care about all that stuff all I care about is scoring touchdowns over dudes like Emmanuel Forbes and like other little cornerbacks.” It’s like “yeah I know we’re winning but…” There shouldn’t be a “but,” man. We should all be on the same page. Like, sometimes you’re going to have three catches. Sometimes you have 11 catches. Winning is the second most important thing to me. To me, that’s heelish behavior.

I have to come clean as somewhat of an A.J. Brown apologist. But I think you convinced me that A.J. Brown is like a classic heel. He fits the diva wide receiver mold that we’ve seen in the past, like a Terrell Owens or Antonio Brown before he truly went crazy and froze his foot off. You know, Twitter’s a hell of a drug. My man was all over that, posting like Art of War quotes.

ROY: He went on Twitch with his buddy Janky Rondo and said “If you have me in fantasy football, cut me.” Like during the season.

Wasn’t it after a win?

ROY: Yeah, I think it was after they won. He read a book on the sideline during a game. On the sideline? Like, we’ve seen wide receivers yell at quarterbacks, yell at coordinators, yell at coaches. My man just said, you know what, I’m going to put on this big puffer jacket and pull out my book and my highlighter and just calm myself down. When have you ever seen such passive-aggressive behavior on the sideline in an NFL game? It’s unbelievable.

I would give A.J. Brown an 8 that you could bump up to possibly a 10. If New England starts the season hot and he’s playing really well. He and Drake Maye have a connection. And every press conference, he’s talking to reporters in the locker room, he’s comparing what it’s like to be in Boston to what it’s like to be in Philly. He’s sub-tweeting.

ROY: I like that. During the season, I think we’ll get a better handle. If there’s some veiled shots at Jalen, some veiled shots at Sirianni during the season. I can definitely see that 8 becoming a 10 for sure.

Oh, totally. Especially if the Eagles play well and the national narrative around them is that they got rid of a toxic piece. He’s going to see that and respond to it.

ROY: The IG post, the cryptic Bible verse, is up there.

Well, Roy, listen, man. Thanks for taking the time. Thanks for breaking this down. Ben Johnson, the official heel of 2026.

ROY: I would like to see some kind of natural rivalry or some natural heels kind of emerge from the NFL this season, for sure.

Yeah, we need it.

The preseason is not for the faint of heart. After going over 6 months without football, we cling to grainy practice footage and exhibition games between backups for sustenance. We’ve wandered through the desert of the NFL offseason hungry for football only to be handed a ketchup sandwich. That ketchup sandwich is the preseason. It’s empty calories with a level of excitement that makes Downton Abbey look like Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. It makes Mister Rogers look like Metallica. That being said, I absolutely love it.

I’m prone to taking an early August contest between the Eagles and Ravens backups too seriously. Writing notes on how many snaps backup defensive lineman Ty Robinson is getting while I navigate the confused and concerned looks from my girlfriend wondering why I’m pretty much watching dudes practice. I love seeing rookies’ flash potential. I love seeing longtime backups get their opportunity to show what they can do. I love jumping to conclusions based on games that mean nothing. Preseason is a drug I can’t seem to kick.

For us fans, the preseason doesn’t reveal much while also revealing everything. Coaches play generally vanilla schemes and rely on bland playcalling to assess talent, so as not to show their cards ahead of the season. Starters who do play in the preseason don’t play with maximum effort. But we get to see highly drafted rookies touch grass in our favorite uniforms for the first time (unless that rookie is Makai Lemon) and the development of second-year players primed to bump up their playing time. We get to find heroes in the rough. Those undrafted rookies or wayward vets getting another chance to show what they can do. Getting attached to dudes like that is like falling in love with a Game of Thrones character who dies two episodes later. The feats of most preseason heroes don’t often transfer to the regular season, but occasionally they make the leap.

That’s what brings us here today, ladies and gentlemen. Today we answer the question that literally no one has been wondering. Who are the greatest preseason players in Eagles history? By Eagles history, we ofcourse mean since 2014 when the NFL started tracking preseason statistics. We’ll look at the heroes in the rough, the highly touted stars, and the wayward veterans who showed up when the lights were dimmest and the stands were at less than capacity. This is your Philadelphia Eagles All-Preseason team.

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Quarterback: 2015 Sam Bradford

In 2015, Chip Kelly locked Howie Roseman in a closet in the Novacare Complex and took the wheel. Driving under the influence of power, Kelly flipped future Eagles savior “Well Endowed” Nick Foles, a 2015 4th-round pick, and a 2016 2nd-round pick to Jeff Fisher’s St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford (a man who played with the largest sleeves known to man). Sammy Sleeves came to Philly with high hopes for a team in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. He had a lot on his shoulders (literally, due to the size of his enormous shoulder pads).

But Sleevey Nicks flashed some signs of excellence. In the 2015 preseason, Bradford played two games to near perfection. He threw for an 86.7% completion percentage, going 13-for-15 to the tune of 156 yards and 3 touchdowns (including throwing 10-for-10 and 121 yards against Green Bay).

Unfortunately, that success didn’t translate to the regular season as Paul Thomas Sleeverson went 7-7 in games he started, throwing for 19 touchdowns (tied for 22nd in the league that season) and 14 interceptions (tied with Eli Manning for 7th-most in the league that season). Chip got fired and Howie eventually kicked down the door of the closet, shipped Sleevie Wonder to Minnesota for a first-round pick, and used the capital from that trade to draft Carson Wentz. The rest is history. But the sleeves will never be forgotten.

Running Back: 2015 Raheem Mostert

In 2015, someone clearly dumped an Alex Mack level of toxic goo into the Philadelphia water supply that turned everyone into a superhero. The same preseason that Sammy lit his sleeves on fire spinning the pigskin, an undrafted running back out of Purdue grabbed lightning in the palm of his hand. Raheem Mostert led the league in yards from scrimmage in the preseason. He was the next Darren Sproles. A versatile back who was a strong runner, a dangerous receiver, and a powder keg of a kick returner. The rare player who was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.

Mostert played in 4 games and ran for 157 yards at 4.03 yards per carry. On top of that, he had 14 catches for 194 yards at a whopping 13.86 yards per reception. The man was the human torch. Unfortunately, Mostert ran into an unstoppable force known as Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. He got cut from the Birds after his legendary preseason performance to make room for running backs DeMarco Murray (PTSD activated), Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, and Kenjon Barner.

Mostert finally caught on in his 4th year in the league, running for 772 yards and 8 touchdowns in Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco offense in 2019. He ran for over 1000 yards and 18 touchdowns with Miami and Mike McDaniel when the vibes were excellent in South Beach in 2023 and is currently mentoring 2nd-year running back Ashton Jeanty on the Las Vegas Raiders.

Wide Receiver: 2018 Shelton Gibson

I don’t know if you remember, but the Eagles weren’t always the best at drafting wide receivers (see: Reagor, Jalen). Enter Shelton Gibson. The 5th-round pick out of West Virginia was the Jerry Rice of Josh Huffs. The Larry Fitzgerald of Marvin McNutts.

In 2018, coming off a Super Bowl he was not a part of, Gibson came out swinging. In 3 preseason games, he caught 9 passes for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. Gibson looked like he’d become a contributor to an Eagles team looking to repeat. Unfortunately, in three seasons with the Eagles, Gibson failed to make much of a mark. He caught a total of 3 passes for 59 yards. Those are Sean McVay in college numbers.

Tight End: 2018 Dallas Goedert

The same season Young Shelton broke out as a preseason receiver, Philadelphia was introduced to a future legend. It was clear from the jump that Dallas Goedert had the goods. The Man Named After A City played in 3 games and caught 9 balls for 149 yards and 1 TD. Two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl win later, he is now one of the top 3 the greatest tight ends in Philadelphia Eagles history.

Defensive Tackle: 2021 T.Y. McGill

First off, T.Y. McGill sounds like the lead character in a Pixar movie about a private detective who’s also a fish who is investigating the lowering water levels in his home pond. It will be called “Up to My Gills” and T.Y. McGill will be voiced by Josh Brolin.

Anyway, dude was a defensive tackle for the Birds who made is mark in the preseason. The year before, McGill appeared in 7 games for the Birds in 2020 and recorded a half sack, 3 QB hits, 1 tackle for loss, and 9 tackles. The following preseason, McGill had 3 sacks, 1 pass defended, and 5 QB hits in 2 games. Unfortunately, he was traded to Washington after the preseason and then to Minnesota later in the year.

Defensive End: 2019 Daeshon Hall

In 2019, all of the clocks in Daeshon Hall’s house were set to Demon Time. The former 3rd-round pick from the Carolina Panthers was signed by Philly in December of 2018 off the Texans practice squad. That preseason, Daeshon went off.

In 4 games, he recorded 10 tackles, 4 sacks, and 11 quarterback hits. Hall got some playing time for the Eagles that season, recording 1.5 sacks, 9 tackles, and 3 quarterback hits that season. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in the last game of the 2019 season and was cut from the team the next year. He never managed to catch his footing again in the league.

Linebacker: 2017 Mychal Kendricks

Can I interest you in a linebacker who was really fast and hit really hard? That was Mychal Kendricks. A player who was fun to watch and occasionally slightly frustrating. But at his best, Kendricks was a human wrecking ball.

That season, Kendricks started at weakside linebacker next to Nigel Bradham and Jordan Hicks. In the preseason (back then a 5-year veteran would still play in the preseason), Kendricks just kind of bullied people. Appearing in 3 games, he got 1 sack, 4 tackles, and two tackles for loss, but also somehow caught 3 interceptions (1 in each game he played) and returned one for a touchdown.

Kendricks played 7 total years in Philly and helped lead us to our first-ever Super Bowl win later that year.

Cornerback: 2023 Eli Ricks

Ricks signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama. Ricks was also generally unimpressive. He had long arms and liked to use those for anything but covering wide receivers.

In the 2023 preseason, he flashed some potential, totaling 4 passes defensed and 1 interception returned for a TD. It looked like the Eagles unearthed some solid corner depth behind James Bradberry and Darius Slay. He played for the Birds for two years and was on the Super Bowl-winning roster in 2024. Other than that, he kind of stunk.

Safety: 2015 Ed Reynolds

Where my real sickos at? Ed Reynolds looked like a safety you would want on your team in 2015. He was 6’2”, big-bodied, super physical, and smart, playing for David Shaw’s Stanford team in college. His dad was a linebacker in the NFL. In 4 games that preseason, Reynolds recorded 14 tackles and 2 interceptions. He flew around like a wild man.

Unfortunately, Right Said Ed only played 1 season in Philly and appeared in 6 games, recording 21 tackles and 1 interception.

Not featured: Offensive line, because I need someone to start tracking offensive lineman data in the preseason.

Finding the offensive coordinator of your dreams is easy. Just take 3 simple steps:

1. Find a backup quarterback who was decent in college but not so great in the pros

2. Make sure they are 40 years old or younger. Bonus points if they were born after Sir-Mix-A-Lot dropped “Baby Got Back.”

3. Hand them the keys, light a cigar, and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

In the modern era of football, NFL teams have embraced the ingenuity of young offensive minds. If you’re close to Justin Bieber’s age and sat next to Sean McVay on a flight, we’ve got a job for you! But this past offseason, that embrace has gone into hyperdrive. And teams looking for fresh perspectives have entrusted their offenses to one particular group of ex-players: young backup quarterbacks.

Specifically, quarterbacks who kind of sucked in the NFL. Stunk. Blew chunks. As they say, those who can’t do become offensive coordinators. These days it’s almost better to be a backup quarterback on a good team than a starter on a bad one (looking at you 2045 Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Tanner McKee).

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The ex-quarterback coaching pivot reached its apex in the mid-aughts when career NFL backup Gary Kubiak won it all with Peyton Manning as head coach of the Broncos in 2015, and long-time backup quarterbacks-turned-coaches Doug Pederson and Frank Reich hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the Birds in 2017. Since 2000, teams have looked at coaches who were quarterbacks in college or the NFL as a golden ticket for offensive stewardship. 13 of 27 Super Bowl-winning teams since the turn of the century have employed a former quarterback as their offensive playcaller. And honestly, most of those dudes were not great at tossing the pigskin in the pros.

The most successful ex-quarterbacks to call a Super Bowl-winning offense by professional pass attempts since 2000 are Byron Leftwich with Tampa Bay in 2020 (had 1,905 career pro attempts), Doug Pederson (had 522 career pro pass attempts), Gary Kubiak (9 seasons with 298 pass attempts), Matt Cavanaugh with Baltimore in 2000 (won two Super Bowls backing up Joe Montana with the 49ers), and Kellen Moore (104 pro pass attempts).

In fact, most great offensive minds were not great players. Kyle Shanahan totaled 127 yards receiving in two seasons as a walk-on at the University of Texas. Sean McVay had 312 yards receiving in three seasons at Miami of Ohio. Andy Reid played offensive line at Glendale Community College. Ben Johnson was a reserve quarterback at UNC for three seasons.

But the argument for backup quarterbacks is that they are uniquely conditioned to excel as coaches. They spend time studying the stars, picking up the idiosyncrasies of coaching, understanding offense as a whole rather than a part. They are unburdened by the curse of natural talent. Without the innate athleticism and instincts to make the right play, they rely on hard work and an astute understanding of the game.

As backup QB who once ran out of the back of his own end zone, Dan Orlovsky said in an article in The Athletic in 2018, “You’re always the guy who is really good but not good enough. Why are you not good enough is probably tied to the physical, so how do you hang on, how do you play for a long time? A lot of the cases it’s because you have a good brain.”

This season, 18 teams will have new offensive play-callers. 10 of those 18 are former college or professional quarterbacks, bringing the league total to 53% of playcallers being ex-quarterbacks. 4 of those 10 are ex-quarterbacks over 40 who will make you think you woke up in a time machine (Frank Reich and Matt Nagy are the offensive coordinators of New York teams? Did I wake up in 2018?). Also, fun fact: new Browns head coach Todd Monken was ripping zingers for Division II school Knox College in the 80s and still has the record for most touchdowns thrown in a game, most passing touchdowns in a season, and most completions in a game. Call him Touchdown Todd.

6 of those 10 new ex-quarterback playcallers are 40 or under. A tradition that started after Sean McVay took the league by storm in his early 30s and got jobs for ex-quarterbacks like Matt LaFleur. I call this new class of offensive playcallers the OC Bros. They are the wunderkinds. The young guns that teams believe can punch their ticket to a championship-level offense. They bow at the altar of Zac Taylor. This season, those guys are:

• Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals Head Coach (39 years old)

• Tommy Reese, Atlanta Falcons Offensive Coordinator (34 years old)

• Zac Robinson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator (39 years old)

• Davis Webb, Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator (31 years old)

• Sean Mannion, Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator (34 years old)

• David Blough, Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator (31 years old)

Two of these guys are 1 B.J.B. ( “before Justin Bieber was born”). The job market for a young former QB is bustling. But these OC Bros need to meet a strict set of circumstances to become the head offensive honcho. So if you’re looking to go from backup quarterback in the league to offensive coordinator, there are a few steps you need to take.

Step 1: Have a great college football career

Listen, even Matt LaFleur left Saginaw Valley State University as the all-time leader in passing yards in school history. To become a bad backup quarterback in the league, you need to be a good one in college. Tommy Reese ranks top 4 in career passing yards and touchdowns at Notre Dame. Zac Robinson set the record for offensive yards at Oklahoma State.

Davis Webb threw for nearly 10,000 yards at Texas Tech and Cal. Sean Mannion is the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns at Oregon State and 5th all-time in Pac-12 passing yards, right below Jared Goff and above Michael Penix Jr. And David Blough is ranked 3rd in career passing touchdowns at Purdue, 4th all-time in career passing yards, and threw for the most yards in a single game in Purdue history. Get a little dip on that chip so you can make it into the shield.

The exception here is Mike LaFleur, who played quarterback at DII Elmhurst University before converting to safety his senior year.

Step 2: Backup a good quarterback

The best OC Bros learn from being in the presence of excellence, whether from the bench or the practice squad. It’s their proximity to greatness that makes them…maybe great. Zac Robinson was drafted by New England in the 7th round when Tom Brady was there. Davis Webb played with Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes in college, and backed up Eli Manning after he was drafted by the Giants in the 3rd round and Josh Allen later in his career. Sean Mannion backed up Nick Foles (our lord and savior), Jared Goff, and Kirk Cousins. David Blough backed up Matthew Stafford while with the Lions.

