Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …
NFL Week 16 latest buzz, predictions, questions, fantasy tips – ESPN+
What are you hearing on the Defensive Player of the Year race? Graziano: My favorite sleeper whose name is starting to come up among the top defensive players in the league is the Eagles’ Jalen Carter. It’s probably too soon for him to win it this season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he became a fixture in these discussions in future seasons, maybe as early as next year. […] Fowler: Carter is a great call. He gets constant double-teams and fights through holding plays that aren’t called. The Eagles have dozens of examples of that. When you get underofficiated, that means you’re a disruptor in the middle. And the Eagles have another sleeper contender in linebacker Zack Baun, who has 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and nine tackles for loss.
This Feels Different – Iggles Blitz
Now let’s talk about the units. I wrote yesterday about how good this defense is. Compare it to the most recent Super Bowl teams. […] You can see that Vic Fangio’s unit is on another level. Those other two defenses were really good, but this group stands out because they are so much better situationally. This defense hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game during the 10-game winning streak. The 2017 team never went more than 4 games without allowing more than 20 points. The 2022 team went 7 games without allowing more than 20 points. The 2024 Eagles could have 3 All Pro selections – Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell. And Cooper DeJean could get some votes. Mitchell has a legitimate chance to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Eagles-Steelers Film Review: Be careful about doubting Jalen Hurts – BGN
Who else knew it would be a good day after this throw? What a beauty. We haven’t seen many ‘Stick Nod’ routes this year, but that doesn’t mean Jalen Hurts can’t throw it! This felt like a statement throw early. The Eagles’ offense came out passing the football and had a lot of success. It was interesting that the Eagles came out in Empty, and it felt like they used Empty a lot more in this game. Hurts makes this look easy! I’m pretty sure Hurts is reading the off-ball linebacker #6, and when he drops to the weak side, you have 2v3 on one side and 3v3 on the strong side, so Hurts immediately gets his head back to the strong side. His processing was excellent all game. I love going down the field from empty; you just have to hope the pass protection can hold up as it does here.
Reviewing the Eagles’ four ‘choke out’ drives to close games this season – PhillyVoice
When Mike Tomlin decided to punt on 4th and 7 from the Eagles’ 46 yard line with 10:40 left to play in regulation on Sunday, he probably didn’t ever consider that he’d never get the ball back. 21 plays, 88 yards, all three of the Steelers’ timeouts, and the two-minute warning later, the game was over. “It was death by a thousand paper cuts,” Jordan Mailata said. The Eagles posted the drive in its entirety.
What did Vic Fangio really think of the personal foul on Reed Blankenship? – NBCSP
Fangio never hesitates to speak his mind, and on Tuesday he made it clear what he thought of the call. “I didn’t think that was a good call,” he said. “It was a very late slide. I didn’t see vicious contact. You know, I just didn’t see that. But, again, it’s up to the officials on the field.” That was only Blankenship’s second penalty this year and just the fifth of his career. As a rookie he was called for roughing the kicker on Tress Way in the second Washington game and an unnecessary roughness on Christian Watson after replacing Gardner-Johnson against the Packers. His only other career penalties were a horse collar tackle against Puka Nacua in the win over the Rams last year and a pass interference on Mike Evans in the loss to the Bucs. That’s five penalties in 2,164 career snaps.
Nolan Smith’s big game reflects the Eagles LB’s continued growth – Inquirer
According to Next Gen Stats, Smith generated his highest pressure rate of the year against Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (18.2%), finishing the night with a sack and three additional pressures. Late in the second quarter, Smith brought Wilson down after defeating Steelers right tackle Broderick Jones on a bull rush that led to their decision to settle for a field goal on the drive. Smith also contributed to the run defense’s dominance against the Steelers rushing attack spearheaded by Najee Harris that amassed just 56 net yards. He particularly excelled at shedding his blocks. Earlier in the second quarter, Smith tossed aside the 6-foot-7, 264-pound Darnell Washington, a tight end, on a play that allowed C.J. Gardner-Johnson swoop in to make a tackle on Harris for a loss of a yard.
