Eagles News: "This is the kind of game they need coming off a weird week" – Bleeding Green Nation

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Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 12/13/24.
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Great Opportunity – Iggles Blitz
The Eagles take on the 10-3 Steelers on Sunday. That game is a great opportunity in a few ways. First, it gives the Eagles a chance to flush the past week down the drain. Go beat the Steelers and no one will care about last week. The score can be 31-30 or 14-13. Find a way to win and that will be what gets all the attention. The other opportunity is the Eagles getting to show where they stand against a division leader and playoff team. When you don’t play a bunch of good teams, it helps to beat the ones you do face. The Eagles are 3-1 at this point. Beating the Steelers would boost that. The Eagles don’t have to worry about impressing a committee to get a good seed, but it does help to make annoying questions go away. You aren’t going to beat Pittsburgh with a sloppy performance. The Eagles need to prepare well, practice well and play well. This is the kind of game they need coming off a weird week. Focus. Put all of your attention into beating the Steelers. If something is going to bring a team together, it is a tough opponent. The Eagles goal is to be a Super Bowl team. You don’t do that by just racking up a bunch of wins. You need to play good teams. You need to be tested so you’re ready when January gets here. Hopefully the Eagles will pass that test on Sunday.
Eagles-Steelers Game Preview: 5 questions and answers with the Week 15 enemy – BGN
The Steelers historically don’t play well in Philadelphia. Without George Pickens, it’s going to be tough for them to go score-for-score with the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley-led offense. I think the Steelers keep it close but ultimately fall short, 27-24 Eagles. As for the rest of the season? I’m bullish on this Pittsburgh squad and see them winning the AFC North. The Steelers have already beaten three teams in the AFC playoff picture this season and as a result, I see them making some noise in the postseason. Based on recent history, I still don’t see the Steelers making the Super Bowl, but this team has the pieces to make a run.
Steelers vs. Eagles: 5 questions with the enemy – Behind The Steel Curtain
The 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers take on the 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles on the road this week in a battle for Pennsylvania. Ahead of the game, I spoke with Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation to preview the matchup.
Will Hurts-Brown episode change balance for Eagles offense? – ESPN
But the Eagles are going against the grain when it comes to championship style. They are averaging 25.2 pass attempts per game this season, fewest of any team in the league. Since 2000, there has only been one team to make it to the Super Bowl who averaged fewer than 26 pass attempts per game during the regular season, per ESPN Research: the 2005 Steelers, who won the Super Bowl that season. Since 2015, there have been four teams to reach the Super Bowl who averaged at least 30 rushing attempts during the regular season: the 2015 Panthers, 2022 Eagles, 2019 49ers and 2016 Patriots. The ‘16 Patriots were the only one of those teams to win the Super Bowl. It’s almost certain there will be a time in the postseason where the running game is slowed and it will fall to Hurts and the pass attack to carry the day. The talent is certainly there to get it done but the consistency has not been for much of the season. Of late, Hurts has veered sharply towards the conservative. He’s thrown for under 180 yards in each of the last three games and ranks 31st in air yards per attempt (5.7), with just two of his 62 pass attempts traveling 20-plus yards downfield over that stretch. And yet he ranks 32nd over that span in average time before throw (3.24 seconds), speaking to the sometimes clunky, arrhythmic nature of the pass game recently.
Analyzing the matchups that could define the NFL in Week 15 – PFF
Steelers’ screen offense vs. Eagles. The other inter-conference heavyweight collision in Week 15 is Steelers-Eagles, with both Pennsylvania teams vying to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Given that Pittsburgh is expected to be without wide receiver George Pickens for a second straight week, a little less star power will be on the field — which means the Steelers could lean into a strength. In Arthur Smith’s first season calling the shots, Pittsburgh has gone from one of the worst screen offenses in football to one of the best. The Steelers rank third in both EPA per play and success rate when running screens after slotting 25th in EPA per play a season ago. Pittsburgh’s ability to distribute the ball to Jaylen Warren (76.1 PFF receiving grade), Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth or even a receiver has rendered its screen game diverse and successful. However, the Eagles’ stingy defense has fared effectively against screens. Philadelphia holds the fourth-best EPA per play mark and the ninth-best success rate when opposing offenses attempt to execute a screen, allowing only 3.5 yards per play — tied for the third fewest. Smith employed a more screen-heavy approach without Pickens against the Browns, and he’s likely to do so again in Lincoln Financial Field. Will Pittsburgh’s offense be able to move and score the ball against Philadelphia by executing screens, or will the Steelers be stuck in neutral for most of the day? If Pittsburgh’s screen game isn’t humming, then the Steelers will need their defense to dominate for this game to be close.