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Step 3: Have an unsuccessful playing career

And do it fast before you turn 40! The OC Bro needs to embrace his future rather than his present. Mike LaFleur and Tommy Reese never made it to the league as a quarterback. Check. Zac Robinson made it to the league but never took a meaningful snap. Check. Davis Webb played one game in his career (his last game ever) against the Eagles in 2022, where he went 23/40 for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). We’ll allow it.

Sean Mannion appeared in 14 total games in his 6-year career and threw for only 573 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. Solid. David Blough, unfortunately the most successful of the bunch, started 9 games in the NFL, throwing for 1,435 yds, 6 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Almost legitimate, but we’ll allow it.

Step 4: Be in the presence of great coaches

The final step is a big one. If you spent your career learning from Freddie Kitchens, I've got bad news for you. But if you shook Kyle Shanahan’s hand or got yelled at by Bill Belichick one time, you’re in the running.

Mike LaFleur spent most of his coaching career with Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. Tommy Reese coached under Brian Kelly at his alma mater and served as the offensive coordinator at Alabama during Nick Saban’s last season as head coach before joining Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland.

Zac Robinson spent his entire coaching career under Sean McVay. He called plays with Atlanta for the last two seasons under Raheem Morris, leading them to the 13th- and 26th-ranked offenses respectively (not the best). Davis Webb played under Kliff Kingsbury and Brian Daboll, and coached under Sean Payton (the OG OC Bro).

Sean Mannion played under Sean McVay, Pete Caroll, and Kevin O’Connell before coaching under Matt LaFleur. David Blough played under Dan Campbell and played and coached under Kliff Kingsbury.

And there you have it! A simple guide to success. It’s hard enough in this economy. Keep slinging that pigskin, but not too well, and send a cold email to Kyle Shanahan for a coaching internship.

Greatness can always fall victim to circumstance. Crowded rosters, overlooked skillsets, miscalculations of potential. Even the clearest diamonds go through the rough. But all it takes is one opportunity for someone to show what they can really do. Think Steve Young, Jeremy Lin, Willie Beamen, that snowman from Frozen, or Peter Parker when he got bitten by that spider (yes, I saw Spiderman the other day; why do you ask). Circumstances can be beyond our control, but true greatness lies in taking advantage of the opportunities given to you (writing that down for a self-help book one day).

The Philadelphia Eagles, for all intents and purposes, are stacked. Loaded. Brimming with elite athleticism, skill, and pure uncut grade-A moxie. They’re not like “Los Angeles Rams potential greatest d-line of all-time stacked.” But despite losing A.J. Brown and his Twitter fingers, they are still an extremely talented team at most positions. Still with that wealth of talent, the Eagles have a couple of players with untapped potential. Diamonds in the rough. And as more and more opportunities present themselves, the greatness of those players is starting to shine through.

This year, two players are slated to take the next step. And if they do, it will have ripple effects across the entire team. So who are the Eagles’ two secret stars?

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The Swagger of Jalyx Hunt

It’s natural law that if your name ends in an “x” you’re guaranteed to excel at hitting quarterbacks (see: Crosy, Maxx). Entering his third year in the league, Jalyx “Big Pimpin’” Hunt has already started to make his mark on the league (including when he answered his draft day phone call from Howie Roseman like this).

Despite being thought of as a raw prospect who would take time to develop, Jalyx’s elite athleticism, intelligence, and overwhelming swagger have his hype train ahead of schedule. The former Cornell safety turned Houston Christian defensive end adjusted to the NFL quickly.

Last season, we saw a glimpse of Hunt’s potential as he had several SportsCenter Top Ten-worthy plays. There was his Pick 6 against the ghost of Carson Wentz and the Vikings, his two sacks against Josh Allen and the Bills in Buffalo, his forced fumble against the Chargers, his interception against Chicago where he batted the ball at the line of scrimmage and right into his own hands, and his agile diving interception in front of Deebo Samuel against the Commanders. Homie is a certified baller.

As Eagles legendary defensive end Brandon Graham said via NBC Sports Philadelphia, Hunt is “somebody that caught on real quick…You see his regimen of what he’s learned from the first year, watching other people, Sweaty [Josh Sweat], me, all the guys in front of him. And then you just seen him applying it the way he does it.”

Hunt has the underrated ability to improve year after year. In 2024, he played 24.6% of snaps in the regular season, and logged 1.5 sacks, 21 tackles, and 3 quarterback hits. In the Eagles’ Super Bowl postseason run that same season, Hunt saw his snaps jump to 37.9%, and he logged 1.5 sacks, 10 tackles, and 3 quarterback hits.

After the departure of Josh Sweat following the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning season, Hunt’s snap percentage jumped to 61.5% in 2025. With increased playing time, Hunt hooped. He logged 6.5 sacks, 52 tackles, 3 interceptions (including the Wentz pick-six), and 2 forced fumbles.

Last year, Hunt became the first Eagle ever to lead the team in interceptions AND sacks in a single season. He was also 8th in the league in quarterback knockdowns and tied with his 2024 draft classmate Laiatu Latu of the Colts for 1st in the league in interceptions by an edge or outside linebacker.

Jalyx’s background as a safety at Cornell before converting to a defensive end at Houston Christian gave him experience both rushing the passer and dropping into coverage, making him a chess piece for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

So far in training camp, Hunt has been showing out despite the absence of his newly acquired co-star defensive end Jonathan Greenard, who’s out with a pectoral injury. When asked if Hunt is ready to take the next step, Fangio (a man who doesn’t really compliment anyone) went out of his way to add some fuel to the hype train.

“Yeah, I am looking for that,” Fangio said of Hunt back in a May press conference. “He’s very capable of it….He’s had a nice progression. I see him growing his game in all aspects. I think he can and will rush better. He’ll play the run better. It’s just the natural progression…Yeah, I think he’s just ready to keep getting better and better.”

The Birds are hoping that they can add Jalyx to a list of defensive difference-makers they’ve drafted in the third round in the modern era, including Nakobe Dean (2022), Milton Williams (2021), Jordan Hicks (2015), Bennie Logan (2013), Derrick Burgess (2001), and Jeremiah Trotter (1998). We’ll see if Big Pimpin’ can make a big mark on the league this year.

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Untapped Potential of Tank Bigsby

Honey Badger. Sweetness. The Fridge. There’s nothing like a man who plays football like his nickname.

After Week 1 last year, Howie Roseman pulled the trigger on a trade for Jacksonville running back Tank Bigsby. The Eagles initially claimed the move was for Bigsby’s kick return ability (which was weird because that wasn’t Bigsby’s calling card), but once they came to their senses, they handed Bigsby the rock, and he showed what he can do.

Tank entered the league in 2023 as one of the top 10 rushers in Auburn University history. His reward was being drafted by the dysfunctional Jacksonville Jaguars and our old friend (certified ball-knower) then-head coach Doug Pederson. Bigsby entered a crowded Jaguars running back room dripping with potential.

In 2024, he showed what he could do, running for 766 yards and 7 touchdowns at 4.6 yards per carry. His play was on par with backs like J.K. Dobbins and Jordan Mason, who got the chance to start with new teams in 2025.

Bigsby also boasted 168 carries in 2024 to Travis Etienne’s 150 despite starting 1 game. But issues with fumbles, a crowded backfield, and a new regime under Liam Coen forced Jacksonville to trade Bigsby to Philly for 5th and 6th-round picks last year.

Tank didn’t get a touch until Week 7 against Minnesota, taking his first handoff for 11 yards. Despite low usage (thanks to offensive playcalling that resembles a flaming trash can), Bigsby averaged a league-high 5.9 yards per carry (#1 for backs with at least 50 carries). He had 58 touches for 344 yards and 2 touchdowns. Despite his absurd efficiency, the Eagles’ struggling running game failed to give Bigsby opportunities.

After his single carry in the Minnesota game, Bigsby had a stellar performance against the New York Giants the next week, taking 9 carries for 104 yards. After that, he only saw 9 attempts over the next 5 games, including a 4-carry, 34-yard game against Detroit.

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In the 16 games he was available for the Eagles, Bigsby received over 4 carries in just 5 games. Last season, Barkley had 280 carries to Bigsby’s 58. That’s a stark contrast to the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl run when backups Kenneth Gainwell and Will Shipley saw 75 and 30 attempts in the regular season, respectively.

Now Tank will never overtake All-World superstar Saquon Barkley. But Barkley’s usage in his two seasons in Midnight Green is through the roof. He has the most touches for a back in the league in the last two years. Unlocking Tank could take some of those touches off Barkley’s plate to keep him fresh throughout the season as Saquon approaches 30.

This year, Philly will look to maximize their rushing attack in Sean Mannion’s offense. The new offense, which utilizes an outside zone running attack, is the perfect fit for a decisive, one-cut, downhill runner like Bigsby. And so far in camp, Tank’s been showing out.

As Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia said at the start of camp, “For the second straight day, I’m going to say it: Tank Bigsby just brings so much juice. It’s fun to watch him play.” Bigsby has been getting involved in the passing game and has shown his ability as a capable pass protector (see this highlight where he bodyslams Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner or this press conference where he promises to protect Jalen Hurts with his life).

Nick Sirianni spoke highly of Bigsby, saying, “That’s Tank Bigsby, he is constantly running to the football, he is constantly doing everything he’s supposed to do.” All signs point to Tank time, and once the Tank gets rolling, he’ll be hard to stop (okay, I’m out of tank puns).

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A great philosopher once said, “We’re talking about practice. Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We’re talking about practice.” I’m struggling to remember the context, but I’m pretty sure he was talking about NFL Training Camp.

Teams around the league have begun reporting to their training camps, with Eagles’ players reporting today (or if you’re from the future, Tuesday, July 28). For the next several weeks, we’ll talk about dudes practicing in shorts (and sometimes pads) as teams prepare to kick off the season in September. In Philadelphia, the start of this training camp caps off one of the most eventful Eagles off-seasons in recent memory.

Despite returning 9 of 11 starters on offense and 8 of 11 starters on defense, this Eagles team made some monumental changes this past offseason, including overhauling their offensive system, making changes to the coaching staff, bringing in new talent, and trading away their star wide receiver. With all that change, the Eagles have more questions than answers ahead of the 2026 season.

So while you’re watching grainy footage on Twitter of a late-round defensive lineman to determine whether or not they’ll make the final roster or trying to determine how long Jalen Hurts is going to rock the mustache look, here are the 10 juiciest storylines to follow for the next month or so.

1. Can Sean Mannion Get The Most Out of Jalen Hurts?

Hurts will be playing for his 5th offensive coordinator in six seasons. That’s like being married 5 times in 6 years. After a successful 1-year stint as Jordan Love’s quarterback coach in Green Bay, Sean Mannion and this offensive staff hope to get Jalen back on track after a down year.

I broke down Mannion’s experience earlier in the offseason. The hope is that his knowledge of the quarterback position can help Hurts continue to develop while accentuating QB1’s strengths.

As football fans, we’ve never really seen the McVay/LaFleur offense, with a quarterback as mobile as Hurts, over the course of a full season (with the closest comparison being two games of Malik Willis last season). Mannion will look to get Hurts comfortable with a pure progression passing game that asks him to read the entire field and take snaps under center.

Big Sean (nickname pending) will also need to find ways to get Hurts more involved in the run game than he was last year when Hurts rushed for the least amount of yards since becoming a full-time starter in 2021. We’ll see if Mannion is the Prince Who Was Promised or just another Sean in South Philly.

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2. How Deep Is The Offensive Line?

It’s hard to think of 5 words less inspiring than Stem Cell Treatment in Colombia. But that’s exactly what Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson did this offseason to fix injuries that limited their effectiveness last year.

Jurgens and Dickerson both missed 2 games last year, left tackle Jordan Mailata missed 1 game, and future Hall-of-Famer Lane Johnson missed the last 8 games of the season and is also 36 (which, as a man in my 30s, I refuse to admit is old out of a sense of pride and delusion).

The Eagles’ line has the potential to be one of the best in the league next year if they can just stay healthy. But if they can’t, the depth behind them is shaky. The Birds re-signed reliable swing tackle Fred Johnson (Fred Again!), who filled in admirably for Johnson last year. They brought in (man whose name breeds unfortunate expectations) Michael Jordan to shore up their depth in the interior line. The 6’ 6” offensive guard started 9 games for Tampa Bay last year and graded highly as a pass blocker (19th among 81 qualified guards according to John McMullen of Sports Illustrated).

The Eagles are hoping anyone from a crop of young players that includes Drew Kendall, Jake Majors, Myles Hinton, Willie Lampkin, and rookies Micah Morris out of Georgia and Markel Bell (a literal giant) out of Miami can step up. Unfortunately, the Eagles no longer have Jeff Stoutland and his magic touch for developing offensive linemen. Hopefully our boy Stout left a little of that magic behind for new offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who has a mixed track record.

3. Wide Receiver #2, Who?

After the departure of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith is getting a well-deserved opportunity to be the head honcho in this wide receiver room. Behind Smith, the depth chart is very much up for grabs.

Insert Dontayvion Wicks. The 25-year-old is a lethal route runner with a very high ceiling. Unfortunately, he never reached that ceiling in Green Bay due to inconsistent play and a very serious case of the drops (although Wicks lowered his drops from 9 in 2024 to just 3 last year). Wicks does his best work out of the slot and is an excellent blocker, which could pay dividends for a team looking to get back to a dominant run game.

Also insert rookie Makai Lemon. The first-round pick is a tough receiver who also does his best work out of the slot, is a great route runner and blocker, is very tough to bring down, and has a serious case of “that dog in him”. The Birds also brought in field-stretching wide receivers Hollywood Brown (who should change his name to South Philly Brown) and Elijah Moore.

It seems like the Eagles have a few guys with similar profiles. But it also seems like they’ve built a positionless basketball-style receiver room, where Mannion can move players around the field to hunt mismatches. Hopefully the next few weeks will give us a sense of the vision for this post-A.J. Brown receiving group.

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4. Big Bets on 2nd Year Defenders

This past offseason, the Eagles let linebacker Nakobe Dean and safety Reed Blankenship sign with other teams (I’m not crying, you’re crying). Allowing both players to walk places big bets on second-year safety Andrew Mukuba and second-year linebacker Jihaad Campbell.

Mukuba started most of the season next to Blankenship last year, and showed real flashes, including a game-tilting interception against Kansas City in Week 2. Just as he started to catch his stride, Mukuba fractured his right ankle in Week 12 against Dallas. The Eagles made no significant moves at safety and are going into the season with Mukuba as the unquestioned starter. But he still has a lot to prove.

Jihaad Campbell looked like one of the league’s most explosive linebackers last year when filling in for an injured Nakobe Dean in Weeks 1 through 6. After Dean came back, Campbell’s playing time diminished, but in Year 2, the Birds are showing faith in Campbell’s ability to become a difference-making linebacker. Unfortunately, Campbell missed most of the offseason programming with a shoulder injury, so it may take a bit for him to get up to speed.

5. Will Jalen Carter Get Paid?

Titans defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons became the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league this offseason, signing a $105.8M deal for 3 years with $100M guaranteed. That’s diving in a pool full of gold coins like DuckTales money. Jalen Carter is hoping for similar pools of money from Howie Roseman.

Carter is potentially the most talented player on a defense full of ridiculously talented players. He is capable of single-handedly shifting the outcome of a game with raw athleticism and intelligence (when he’s not spitting on anyone like that dinosaur from Jurassic Park). Unfortunately, Carter had a down year in 2025.

He was 18th in pass rush win rate (Jeffrey Simmons was 2nd). He was 110th in tackles for loss and 115th in sacks with only 3 (Simmons had 11). Carter’s inconsistency and waning effort don’t do him any favors. Plus the Eagles are looking at top-of-the-market deals coming up for players like Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Jalyx Hunt (if Hunt continues to improve), plus a decision on whether or not to hold onto stud lineman Moro Ojomo.

Odds are that Carter gets the bag from the Birds. But Philly may want to see a step forward from the big man before handing out a new deal.

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6. How Will Nick Sirianni Use ChatGPT?

A recent article from The Athletic’s Zach Berman mentioned that Nick Sirianni is using ChatGPT to help with his messaging to players.

Will Nick use ChatGPT to generate a video of Jalen Hurts’ face onto Michael Jordan’s body in footage of Jordan’s legendary flu game? Will he realize that Kevin Patullo was actually using ChatGPT to draw up plays last year? During a heated matchup with the defense this summer, will he prompt ChatGPT, “You are long-time defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Tell me how you would stop yourself?” Will Howie Roseman see how well ChatGPT is doing and hire it as the first robot assistant coach?

7. Can The Running Game Get Back on The Right Track?

The Eagles’ running game last year was as effective as Ben Simmons in the 3-point contest. After a down year for Saquon and an injury-riddled Eagles offensive line, Sirianni and Mannion, along with newly hired run game coordinator Ryan Mahaffey, will look to breathe life into this once potent ground game.

The Eagles are shifting to a wide zone scheme that’s prevalent in Shanahan-McVay offenses. With that change should come more under-center runs for Barkley. But how will the offensive line adjust to a blocking scheme they’ve never run before?

And will Mannion look to get backup running back Tank Bigsby more involved to help spell Barkley? In 2025, Bigsby had only 58 carries, despite rushing for 5.9 yards per attempt (first among running backs with at least 50 carries).

8. How Dominant Can This Defensive Line and Cornerback Room Be?

Could Uncle Vic turn out an all-time defense this year? With the addition of Jonathan Greenard, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa, the Birds have improved depth and versatility on their defensive line.

Greenard is an absolute stud who has 38 sacks in 6 seasons with the Vikings and Texans, and despite dealing with a shoulder injury last year, still had the 7th-highest pressure rate in the league. Ebiketie is a pass-rush specialist who ranked 10th in the league in quarterback pressure rate last year and led the Falcons with 6 sacks in 2024. Epenesa may have lost a little juice but provides great value as a rotational pass rusher. He had at least 6 sacks in each season between 2022-2024.

This cornerback room is a brick wall. The Birds added uber-talented (yet occasionally penalty-stricken) cornerback Riq Woolen to a group that includes 1st team All-Pros Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

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9. Who is QB2?

The Eagles traded a seventh-round pick for Andy Dalton this offseason to beef up their quarterback room. But does the presence of the Red Rifle spell a murky future for Tanner McKee (AKA the Stanford Slingshot)? The Eagles’ quarterback room is better than it was last year. But with McKee being in the last year of his rookie contract and his trade market drier than a saltine, his reps in training camp will tell us a lot about his future with the team.

10. Will Jake Elliott Get His Groove Back?

Last year, “Jake the Make” became “Jake the Kind of Miss From Over 40 Yards”. I literally don’t know what kickers do all day, but hopefully Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay gets access to Nick Sirianni’s ChatGPT account to find ways to get Jake his confidence back.

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Tony Wroten. Lavoy Allen. Michael Carter-Williams. Nerlens Noel. K.J. McDaniels. Henry Sims. Isaiah Canaan. Robert Covington. JaKarr Sampson. Tim Frazier. Richaun Holmes. Jerami Grant. Nik Stauskas. Elton Brand. Hollis Thompson. Jahlil Okafor being benched for no reason. Sergio Rodriguez. T.J. McConnell. Ersan Ilyasova. Justin Anderson. Jerryd Bayless. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. Ben Simmons. Marco Bellinelli. Markelle Fultz’s shooting arm. Mikal Bridges being traded in front of his mom. Zhaire Smith’s peanut allergy. The Homie Dario. Amir Johnson. James Ennis III. Shake Milton. Tobias Harris over Jimmy Butler. Al Horford for some reason. Raul Neto. Jaden Springer. J.J. Redick. Landry Shamet. Seth Curry. James Harden.

The Process was built around the promise that years of pain, underperformance, and a lack of talent would eventually result in acquiring the type of elite players who could bring a championship to the city of Philadelphia. As Sam Hinkie said in his resignation letter, “If you want to have real success you have to be very often willing to do something different from the herd.” Turns out Sam was foreshadowing a real bummer for one of the most dysfunctional franchises in basketball.

At a time when the sun revolved around superstars, the Sixers hitched their wagon to acquiring the wealth of resources they needed to go star hunting. But those years of pain and underperformance turned into more years of pain and underperformance. From our general manager using his burner account to trash his own players before blaming the whole thing on his wife to the four fortuitous bounces of Kawhi Leonard’s game-winning shot in the 2019 Eastern Conference Semis.

Being a Sixers fan meant expecting the worst. Heartbreak adds up. Disappointment compounds. The team’s 3-1 comeback against the Boston Celtics this past postseason gave Sixers fans a reason to believe. And a reason to believe is a dangerous thing. For once, the team exceeded expectations against a hated rival we haven’t beaten since E.T. dropped in movie theaters.

The city was electric. We stood on the shoulders of a 7-foot Cameroonian giant and tossed both middle fingers up at Boston. Joel pushed his body to the brink and carried this team past the finish line on one leg. We witnessed the arrival of Tyrese Maxey, and saw a turbocharged babyface point guard turn into an assassin before our eyes.

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But the good vibes were short-lived, as they usually are. The Sixers were immediately deleted by the New York Knickerbocker buzzsaw. They beat us down without blinking an eye, filled our arenas with their fans, and rode that momentum all the way to the championship. Ownership didn’t really seem to care. Same old, same old.

The Sixers were dead in the water. As fans, we had no hope. The Knicks series showed that the compounding disappointment over the years calcified into fan disengagement. The Sixers broke our hearts too many times. They were stuck in no-man’s land due to the contracts of two aging superstars. We began talking ourselves into the potential of another year of the Embiid-Maxy-George-Edgecombe core. Maybe if they can stay healthy. Maybe if V.J. takes the leap. Maybe I’ll just focus on the Eagles instead.

On top of that, Daryl Morey was fired for failing to build a team that could make it past the second round of the playoffs. The Sixers gave decorated former Golden State Warriors General Manager Bob Myers the wheel, and he hired Mike Gansey, some guy who looks kind of like Chase Utley, to run the team.

But then something happened. The entropy of the league and the savviness of our new Chase Utley look-alike brought the Philadelphia 76ers Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. Managing to acquire Brown while trading away Paul George’s contract is enough to get a statue in front of the Art Museum. The Sixers did something good, and it was confusing. Little did we know the good times would keep on rolling. After weeks of flirting with the idea (and many podcast episodes involving LeBron’s agent Rich Paul and a whiteboard), the greatest basketball player of all-time chose this city and this roster to finish out his career.

Good things never happen to the Philadelphia 76ers. At least they haven’t for most of my life. I watched Allen Iverson beat the Lakers in the 2001 Finals before being stomped out the next 4 games. I still have PTSD from the Kawhi bounce. Being in a position to convince the leading scorer of all-time to join our team feels insane. It’s unheard of. Like a dream that could be snatched away by the jaws of reality at any moment. After years of The Process, years of heartache and disappointment, we’ve finally reached the best Sixers team of my lifetime.

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LeBron James is coming to South Philly. We’re a city with a historical aversion to kings, but in this case we’ll make an exception. Despite the gray hairs winning the battle of LeBron’s beard, James is still a top player in the NBA. He’s a lethal addition to a championship-caliber roster who is single-handedly capable of shifting the outcome of a game at will through otherworldly athleticism and basketball genius. He is who The Process was built for. The ultimate co-star for an already stacked ensemble. And best of all, he doesn’t need to be The Guy.

For years, the weight of The Process and all of its expectations was placed on Joel Embiid. The sheer gravity of those expectations took its toll on his body and mind. But now with the development of Tyrese Maxey into a true superstar, the raw potential of V.J. Edgecombe, the accolades of Jaylen Brown, and the basketball genius of LeBron James, Embiid doesn’t have to shoulder the load like he once did.

The Sixers immediately become the best starting five LeBron has ever played with. Despite being hobbled by injuries, Joel Embiid is hands-down the most talented big LeBron has ever played with. Despite the bumps and bruises, Joel is still a world-destroyer. LeBron’s impact on the continued development of V.J. Edgecombe could have a monumental impact on the second-year player’s career. The addition of Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, what’s left of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and rookie scorcher LaBaron Philon gives the Sixers a solid amount of depth. There’s a lot to figure out in terms of fit on the court, usage rates, and all of the other things the regular season is for. But for the first time in a long time, the Sixers have a complete team.

Team construction aside, LeBron bringing his talents to South Philly will have a ripple effect on this city. His arrival is giving hope to a fanbase deeply in need of some. A fanbase who, before this summer, became disengaged with the culture of a team steeped in disappointment with ownership who didn’t seem to care much about the fans at all.

But LeBron James is one of the few people in the world who can stop time. He can shift fortunes both on and off the basketball court. He can help bring that change. His impact will be felt on Philadelphia fandom, culture, and economy. The City of Brotherly Love has been clamoring for the Sixers to parade down Broad Street, Larry O’Brien Trophy in hand. A dream deferred but now suddenly within the realm of possibility.

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No matter the pain and disappointment and heartbreak, they are a team that we can’t quit. And now we’re feeling the unfamiliar sensations of hope, the trepidation of getting carried away, the cautiousness of excitement. It feels weird to be this stoked on the Sixers. But when it comes to being a fan, getting carried away is the point.

The Process was always meant to get here. There’s a lot to figure out on the court. But for the first time in a very long time, it feels good to be a Sixers fan.

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I bet you’re wondering how I got here. 7 days ago, I was let go from my job. No matter your relationship with your job, there is a certain level of ego death that happens when you’re laid off. The things that you thought made you valuable, like driving product launches and answering emails on time, slowly slip away, putting a part of your identity in a tailspin. It’s like when Carson Wentz lost the jaw-dropping athleticism to make plays. Or when Michael Vick’s speed started to fade. You’re forced to recalibrate and become a new version of yourself. The freedom is intoxicating, but the weight of uncertainty can be hard to carry.

To help me structure my days, my girlfriend has been finding side quests for me to do while I figure out what’s next. She saw a post on Instagram and immediately decided what my next one should be. The Price Is Right was going to be hosting live auditions in Philadelphia. The winners get a free trip to Los Angeles to be on the show.

Now, if you live under a rock (or are not as intimately familiar with CBS Daytime programming as every kid in the 90’s who stayed home sick from school), The Price Is Right is the pinnacle of game shows. Hosted by Drew Carey (who took over for the legendary Bob Barker in 2007 AKA the man who punched Happy Gilmore in the face), The Price Is Right pretty much asks contestants to name the price of things for the chance to win big prizes. Prizes include two Kawasaki Ninja motorcycles you may never use or a giant sauna that will surely not fit into your one-bedroom apartment. The show is a cultural institution.

I’ve never been a diehard The Price is Right fan (A Pricehead?) and don’t really know much about the rules, but my girlfriend is very wise and knows I love a side quest. So I arrived at the Rivers Casino in Philadelphia (where the slot machines were way too packed for 10 am on a Wednesday) and stumbled around to find where the auditions were taking place. I followed a group of people into an elevator with a girl, a younger couple, and two sisters wearing homemade The Price Is Right shirts that said “Our Mom Won in 1983.” I asked them if their mom actually won, and they confirmed that she was the big winner of the entire Showcase Showdown (the grand finale where you win a bunch of money, I think).

I. Losing Your Mind in The Parking Garage

Stepping out of the elevator, we entered a parking garage flooded with people waiting in a long line that zig-zagged throughout the space. At the end of the line was a guard and two massive doors entering the casino. Little did I know most of the people in line were The Price Is Right superfans. Contestant hopefuls were dripping in The Price Is Right merchandise, both official and DIY.

I’m talking shirts with catchphrases, plush versions of the microphone stands they have on the show, giant nametags, and homemade props. One man even had a miniature version of the Plinko game that he carried around, asking people to spin. Outside of the elaborate props and attire, one thing became apparent. Every single person was acting absolutely wild.

A woman in a DIY The Price Is Right tie-dye shirt was holding her phone high to record herself while screaming “ahhhhhhh” with everything she had and dancing with strangers around her. She did this every 5 minutes for the two hours it took to get inside.

While in line, my friend A.J. texted me and gave me the scoop. Apparently it’s a well-known secret that The Price Is Right is trying to cast people who act as crazy as possible. When you look up information for the audition online, they tell you to be enthusiastic. But what they really want is for you to be as over-the-top as possible. A.J. also mentioned that it’s known that producers will start the scouting process while you’re in line. So the crazier you act in line, the more likely you are to be face-to-face with Drew Carey next to a pair of Kawasaki Ninja motorcycles.

Everyone else seemed to have gotten the memo. They called to the producers like the Sirens called to Odysseus. After reading A.J.’s text, I felt myself leaning in. I began high-fiving people around me and joining in on chants.

Something to know about Philadelphians is that whenever enthusiasm reaches a fever pitch, there are only two outcomes. One involves feats of strength, like climbing poles or flipping trash cans. But the other, no matter where you are, is the emergence of an Eagles chant. As excitement heightened among the crowd, the E-A-G-L-E-S chant rang down like a crack of thunder over and over again. What was most jarring was that people weren’t on their phones. The need to showcase your enthusiasm to get the attention of producers rendered doomscrolling a liability.

I began building relationships with the people around me. Behind me was the couple I entered the elevator with. The boyfriend was wearing a Brian Dawkins jersey. I asked him what he thought about the A.J. Brown trade, and he lamented that even though A.J. was talented, he needed to go to protect the locker room. I responded by saying “he be tweeting too much,” to which the girlfriend agreed and said she was glad he was gone.

I spoke to a man next to me who mentioned that his dad was on The Price Is Right in the 60’s and was one number away from winning a brand new car. He said now it was his turn and he was back to avenge his dad. There was also a man dressed as a giant pickle, which no one addressed.

Ahead of me was the girl I entered the elevator with. I introduced myself. Her name was Izzy, and she took the day off work to audition for the show even though she, much like me, doesn’t really watch it. As we chatted, a woman with red-dyed hair in the back of the line was waving her arms aggressively in our direction. I couldn’t tell if she was trying to get my attention or Izzy’s. The answer revealed itself when she approached us and gave Izzy a big hug. Her name was Renee, and she and Izzy used to work together. They casually caught up, and it became apparent that Renee was going to keep her newfound spot in line.

Renee turned around and thanked me for letting her cut. Apparently, today was her 60th birthday. Izzy and I congratulated her and started singing happy birthday as Renee danced. We talked about her birthday plans, which included using the $60 her barber gave her as a birthday gift to drink as much tequila as possible and sing karaoke. We shared where we were all from, how she and Izzy know each other, and talked about the wisdom of Kenny Rogers’ song “The Gambler” (“sometimes knowing when to walk away could save your life,” said Renee).

We inched closer and closer to the big doors. Every 20 minutes or so, they’d let a group of people in. As the people walked through the doors, the crowd in the garage would cheer for them. The woman who was screaming while recording herself shook the earth when she entered, as her “ahhhh’s” echoed behind the big double doors threatening to shatter the glass. Sitting outside of the threshold we waited 2 hours to cross, we started chatting with a group of older women, which included 90-year-old Audrey and her two sisters. Audrey said “we’re all family now” and told us she was going to win it all.

Finally, it was our turn. On our way in, an older woman with a cane and a red dress who was sitting on a stool just outside of the doors hopped into the line with us. “They let me sit outside for a little bit, but now I’m coming in with y’all,” she whispered to me. The relief of finally making it to our destination was diminished by the realization that this wasn’t our destination at all. It was just…another line. One where the end didn’t feel so clear.

II. Journey Through the L-Shaped Hall

In this new line, you could see people who finished their audition and were leaving with a big yellow name tag on their chest. As they walked towards the exit, the entire crowd would cheer for each person one by one and high-five them. Occasionally, a cameraman would come out and film the line, to which everyone responded by screaming at the top of our lungs like some sort of group psychosis.

The vibes were immaculate. Some people started hitting the casino bar and were drinking beers (at noon). Renee, Izzy, and I made friends with two women wearing matching outfits who were ahead of us. Their names were Pam and Sam. Pam and Sam looked almost identical even though Pam was Sam’s aunt. They wore matching DIY shirts with their faces on them that said, “Pick Us Next.”

Pam and Sam heard us talking about Renee’s birthday, and Sam mentioned that her birthday was the week before. Renee dove into a deep discussion about astrology, mostly about how Cancers are dope and all of her good friends are Virgos. We sang and celebrated.

Izzy mentioned that there’s a birthday bar in Philadelphia. I knew they were talking about Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar in South Philly, a crunchy dive bar that can best be described as cavernous and always open. We all made plans to meet there after the audition to celebrate Renee’s 60th birthday, which prompted her and I to start singing “we’re going to the birthday bar” in a variety of melodies.

As the cheers continued for people walking back from their auditions, the guy in the Brian Dawkins jersey and I started specific chants for people based on their names, which we could see on their giant name tags. At one point, a man who worked at the casino pointed at his coworker, saying, “he’s a Cowboys fan,” to which the entire crowd booed relentlessly. The only moment of negativity up to that point.

Audrey decided she needed to rest her legs after standing for two hours. She left the line and ventured ahead, saying that she’d meet us all up front and hop back in line when we got there. The woman with the red dress and the cane left to go to the bathroom and didn’t return.

Ahead of us were a pair of women who brought one of those portable karaoke microphones you give to people as a white elephant gift. They kept pulling up songs on YouTube and asking people to sing. Although everyone there embraced the most exaggerated caricatures of themselves to get on TV, they still couldn’t bear the public shame that is singing karaoke in a room full of strangers wearing The Price Is Right merch.

Feeling jazzed up from singing with Renee, I volunteered myself as tribute. They asked me if I knew the Eagles Fight Song, not knowing they were talking to the esteemed writer of a low-level Eagles newsletter. I grabbed the mic and began singing, “Fly Eagles Fly... on the road to vict-or-yyyy.” The crowd erupted and began singing in unison. Singing the Eagles fight song in this environment is like fishing with dynamite. Or like Victor Wembanyama getting buckets in AAU.

Ahead of me was an 80-year-old woman with a walker named Miss Crystal. I held the mic towards Miss Crystal as she shouted “E-A-G-L…”. She gave me a big smile and a hug afterwards, and we all exchanged high fives. The man in the pickle costume grabbed the microphone and began singing “Dancing On My Own,” which not a lot of people knew the words to, but jumped in on the “oooooo’s” during the chorus. Dawkin’s Jersey’s girlfriend wondered aloud, “Is he dressed as a pickle or a cucumber?”

Behind me was a man who looked like a much older Stephen A. Smith and his wife (maybe?), who was much shorter. As the crowd cheered on people who auditioned as they left, he would occasionally bark at them instead. You know, like a dog. His wife had her hands under the back of his shirt. She rubbed his back until everyone around them was uncomfortable. This went on for the duration of our time in line.

After another hour, we made it to the front of this line only to find ourselves at the back of a third line. It was the Inception of lines. A line within a line. At this point, the hallway began to take shape. We could now see that this hallway was shaped like a long L. In this newest line, we were close to the hitch of the L. Beyond that hitch was a big mysterious room where we assumed the auditions were taking place.

Curious about what lay ahead, I hopped out of line to go to the bathroom, which was just past the big mysterious room, while Izzy and Renee held my place. As I walked past the hitch, I peered into the room, which looked like a concert hall lit with nothing but purple lights, two big screens, and a pattern of green squares in the shape of money projected on the walls. As I passed the room, I saw a man in a suit on stage with a mic in his hand. He spoke to people in the audience who were clamoring for his attention like he was Usher doing a residency in Vegas.

“They’re giving things away in there,” Audrey said to me as she sat on a platform between the two large entrances to the big room. I went to the bathroom at the tip of the L where a man congratulated me on my Eagles Fight Song from earlier. “Great chant back there. You really got the crowd going,” he said. As I left the bathroom and headed back to secure my place in line, I promised Audrey I’d get her chicken fingers from a nearby concession stand. After delivering her the goods, I found my way back to Izzy and Renee.

At this point, we were 3 hours into our journey. Fatigue had started to set in like a cold chill. People were talking less and less. The cheers died down. As my friend in the Dawkins jersey and I cheered for people leaving, we were met with little to no response. Standing in line for 3 hours is hard on your body and your mind. I was convinced that The Price Is Right was trying to break us down just to see if we could build ourselves up again.

As we reached the hook in the L, the casino employee waved us into the big hall where we picked up Audrey.

III. Mini-Footballs in the Big Money Room

We entered the room to find ourselves at the back of what felt like the final line. It snaked throughout the middle of the room in 4 rows. On the left side of the room was the stage that I saw the suited man on earlier.

On the wall behind the stage, there was a giant projector screen playing episodes of The Price is Right. But weirdly enough, they were playing episodes from 2011 on YouTube. Unfortunately, the Rivers Casino does not have access to a YouTube Premium account, so next to the stage sat a man whose sole purpose was to skip the ads on YouTube when they came up. Across from the stage was a giant step and repeat with a cardboard cutout of Drew Carey.

We felt the energy slowly creep back into our bones. After all this time, we were so close. Renee started singing “we’re going to the birthday bar” as we all danced to get our enthusiasm back. Suddenly the suited man returned to the stage and grabbed the mic. He captivated the audience by seemingly doing nothing and being dressed like Dwight from The Office.

“Who loves the Eagles?” the man said. “Yeaaaaa!!” the crowd responded. “What about the Phillies?” he continued. “Yeaaaah!!” yelled the crowd. “What about…the Union,” referring to Philadelphia’s downtrodden MLS team. The crowd responded half-heartedly. Then the man mentioned that he had a special surprise for us and that as Philadelphia sports fans we were going to love it. While he finished speaking, the doors next to the stage flung open as a beaming light emanated into the event space.

The man on stage continued. “Introducing your own…Philly Sports Guy!” Emerging from the light was indeed the Philly Sports Guy. If you’re unfamiliar with Philly Sports Guy (or just learned that this guy you see at Eagles games refers to himself as Philly Sports Guy and seems to have built a business off of it), he’s a kind of well-known Philadelphia superfan. He sports a gelled-up mohawk that’s dyed green with a silver-painted face and pops of kelly green around his eyes and his mouth. He’s usually wearing an Eagles jersey with pads on under it and can be seen cheering on the Birds at the Linc every Sunday. He is our self-appointed people’s champion as Philly sports fans. A man who embodies an extreme characterization of us, which was on par with what all of us were doing to try to get on The Price is Right.

“I’m excited to be here with youse!” the Philly Sports Guy bellowed while donning a Philadelphia Union jersey, his patented silver-painted face, and a blue mohawk. “Youse have been waiting in line for soow long, and I was supposed to be waiting there with ya. So I’m gonna hang out for a bit and give away some free things. Starting wit these!” He pulled four mini-footballs out of his pocket and began throwing them to the crowd. His wife (and/or manager) was behind him in a Philadelphia Union jersey, recording his every movement.

“It’s her birthday!” I screamed while pointing at Renee. He pointed at us and threw a football that hit Renee in the chest and rolled on the ground before I picked it up and handed it to her. “Thank you Jeremy, it’s my birthdaaay!” Renee screamed as we both started dancing. Philly Sports Guy wove through the line with the dexterity of Jerome Bettis scoring from the 1-yard line. People paused and took pictures with him. We did the E-A-G-L-E-S chant a few times, which Miss Crystal couldn’t have been more excited about.

He found his way back to Renee, Izzy, Dawkins jersey, his girlfriend, and me. “I need you to do me a favor,” I said, looking into his silver-painted face. “I need you to start the Fly Eagles Fly song with me.” Philly Sports Guy looked at me with a weariness in his eyes. For a moment he stepped out of character. “I would, buddy, but I think I cooked my voice up there,” as he pointed at the stage. Taking advantage of this moment of connection, he continued. “Plus they won’t even let me go down into the casino after this. Apparently it’s against the law or something.” He uttered the words as he walked away.

I stood there confused at what he was even talking about. Dawkins jersey looked at me and said, “yea apparently you can’t have your face painted in a casino; it’s a state law.” Philly Sports Guy climbed back on the stage, his duties done for the day. He bid the crowd adieu, but not before one last Eagles chant that I’m sure blew out his voice. A sacrifice he made for the spirit of fandom. He waved slowly as he disappeared back into the light of the double doors, followed by his wife/manager. Miss Crystal was ecstatic, holding a little football she managed to catch.

The journey continued as we slowly moved forward. Our group was commenting on old The Price Is Right episodes being projected on the walls to keep our vibes high, mostly discussing how things like a GPS and Sprint mobile phones used to be considered massive prizes.

Emerging from the audition room, we saw a familiar face. It was the old lady with the cane in red who hopped in line with us when we initially entered the casino. She used her veteran savvy to make it to the front of the line to audition ahead of us. She stopped to offer us some unsolicited advice. “When you go in, they’re gonna ask you your name, age, where you’re from, and what would make you a good The Price is Right contestant. Then they gonna ask you to say ‘come on down.’” Anyone who has watched The Price is Right knows the patented catchphrase “Come On Down” whenever someone gets chosen from the audience to participate in the game show.

“What’d you say when they asked you what would make you a good contestant?” Izzy inquired, to which the old lady in red replied, “Because I’m me!” before turning around and walking out of the room.

After 45 minutes, we finally made it to the front. Everyone around us was high-fiving, including three older men who were veterans ahead of us (one of whom proclaimed, “They said they chose me so y’all can all go home”).

We approached the table lined with people from CBS accepting release forms. They reviewed our forms and wrote our names on the big yellow name tags before guiding us to the final room.

In this room, the line was only 6 people long. Each person had one of three colors written on their name tag, which told you the designated area you were assigned for your live audition. Each space was a little cove separated by black curtains with the front wide open so a person behind the camera could ask you questions. Unfortunately, the lack of a front made it so that everyone waiting in line could see and hear your audition. One by one, they called us in. Izzy, Renee, Dawkins jersey, and his girlfriend, and finally me.

As I entered my designated area, I talked to Dan the cameraman. “Wild day, huh?” I said, to which he replied, “Nothing like it” in a genuine tone. He and I riffed a little bit before he started asking me questions. He asked me my name, age, and where I was from, which I tried to answer with an enthusiasm that almost made my head explode.

“What would make you a good The Price Is Right contestant?” he asked. This was the one question I thought I could improvise in the moment, but couldn’t have been more wrong about. I fumbled in my response, managing to cobbble the words together like a science project you built the night before class. “Um, because it combines my two favorite things, solving puzzles and yelling at people.” Dan looked confused but intrigued before quickly moving on to the final test. “Alright, now give me a ‘come on down.’” This I was ready for. I melodically bellowed, “Come on down!” holding the note for so long that I thought I was going to pass out. “You have a great voice,” Dan said reassuringly before we parted ways.

After 30-seconds, it was over. A 4-hour wait for 30 seconds. The long journey was a true test of will, like a triathlon or watching a Cleveland Browns game. As I left the room, I cheered to get the remaining nerves out. A few people responded who saw me do the Eagles Fight Song earlier, but everyone looked exhausted. I met Izzy, Renee, Pam, and Sam next to the Drew Carey cutout. We said nothing about our auditions other than how short they were. We wove our way through the casino towards the exit where the tired crowd had run out of cheers to give.

I drove to South Philly and met the crew at Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar. Upon entering, Renee was blasting Keith Sweat on the jukebox, and we sang “Twisted” together. Everyone was still wearing their yellow name tag with pride. We took shots to celebrate her 60th birthday and befriended some Dodgers fans who were in town for the series against the Phillies.

It was truly a confusing day. A day that made no sense. But also incredible. For one day, getting laid off was kind of great. Sometimes you forget how big and weird life is. And the bigness and weirdness is kind of the point. Honestly, I don’t know if a day like that could happen outside of Philly where sports fandom connects us all in a possibly unhealthy but definitely very fun way. So next time you have the opportunity for a side quest, I say “Come on down!”

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In 2002, A.J. Feeley was one of the greatest quarterbacks I’ve ever seen. Granted, I was 13 years old, wore a shark tooth necklace, and listened to Ja Rule’s Pain is Love on my Walkman until the CD wore down. So my judgement was a little shaky. Nonetheless, sometimes your heart betrays you before your eyes can. But not with A.J.

That year, the Philadelphia Eagles’ third-string quarterback stepped into action after starting quarterback Donovan McNabb and second-string quarterback Koy Detmer both went down with injuries. Feeley played out of his mind, leading the 8-3 Eagles to four straight wins. He became a Philly folk hero. Our newest testament to an unshakeable belief in the underdog. Feeley bottled up all of that moxie and headed south to start for the Miami Dolphins, where he was…pretty bad.

Feeley’s story is a familiar one. It emulates the trajectory of many players who grow into fan favorites in the City of Brotherly Love. Our beautiful city has an affinity for a certain kind of athlete. We’re a city of underdogs who love to root for the underdog.

Philadelphia is a town that values a blue-collar, hard-working mentality. We believe that with a commitment to the grind and a toughness like sandpaper, you can do pretty much anything. We look for those same qualities in our athletes, and we fall in love with players who reflect those values. Dudes who get punched in the face and punch back harder.

You see it in all-time Philly greats. The Mount Rushmore. The Jason Kelces, the Randall Cunninghams, the Allen Iversons. The superstars who were counted out but proved the doubters wrong through sheer will and athletic excellence. But the real secret sauce is the T.J. McConnells, the Donald Brashears, the Duce Staleys, the Shane Victorinos. The folk heroes. The underrated athletes whose confidence, toughness, and love for the game make fans fall in love with them. The ones who get way less love outside of this city than they deserve.

So today, we’re going to rank those underrated Philadelphia fan favorites. The forgotten who should be thought of way more often. To rank them, I hit up my buddy Tom Cristino. Tom has a photographic memory of Philly sports, a habit of calling into WIP late at night, and (unfortunately, like me) a deep love for the Process Sixers. I talk to Tom about what makes a fan favorite in Philly and ask him to rank his all-time Philly guys.

TOM’S RULES OF THE ROAD

(Most) players selected meet the following criteria:

1. No players who were on a championship team (well, almost no one)

2. No active players

3. They need to generally be considered underrated.

4. No untouchables or players on the Mount Rushmore of Philly sports (i.e., Jason Kelce, Reggie White, Allen Iverson etc.)

5. (Mostly) athletes who were active between 2000 and 2025

Before you dive into your list, can you tell us what makes a player become a fan favorite in Philadelphia?

TOM: I mean, it’s work ethic. It’s that blue-collar mentality that Philadelphia is known for. If there's one image I can think of that stands out, it’s Manny Machado getting out of the limo to meet with the Phillies, with the blue-collar worker going up to him and shaking his hand.

And it’s like, I know it was staged, but that’s how I think of it. That’s the city, right? You got this blue-collar guy, lunch pail, on the way home from work. We love when you leave it all on the field.

As an example, who would you say is a Mount Rushmore guy that fits the mold?

TOM: Maybe this is the first hot take of many that you’ll hear, but I feel like the greatest Philadelphia Eagle of all-time is Lane Johnson.

Wow, number one Philadelphia Eagle of all time?

TOM: I think he could go down, man. He just shows up to work every day and does his job consistently. 13 years at such a physically demanding position, day in and day out. Two Super Bowls. And Lane, he’s not a distraction to the media. You don’t hear his name called too often. He just shows up and does the damn thing, man.

Alright, let’s get down to business. How do you want to start?

TOM: I have honorable mentions before I go into my actual list.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Matt Geiger, Philadelphia 76ers

TOM: Okay, this is my worst one on the list, I promise you. But when you think of that 2001 76ers team, Jeremy, alright? That team was really good. And everyone goes, yeah, Iverson, Dikembe, Eric Snow. And then who’s the next person you say? Everyone always remembers Matt Geiger. So I don’t know what it was about that dude. But Philly loved him, all right? I don’t know what it is.

I feel like he had a strong goatee as well.

Jon Dorenbos, Philadelphia Eagles

TOM: Dorenbos gets an honorable mention for me because again, he’s a dude who showed up and did his damn job every single game. A great long snapper. He had the Pro Bowls, and he was a wing bowl commissioner. Had a crazy childhood, tragedy in the family, overcame it all, and became a fan favorite. Then he’s doing all the magic tricks on national TV. Eagles fans love that guy.

Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia Eagles

TOM: I’m going to give an honorable mention to the Sheldon Brown and Lito Shepard duo, man. Two cornerbacks that really held it down for six seasons together. 37 career interceptions. Some really big plays. There’s the Sheldon Brown hit stick on Reggie Bush. The Lito Shepard pick-six in the game when T.O. comes back. Just a great duo to have.

Smarty Jones, um…horse

(Laughs)

TOM: Listen, Jeremy, you’re laughing okay, but my man…actually, my horse…was on Sports Illustrated, bro. This guy was big, alright? And he was an inch away at the Belmont Stakes from getting that Triple Crown. I just remember Philly was in a frenzy when that dude was racing.

I don’t know how you do your social posts or your blog posts, but I think if you can crop my face onto Smarty Jones, that would be amazing. So you have my permission to do that.

Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph’s

TOM: Jameer Nelson gets an honorable mention because, again, March Madness was a big cultural moment, and we’ll never forget that St. Joe’s run.

