The Linc -round playoff exit

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …

NFL Week 18 and coaching carousel latest buzz, predictions – ESPN+
Fowler: Nick Sirianni has quieted the preseason noise with the Eagles’ 13-3 season. Would a first-round playoff exit reignite talks about his job status? It’s hard to say, but it’s a question some people around the league are wondering. Sirianni’s 47-20 record is impressive. Yet his standing was a talking point coming off a tumultuous 2023 campaign, and he doesn’t have a contract extension in place. The sideline and on-field spats are sort of hard to ignore. Any firing here would be a sizable upset, but if we’re talking surprises, this would be one to list because his status was a regular debate four months ago.

The 2024 Eagles have 6 Pro Bowlers (and 2 obvious snubs) – BGN
Baun getting Pro Bowl love is great to see. But it would really be an injustice if it stopped there. Baun deserves to make first-team All-Pro with how awesome he’s been this year. Baun is the first Eagles off-ball linebacker to make the Pro Bowl since Jeremiah Trotter Sr. in 2005, by the way.

Giants-Eagles Week 18 staff picks: Can the Giants finish on a winning streak? – Big Blue View
Valentine’s View: Fans might not want to hear it, but I think the Giants are going to win another game on Sunday and further damage their positioning for 2025 NFL Draft. The Eagles are resting most of their key players and might be down to Tanner McKee as their starting quarterback. Wide receiver Malik Nabers has made it clear that he is playing. Brian Burns is playing. Anothger victory won’t help the Giants get a quarterback, but it might help Brian Daboll keep his job. The game is meaningless in the standings, but it will mean something to Giants and players and coaches. That might be enough. Pick: Giants.

Eagles-Giants preview: Five things to watch – PhillyVoice
1) QB Tanner McKee. Jalen Hurts sure as hell isn’t playing in this game, and Kenny Pickett didn’t practice on Wednesday with a ribs injury. It is likely that Tanner McKee will start. My guess would also be that Ian Book will be the No. 2 and Pickett could perhaps be the “emergency quarterback.” McKee has looked really good in preseason games, notably last year against the Ravens and this year against the Patriots. In his only ever regular season action Week 17 against the Cowboys, he was prepared, poised, and accurate, completing 3 of 4 passes for 54 yards and 2 TDs. In my opinion, McKee outplayed Pickett throughout training camp and in the preseason games this past summer, but Pickett “won” the No. 2 quarterback job, perhaps because he had 24 games of starting experience under his belt. If McKee can perform at a high level, perhaps he can showcase that he deserves to be the No. 2 in 2025 and beyond. The Eagles would have the luxury of having a pair of cost-controlled backup quarterbacks on their roster next season, or trade one of them if some team out there made an attractive offer.

Game Review – PHI 41, DAL 7 – Iggles Blitz
Tanner McKee made his NFL debut and went 3-4 for 54 yards and 2 TDs. Both TDs were good throws. The most impressive thing to me was the fact McKee was calm and looked natural out there. Some backups seem overwhelmed. McKee looked good.

Eagles insights: Cam Jurgens, Jalen Carter validate Eagles’ succession plan with Pro Bowl honors; Zack Baun earns unexpected incentive; more on Jordan Mailata’s percieved snub – PHLY
Jordan Mailata is considered a snub, and his exclusion was felt by teammates. Earlier in the week, Lane Johnson stumped for him as the best left tackle in football. On Thursday, Dickerson knocked any methodology that leaves Mailata off the list. “I don’t know how the voting shit works or whatever, but that’s probably the most rigged, flawed shit in the world,” Dickerson said. “Because I think that’s the best left tackle in the league right now.” Mailata appreciated the sentiment, but told his teammates he doesn’t need their pity. He also said he doesn’t need additional motivation, so he shot down the storyline of whether this would motivate him. “I can’t control that. But I will say this: It’s not something I prioritize or look forward to,” Mailata said. “And I know when I look back at where I was last year to where I am this year, I’m on the right path.” Part of the challenge is that offensive tackle is loaded in the NFC and there are only three spots. Johnson, Tristan Wirfs, and Penei Sewell made the Pro Bowl. They’re worthy of spots. It’s the age-old question: Who are you taking off the list? That’s harder at offensive tackle, although it seems like a position that should have four players instead of three. Of course, they don’t actually play a game, so Mailata didn’t know why there would be another spot added. “If there would be more offensive tackles, what are we going to do? It’s not like we’re playing a game. It’s not like we’re out there for the flag portion,” Mailata said. “What are we going to do — more tug of war? …Let’s be real, if there are more tackles, what’s the point? Let the skill guys have it.”