Ranking Eagles potential playoff opponents, from easiest to hardest – PhillyVoice
Buccaneers (7-6): Jalen Hurts is 1-4 lifetime against the Bucs. Todd Bowles has consistently come up with game plans that have frustrated Hurts and exposed his weaknesses. […] Vikings (11-2): This is perhaps theoretical, but if I’m the Eagles I would worry that Brian Flores could scheme up a good pressure plan for Hurts, like he has done with other good quarterbacks this season. On the other side of the ball, while Sam Darnold isn’t exactly Patrick Mahomes, the Vikings have in my opinion the best WR duo in the NFL in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. They’re on another level from other duos around the league, like the previously cited Nacua and Kupp, for example. Yes, the Eagles have the No. 2 pass defense, but sometimes elite receivers just go off. If the Vikings don’t win the NFC North, they’ll be a wildcard (duh). They have a road game Week 18 (in Detroit), and then they’d have to play on the road in the wildcard round. By the time the Eagles would have to face them (likely in the divisional round), they’d be playing their third straight road game.
NFL QB Index, Week 15: Joe Burrow vaults Lamar Jackson; Bryce Young eclipses Jalen Hurts – NFL.com
If you’d only listened to the postgame comments following the Eagles’ win over the Panthers, you’d have thought Hurts couldn’t connect with any of his teammates. Wrong. Hurts wasn’t a prolific passer, but he did make a handful of excellent throws, including both of his touchdown passes. As a unit, Philadelphia’s offense encountered some roadblocks, especially on designed Hurts runs. But his creation was a big reason why the Eagles won the game. Hurts’ 15-yard scramble up the middle of the field pushed the Eagles into the red zone, setting up his eventual rocket of a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. Hurts made an even bigger play later in the game, taking off for a 35-yard scramble to position the offense inside Carolina’s 10. Two plays later, he fired another rocket over the middle to Grant Calcaterra for a touchdown. Sure, Hurts isn’t a high-volume passer right now, and A.J. Brown and Smith aren’t seeing a ton of targets. But Hurts is still leading the Eagles to victory without committing major mistakes.
Spadaro: How will Eagles combat T.J. Watt and a fantastic Steelers defense? – PE.com
The key number is 28. As in takeaways. As in the most in the NFL during this 2024 regular season, a key reason the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a plus-17 in the turnover department, are 10-3 and winners of seven of their last eight games. “They create pressure and they do it in a lot of ways,” left guard Landon Dickerson said. “They’re just really good. They like to come after you from the start of the game until the end, so it’s a great challenge. Looking forward to it.” Always known for its defense, Pittsburgh has modernized from the days of The Steel Curtain. Under Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, the Steelers feature a terrific front seven with the likes of edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, power inside with Cameron Heyward, a get-to-the-ball linebacker in Patrick Queen, and strong pieces throughout the attacking group. The back four, with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick leading the way, take the ball away to the tune of 13 fumble recoveries and 15 interceptions.
‘He’s a rock of this foundation’: Jordan Mailata using his voice and his guitar to lead Eagles – The Athletic
Mailata is reaching peak maturity in his seventh season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s the ideal blend of mischief, mentorship and menace — a 6-8, 365-pound left tackle whom Johnson says is “having an All-Pro type of season.” Any remnant of the rookie who’d never played football before entering the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program is buried beneath two contract extensions and the dozens of defenders he’s driven into the turf. He’s the highest-graded offensive lineman through 13 games, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s a punishing run blocker who’s paving pathways for Saquon Barkley’s historic season. He’s a safeguard who’s surrendered one sack this season. “He’s a rock of this foundation,” Johnson said. Maturity is partly knowing when (and when not) to be mature. Morale requires a little mirth. OK, maybe just a smidgen more. Cam Jurgens says their crew is no longer welcome at Concord Country Club in nearby West Chester. Mailata was “a liability on the golf course,” the Eagles center grinned. Mailata drove the cart wherever. His shouts carried across holes. Before a groundskeeper ultimately arrived, Jurgens tried filming one of Mailata’s swings, but braced himself when he saw through the screen a club hurtling toward him.“I survived,” Jurgens said. “I do have the video.” In Eagles circles, videos of Mailata are valuable mementos. His candor can be captivating. In one moment, he can be the comedian. The next, a direct voice dispelling drama.