Monet Davis, Team Pennsylvania

TOM: Little League World Series. She balled out.

Wow, Monet Davis.

TOM: Listen, when you have a Philly person doing really big in a cultural moment, it checks the box. Then you get on Sports Illustrated. That’s when the town falls in love with you. And then…you lose at the very final moment.

Incredible honorable mentions. The Smarty Jones selection by itself. We could end everything right now. That’s top-notch.

TOM: I have a fun Smarty Jones story. So I remember one night I was coming back from one of our late-night stints out after work. And I get off the PATCO, and I’m driving home, and I remember calling into WIP, something I always did, especially with the late-night hosts. I remember the topic of discussion that night was the biggest Philly sports disappointments. And I called in and brought up Smarty Jones at like 2 a.m. And I got off, and the host went on a tangent for about 20 minutes about Smarty Jones. And I was like, see, I was right. Smarty Jones was a huge fan favorite.

Alright, let’s actually change this to be the top 10 Smarty Jones moments.

10. Freddie Mitchell

TOM: Alright, so at number 10, I’m going with Freddie Mitchell. First off, he’s got a great nickname. Fred X. He always delivers. And I don’t know what it is, but I feel like Philadelphia sports fans have some sort of deep connection to the wide receiver #3 position. And there have been better wide receiver #3s than Freddie Mitchell, okay? But there’s certainly been worse.

If you take a list of the top 50 plays in Philadelphia Eagles history, Freddie Mitchell’s got two of them. He’s got 4th and 26, which I mean is just so well known. And then the other Freddie Mitchell play is on Monday Night Football against Dallas, and McNabb goes on that 17-second scramble all over the backfield, going crazy, and he launches that bomb 50 yards downfield, and Freddie Mitchell catches it.

I think the other thing about Freddie Mitchell is that he possessed an irrational confidence in himself. Like, he thought he was the best receiver on the field. And if it’s a superstar, that can sometimes be a little off-putting. But when it’s the WR3 behind Todd Pinkston. You’re kind of like, I rock with this. This guy is nuts. And I love that.

TOM: He hated McNabb. Like, I get it. Like you had a beef with your quarterback or whatever, but 4th and 26 will just always be one of those moments I’ll never forget. Fred X gets a mention on my list, man. I don’t care how crazy it is.

9. Raul Ibanez

TOM: Really known for his two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, okay? Electric, his first season, and had a pretty good second season as well. In his first season, he had 272 hits, 34 homers, and 93 RBIs. And my man, I swear, every single person at Citizens Bank Park was rocking his jersey. Every single person on the Jersey Boardwalk was rocking his jersey.

He came in and just tore it up for two seasons. Then he got a little bad the last two seasons. But, I mean, that first season, you lose Pat the Bat. A fan favorite who has been a core member of that team. And you’re replacing him with Raul Ibanez, and my man drops 34 homers in his first season with the Phillies, dude.

Every time he got a big hit, the whole crowds cheering “Rauuuuul!”

Now when you’re down at the Jersey Shore, you know, walking around Sea Isle and Ocean City, they got the Ibanez shirts everywhere. It’s a shame because they should have had some more championships in that era. But I feel like we kind of forget about Raul, man.

8. Kyle Korver

TOM: There are so many 76ers I could have picked from, especially because I’m a Process guy, you know. But I wanted to go a little pre-process era here. And I was thinking, who was that fan favorite that everyone gravitated towards during that Iverson era? And the name I came up with was Kyle Korver, man.

Yes. 100%.

TOM: He was only with the team for four seasons, which I knew he had a shorter stint with us. I didn’t think it was that short. But when you look up who has the most career threes in Sixers franchise history, he’s top 10.

I can’t believe he was only there for four seasons.

TOM: For some reason, again, like, you go to…I almost called it Wells Fargo. You go to Xfinity Live Arena now...stupid-ass name.

Terrible name.

TOM: You still see Korver jerseys, dude. There’s something about this, like, Korver aura that, like, him being that great role player who came in and hit the threes. You’ll never hear anything bad said about Kyle Korver. And, again, like maybe I’m stretching a bit here Jeremy, but he was a dude who had a job. He went in and did it, and he did it really well.

It was also at that time before the 3-point revolution in the NBA. And it seemed like he could just hit a three like it’s nothing.

TOM: It’s so funny ‘cause Korver would go down and hit back-to-back threes and another team would call a timeout and then like, okay, then you get cold, and that may have been all Korver did all night, but whatever, he did his job.

Who’s the better Sixer, Matt Geiger or Kyle Korver?

TOM: Oh, it’s a close one, man. It’s a close one. You never forget the name Matt Geiger. I don’t know what it is, man. If you want to Photoshop my face on him, you can do that too.

We’ll figure it out in post.

7. Jeremiah Trotter

TOM: When we talk about that era of Eagles’ defense and the greatest Eagles, you just don’t hear Trotter’s name mentioned that often. And I feel like Trotter deserves a little bit more credit. He was the anchor of that Super Bowl team that went in ‘04. Top five in franchise history in tackles, despite playing significantly less games than some of the longest tenured Eagles. Four-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro. And I mean, like, I’m going to give you another hot take here. Brian Dawkins gets a little overhyped, right?

Whoa!

TOM: I love Dawkins. He’s a top four safety of all time. But I do feel like we give Dawkins way more love than the other guys on the team, right? Like you don’t hear about Trotter.

I’m going to title this. Tom Cristino hates Brian Dawkins, loves Smarty Jones.

TOM: I think he’s an all-time great!

For Trotter to play the way he did as the middle linebacker for that complex Jim Johnson defense at a time when the Eagles were not prioritizing the linebacker group was incredible.

TOM: We could sit here and do a Sporcle of the terrible linebackers this team put out on the field from 2000 to 2024. I mean, we had Casey Matthews out there, bro.

That was terrible.

TOM: We had like Joe Mays. I mean, we like we had some bums out there. I remember when we had Stewart Bradley, and we thought this guy was going to be like the next huge defensive player. But then he tears his ACL with that stupid training camp Flight Night, and then the Eagles organization shuts it down, never to be had again.

But, bro, like, I do remember watching Trotter as a kid. It was so much fun. And he was a stud. I mean, he was great. And having his son on the team now, dude is so cool.

One of my picks for underrated plays in Super Bowl 57 was after we scored one of our like 14 touchdowns that game against the Chiefs. On kickoff coverage, Trotter Jr. makes the tackle, and he does the axman celebration. I remember just screaming in my house like “he did the axman!”

His impact is also felt for years by the fact that they couldn’t replace him. They struggled to find a good middle linebacker debatably until, I don’t know, Nigel Bradham?

TOM: You had one-year stints. Like Jordan Hicks came in. He had one good year. DeMeco Ryans came in and had one good year. Kiko Alonso. You had all these guys come in and just like one good year. But Trotter held it down for multiple seasons, man, and he was the heart and soul of that defense.

6. Randy Wolf

TOM: Eight seasons. 184 games, so a long tenure. Been named to an All-Star game. 1,000 strikeouts, okay? Probably, if my Phillies history is accurate here, one of the best left-handed pitchers who didn’t win a World Series.

As a kid, he was like one of my first favorite Phillies. Loved him. He pitched the first game at Citizens Bank Park. That was the era of Phillies fandom, too, where, like, every player had a fan group in the crowd. Randy Wolf had the “Wolf Pack.” A bunch of dudes from South Philly just up in the nosebleeds wearing wolf masks with a sign that was made with a Sharpie and a Sharpie only.

A bunch of guys just hammered off their asses.

TOM: Amazing stuff, man. I need a documentary on where those guys are now. But Randy Wolf had a decent stint with the Phillies. Great left-handed pitcher. The other left-handed pitchers who have had obviously dominant success with the Phillies, like Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer, got their rings, you know. Steve Carlton, they’re champions. So I just wanted to give Wolf a little bit of kudos here because he’s a fan favorite growing up. And he’s just one of them guys where no one says anything bad about, right? Dude’s kind of like a little bit of a legend, man.

That was also at a time when the Phillies needed some juice.

TOM: They weren’t that good. Back to the fandoms, I remember you had Brandon Duckworth, and you had the fan group that was in the stadium with the Duck Pond. You had Pat Burrell and Burrell’s Girls. You had all these fan groups just all coming into the stadium just to try to mimic what the Wolfpack was doing.

I don’t know, man. Just something about watching old Comcast Sportsnet highlights. And every time Randy Wolf got a strikeout, they panned to the Wolfpack. That’s just like cinema to me.

5. David Akers

TOM: 12 seasons with the Eagles. Six Pro Bowls, two-time first-team All-Pro. Eagles Hall of Famer, Eagles 75th anniversary team, NFL 2000s all-decade team. Most points in Eagles history. Iconic 2018 draft day speech.

I also still see a ton of David Akers jerseys.

TOM: Here’s the other stat that I looked up for this, and you’re going to freaking love it. And this is like one of those stats where, like, I think if it were more widely known, it would just make us love the aura of Akers more.

He’s top five in NFL history in tackles for a kicker. Like, really? Because I remember as a kid, Akers would get down there and have some of those nice flying body tackles, and you’d be like, “this is the coolest thing ever. Our kicker just laid out this returner.”

I think it’s so Philly. And dude’s a good guy. We have our local Shop Rite right up the street here. I remember as a kid, he was up there. It felt like every other Saturday, he was signing autographs for people.

And yeah, man, like 12 seasons, I mean you’re talking about like that era of kickers with the Polish Cannon Sebastian Janikowski, and obviously Adam Vinatieri, but like Akers was right there right as one of the best kickers of that era. So gotta love my man David.

4. Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee

TOM: A dominant pitching duo from 2009 to 2014. Couldn’t pick between them, and they both deserve a spot on my list, man. I mean, the excitement after that ‘08 World Series win and then to land those guys in free agency the years after and then just to see what they did. Yeah, unbelievable, man. Everyone knows where they were when those two guys were pitching. We had such a great lineup of hitters, and people tuned into the Phillies to watch those two guys pitch.

Those guys were automatic. They put on clinics. His nickname was “Doc” for a reason. It’s like you literally were watching surgery when he pitched.

Those two guys were absolute dominance. I mean, you had Doc throwing the perfect game against the Marlins. You had the postseason no-hitter against the Reds. An NL Cy Young winner. Combined, they had over 100 wins and 1,300 strikeouts. They were so fun to watch.

It’s crazy that Doc never got a World Series, man. It’s absolutely insane.

3. The Legion of Doom, Eric Lindros, John Leclair, and Mikael Renberg

TOM: I’m getting creative again here with you Jeremy, because I couldn’t just pick one. And I’m probably going against my criteria a little bit here because, like I said, I wanted to make sure I had teams that I watched and I kind of caught the tail end of the Legion of Doom. That was sort of when I just started watching the Flyers.

I do remember my parents watching the ‘97 Stanley Cup final against the Red Wings, but like just little bits and pieces. But I mean, I couldn’t do a list without putting a Flyer on here.

You know man, like you talk about the greatest athletes in Philly history, I think Lindros kind of gets out there. I mean, just the mid-90s, a great era of hockey in general, and they just were so dominant, man. I was looking up their stats, and I was just like, my goodness. They had three seasons together. In today’s hockey, you just see the lines shift so much. So the fact that these dudes played on the same line for so long is incredible. But they had 305 goals and 361 assists together, and 56 goals in the playoffs. You know, in 1997, the year they go to the Cup, they get 104 goals. I know they got swept off the ice by the Red Wings, but still, that Red Wings team was like...

Those were insane Red Wings teams.

TOM: I was like, oh, the lines that the Red Wings had back then were called the Russian Five because they were just getting all these Russians out there, and they were just smoking us. But the Legion of Doom, man, they had the nickname, they had the dominance.

Eric Lindross, he’s one of the more polarizing athletes in Philadelphia sports history. He maybe doesn’t fit the bill in terms of the prototypical Philly athlete because he became a little high-maintenance with some of the contract disputes and all that stuff. And he was injury prone, which we know that Philly sports fans do not like an injury prone player. But when he was healthy and on the ice, dude was one of the best to ever do it.

And I mean, I’d say from what I know of Lindros, talent-wise, he’s probably one of the most talented athletes that ever came through this town. But the injuries, like just like Embiid, man. A talented player, but you know the injuries catch up to you, man, especially when they’re scary head injuries. But I’ve gone through rabbit holes of some Lindros and Legion of Doom highlights, man, and they’re fun to watch.

2. Donovan McNabb

TOM: I think that because he didn’t win a championship and now you have two Eagles teams that won championships, he just doesn’t get the credit he deserves. And I mean, like, I love Jalen. I love Nick Foles. But that run that McNabb had. That was right when you and I started being fans of the Eagles. Like, true diehards, truly understanding and watching the games. I’ll never forget what McNabb brought to the city and what he did.

I understand he had some flaws in his game, and he didn’t get the big one. He wasn’t exactly loved by the media. But all that being said, when you watch McNabb play, he was lights freaking out, man. The early McNabb clips of him breaking away on 30-yard scrambles. That dual-threat quarterback archetype, before the Lamar Jackson kind of quarterback came into the game.

He could run, he could pass. He had a cannon of an arm. I mean, if you look at that era of quarterbacks too, he’s right there behind Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady. He’s right underneath those guys, you know?

He was a dude who, to a fault, protected the football so well, right? He kind of became known for passing the ball to the receiver’s feet. But it’s like, dude, he did it because he didn’t want to throw an interception. And that year in ‘04 when they ended up going to the Super Bowl, he had 31 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions. Like, that is a ridiculous ratio, man.

92 wins, most passing yards, and most touchdowns in franchise history. He’s actually 12th in franchise history for rushing, which I think is a cool little stat.

I guess you could say he’s the greatest quarterback in franchise history, right?

TOM: I think so. The stats are there. The longevity was there. I guess I say longevity. It’s more like his peak; that five-year, four-year stretch there was just insane. And like again, you talk about it being a team sport. He never really had a lot of help, right? He got stuck throwing the ball to Freddie Mitchell. He got stuck throwing the ball to Todd Pinkston, like...

James Thrash. Chad Lewis…

TOM: You know, exactly. Guys that were like, okay. But when he had to T.O. for one season, you saw what he did, man. And it makes you think, what if he had a guy like T.O. for his whole career? What could have been?

It kind of pains me because Eli Manning likely is going to get into the Hall of Fame, and it’s just like, ah man, we always had Eli’s number. It just like kills me that like Eli Manning, and even Big Ben, probably gets into the Hall. I would take McNabb over those guys any Sunday, any season.

Also, he went to four NFC Championships in a row.

TOM: Five total because they went in 2009 with the Cardinals. And I saw this stat that the Eagles defense gave up something like 27 points per game in those NFC Championship games.

1. Joe Frazier

TOM: I don’t think people consider him untouchable as often as I would like.

He’s got a statue after him, okay? He’s a Hall of Famer. Gold medalist with multiple Sports Illustrated covers. One of the best nicknames in all of sports. Absolutely known for his greatness, toughness, and victories. And what was probably the greatest individual moment in all of sports history when he was the first ever to knock down Muhammad Ali.

When COVID happened, and there were no sports, and ESPN was replaying all these great games, I couldn’t rewatch sports. I can’t do it. Don’t know why. Just have no interest in it. Don’t enjoy it.

So my wife and I started watching boxing documentaries, and then we started going down some rabbit holes on ESPN Classics and YouTube, and we started watching so many boxing fights. I mean, we were watching like Mike Tyson’s early fights. We were watching Floyd Mayweather’s early fights. Like we were finding boxing matches from the thirties and the forties with grainy footage. We were just having so much fun with it.

We watched probably close to 15 or 20 Joe Frazier fights that we could find. And, did the same with Ali. And it was just like, we...this guy, the way he boxed, man. He was a freaking pit bull in the ring, man. He was so ferocious.

Yeah, what was his style like?

TOM: He just went after you, man. He just went right after you. It didn’t matter who you were. He was tough as nails, man.

In the fight of the century, it’s this big moment. He knocks down Ali. He gets the win. I mean, you’re talking about the sports world being absolutely rocked. I mean, if I had a chance to go back and watch any game live or any moment in sports live, I’m probably picking a Frazier-Ali fight, right?

