What We're Grateful for About the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles
The Thanksgiving Episode of Burds of a Feather
Listen, it’s been a tough week to be a Birds fan. I considered calling in sick on Monday due to the Eagles losing, which honestly I think HR would understand (“if it’s not in the company handbook, it should be Eileen!”) Talking about this offense has felt like Sisyphus rolling that big ass rock up that big ass hill, if Sisyphus were wearing a Kelly Green jersey and a pair of airpods so he could call into WIP and complain about Kevin Patullo’s play calling while he works. The Dallas game took a little wind out of all of our sails.
Thankfully, we can take solace in a different type of bird this week. We can shake our Dallas demons by getting drunk on mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving (also known as the greatest American holiday) is here to ease our pain. And why shouldn’t it? Turkey Day was founded on the idea of football. In 1825, the Pilgrims landed on Pride Rock and shouted “Go Birds” as their feet touched the shore (I’m pretty sure I’m right, don’t research any of that).
So in the spirit of the holiday, we are going to embrace gratitude (memo to self: write an Eagles-themed self-help book titled Birds of Gratitude: How to Be an Eagles Fan Without Ruining Your Mental Health). We’re going to share which Philadelphia Eagles we are sincerely grateful for so far this season. And to spice things up, we’re going to compare them to our favorite Thanksgiving food! Convoluted, I know, but delicious nonetheless.
The good vibes are flowing like gravy. We’re feeling thankful and hungry. Here’s hoping this positivity soothes you like a food coma after forcing yourself to eat a third piece of pumpkin pie (can’t let good pie go to waste).
Nakobe Dean - The Mashed Potatoes that Tie Together the Whole Plate
Since returning from injury in October, Nakobe Dean has hit the ground running (or more accurately, has hit people who are running to the ground). Dean has been a sledgehammer, playing with a physicality that gives this defense an edge. Nakobe has played so well that Fangio rarely rotates him out of the lineup, keeping first-round pick and early-season revelation Jihaad Campbell on the sideline (Campbell only played 11 snaps versus Dallas).
Since the bye week, Dean has gone full Super Mario post-mushroom, taking his play to another level. He had 2 QB pressures against both the Packers and the Lions. He’s had a sack in each of the past three games. When targeted in the passing game since Week 10, he’s allowed 2 receptions for 14 yards despite being targeted 8 times. The gravy on top is that Nakobe has one eye-popping play a game like when forced a fumble sacking Jordan Love, or when he ran through Javonte Williams to sack Dak Prescott, or against the Lions when he had a series of plays where he defended a pass against Jahmyr Gibbs, covered Jameson Williams, and destroyed David Montgomery on his way to sacking Jared Goff. Nakobe is playing out of his mind, and I couldn’t be happier for him after a long road back from injury.
DeVonta Smith - Apple Pie with Ice Cream that’s Flashy, Undeniable, and There When You Need It
DeVonta has been on one (imagine me singing that in autotune). On an offense that can best be described as “meh” Smith has been the lone bright spot. He’s always there when the team needs a little juice, resuscitating drives that are dead in the water with an electric play. Smith is on track to outperform his 2024 campaign in receptions and receiving yards, and he currently leads the team in receptions per game, receiving yards per game, and targets. But what truly reflects his greatness are the enormous plays DeVonta has made in high-pressure moments. Here’s a look at some of those catches:
Go-ahead touchdown catch against the Rams to go up 28-26 and complete the Eagles’ comeback
57-yard catch against the Broncos on a 3rd down conversion to power a drive that ended in a Dallas Goedert TD
79-yard catch touchdown catch against the Vikings (the longest of his career)
36-yard touchdown catch against Green Bay, levitating over Packers safety Evan Williams in the fourth quarter
41-yard back shoulder catch to keep a drive going against the Cowboys that ended in a score
Smith is cooking. If only the rest of the offense could contribute to the meal.