Spadaro: NFL Draft success fueling Eagles’ historic run – PE.com
All five of the remaining Eagles’ draft picks from that class remain on the roster and are talented, on-the-rise players. Tyler Steen is a starting-level player at both guard spots who has performed well when called upon. Cornerback Kelee Ringo has contributed both on defense and as a special teams ace. Safety Sydney Brown has overcome a knee injury to team with Ringo as superior gunners in punt coverage and Brown still eyes a high-end career on defense. Tanner McKee is the Eagles’ third-team quarterback who has shown in the preseason that he has a bright future. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, taken in Round 7, is a key piece in the Eagles’ defensive tackle rotation. How about the 2024 Draft Class? Immediate contributions have happened. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell started from Day 1, the first Eagles’ cornerback to do so since Eric Allen in 1988. Cooper DeJean has manned the nickel cornerback position capably and has also done an excellent job returning punts.
NJ man wins Jalen Hurts look-alike contest in Rittenhouse Square – NBC Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts might be busy working on the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. But, before the game, Hurts doppelgangers flocked to Rittenhouse Square for a look-alike competition. The winner would get a chance to sit in the stands and watch their famous look-a-like hit the field on Sunday as the prize was a pair of tickets to Sunday afternoon’s game. And, after the crowd made it’s choice, 29-year-old Quaeleb Monfiston, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, was crowned the best Hurts impersonator of the day.
Why Philadelphia Eagles — 2 current, 2 retired — are visiting the Deptford Mall – Courier Post
On Jan. 3, the day before Philadelphia’s final game of the regular season, linebacker Zack Baun and running back Kenny Gainwell are to attend the card show for meet-and-greets and to sign autographs. Fees are being charged for both autographs and photos. The two current Eagles are to be at the mall from 5:30-7:30 p.m. On Jan. 4, Eagles legends and Super Bowl LII champions Fletcher Cox and Brent Celek are to make their appearance at the mall.
Kylie Kelce Sponsors a Philadelphia Teacher’s Class Field Trip to Eagles Stadium: ‘The People’s Princess’ – People
Kylie Kelce made some local Philadelphia students’ dreams come true after she sponsored their class trip to Lincoln Financial Field, where the Philadelphia Eagles play their games. A local Philadelphia teacher known as bonaldweasley on TikTok first posted a video on Dec. 16 asking for help covering the cost of a planned field trip to the stadium. “I’m supposed to take my high school seniors on a field trip [to the stadium] on Thursday the 19th, but most of my students can’t afford to pay for the [tour],” she explained in her video. She revealed that she planned to use the payment to cover the cost of the bus but would have to cancel the trip if she “couldn’t figure something out by Tuesday.”
Schedule Update: Washington Commanders Week 17 game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football – Hogs Haven
The NFL’s schedule for the final two weeks is flexible so they can work out the best times for their better games. Washington is set to host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, and it will now be on Sunday Night Football, replacing the previously scheduled Dolphins vs Browns game. This game will be critical to both teams’ playoff hopes. The Falcons have been struggling with Kirk Cousins at QB, losing four in a row before this week’s win over the Raiders. They’re 7-7 and will need to win out to grab that last playoff spot. Washington can lock up a spot by beating the Falcons.
Cowboys roundtable: Discussing offense, defense and Mike McCarthy’s future – Blogging The Boys
RJ: If we are willing to be objective about this all then I have no idea how you can’t feel like what McCarthy is doing is impressive. When we consider the way that his predecessor fared when he lost consequential players to the roster, how can you not be at least mildly impressed?
Atlanta QB Michael Penix will make first NFL start vs. New York Giants – Big Blue View
Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will make his first NFL start for the Atlanta Falcons against the New York Giants, per FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Veteran starting quarterback Kirk Cousins has been struggling, with nine interceptions and just one touchdown pass over the last five games. Atlanta had lost four straight before eeking out a win Monday over Las Vegas.
Michael Vick joins the college coaching ranks as the head coach at Norfolk State, per report – SB Nation
The ranks of head coaches in college football have gotten a major influx of big names over the last week with Bill Belichick taking over the University of North Carolina’s job and, now, Michael Vick reportedly taking the same job at Norfolk State. Vick’s name became a hot topic on Monday with reports that Sacramento State was in discussions to bring him in as their head coach. That report led to an interesting back-and-forth between Adam Schefter and Doug Gottlieb with bombs being sent back and forth on social media. A day later, Norfolk State, not Sacramento State, is the one that will have Vick manning the sidelines.
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