And if you go back and you watch the second fight between the two of them. It’s controversial. Joe Frazier won that second fight. I know they gave it to Ali, but you go back and watch it, man. It just felt a little rigged. Joe Frazier kicks his ass in the first, and in my opinion, takes him in the second. And then they go to the Thrilla in Manila, man. They fight in this 100-degree weather. They’re both like out there about to die. And Ali wins the third fight because Frazier’s eye wouldn’t open up, and they had to call it a TKO.

But Frazier never quit against Ali, man. He’s the prototype of what you’d want a Philly athlete to be. So tough and fought to the very end.

Who’s the better athlete, Joe Frazier or Smarty Jones?

TOM: Man, I don’t know, man. I bet you what, that would be a good fight. I think Joe Frazier could take down a horse. I don’t know. It’d be fun.

Watching A.J. Brown play football for the Philadelphia Eagles was a spiritual experience. It was football nirvana. At his best, Brown was GameShark. A one-of-a-kind cheat code. A skyscraper that ran like a freight train with hands that could catch lightning. He was a Megazord. A collection of Julio Jones’ body, Anquan Boldin’s strength, and Calvin Johnson’s hands. He was the sun. With a gravity that offenses revolved around and defenses couldn’t contain. A physically dominant receiver who could make grown men feel small. Men who spent their entire lives honing their craft and training their bodies to stop a player like him. Who, despite all of that honing and all of that training, were still left feeling helpless when A.J. pulled passes out of the air over their heads. He was a wrecking ball. He shattered time and space and flattened odds through a lethal combination of unbridled skill and relentless willpower. His player comp was the meteor that took out the dinosaurs.

After an extended breakup (that felt like the summer before you and your high school girlfriend were going away to separate colleges), the Eagles and A.J. Brown have gone their separate ways. The Eagles traded Brown to his favorite childhood team, the New England Patriots, in exchange for a 2028 1st round pick and a 2027 5th. Brown reunites with Mike Vrabel, who was his head coach for the first 3 seasons of his career.

Brown leaves the Eagles as one of the dominant receivers to wear midnight green (if not the most dominant). He displayed a level of superstar talent Eagles fans haven’t seen since Terrell Owens graced the City of Brotherly Love (a man who ironically did not possess much brotherly love). Brown has the top two receiving seasons by yards in Eagles history. He has the 2nd and 5th seasons with the most receptions by an Eagles pass catcher. He has the 9th most receiving yards in Eagles franchise history (despite playing fewer seasons with the team than anyone else in the top 10). In 2022, he broke Calvin Johnson’s record with 125+ receiving yards in six consecutive games. And in case you forgot, Calvin Johnson was really good at football.

To know the difference A.J. Brown made on the Eagles offense, you just need to watch a game. But to know the impact A.J. Brown made on Philadelphia, you need to bleed Kelly Green. Throughout the team’s history, Philadelphia has rarely been a hotbed for wide receiver talent. We had our Terrell Owenses and DeSean Jacksons and Alshon Jeffreys. But we also suffered through long, grueling years of Jalen Reagors, Josh Huffs, Hank Basketts, Nelson Agholors, Dorial Green-Beckhams, J.J. Arcega-Whitesides, Mack Hollinses, John Hightowers, Riley Coopers, Steve Smiths (the way less good one), and Quez Watkinses. But Brown changed all of that.

On draft night in 2022, when Howie Roseman acquired Brown from the Tennessee Titans, he altered the course of NFL history. Since that night, Brown made a habit of putting the city of Philadelphia on his back and carrying us to the promised land. Catch after catch. Yard after yard. Down after down.

His career in South Philly is pure mythology. There was his 156-yard, 3-touchdown performance against Pittsburgh in 2022, where he caught a touchdown over two Pittsburgh defenders and pointed at them one by one as they fell to the ground. There was his 119-yard, 2-touchdown revenge game against Tennessee that same season. A game so dominant it resulted in Tennessee firing its general manager, Jon Robinson, two days later.

Or his 9 catch, 175 yard, 2 touchdown performance against Washington in 2023 when he banished Emmanuel Forbes to the shadow realm. And his 6-catch, 96-yard, 1-touchdown performance against Washington in the 2024 NFC Championship Game to take Philly back to the Super Bowl. Not to mention his 6-catch, 109-yard, and 1 touchdown performance against Los Angeles last season that fueled one of the greatest comebacks in Philadelphia Eagles history.

His dominance defined the most successful era of Eagles football. His superhuman ability helped Jalen Hurts develop into a Super Bowl MVP quarterback. He was room for error incarnate. A player capable of making bad throws look good and good throws look legendary. His playmaking allowed DeVonta Smith the room to grow into his own brilliance. He even made an obscure self-help book into a #1 bestseller after reading it on the bench during Philly’s postseason win over Green Bay in 2024.

Outside of the cryptic tweets and confessional Twitch streams, Brown is known as a high-character teammate, a relentless worker, and a fierce advocate for mental health. He showed a vulnerability and openness that’s rare among football players. We know that giants bleed, but rarely do they show us their wounds to make us feel better about our own. A.J. continues to do that.

History will be kind to A.J. He will be remembered as one of the greatest Eagles of all-time. A two-time NFC Champion and, more importantly, a Super Bowl Champion. A player who helped turn a formerly championship-starved city into one that consistently graced the mountaintop.

So, what happens from here? Brown goes on to Foxboro in the hopes that he’s the missing piece for a Patriots team coming off a Super Bowl loss. One that enters the 2026 season entrenched in scandal. He will be paired with Drake Maye in an offense that can play to his skill set in diversified ways. Maye gets a deep ball threat and a big target who can excel on the perimeter and in the middle of the field.

The Eagles will grow and move on. The same way all of us do when we lose a key part of ourselves. It’s hard to say they’ll be better for it, but they’ll be different, which may be better in the long run. After getting a 2028 1st and a 2027 5th from New England, the Eagles walk away with 15 picks in the next two drafts and the financial resources to extend some of their younger players, like Jalen Carter.

DeVonta Smith steps into Brown’s shadow as the Eagles’ new #1 receiver. A role he’s more than equipped to fill. And Jalen Hurts loses a player he’s depended on in the best years of his career. A security blanket with an unspoken on-the-field connection. Though their friendship may have transformed, the former best friends still had an otherworldly football connection as dealers of the deep ball. Hurts has already started to embrace evolution without Brown to hopefully become a more complete quarterback in a pure progression passing attack that spreads the ball around.

All good things must come to an end. Brown’s career with Philadelphia is one for the record books. While the time is right for Brown and the Birds to move on, I can’t help but get hung up on nostalgia. The good times. Like most Eagles fans, I couldn’t be more thankful for Brown. He’s an all-time legend who leaves the city he called home for the past 4 years better than he found it.

Each breakup feels like the first time. It’s a series of endings wrapped in uncertain new beginnings. No matter the nature of the decoupling, the complications can play your aorta like a baby grand. Whether that’s unrequited love from your high school crush, the end of your first long-term relationship, or…losing a record-breaking, perennial 1,000-yard receiver who helped lead you to two Super Bowls.

A.J. Brown is moving on. The inevitability of his departure from the City of Brotherly Love has been written in the stars (and Adam Schefter’s Twitter feed) all offseason. After June 1, when the dead cap hit accrued from moving him lowers, the Birds will trade Brown to his next team (most likely the New England Cheating Vrabels).

A tumultuous (and slightly hilarious) few years that included reading a self-help book on the sidelines of a playoff game, sending cryptic tweets, and sharing frustrations on Twitch streams will officially come to an end. A.J’s flair for the dramatic should be studied. But his dominance on the field should be celebrated.

Brown is simply one of the greatest receivers ever to wear midnight green. He’s a beloved teammate and a record-breaking world-destroyer who helped Eagles football soar to its highest heights. But unfortunately, some relationships come to an end. Some love doesn’t last. Some offensive coordinators are Kevin Patullo.

No one knows breakups better than Philadelphia fans. We’ve seen a soon-to-be-ex wide receiver do situps in his driveway. We’ve seen the team eat a Duck Tales-sized pool of money to move on from a certain North Dakota quarterback (rhymes with Warson Centz). We’ve seen an aging running back join and then quickly unjoin the team before ever playing a snap. We value loyalty over everything. And nothing cuts deeper than someone who doesn’t want to be here.

So to work through our feelings of losing A.J., I thought it would be appropriate to put together a playlist. A collection of songs for Birds fans to listen to while we work through our emotions. Like that “breakup mix” that’s still in your CD case from middle school that for some reason includes 3 songs from Ja Rule’s Pain Is Love album (hypothetically speaking ofcourse).

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To build the perfect playlist for the cause, I hit up my homie and Philadelphia legend Bruce Warren. Bruce spent 36 years at WXPN (Philly’s premier public radio station) as a DJ and Program Director and was the Executive Producer at the legendary Philadelphia venue World Cafe Live. Bruce’s love for music and love for the Birds cannot be understated.

As Bruce said of the Eagles losing Brown, “while it stinks, cause he’s amazing, both the Eagles and A.J. have read the writing on the wall. It looks like the Eagles’ offense just doesn’t have the kind of role he wants.” I believe the streets call that conscious uncoupling.

So, we present to you the Bye Bye A.J. playlist. A collection of songs to get you through every stage of losing Brown. From sadness to nostalgia to hopefulness to “don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.”

We wish our mercurial wide receiver the best of luck heading to greener pastures (or “paschtaaas” as they pronounce it in New England). Take a listen, feel your feelings, and rewatch A.J. Brown highlights from the 2022 season. And comment below to tell us which song you’ll be playing when the Eagles trade A.J.

Catch up on all things A.J. Brown:

At Dickinson College, it was ritual to drink lukewarm Bud heavies and play FIFA with my friends. And when blessed with the opportunity to hit sticks, it was my destiny to get smacked. Walloped. Pan-fried. Despite growing up playing soccer and digesting my fair share of half-time orange slices, I understood very little about the game. What’s worse is that I had no allegiance to a team. I chose what team to play with based on whether or not I recognized any of their players. I was surrounded by friends who were Chelsea and Manchester United fans, while depriving myself of a global fandom experience and the opportunity to finish sentences with “innit.”

On a professional sports level, I invested all of my fan stock into the tumultuous experience of rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles (we will forget about the 76ers at this time for mental health purposes). The waters are rocky, the vibes are mixed. But I’ve always been interested in the Premier League, and to supplement my obsession with the NFL, I’ve always wanted to find a soccer team to root for. But between new shows on Apple TV+ and scrolling through (name your app), I simply haven’t had the time.

With the NFL offseason slowing down and the World Cup coming to the States, there’s no better time to get in the game (the wise words of EA Sports). So to better understand the Premier League and to help me choose a team to devote my undying loyalty to, I recruited one of my oldest friends and diehard Premier League fan , to break it all down for me by comparing European soccer to American football.

Before Arsenal (new favorite team contender #1) takes on PSG this Saturday in the Champions League final, Rotimi talks to me about the structure of the Premier League, why there aren’t any playoffs, why relegation feels like going to the sunken place, and all while making NFL comparisons for Premier League teams.

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You’re a Chelsea fan, right?

ROTIMI: Yeah, I’m a Chelsea fan. When we were in college, as you know, I studied abroad in London. Growing up, we played FIFA all the time, right? And I would rotate between a few different teams, Chelsea being one of them, but also, embarrassingly, Tottenham. When I studied abroad in London, a big reason why I became a Chelsea fan was one of the trips that my program offered was the opportunity to tour Stamford Bridge, which is the stadium that Chelsea plays in. There was something about the grounds that felt historic.

One of the transformative things that Chelsea experienced was in 2004, when we had a Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich, step into the building, and he just started spending. And so a club that was historic and had a lot of history to it, but not necessarily like a ton of success, became incredibly successful over a 15-year period. And so, yeah, that’s around when I joined in 2010, we won our first Champions League. I want to say in 2012.

The first one that they won in 2012?

ROTIMI: Yeah, the first Champions League. We won the league for the first time in 2005 and have won it a few times since then. When Roman came on board, we became a team that won a lot of trophies and had this incredible ambition. And so growing up as a hurt Washington Redskins fan, it felt good to support a team that actually won something instead of a team that was, you know, ridiculously poorly managed. In addition, you know, my mom grew up in London and not too far from the Chelsea stadium. I think the last reason is that we had all of these African powerhouses, Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel.

Can you explain the Premier League to me like I’m a 7-year-old? Like, how does relegation work? How long is the season? When do the playoffs start?

ROTIMI: Ooh, playoffs. Okay. We’ve got a lot to discuss.

Let’s do it.

ROTIMI: The Premier League is the top league in English football. Let’s say there are four divisions. There’s really more than that, but you have League Two, League One, the Championship, and then the Premier League.

The Premier League is the top English league and has 20 teams. Each of those 20 teams plays one another in the league, home and away, so twice in total.

For all 20 teams?

ROTIMI: Yeah, so there are 38 weeks in the league. That’s in the league itself, but then there are four competitions a year. So you have two English domestic tournaments that run through the year.

One is the FA Cup, which includes not just those top four divisions, but all the divisions underneath. They call them non-division teams. That’s the oldest tournament. And that happens in parallel to the regular Premier League season. So every few weeks, instead of playing a Premier League match, you’ll play in this tournament that’s basically single elimination.

And so what spices up football in general is having these tournaments on top of this longstanding season, right? Because you mentioned playoffs, the Premier League doesn’t have playoffs. Instead, it has a point system.

How’s the point system work?

ROTIMI: If you win a match, you get 3 points, if you draw a match, you get 1 point, and if you lose a match, you get 0 points. At the end of the 38 weeks, whichever team has the most points wins the Premier League. And so winning the Premier League is a marathon. It’s a sign that you are the most consistent team.

So there’s no championship game or like anything like that?

ROTIMI: Not in the Premier League. So I mentioned the Premier League and the FA Cup. You also have the domestic trophy that we call the Carabao Cup, which is just basically a tournament for the top divisions in English football.

And then you have the Champions League. The Champions League is a long-term tournament that happens again in parallel with the normal season, and it isn’t just the English teams. It’s the best of the English teams playing the best of the Spanish teams, best of the French teams, best of the German teams, and so on. So it’s like a club World Cup that happens every single year.

It’s a huge deal to qualify for the Champions League, and the best players want to play in the Champions League, and they want to join the teams that are going to qualify for the Champions League. So earlier, when I mentioned Chelsea just hasn’t really been the same for the last few years. We haven’t made the Champions League three out of the last four years. It has a huge effect on the talent that we’re able to attract. It’s like joining the Washington Wizards, being like, you guys aren’t going to make the playoffs. Why would I join you?

So do all the world’s best players want to play in the Premier League?

ROTIMI: It’s actually a little bit more nuanced. The Premier League has the best global viewership, and it’s considered the most competitive league. By most competitive, it means that you tune in, and the team that’s in first place could easily lose to the team that’s in 15th place. The quality is great, but the play style is different.

La Liga (the Spanish league) is really exciting to watch. If you’re a Spanish player, maybe you want to stay in a league where it’s all Spanish, you know, it’s Spanish referees, Spanish culture. So yeah, I think that it’s a little bit more nuanced. I think often, yes, the best players will go to the Premier League, but that’s not necessarily true. Like Messi, for example, never played in the Premier League.

Oh really?

ROTIMI: Yeah, no, he never went to the Premier League. Cristiano Ronaldo was at Manchester United and then left. He played in Italy, he played on, you know, the best team overall. And that’s the interesting thing about the Champions League, right? Like the Premier League is the best, the most competitive league, but it doesn’t necessarily always have the best team. The Champions League normally determines the best team.

So a lot of these players are going to roll from the Champions League right into the World Cup?

ROTIMI: Yeah, which is insane, right? So you have 38 matches as part of your normal season, right? And then, depending on how far you go in each of these tournaments, maybe at this point in the season, you’ve played 60 matches already.

What about the current landscape of the league in general? Historically, who are the top teams?

ROTIMI: So Arsenal, they haven’t won the league in like 20 years, but they finally won it this year. There’s a sort of joke that they are perpetually second place. Like for the last, I think three years, they’ve been second place in the league. They’ve lost to Man City in a couple of finals. They, you know, they just keep on coming in second place.

It also feels deeply millennial to be an Arsenal fan.

ROTIMI: I can see that, yeah. Arsenal is based in London, so I think they have some international appeal. They have historic players like Thierry Henry, arguably one of the best players ever in the Premier League, who played there. They have this reputation of playing really good football. Nowadays, they are…what was that sort of thing in the NFL where, like, it’s not a QB sneak, but it was like a something bum thing. I can’t remember what it was, but people were talking about it.

The tush push?

ROTIMI: Tush push, yeah! Maybe not the exact same, but like they’ve scored 17 goals from corner kicks, right? And so like their style of play, people consider it quite boring, and they’re not exciting to watch, even though they grind out results often by set pieces like corner kicks or free kicks.

A big topic of conversation in the NFL was when the Eagles were the best in the league at doing a tush push. And the league tried to ban it because they were so effective at doing it.

ROTIMI: I think it’s very similar. The narrative has been like, well, Arsenal’s been playing rugby on these corners. They haven’t gotten called for all the antics that they’ve pulled. And so people are anticipating that over the summer, they’ll probably change the rules, or like the refs will start enforcing fouls on these corner kicks.

Do you see a lot of parity in the league, or do you see teams build dynasties?

ROTIMI: Yeah, so Man City has definitely been the most recent dynasty. I think Man United is the previous. The Dallas Cowboys, to me, are like Manchester United, where they have their glory days of the past, where they were very dominant. They have maybe the best manager in Premier League history, Sir Alex Ferguson. They were a true dynasty. They were incredible in the 90s and early 2000s. And then, you know, they’ve been mid or trash for the last 10 years, and this year they’re in third place.

And then you have Man City, who are like the Kansas City Chiefs, who are now all of a sudden really, really good. People joke that they don’t really have any real fans. Like, it’s kind of true. I go to bars to watch matches, and like, I go see a Spurs match. It’s packed with Spurs fans. I go see an Arsenal match, Liverpool match, Chelsea match. You got those fans there. I watch Man City play, and I don’t see a single fan. Like they just don’t really exist.

They’re like an industry plant.

ROTIMI: Yeah, exactly. I think it’s a psyop of some sort. So you have what you call the Big Six. Arsenal, Man City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and then Tottenham.

Tottenham’s in the big six? Weren’t they kind of bad for a while and then kind of got good?

ROTIMI: They’ve been bad for most of the time I’ve been following soccer. They had one year, maybe two years, when they came in second place. They call them “Spursy”. Like it’s Spursy to like fuck up a lead. They’re just like, kind of nervy and will often fuck up when it looks like they have control.

That’s like how NFL fans traditionally talk about the Los Angeles Chargers and “Chargering”.

ROTIMI: So, something we haven’t talked about yet is that the bottom three teams every year will get relegated. And then the top three teams from the championship will get promoted. And this is another really fun thing about the Premier League is that, yes, you’re interested in seeing who’s going to win the league. You also want to see who are going to be the top four or five teams that qualify for the Champions League. And then you’re also invested in seeing what three teams are going to unfortunately miss out and get relegated.

And getting relegated in the Premier League is kind of like, you know, it’s like a disaster for your finances because you’re not getting that broadcast revenue that you would from the Premier League. If you’re a top talent, you want to be in the Premier League. So now your players are going to ask for transfers out. Sometimes you see teams get relegated and then they just keep on getting stuck in the championship or relegated even further.

It reminds me of that scene in “Get Out” when he sinks into the chair, and he’s just falling.

ROTIMI: You’re in the sunken place.

Do you feel like for those teams, getting to the Premier League is pretty much all that they play for? That they’re like, “okay, we made it to the Premier League. This is it for us.”

ROTIMI: You know, I think so. But then you have these other tournaments, right, where, like, your objective might be, let’s get to the semifinals of the FA Cup. Let’s see if we can really do that, right? And sometimes that happens. Sometimes you even make it to the final. Being a Washington Commanders fan, there was just nothing for us to celebrate ever. And it’s like, pretty American and very capitalistic in that, like, you’re all fighting to win one trophy. And if you don’t win it, like, too bad.

Like, zero-sum.

ROTIMI: Yeah. If you ain’t first, you’re last, right? Whereas here, there are four opportunities for you to win. And then also there are opportunities for you to stay up or to qualify for different competitions. So like, I think that every season there’s like basically 8 or so Premier League teams out of 20 that have something to really celebrate. And that’s kind of cool.

Ok, let’s do an exercise. Give each of the Premier League Big Six teams an NFL Team comparison. We talked about how Manchester United is very much like the Dallas Cowboys. Manchester City is kind of like the Kansas City Chiefs.

ROTIMI: Man City may even be like the Patriots and, you know, in that time where they were just dominant, right? Let’s talk Liverpool. I think that it’s a historic club with a sort of working-class background. I think it’s a pretty working-class town where it’s really all about the club. That’s what everyone there is passionate about. I would say it reminds me a little bit of the Green Bay Packers.

That’s exactly what I was gonna say. Are they always competitive but never really win it all?

ROTIMI: They’re always competitive and they win sometimes, and they’ve had periods of a ton of success. I think that what hurt them is that Man City was in their dynasty when they were maybe at their peak. So they didn’t win as much as they could have. They were kind of second place for several years, even when they were historically breaking records. City was just doing even better.

That sounds exactly like the Packers.

ROTIMI: I guess Arsenal was historically kind of successful with periods of being underachievers. But I think some people are drawn to them for the longest time because they had this coach, Arsène Wenger, this French dude, and he was always applauded for playing beautiful football. Even if they didn’t win much, they were like, oh, they’re very, you know, beautiful. And I’m not sure what the equivalent of that would be in the NFL.

I honestly think it’s the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles had Andy Reid for a long time. They always got close but could never win. And then they moved on from him, and had a period where they weren’t so great before having this resurgence where they won two Super Bowls in the past nine years. Not to mention the tush push equivalent with what Arsenal is doing with the corner kicks feels very similar. They feel like they’re a team that’s finally at the top after a long time of being a bridesmaid.

ROTIMI: Yeah, I could totally see that. So Tottenham is considered a big club even though they haven’t won shit. We always joke that they won their first big trophy last year when they won the Europa League. The Europa League is like the NIT, right? So if you don’t qualify for the Champions League, there’s another European competition called the Europa League, and they won that last year. And so, that’s the first trophy, honestly, I can remember them winning in like over a decade. You mentioned the Chargers earlier, and maybe that’s the closest equivalent.

Yeah, or even the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are a team that everybody loves. Everybody applauds the Bills for being this incredible franchise, but they have not won shit.

ROTIMI: Didn’t they lose the Super Bowl four years in a row?

Yeah, back in the ‘90s.

ROTIMI: Good Lord, that’s very Spursy.

What about Chelsea?

ROTIMI: I’m too close to this. I really do feel like right now we’re entering our Dan Snyder era where our management’s throwing us into the ground. But I feel like for a long time we were well financially backed. We’d fire coaches very regularly, but, like, it would somehow work or we’d win.

Interesting.

ROTIMI: And so I’m not sure if there is a team like that in the NFL that has been successful under different managers and has had a lot of money. Chelsea itself is in a ritzy part of London. Tickets are expensive, and I think we get a lot of tourists. So when you go to Stamford Bridge, it is kind of embarrassing. And our fans are used to success. So we’re in this tumultuous period where everyone’s disappointed, and we’re booing the team at halftime when we’re down a goal because we expect better. So there’s a level of entitlement. There’s a level of posh London. I’m trying to think of what NFL clubs represent that…

Even the trajectory of like, you had this period of dominance and then because of ownership or whoever’s calling the shots, things have kind of gone under a little bit and there’s a lot of frustration because there’s an expectation with winning. It kind of reminds me of the New York Giants, as terrible as that sounds. The Giants had this deep culture of winning in the ‘90s and the 2000s. They’re a historic franchise that in recent years has become shit. They really pissed off a fan base that has an expectation of winning with all of their sports. You know what I mean?

ROTIMI: I really like that. I did not think of that, honestly, but I think that is kind of spot on, the entitlement aspect.

One club that’s well run, but doesn’t have that much to show for it, is this club called Brighton. They’re solidly mid-table, but they are really good at recruiting players and developing young talent. And they are admired by everyone who cares about data. They do a really good job of buying low, selling high, and finding these gems that nobody else is, really recruiting. I’m curious if there’s an NFL team that everyone’s like “Oh, they have like a really good offensive coordinator, there’s such a well-run operation,” even if they haven’t really made it to the Super Bowl or anything like that.

I think it’s the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have a head coach who’s an offensive genius. They find these diamonds in the rough. They’re the ones who resurrected Sam Darnold’s career before he went on and won with the Seahawks last year. They signed Kyler Murray from the Cardinals this year. They bring in these guys who are kind of like these reclamation projects and manage to find value in them because the offensive system is so strong. They lean into analytics, but they just haven’t won it all. They’re in a really tough division. And even though they always have one of the best records in the league, they can’t seem to go all the way.

ROTIMI: Yeah. I can see that.

As a Philly sports fan myself, you know, I’ve been looking for a Premier League team since we were in college. What is a team that you would recommend to Philly sports fans?

ROTIMI: I think when I look at the top six, like honestly, I don’t know that any of them really match what I would think of as far as that Philly grit. And I also have to come to this as a Washington Commanders fan. Like, your fan base, I think, has a level of toxicity.

100%.

ROTIMI: I’m trying to also match that. And to me, when I think of the diehard fans, I think of Newcastle, I think of Leeds, and I think of Aston Villa. Now, Aston Villa is an interesting one. I think they have a good amount of history. They’ve been asleep for a long time, but now they’re seriously in contention. They made it to the Champions League. They won the Europa League. And I do feel they’re well-run and a hard-fighting team.

We haven’t really talked much about the style of football. I think that a lot of teams, modern teams, are taking this sort of, like, possession base where, you know, you’re trying to have the ball as much as possible. And I feel like Aston Villa doesn’t really care as much about that. Like, they’re just like, let’s just go out and win.

But I think of the top six, maybe Liverpool or Arsenal. The Arsenal comparisons are real in terms of the tush push and in terms of where they are at this point. They used to play a very possession style, and now they’ve gotten a little bit more, just like win at all costs. Their fans are known for being delusional. For the longest time, they thought they were the best team ever, and everyone just sort of laughed at them, and now they won. It’s this huge crisis because nobody wants Arsenal fans to actually win something.

Dude, thanks for literally taking the time to explain this to me.

ROTIMI: Yeah, man. I mean, it’s definitely so different from how sports are in the U.S. But it makes every game kind of count. I love the way that every game counts in the NFL. There are also different things to play for. And that keeps it interesting.

It’s late May, and we are starving. For a moment, as the air thickens and the temperature skyrockets, the NFL season has unraveled. We’re left with nothing but rumors of who did and who didn’t attend A.J. Brown’s wedding to sustain ourselves. Nolan Smith got so bored that he decided to audition for Fast and the Furious 12: How Much Faster Can We Go.

Luckily, the Eagles know this. And to keep us fed with NFL news, the Birds made their coordinators available to the media today for the first time all offseason. Like a pie cooling on the windowsill in a Looney Tunes cartoon, we lifted our noses and slowly levitated towards the grumpy words of Vic Fangio.

What’s special about this media availability is that this is the first time Eagles fans are hearing from new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion (AKA The Prince Who Was Promised AKA Not Kevin Patullo). Mannion lent his voice to answer the offseason-old questions that Eagles fans have been lobbing into the Twitterverse somewhere on the feed between Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini conspiracy theories and random ads for wigs for your Roomba (seriously, don’t go on Twitter). Mannion touched on his vision for the offense, what it’s like working with Jalen Hurts, why he decided to take the Eagles job, and more. Local reporters tossed questions at the new Eagles OC in Philly accents thicker than a Rita’s gelati.

But before “Boyz II Mann-ion” entered stage left, we heard from Vic Fangio, who spoke on Jonathan Greenard, Tariq Woolen, and Jihaad Campbell in between beautiful rants on the irrelevance of coaching titles and his disappointment with the Phillies because they fired Rob Thompson (this one’s for Topper). Vic has reached the age where he has no use for coachspeak and instead, like your uncle at Thanksgiving dinner, says literally whatever is on his mind at the moment.

Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay (a man you forgot coached for the Eagles) also talked to the media. Clay touched on Jake Elliott’s confidence, Braden Mann’s extension, and Makai Lemon returning punts before casually mentioning that he intercepted Sean Mannion in college. So in between the coachspeak…kind of a wild ride?

But what did Vic say about almost retiring in the offseason? Did Michael Clay (a man who could literally tell me he coaches for the Eagles and I wouldn’t believe him) lowkey drop some wisdom about the principles of coaching? And did Sean Mannion knock it out of the park before unfortunately name-dropping Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, and Drew Lock as his quarterback influences? Let’s dive in.

What Did Vic Say? (Aside From Being Mad at the Phillies)

On almost retiring in the offseason

Nah I wasn’t close…I never got serious to where I would’ve done it…the doctors told me I’m reverse aging.

I like the group of guys we have. I like working with them. I still like the challenge of the job. Work for a good organization. It’s something you’ll always think about at the end of the year, but in the end, I didn’t come close to doing it. I really don’t foresee myself doing it. I’m good for two years, at least.

On the Eagles trading for Jonathan Greenard

Pressure on the quarterback is also important, and he’s been able to do that throughout his career. He’s strong on the edge versus the run game. So we’re excited to have him.

On the Eagles signing Tariq Woolen

I’m excited to have him. We looked at him during the middle of last season a little bit because they may have been interested in trading him. You know we didn’t decide to do it…When it came to free agent time, and I actually sat down and watched him thoroughly, I was excited for him.

He’s a rare guy, you don’t see a lot of corners in the league who are 6’ 4”. It’s hard to find guys at those heights who can move and mirror receivers. He can get in and out of breaks. He obviously has good downfield speed. His length is more of an asset than a detriment in his case….seems to be a great guy, he’s into being here.

*Translation: Holy shit I can’t believe we got this guy

Regarding the second safety spot

It’s open. I think Marcus will put up a good claim for it. In base, it’ll be Cooper. When we go to nickel, Coop comes up and plays nickel. We’re taking a good look at Michael Carter back there.

On safety Drew Mukuba and Michael Carter

Started off the season up and down, had some shaky plays. But I feel like the last 5 or 6 games prior to him getting hurt, he was coming on. And hopefully, he’ll be able to pick up from there.

On linebacker Jihaad Campbell and replacing Nakobe Dean

He’s not going to be able to take part in these OTAs until maybe later, maybe not. But he’ll be ready for training camp.

I think we’ll have guys who will step up. Zack did a good job of that. Obviously, Reed did a great job quarterbacking the secondary. I think Andrew will be able to step up his game there along those lines. And if (Marcus) Epps is the guy, he’ll definitely be able to do that also.

*Editor’s Note: It looks like Marcus Epps is most likely the favorite to start at that second safety spot barring a trade

On Uar Bernard

I had a similar experience when I was with the Niners. We have a guy by the name of Lawrence Okoye who was an Olympic discus thrower for England. Looked a lot like how Uar looks now. It never worked for him, but patience will need to be a virtue. Both on his part and ours.

On Jalen Carter

I think his shoulders are fine. He’s had a good offseason of lifting. He started that earlier than normal for him, and you can see the difference in that regard. So I think he’s in a better spot now than he was.

On Jalyx Hunt taking the next step

Just keep doing what he’s doing. He’s had a nice progression. I see him growing his game in all aspects. I think he can and will rush better. He’ll play the run better. Just the natural progression…

I think he’s ready to keep getting better and better.

Random Rant on Coaching Titles

These titles you guys see across the league. Pass game coordinators? Run game coordinators? There’s many more. Assistant head coach, associate head coach. This, that, and the other. You know what those titles mean? About as much as this bottle of water is gonna mean after I finish drinking it.

About Jeff Stoutland

He seems to be enjoying himself. He’s playing a lot of golf. I don’t know if he’s gotten any better, but he’s trying.

How About Michael Clay?

On Braden Mann

We’re very very happy that he’s back… coming out of college, Braden was that guy at Texas A&M.

On Jake Elliott’s confidence

Long career, still confident in him. You can go game by game, situation by situation…for Jake 10 years in the NFL, 10 years doing it in Philadelphia, big kicks, it’s hard to go against the confidence in that.

Jake is going to be his hardest critic of all time. It’s on me to help him keep his confidence up because a confident kicker is a dangerous kicker…for a lot of these players, when bad things happen, they fall into that pit hole of “am I good enough?” Obviously, you’re good enough because you play in the NFL.

For him to fall in love with the game again and keep that energy up and keep that confidence up is going to be big for Jake, and that’s where I come in.

*Editor’s note: It sounds like Jake is working on getting his confidence back after a tough year

On signing JT Gray

His tenacity, his understanding, with so many special teams snaps. He’ll bring something to the table that maybe us coaches don’t see in between the plays.