Quinyon Mitchell - Your Grandmom’s Mac and Cheese that Elevates Everything Around It
We rarely talk about the dominance of Quinyon Mitchell, but it commands our attention. In his second year, Mitchell has already developed into a top 5 cornerback. He’s a true shutdown corner capable of wrapping an invisibility cloak around the opposing team’s best wide receiver. According to NextGenStats, Mitchell has allowed the lowest completion percentage of any player since 2018, with a minimum of 50 targets. He’s allowed the 6th-lowest completion percentage in the league on the 5th most targets. Against Dallas, Mitchell allowed only 2 receptions on 4 targets for 16 yards.
Quinyon is playing on another astral plane right now. His ability to erase anyone lined up opposite him makes everyone’s job easier on defense. He is an absolute menace with the mentality of Tupac from Juice. Thank god he’s on my team.
The Defensive Line (Since Week 10) - The Stuffing That Goes from a Weakness to a Strength
Before the bye week, the Eagles’ defensive line was stuck in the mud. Literally, it looked like they were running through mud. But apparently, a little TLC and a trip to Wisconsin were the cure for what ails them. This defensive line has been on a tear since the acquisition of defensive end Jaelan Phillips, the return of Nolan Smith from injury, and the unretirement of Brandon Graham (which I like to call the “reverse How Stella Got Her Groove Back”).
Phillips is a flamethrower. He has led the team in pressures since arriving in Philly (5 against Green Bay, 2 against Detroit, 5 against Dallas). In the loss to Dallas, he had 4 QB hurries on Dak Prescott. Jalen Carter appears to have recovered from an early-season injury and is back to his old ways of mauling offensive linemen as a true disruptor. He had 4 pressures against Dallas, along with 3 QB hurries. He’s second on the team in pressures to Jalyx Hunt, another edge defender who’s been growing into a force. Moro Ojomo is having a great season, ranking 10th in Pass Rush Win Rate for interior defensive linemen and leading the team in sacks. Jordan Davis has evolved into an every-down presence, and against Detroit logged the most batted balls in any game this season. An early-season weakness for this team has transformed into the main strength of this defense. A strength that can hopefully take the wheel for this team when they need it most.
Howie Roseman - The Turkey, the Reason We’re All Here in the First Place
Howie Roseman eats, sleeps, and dreams of football. He has the deathly precision of John Wick. The foresight of Raven Baxter. The relentlessness of John McClane. Trading with Howie Roseman is like making a deal with the devil or giving up a holographic Charizard card for a chewed piece of gum. He does whatever it takes to improve the Philadelphia Eagles right up until the end of the season.
This year, Howie had to make some tough choices in the offseason by letting players like Darius Slay, Mekhi Becton, Josh Sweat, Kenneth Gainwell, and Chauncy Gardner-Johnson leave for financial reasons (or be shown the door in the case of CGJ). Players who were essential to winning the Super Bowl last year. It’s been a bumpy ride, but he’s trusted a young group of playmakers to take the next step. Aside from that, he’s swiftly thrown darts at the wall to address weaknesses. He addressed an early-season pass-rush issue by acquiring Jaelan Phillips from Miami, one of the most disruptive edge defenders in the league. He sought to improve the second cornerback spot by signing Michael Carter II, whose versatility would allow Cooper DeJean to move outside when needed. He convinced franchise legend Brandon Graham to come out of retirement for a team in need of leadership and pass-rush help. He saw an undervalued player in Jacksonville’s Tank Bigsby and traded a late-round pick for him. Bigbsy has been a revelation when he’s gotten his opportunities to run the rock, averaging an insane 9.1 yards per attempt.
It hasn’t been all roses for Howie; he’s had his missteps. But what I like about him is that he keeps trying. He never rests on his laurels. He’s relentless in his pursuit of improvement. He’s aggressive in looking for the smallest advantage that could make a difference for his team. That’s what you want out of your general manager: someone who gives their team every opportunity to win. Give this man a float at the Thanksgiving Day Parade.