Crossing Broad
When the NFL unveiled its 2025 schedule in May, it was difficult to avoid wondering what kind of gauntlet the Eagles would face as they approached the last weeks of the season. After welcoming back to Lincoln Financial Field former coach and new Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the Birds were scheduled to fly down to D.C. to take on the Commanders and then host their division rival in the final game of the regular season. Sandwiched between those contests with Washington was a clash in Buffalo against Josh Allen and La Salle College High School wrestling legend and tush push hypocrite Sean McDermott.
It seemed like the Eagles were in for an uphill climb, as a challenging regular season slate culminated with a brutal stretch of games that might make or break their chances to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
But a funny thing happened on the way to December. Chip Kelly was fired before he could make his triumphant return, and the Commanders stink. At least we can still rely on McDermott’s duplicity if the Bills face a 4th and short situation next week.
We can also depend on the Eagles. In a league defined by parity, they have become a model of sustained success. A Saturday win guarantees them a ticket to the playoffs, a trip they have taken every year of the Nick Sirianni era. Their roster, arguably the deepest and most talented in football, has endured despite last year’s extended campaign and the rigors of this one. While they might not stand as the favorite to emerge from the NFC, I don’t think anyone would be surprised if Philadelphia represented the conference at Super Bowl LX.
There has been adversity, to be sure. Defensive linchpin Jalen Carter remains sidelined with injuries to his shoulders. Lane Johnson is out of the lineup as well, historically an ominous sign. Center Cam Jurgens and left guard Landon Dickerson have both struggled with injuries and inconsistent play, while left tackle Jordan Mailata has scuffled at times as well, perhaps as he tries to compensate for the issues along the interior of the line. Saquon Barkley’s production has dipped as a result of the instability in front of him. A.J. Brown wants the ball but isn’t getting it enough. Grant Calcaterra can’t block, no matter how much the Eagles seem to think so. Depth in the secondary is concerning, if not alarming.
And then there’s the issue of Jalen Hurts, the reigning Super Bowl MVP whose inconsistency has caused the “I Told You So” brigade to strike up the band again. Last week, WIP Morning Show host Joe DeCamara asked Sirianni if he would consider benching Hurts. Longtime Hurts hater Chris Simms also crawled out of his “weasel den” to attack the quarterback, employing his trademark myopic focus as he scrutinized Hurts. No one wants to blame the quarterback, Simms insists, as he zeroes in on the quarterback alone at the expense of everything else. Simms never could...