On Makai Lemon returning punts

I like Makai. He has that California feel. That California confidence…he’s out there in tackling drills…he’ll definitely be in the mix, just like a whole lot of people will be.

On Uar Bernard

Patience is key. He’s already got a lot on his plate playing a new sport. But that’s the beauty of coaching…you gotta try to coach them as hard as you possibly can without killing their confidence and seeing what they can do to help out the team.

What Did Sean Mannion Say?

On his early relationship with Jalen Hurts

I think it starts really with connecting with him on a personal level. Get to know him, get to know what his interests are, what makes him tick. Then once you start to get to know a guy on person level, then the football connection comes pretty easy…he’s been a pleasure to work with, and really, since I got the job, to be able to connect with him on a personal level and then a football level has been great.

What he wants the offense to look like

We talk about play style a lot. Being great teammates. When you turn on the tape, what does the Eagles offense look like? Those are the things that we really want to stand out.

Obviously, there’s things I believe in and schematically have a background in. But ultimately it’s going to be a blend…it’s all about maximizing things for the players…how do we put all of our players really in a position to succeed and maximize their strengths.

Regarding Jalen’s learning process

I think Jalen’s been outstanding in the meetings. And I think going through multiple coordinators and stuff, you can tell he’s a really capable learner. And that’s been really fun to work with on a daily basis.

What he loved about the Eagles’ job opportunity

I think the first thing is the Eagles have been an outstanding organization, just top to bottom. You know that from afar, just from the results on the field and the culture and the system of excellence that they’ve built here. And getting to talk to Nick and see the way he views the game, seeing the way he views building a program, and running an organization, and all the things that we really value here.

Tough, detailed, together. You can just tell it was a great fit and in perfect alignment with how I view the game as well…all of the things you know about the organization from afar become validated when you see behind the curtain.

His excitement about Makai Lemon

Really excited to bring him on board. I think the way he works at practice is really impressive. He’s a tremendous young talent. But even just out at practices, you can see he practices hard, he studies hard, he really takes a lot of pride in all the little details and that’s the sign of a true pro.

*Editor’s note: Lemon’s got the juice

On Run Game Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach Ryan Mahaffey

Ryan and I have obviously worked together, and I think some of the things that we’re bringing in, Ryan has a background in. And his background is unique. He’s been with the offensive line a lot of the time, he’s been with the receiving group…Ryan’s a very detailed guy, he understands the schematic elements, he knows how all the pieces fit…he’s a tremendous teacher, detail-oriented, he’s gonna be a great fit for that group.

On the new Offensive Line Coach Chris Kuper

I first was with Chris as a player when he was in Minnesota. You could just tell he’s a great teacher. Detailed, he played for a long time in the NFL. I think the way he’s gonna be able to connect with all of our players, especially a veteran group of guys…it’s gonna be a great fit for us. Great teacher, great communicator, really good at teaching the fundamentals, understands a wide variety of schemes and what we want to do…and ultimately I’m a believer that coaching is teaching at its truest sense and I pride myself on being a good teacher.

The change in offensive playcalling verbiage

It’s a blend. Obviously, there are things schematically that we’re bringing. There are things that the Eagles offense has really thrived with doing in years past. So in terms of verbiage and terminology, it’s what makes sense to keep, what with some of the new changes coming in needs to change, so that’s something we’ve looked at really from day one.

Jalen Hurts strengths

Jalen’s been awesome. He can really do anything we ask of him. He’s accurate. He’s a great athlete. He really attacks the fundamentals. That’s what’s been really fun to watch these last two weeks. He’s always coming, wanting more things to work on, wanting more things regarding fundamentals. Timing, understanding the scheme. He’s hungry for more, and those are the guys that are fun to work with…He has a great process in the meetings. He always asks really thought-provoking questions, he’s detailed, and attacks his fundamentals. He’s always the guy who stays after practice and is working on things. Those are the guys you love to work with.

*Editor’s note: How many of Jalen’s thought-provoking questions have been in quotes that sound like a mix of Socrates, Shakespeare, and Deion Sanders?

On the Eagles’ wide receivers

It’s a really exciting group. Smitty’s been awesome. It’s a really fun group…our offense is not about any one piece it’s about how we all fit together. The wide receiver group specifically has been a lot of fun. I think we have a lot of guys with complementary skill sets.

Mannion’s coaching Influences

It really starts with my dad. My dad was a long-time high school football coach. Been around the game my entire life. He’s a teacher. My mom’s a teacher. You can hear me talk about the teaching influence a lot when it comes to coaching. Just the drive, the work ethic, the relationships with the players, the commitment to the fundamentals, my dad was a huge influence for me there.

My college coach, Mike Riley…great leader of men, great communicator. Matt LaFleur, gave me my first job in this league, I’ll always be grateful for that. I learned a ton from him as a player, learned a ton from him as a coach. He’s a tremendous coach, tremendous leader, learned a ton from him.

Teaching the quarterback position

I think everything has a pre-determined timing and a rhythm to the play. Installing a scheme that has proper timing and proper rhythm in terms of how different elements in the concepts work with one another, making sure the timing of one route marries to the timing of another route, and then you train the quarterback to really understand that and listen to his feet. If your footwork is sound and your rhythms good, it’s gonna feel like the ball wants to come out. And if it’s not that’s when you move on.

Jalen running more

He is uniquely skilled in that way. That’ll be a part of it. But it won’t be the only part of it.

*Translation: “To answer your question, I don’t know yet, homie.”

What kind of playcaller he wants to be

I want to be someone who is versatile, who is always looking to attack defenses in different ways, who’s always looking to evolve. And ultimately always looking to maximize the talents of our players.

*Translation: “I’d like to be the opposite of Kevin Patullo”

On marrying the run and the pass game

That’s absolutely a huge part of what we want to do. We want to make sure that as many elements of our offense that they fit together, that they look the same. How do we build this wide array of things that kind of start off of a similar type of look.

The NFL season is a feature film. It’s a hit you can’t miss. It’s like Rocky IV if you’re the Seattle Seahawks or Scary Movie IV if you’re the Cleveland Browns. If this metaphor makes any sense, then that means the regular season schedule is the script. It’s that long title screen at the beginning of Star Wars that’s iconic, but also, if we’re being honest, a little hard to read. Every game is a series of plot points and storylines born out of first downs, interceptions, and Jalen Carter potentially spitting on someone.

A month removed from the draft, the NFL released the 2026 regular-season schedule last week. It’s an opportunity for fans to project how their team’s story will be told. A peek through the looking glass at what stands between preseason hopes and postseason dreams. For our Birds, those obstacles are kind of steep.

After becoming the first repeat champion of the NFC East since 2004 (the last time they did it), the Philadelphia Eagles are on a road to redemption after being bounced from the playoffs in the wild-card round. In 2026, they will be playing 7 teams who had over 10 wins in 2025, along with four teams coming off their bye weeks in the Carolina Panthers, the Washington Commanders, the New York Giants, and the Indianapolis Colts.

They also play each of their NFC East rivals in back-to-back-to-back games in Weeks 7 through 9, and will be in a whopping 6 primetime games (second to only the Rams). Unfortunately, rest will also be hard to come by. According to NFL Analyst Arif Hasan, the Eagles have the second-lowest Net Rest Differential (which is the sum of net rest days vs. opponents) in the upcoming season.

But how will the schedule shape up for Philly? To make sense of each matchup this season, we’ll be utilizing a critical school of thought known as Big Willie Style. It’s a method I’ve been a master in since watching Wild Wild West in my parents’ living room and pretending the pencils in my hands were six-shooters. Since playing the Men in Black theme song on my walkman over and over again, despite it skipping at the 1:30 mark. There’s no better way to analyze the blockbuster of the Eagles’ season than through the lens of blockbusters by the Fresh Prince himself.

So, to get a sense of Philly’s 2026 schedule, we’re going to compare every Eagles game to a Will Smith movie. Will Philadelphia use that flashy thingy from Men in Black to eliminate any memory of their playoff loss? Or will a shaky offense make them Enemy of the State? Do I have enough Will Smith puns in me to get the job done? I think…maybe?

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Week 1: Eagles vs. Commanders

The Pursuit of Happyness

After a tumultuous season that felt like sleeping in metaphorical bathrooms while watching their dreams slip through their fingers, the Eagles are looking to get back on track. They face a Commanders team with a shaky defense that went 5-12 in 2025. The Eagles haven’t lost in Week 1 since 2020. Much like Will Smith as Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness, the Eagles are hoping that all of their hard work will finally put them on a path toward their dreams before Sirianni gets fired and has to go door-to-door selling bone density scanners.

Week 2: Eagles at Titans

After Earth

The Titans are bad. And much like the movie After Earth, no one should watch this or remember it even happened.

Week 3: Eagles at Bears

Wild Wild West

After getting embarrassed by the Chicago Bears on Black Friday Football (which is a thing now thanks to our Amazon overlords), the Birds are out for revenge. The Eagles are hoping to follow the path of (wicky wicky wild wild west) Jim West in his revenge plot against General Bloodbath McGrath and Dr. Arliss Loveless (that weird little guy in the giant spider). Can Vic Fangio’s defense take down Ben Johnson’s giant spider of an offense in its second year with Caleb Williams? Is Nick Sirianni technically Kevin Kline in this? Wait, Salma Hayek was in that movie? As Sisqo would say, “we’re going straiiight tooo the wild wild west Soldier Field.”

Week 4: Eagles vs. Rams

Bad Boys II

This whole game will be like that shoot-out in the Haitian drug den at the beginning of Bad Boys II. And similar to Bad Boys II, this game will try to live up to the insanity of the first one. Last year, the Rams stormed out to a commanding 26-7 lead in South Philly before a mixture of cojones and pure gusto brought the Eagles back to steal this one. It’s a comeback that included Jalen Hurts calling his own plays, Jalen Carter blocking a field goal and Jordan Davis also blocking a field goal and returning it for a touchdown. It was simply one of the greatest Eagles victories of all time. Will the rematch have more firepower than last year? Can Jalen Hurts go full Mike Lowrey, or will he be stifled by scheme lord Sean McVay in the role of Johnny Tapia? This is a tough two-game stretch for the Birds against back-to-back Super Bowl contenders.

Week 5: Eagles vs. Jaguars in London (said in a British accent)

Focus

Wait, the Eagles are playing in London? And they’re playing the Jaguars? Why is this game on at 9am? Is that a soccer stadium? Shit, I forgot to set my fantasy football lineup. This game will feel like watching Will Smith and Margot Robbie’s con-man thriller Focus. A movie that leaves you with feelings of confusion and thinking “wait, was that good?” only to realize “I never want to watch that again.” The Jags went 13-4 last year and are a tough out. The last time these teams played, Saquon Barkley reverse-hurdled into everyone’s hearts. So…hopefully that happens again. And the last time Vic Fangio faced Liam Coen, Coen was coordinating the Buccaneers offense and hung up 33 points on the Eagles in Fangio’s first year with the team. This is a sticky one, innit?

Week 6: Eagles vs. Panthers

Hitch

Fresh off a trip to Londontown, the Eagles will still be sweating fish and chips when the Panthers arrive in South Philly a week later. The Panthers (lucky for them) will be fresh off their bye week. Unfortunately, this matchup has trap game written all over it. The Eagles will play the role of Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, who, through their sloppy play, could help lovable goof Bryce Young get his game back. As Hitch once said, “Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it’s the moments that take your breath away.” And we hope the Eagles don’t take our breath away by dropping this one. The entire game will be like that dance scene with Kevin James, a mix of joy and confusion until someone gets slapped in the face with reality.

Week 7: Eagles vs. Cowboys

Independence Day

An existential threat comes home for Monday Night Football. One that’s foreign but also very familiar. One that has a lot of firepower, like that giant laser thing in that alien spaceship. Can Vic Fangio’s defense square up against a Dallas offense with otherworldly receiving talent? Can Sean Mannion’s offense navigate a new-look Dallas defense led by former Eagles secondary coach Christian Parker? Hopefully, the Birds can punch down Dallas and shout “Welcome to Earth” while lighting a victory cigar and declaring independence from the rest of the field in the NFC East.

Week 8: Eagles at Commanders

Men in Black

The Eagles travel to Maryland to take on the Commanders on Sunday Night Football. Jayden Daniels is a legitimate alien. He goes into the locker room at halftime and asks for “Sugar. Water.” Jalen Hurts and Sean Mannion hope to team up like J and K to carve up a leaky Commanders defense with a new-look receiving corps as their noisy cricket. It’ll be tough sledding against a Commanders team coming off their bye week. But if they can manage to take down their second NFC East opponent in two weeks, I expect Jalen Hurts to open his postgame press conference by saying, “N.Y.P.D. means I will Knock Your Punk Ass Down.”

Week 9: Eagles vs. Giants

Bad Boys for Life

This is Philly’s third NFC East matchup in three weeks. The Giants haven’t beaten the Eagles at home since 2013. This rivalry is similar to the third Bad Boys movie. It’s not really good anymore; there are younger people involved that I don’t really recognize, and the whole thing has lost a little juice, even though I’ll still watch it for the jokes. I anticipate a beatdown by the Birds.

Week 10: Bye Week

Week 11: Eagles vs. Steelers

Fresh Prince Season 1, Episode 11 “Courting Disaster”

Not a movie, but a reason to bring up the fact that every quarterback on the Steelers’ roster throws the football with the accuracy of Carlton attempting the game-winning shot at the end of this episode.

Week 12: Eagles at Cowboys on Thanksgiving

I Am Legend

At the end of I Am Legend, Dr. Robert Neville stands behind bulletproof glass in his basement, surrounded by the very mutant zombie…um…vampire things he’s spent every day hunting. This is exactly what the Eagles will experience as they enter Jerry World. Like I Am Legend, the scene of this game is set at the site of a devastating collapse. Last year in this stadium, the Eagles blew a 21-point lead to Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. We’ll see if Nick Sirianni’s team has the firepower to bring down Dallas in enemy territory or if their efforts simply won’t be enough. I’m still hazy on what happens at the end of this movie, like, should we be happy or sad? And why did they have to kill off the dog? Ah shit, now I’m getting off track. (goes to watch I Am Legend)

Week 13: Eagles at Colts

Shark Tale

At this point, the Colts will be feeling themselves. They’re coming to South Philly off a bye, and before that, they will have faced one team with a 2025 winning record in their last 3 games. They’ll be talking that shit like Oscar, the fish Will Smith voices in Shark Tale, who claims he took down a shark even though he didn’t. After an emotional Thanksgiving game for Philly and with a little extra rest, we’ll see if the Colts can carry that confidence when a real shark like the Eagles shows up.

Week 14: Eagles at Cardinals

The Legend of Bagger Vance

Much like the friendly ghost of caddy Bagger Vance, the Cardinals arrive to remind the Eagles what it feels like to have an easy win again.

Week 15: Eagles vs. Seahawks

I, Robot

When people speak of the inevitability of AI, they’re strictly talking about Mike Macdonald’s defense. The man himself is a machine with more processing power than an unwanted data center. Not even Kalshi can predict his next move. Playing this defense is like that chase scene in I, Robot when a million androids are diving on Will Smith’s (unfortunately named, Detective Spooner’s) car. We’ll see if Sean Mannion’s new offense can keep the Birds on the road or if the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks will veer them off course.

Week 16: Eagles vs. Texans on Christmas Eve

Ali

If Vic Fangio is one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time, DeMeco Ryans is on his way to becoming George Foreman. The Eagles will have a tough time moving the ball against a Texans defense that always seems to hit its stride late in the season. This is a heavyweight defensive battle on Christmas Eve. Watching it will feel like getting coal in your stocking. We’ll see if the Eagles can rope-a-dope their second elite defense in two weeks or if they’ll get knocked out.

Week 17: Eagles at 49ers

The Slap

The Eagles and 49ers have beef. The Niners B-team came into Lincoln Financial Field and beat the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round. The disrespect. The audacity. The 49ers should be reminded to keep our metaphorical wife’s name out of their mouth. This is about revenge. In primetime, on a Sunday Night, with the whole world watching, the Eagles will look to confidently stand up, walk onto the stage that is Levi’s Stadium, and slap the 49ers in the face before calmly returning to their seats. And just like Will, they hope to win it all afterwards. It will be electric.

Week 18: Eagles at Giants

Aladdin

After an insane 3-game slog, big blue men will show up and grant the Eagles their wish for an end-of-the-season victory.

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