Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …
How Eagles are preparing for a huge game against the Cowboys amid QB uncertainty – NJ.com
If Hurts is not cleared to play, the responsibility of leading the offense would fall on either Kenny Pickett or Tanner McKee. Pickett entered the game after Hurts was taken out and completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. However, Pickett is also dealing with an injury, suffering a rib issue while trying to throw the ball away to avoid a sack. He said he would be further evaluated Monday, but Sirianni reported no changes in Pickett’s availability. If Pickett is ruled out, the Eagles would turn to McKee, a 2022 sixth-round pick who has served as the emergency quarterback this season. McKee impressed during training camp and preseason, completing 34 of 56 passes for 294 yards and an interception with the third-team offense. However, he has yet to play in a regular-season game. As the Eagles prepare for the Cowboys, Sirianni faces critical decisions regarding snap counts to ensure Pickett and McKee get adequate practice reps. He must also balance these plans with updates on Hurts’ status, which would significantly alter the offensive game plan to include more zone-read plays, open up opportunities for running back Saquon Barkley, and incorporate the “Brotherly Shove” in short-yardage situations. The Commanders capitalized on Hurts being out and those elements of the offense impacted with Pickett on the field, holding the Eagles to field goals instead of touchdowns.
Not every Eagles loss is a cause for concern – BGN
In the grand scheme of things, everything is fine. Sunday’s 36-33 loss to the Commanders in the nation’s capitol was annoying and frustrating. After building up a 14-0 and 21-7 first quarter lead, it’s hard to believe the NFL’s No. 1 defense allowed 22 fourth-quarter points and become the first team since 2010 to score 30+ and create 5+ turnovers and still lose, but lose they did. Just like against the Falcons on Monday Night Football in Week 2, they couldn’t secure a gimme catch to salt the game away and couldn’t stop an opponent from driving the length of the field to score a go-ahead touchdown with seconds remaining. It was an exceedingly frustrating afternoon, but not one that should be a major cause for concern. Yes, the Eagles likely have played their way out of the NFC’s one first-round bye with their loss to the Commanders. That’s a big deal, although it was not a sure thing to begin with. Given the way they lost, Sunday’s afternoon at Fed Ex Field was more of a fluke and a blip than anything to be truly worried about. Here are five reasons why.
Assessing the Eagles – Iggles Blitz
Some people are trying to turn Sunday into a referendum on Hurts. Let’s not overcomplicate this. Any team that loses their starting QB mid-game is going to have some problems. That isn’t a sign that Jalen Hurts is irreplaceable. All QBs get over-analyzed. Hurts isn’t an elite QB. He’s good, he’s just not great. Too many people want to go to extremes with him. They think he is great or he’s significantly overrated. Hurts is good. Look at the numbers. Look at the wins. He’s just not in the same category as Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. That’s no insult to Hurts. There is nothing wrong with being good. He could win a Super Bowl this year. I think he’d care a lot more about that than people arguing about where he ranks. I need to write a long piece on this, but the real key to me is that Hurts is the right fit for this team. If you put a different QB here, the results might not be as good. Some stats might be better, but I don’t know that they would win as much. Enjoy Hurts while he’s here and let’s hope he gets to hoist the Lombardi.
In Roob’s Eagles Stats: The Saquon legend grows (and some depressing stuff) – NBCSP
4. A.J. and Quick. Thanks to his 97 receiving yards, A.J. Brown increased his season total to 1,043 and joined Mike Quick as only the second Eagle with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Quick had five in a row from 1983 through 1987. Despite missing three games, Brown is now up to ninth in the NFL in receiving yards, and his 86.9 yards per game is 4th-highest and second to Justin Jefferson in the NFC.
What’s the latest on Jalen Hurts? – PE.com
Will Jalen Hurts play on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys? Naturally, that was the first question at Head Coach Nick Sirianni’s virtual press conference on Monday afternoon. “Jalen is in the concussion protocol,” Sirianni confirmed. “When that happens, we just lean on the doctors to let us know on a daily basis where he is.” Hurts suffered the injury at the end of a 13-yard scramble with 9:52 to play in the first quarter. Hurts went down to the ground and had his head knocked into the turf by linebacker Frankie Luvu. “He always has done a good job protecting himself and has been dynamic both as a passer and as a runner. Anytime something goes down and you lose one of your best players, you wish they would do something else or not take that hit in that scenario,” Sirianni said.
Josh Allen continues to be the MVP favorite, but there’s still a lot of football to be played – PFT
And Barkley has a realistic shot at breaking Eric Dickerson’s 40-year-old single-season rushing record. Twelve years ago, Adrian Peterson came close to doing so, and it was enough to eke out the MVP over Peyton Manning, who had a stellar first season with the Broncos. The reality is that the odds mean nothing. Once the season is over — and once the playoff seeds are locked — the candidates tend to become more clear. And it ultimately comes down to the 50 media members who vote on the various Associated Press awards.
When Will the Commanders Know if Brandon Coleman is the Answer at Left Tackle? – Hogs Haven
Bottom Line: If the 10 OTs profiled in this article are any guide, the Commanders should know by the end of next season whether Brandon Coleman is the long-term solution at LT. His performance to date has been promising, as we will see in the second article, coming to a football blog near you, next week.
Cowboys day after thoughts following Buccaneers win: It is okay to be happy about wins – Blogging The Boys
If someone wants the Cowboys to have a higher draft pick and feels as if these four wins have damaged that cause, it is understandable. But on the other side, we have learned so much about players like Marist Liufau and Brock Hoffman in this little run. We have even learned a whole heck of a lot about leaders/cornerstones like CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. Winning has been the catalyst for all of that and the opinion here is it was totally worth the drop in draft position. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. But the Cowboys have ensured that they have been winners 80% of the time through the winter holidays and in the process proven that they are not the exact frauds that we may have thought them to be. That is commendable and it is more than fine to be happy, or even proud of that.
Why was Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown on the sideline Sunday? – Big Blue View
Are you buying what Daboll is selling here? I have never heard of a modern NFL stadium that can’t accommodate seating executives from an opposing team in some type of private booth. I know I’m not buying this explanation. My $.02 is there can’t be anything good for Daboll about management being front and center on the sideline during a game.
The best and worst Christmas songs of all-time – SB Nation
The 2024 NFL season is entering the stretch run. College football just completed the first round of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Women’s volleyball is coming off an incredible Final Four that not only saw Penn State reverse sweep Nebraska in the semifinals but then go on to win the title. NBA and NHL seasons are heating up as well. But it is also Christmas Week, so let’s hit pause on all that “sports stuff” and talk Christmas songs. We’ve each picked a song we love, a song we want banished from all manner of polite society, and an Honorable Mention, which is really just a fancy blogger way of saying “look there’s another song we love that we want to write about a bit.”
…
Social Media Information:
BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page
BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen
BGN Bluesky: Follow @bleedgreennation.bsky.social
BGN Instagram: Follow @BleedingGreenInsta
BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton
BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio
