🔴 Code Red | Sports Daily Newsletter

Instead of his usual intro, Phillies closer Jhoan Duran came out to the pomp and circumstance of the seventh inning stretch on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Usually tasked with the final three outs, Duran’s mission was as many of the final nine as he could. He gave the Phillies a clean seventh and two-thirds of the eighth.

But then …

Infield single, hit batter, and blast. Just like that, the Phillies’ one-run lead was replaced with a two-run deficit. Playoff bullpen collapses aren’t unheard of during this era of the Phillies, but this year, Duran was out there in the seventh and eighth because he had to be.

Now, the Phillies’ hopes of playing another day largely hinge on Cristopher Sánchez.

— Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Tune out the noise

The sound of a helicopter mixed in with the soft-spoken responses from Anfernee Simons, and there could not have been a more obvious metaphor for what awaits the Sixers this season.

The chopper was there to take LeBron James to New York, where he’s splitting time, and the legend even acknowledged the increased noise his presence brings. But through one day of practice, players like Simons and coach Nick Nurse are prepared to adapt to the scrutiny.

So what did that first practice entail? It started with a 30-minute “vision” presentation and a focus on defense.

Next: The Blue x White scrimmage is Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and after four preseason games, the action really gets going at the New York Knicks on Oct. 20 (7 p.m., NBC10).

‘The Boys Are Back in Town’

“Guess who just got back today. Them wild-eyed boys that had been away.”

Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott may not have been singing about hockey in 1976, but the “Boys Are Back in Town” tonight with the Flyers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

And the Flyers aren’t just back, they enter the 2026-27 season with added pressure and expectations after ending their five-year playoff drought a year ago. Can they live up to the hype and take another step forward in their rebuild? We talked to GM Danny Brière about that and several other topics ahead of the season.

The start of the season also means predictions time. Jackie Spiegel and Gabriela Carroll shared theirs here.

Next: It’s here! Opening night vs. Penguins is tonight (7:30 p.m., TNT, HBO MAX, and TruTV).

Adding to the flock

It’s not just the Phillies who are in the dumps right now. The Eagles saw a long streak of games in which they scored at least 10 points get snapped, and had few positives to take away from the loss in Chicago.

Making matters worse is a slate of tough opponents coming up. It starts Sunday with the Rams. Here’s what we know entering the game.

We don’t know everything, but we do know that the Eagles’ standing in various power rankings took a tumble. And the national media had its say, too.

Meanwhile, veteran defensive back Kenny Moore II, who was signed to the practice squad last week, was signed to the active roster on Tuesday.

Next: The Birds welcome the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (1 p.m., Fox29).

ABCs for referees

Cherry Hill athletic director Michael Beirao has about $130,000 with which to pay officials at two high schools and three middle schools — that’s two schools’ worth of 63 varsity teams, plus another roughly 60 subvarsity squads. The three middle schools? That’s another 17 programs each.

His $130,000 is considered a large budget.

But new guidelines would classify officials as employees vs. independent contractors. South Jersey athletic directors explained the costs of these potential changes, which go into effect on Thursday.

Sports snapshot

• One-woman band: How a Doylestown woman is “helping my husband watch the Eagles game.”
• Starstruck: Many of the USWNT’s best players are in the squad for a two-game series vs. Spain.

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: What was the biggest downfall in the Eagles’ loss to the Bears? Among your responses:

The secondary couldn’t cover the Bears receivers and couldn’t tackle them either. Fangio needs to come up with something very quickly or teams will score at will. — Tom G.

Coaching was lousy, line play was lousy both sides, did we even have a defensive backfield?? — Bill M.

Hard to pick what was the worst. Defense, defensive backfield, offensive line, quarterback, etc. Not counting the horrible Jerry Wolman, Joe Kuharich years, I think this was the ugliest Eagles loss ever. They made a back up QB look like Joe Montana. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” and for the Eagles far more than this is expected. — Everett S.

I guess I’ll say execution, while granting that it’s a cop-out to cover the all-around failures. In terms of where to begin in fixing it? Wow. The defensive showing was alarming, but probably still need to start by building up the O-line and generally improve blocking. I sympathize with the play-calling that indeed, there is no darn reason that any team should be this bad using screens etc. — D. Stone

It’s a team game so a total team loss. The only bright spot was Quinyin Mitchell! However, it should be remembered, the 2024-25 season started with questionable calls and a dropped pass letting Atlanta win. Then a 3 point win over a weak Saints team followed by being blown out by Tampa Bay. We all know what happened the rest of that season!. It’s a long season and this one is far from over! Go Birds! — Dave S.

The final score. Utter failure across the board by the fluttering Birds. Numerous displays of mediocrity prevailed throughout the Green and White numbers. During this complete Blowout of the bumbling Birds, the Bears were consistently at their best, as if feasting on the backfield like Honey in the Hive. Has the season started? Or, wake us when it’s over. — John B.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, David Murphy, Mia Messina, Chris Hine, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Ariel Simpson, Gabriela Carroll, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Isabella DiAmore, and Jonathan Tannenwald.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading! We’ll know tomorrow whether we get more Red October. — Maria