Q+A with Chris Long: Connection to Philly, watching Jalen Carter, and why the 2024 team is ‘more talented than the team we had in 2017’ – PHLY
How does the Eagles’ current nine-game winning streak compare to your nine-game winning streak in 2017: “When we won nine straight, it was kind of like out of nowhere, I feel like. I think you expect great things from this team. They’re loaded. They’re so talented. And after last year with the streak they had and the way it ended up, I know they want to make this streak more than a streak. You want to finish. I think they’re positioned to do that. They’re so talented. I think they’re more talented than the team we had in 2017.” Why?: “I think the back end, honestly. And the ‘backers, for sure. I think it’s just a different group. The offensive line is the common thread — Jeff Stoutland and Lane and those guys. They’re the key, so as long you have them. But they have A.J. Brown outside. They have (Dallas) Goedert. They basically have two No. 1 receivers (with Brown and DeVonta Smith), they have Saquon Barkley. I mean, it’s hard to make a case that our team in ‘17 was more talented than this team. I mean, this team is loaded.”
Milton Williams changed everything to take a big jump in 4th season – NBCSP
Williams changed his offseason routine after the 2023 season and went down to Plano, Texas, and trained with Pete Jenkins, a legendary figure in defensive line coaching. Jenkins, now 83, spent the 2007 through 2009 seasons with the Eagles and although he’s retired now from coaching full-time, he does work with individuals during the offseason, and Williams thought Jenkins could help him get to the next level. “It was great, we got a lot of work in,” Williams said. “It was hard. He works you. Some of the guys showed up, then didn’t even show up the next day. They were like, ‘Nah, I’m dead.’ I was there every day and put the work in. I was hoping I’d get the opportunity to play more this year, and I just had to get my body ready for it. We did run game stuff, we did pass game stuff, we did polishing. I felt like it really helped me.”
Washington Commanders Bye Week Roster “Recalibration” Update: Defense & Special Teams – Hogs Haven
Jeremy Reaves – Bridge Player: All-Pro Reavo was second on the team with 10 special teams tackles, 2 assists and 4 misses. He brings value as a locker room leader and special teams ace, but barely saw the field on defense.
Report: ‘Feeling around NFL’ is Mike McCarthy will return to Dallas Cowboys in 2025 – Blogging The Boys
Connecting dots it stands to reason that there may not be a worthwhile option for the Cowboys if they do indeed reach a point where they are looking for a new head coach in a month’s time. National reporting is starting to corroborate this. On Friday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini note that “word around the league” is that Mike McCarthy is going to return to the Cowboys for 2025.
Where did the 2024 season go wrong for the New York Giants? – Big Blue View
Before the season began there was a day media members were sitting in the press room surveying each other on how many games each thought the New York Giants would win during the 2024 season. I predicted seven, as did several others in the room. That did not seem unreasonable. The 2024 Giants were never going to be great. But, they shouldn’t be franchise-record setting horrible, which is where they are headed. They shouldn’t be No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft horrible, which is a strong possibility. The over/under commonly assigned by oddsmakers was 6.5 victories. Predicting seven victories did not seem outlandish. The Giants had an offseason plan. Re-prioritize their spending priorities. Solidify the offensive line with competent veterans. Add to the pass rush. Look for a quarterback of the future, but don’t force it. Build the play-making arsenal around Daniel Jones if they couldn’t get that quarterback of the future. Try to get Jones to play at — at least — the 2022 level that convinced the organization to give him a four-year, $160 million contract with $81 million guaranteed.
NFL playoff picture: What does 49ers-Rams mean for NFC standings – SB Nation
Game results: The Rams won an ugly one over the 49ers in a field goal-fest. The Rams won 12-6 to improve to 8-6, while the 49ers drop to 6-8. The Rams move to half a game back of the Seahawks heading into Sunday’s Seahawks-Packers game on Sunday Night Football. The 49ers are not eliminated from playoff contention, but a Seahawks win on Sunday eliminates them from NFC West contention.
Bills-Lions Could Be a Super Bowl Preview. Which Team Has the Edge? – The Ringer
Chalk Wars is back! We typically save this concept for the Super Bowl, but with the NFL’s two best teams squaring off in Detroit this weekend, we had no choice but to use it again for a potential Super Bowl LIX preview. The premise hasn’t changed: Steven Ruiz and Diante Lee are cosplaying as the staffs of the Bills and Lions, predicting and explaining the game plans the teams will likely deploy on Sunday. Ruiz will be playing the role of Bills coach Sean McDermott, while Lee will be doing his best Dan Campbell impression. They’ll dissect the matchup in two situations: early downs and obvious passing downs. The offenses will lay out their game plans, and the defenses will respond with possible counters. And at the end, Ruiz and Lee will make their predictions for who will win. We’ll start with Ruiz and the Bills’ early-down offense.
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