Why the Pro Bowl incentive in Zack Baun’s contract made him laugh – NBCSP
Zack Baun took a glance at the contract his agent and the Eagles agreed on back in March and there was one thing in there that when he saw it, all he could do was laugh. “Honestly, when I signed here, I just kind of laughed at the fact that (a Pro Bowl) incentive was in my contract,” Baun said Thursday. “Because I didn’t think that was necessarily a goal of mine. “Obviously, it’s a goal of mine, but I didn’t think I could reach it at this point in my career. But to be able to be voted by fans, players around the league and coaches, it really means a lot to me and a lot to the guys on this defense.”

These Eagles worked hard, overcame doubt to play again: ‘Is football for me? Can I make it?’ – NJ.com
“Life is all about perspective for me,” Keegan said. “I always try to maintain a good perspective. The first two months of the season, I was dwelling on it and getting down on myself, thinking like, ‘Is football for me? Can I make it?’ My perspective switched to like, ‘Man, I get to sit here and be in the greatest offensive line room in the world. I get to sit here and watch Saquon Barkley, the greatest running back in the NFL.’” After Sunday’s game against the Giants, some of the Eagles’ backups, including Keegan, won’t play in another game until next year’s preseason.

Jordan Mailata Mic’d Up in NFC East Championship win vs. Cowboys – PE.com
When you see how the Eagles came out of the tunnel for this rivalry showdown with the Dallas Cowboys, you’ll know that they weren’t going to be denied their opportunity to clinch the NFC East title. Follow along as Jordan Mailata and the offensive line piled up the yards against the Dallas defense, keeping track of what it would take to get Saquon Barkley to 2,000 rushing yards.

Saquon Barkley isn’t playing Sunday — but he’s still trolling Giants owner John Mara – Inquirer
The commercial for the over-the-counter sleeping pill shows the former Giants’ first-round pick sleeping peacefully before he pokes fun at Mara, who said on HBO’s Hard Knocks, “I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll tell you that.” Of course, that’s exactly what happened. And now, Barkley is set to rest against the Giants after becoming just the ninth NFL player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. “I heard some of you were having trouble sleeping, so I wrote you a lullaby,” Barkley says in the ad. “Rock-a-bye baby, awake in your bed. As the thought of two thousand swirls in your head. It sure is tough to lose sleep over football. Not for me, though. Good night to you all.”

Giants players lament loss of leadership with Saquon Barkley’s departure – PFT
Safety Dane Belton noted Barkley’s influence on both sides of the ball and said the team is “super young” so “it can’t help to lose a great leader like that. Tight end Daniel Bellinger agreed with the other players about the void Barkley left behind. “For me the biggest part of losing Saquon was the locker room aspect,” Bellinger said, via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. “Just having him as a leader and a guy that when there were times like, what do we do, he would be like ‘Go play!’ He brought an energy that sometimes we needed out there.”

Washington Commanders vs Dallas Cowboys Thursday Injury Report – Hogs Haven
Washington had several players go down against the Falcons, including two offensive linemen. Tyler Biadasz left with an ankle injury and Cornelius Lucas suffered a groin injury. Both players remain out today, and it’s looking more likely that they won’t be able to play against the Cowboys. Lucas was already playing right tackle for Andrew Wylie(groin), who improved to limited practice. Marshon Lattimore continues to miss practice after aggravating his hamstring injury against the Eagles two weeks ago. S Tyler Owens(ankle) and LB Jordan Magee(hamstring) both missed last week’s game, but Magee has been limited while Owens continues to miss time. WR Dyami Brown hasn’t had limited practice since injuring his hamstring against the Eagles, but that changed today. Olamide Zaccheaus and Jamison Crowder have had to step up in the about of Dyami and Noah Brown(on IR with kidney injury), and K.J. Osborn was active for the first time vs the Falcons.

Here is how the Dallas Cowboys will tip their hand on their Mike McCarthy intentions – Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys were eliminated in the playoffs last season by the Green Bay Packers on January 14th. That was almost one full year ago. It turns out that the date in question is relevant in the year 2025 as it serves as Decision Day for the team and head coach Mike McCarthy. Despite the fact that Dallas has had just about a year to reflect on the Packers loss and figure out what they want the future to look like, here we sit. On the precipice of a season lost by their grand design with seemingly no north star established once more. Friday morning, two days before this season ends for the Cowboys, it was reported by NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport that January 14th is the day that McCarthy’s contract with the Cowboys expires. Happy anniversary. There were some notable things in the report. Let’s get to them.

NFL Week 17 Under Review: How Raheem Morris’s Mistake Altered the Playoff Landscape – The Ringer
Dallas Cowboys: I told you back in mid-November that I thought Jerry Jones was going to keep Mike McCarthy, and guess what: I still feel that way! As I just wrote about the Patriots, owners often prioritize comfort over winning, and I think Jones is comfortable with McCarthy. McCarthy has an incredible PR team. Listen to some of the national reporting, and you’d think he’s a combination of Bill Walsh, Belichick, and Vince Lombardi. I think that if Jones had another coach whom he really liked, he’d make a move. But I don’t see the obvious replacement. I still think the most likely scenario is that McCarthy gets a new contract and returns.

7 NFL head coaches who could be fired on Black Monday – SB Nation
Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts. A surprise name to crop up in the last few weeks, Shane Steichen is getting a heaping helping of blame for the Colts missing the playoffs once again. Reports vary from his fighting for his job, to being a lock to return in 2025 — which puts this whole situation in jeopardy. For what it’s worth: Firing Steichen would be a massive mistake. The Colts have largely out-swung their talent in each of the last two years, and the biggest blemish on the coaching staff is the unbelievable mishandling of Anthony Richardson, who was thrust into a starting role too early and has struggled to gain his form because of it. Still, there’s not many better options this team could hire — so the status quo is the right move.

AP Premier: 3 things I’m watching for in Chiefs-Broncos – Arrowhead Pride
I think Carson Wentz could reestablish himself as a starting quarterback on Sunday. No disrespect to these champions, but I see Wentz as an entirely different story than that of Matt Moore, Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert. I think that – unlike those established backups – Wentz saw the 2024 campaign in Kansas City as a career reset, one that could ideally lead him to a starting role in 2025. Head coach Andy Reid seems to share that belief. “I’m one of his (Carson Wentz) biggest fans,” said Reid of Wentz on Monday. “I liked him coming out, I liked what he did before he was banged up there in Philly, and I liked what I saw last year from him for sure with his start with the Rams. I like what I’ve seen here which is – I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to see him here. Selfishly, I’d like to keep him, but I don’t think that’s going to be possible. “He should be starting in the league somewhere. That’s what he should be doing by his ability and the way he goes about his business. He’s so structured and disciplined that – his study habits and work (ethic), you know, all of those things are just top notch.” While Wentz appreciates the endorsement, he predictably said he remains focused on the present. “I take it day by day,” said Wentz on Wednesday. “I’m confident in myself, I’m confident in my abilities. What I have done in the past is in the past – good, bad, indifferent, I’m confident I can still play and play at a high level, and so I’m looking forward to hopefully doing that this weekend and having fun while I’m at it.” I loved Wentz’s attitude when he was asked about the fact that, for one day, he gets to compete again.