Inquirer.com – Zurich DR

Author: Jeff Neiburg

  • Eagles vs. Rams: A mystifying trend the Birds must fix, and everything else to know ahead of Sunday’s game

    Eagles vs. Rams: A mystifying trend the Birds must fix, and everything else to know ahead of Sunday’s game

    A normal NFL halftime typically lasts between 12 and 14 minutes, give or take, from the final first-half whistle to third-quarter kick.

    For Eagles coaches, it’s a pretty frenetic period. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion takes an express ride on an elevator down from the coaches’ booth and gets together with his staff. They talk about the looks they’re seeing, the notes they’ve taken.

    “We quickly put together and chart our course for the second half, communicate it with the players, and then we’re out,” Mannion said Thursday.

    Nick Sirianni, who usually is pretty guarded, didn’t want to go into too much detail about the halftime routine when asked about it a day later. But he did mention that the idea is to be making adjustments on the fly between series as the game goes on.

    “That’s so important that they’re going through that process at that time because halftime, there may be certain things that you say, ‘OK, we can’t get that drawn up right,’” he said. “‘Hey, we want to put this in here. Hey, we can’t get that drawn up. Draw it up for halftime. We’ll put it in there.’

    “There are some things that are saved for halftime, but the majority of it is happening within the game.”

    Nick Sirianni and the Eagles are looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Regardless of when and how the Eagles are adjusting, whatever is happening at halftime might need a makeover. It’s only been three games, but no one is worse in the third quarter right now than the Eagles, who have eight three-and-outs on 11 third-quarter drives. That’s three more than anyone else in the NFL.

    There have been various reasons for each punt. No series is identical. The Eagles have had negative runs, negative swing passes, penalties, and other detrimental plays. But the play sequencing and planning certainly has contributed. It’s something Mannion, a first-time play caller, said the staff is trying to correct.

    “Certainly, as a staff and as a team, we’re working through getting better there,” Mannion said. “You hate to do a lot of nice things in the first half of some of these games and kind of fall into a rut in the second half.

    “We’re working at that. We’re attacking it each day to be better there coming out of halftime.”

    — @Jeff_Neiburg

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    How to watch Eagles vs. Rams

    The Eagles and Rams kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be aired on Fox29 and called by the network’s top duo of play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Tom Brady. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi are the sideline reporters.

    As usual, Merrill Reese and Mike Quick will have you covered for the local radio broadcast on 94 WIP.

    Looking to watch the game somewhere in the city with fellow Eagles fans? Here’s our latest list of places to watch.

    Final injury report

    DeVonta Smith scored a big fourth-quarter touchdown against the Rams last season, but he won’t be available for Sunday’s game — and likely longer.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Eagles

    Fixing the ugly third-quarter trend won’t get any easier with DeVonta Smith slated to miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. He may be out beyond this week, too.

    The Eagles also will be without a key defensive starter in Zack Baun, who remains in the concussion protocol. Those absences mean Dontayvion Wicks is slated to be the No. 1 wide receiver on Sunday while Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the next man up at linebacker.

    Out

    • WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
    • LB Zack Baun (concussion)
    • TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
    • S Marcus Epps (groin)
    • WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
    • T Fred Johnson (knee)

    Rams

    Puka Nacua is on track to the return for the Rams, who, entering Week 3 and dating back to when he was drafted in 2023, were averaging 6.1 yards per play with Nacua on the field, compared to 5.1 yards when he’s off the field. But the big news of the day Friday came when Sean McVay ruled Aaron Donald (back) out.

    Donald came out of retirement and rejoined the team after training camp. His absence means Los Angeles is without two of the better defensive front-seven players in the NFL in Donald and Myles Garrett, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury.

    Out

    • DT Aaron Donald (back)
    • TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle)
    • CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder)

    Questionable

    • TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder)
    • OLB Josaiah Stewart (groin)

    Storylines to watch

    Smith’s absence is a big blow to the Eagles. In previous seasons, they have withstood the loss of Smith or A.J. Brown knowing the other would be out there. Can Wicks provide the same comfort? We’ll find out Sunday, and maybe next week in London, too.

    “Being me,” Wicks said Thursday when asked what gives him confidence he can thrive in a larger role. “I already had that confidence. Been had it.”

    The team’s best pass catcher being out comes at a pivotal time for an offense that needs to start putting things together. The Eagles haven’t successfully married their run and pass games the way they said they wanted to. The running game showed some signs of life in the first half on Monday night, and the Eagles will hope to build off of that Sunday.

    Our Eagles Week 4 preview show

    What went wrong Monday, and what can we expect Sunday vs. the Rams? Plus, what are the biggest concerns so far for the Eagles? I broke it down with my colleague Olivia Reiner earlier this week in our latest Gameday Central pregame show.

    Be sure to check out the latest episode of unCovering the Birds, including a fresh mailbag. And after the game, Ryan Novozinsky will be live from the press box breaking down the action.

    Latest Week 4 odds

    The Eagles are a home underdog for the first time since 2023. They were 10-1 when they hosted the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13 of the 2023 season. A 42-19 beat down at Lincoln Financial Field started a late-season collapse.

    Check out this week’s odds and props here.

    Eagles-Rams predictions

    Jordan Davis and the Eagles blocked a last-second field goal attempt last season to complete their comeback win against the Rams.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    A clean sweep, all by double digits. That means the Eagles probably win by two scores, right?

    Check out the reasoning behind our picks and McLane’s keys to the game. As for the rest of the country, here’s a look at the national media predictions for Sunday.

    One number to know

    32.9% — That’s DeVonta Smith’s target share through three games. Brandon Graham, now away from football and in the podcasting world, got some traction last week after the Eagles’ Week 2 win when he said he thought Jalen Hurts was playing freely and not having to force the ball to certain players.

    Maybe he meant the way the offense is designed gives Hurts more answers, or maybe he was referring to Hurts not having to force the ball to A.J. Brown. Either way, the numbers tell a different story. If Smith’s target share number holds up, he would have the highest single-season target share of any Eagles player since at least 2000, according to Next Gen Stats.

    Smith is slated to miss this week’s game and possibly next week’s in London. Goedert still isn’t back from injury. Hurts is going to have to put his trust in others.

    There are other numbers worth paying attention to this week, too.

    What the Eagles are saying

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “Who are we?”

    Well, that’s kind of existential, Jalen.

    But it’s the question the quarterback said he posed to the locker room in the aftermath of their 27-7 loss on Monday night.

    “Ask yourself that question because that’s a choice you can make, and being deliberate and intentional on how we move forward, so we can continue to improve,” Hurts said.

    Here’s more on Hurts challenging his teammates to look inward.

    What the Rams are saying

    “Humility is one play away if you’re sleeping on somebody, so we don’t take anybody lightly at the end of the day,” Davante Adams said.

    The Rams are road favorites Sunday afternoon in Philly, but they know wins don’t come easy in the NFL.

    Rams QB Matthew Stafford on the Eagles: “They’re always a tough out, especially at their place.”

    It won’t be snowing this time, though.

    McVay gets to coach against one of his former quarterbacks, too, in Mannion.

    What else we’re reading and watching

    Thanks for reading. The weekly Eagles newsletter will be back again next Saturday sent to your inbox all the way from London, where the Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.

  • Kevin Willard believes his new-look Villanova team has closed the gap between the Wildcats and Big East powers

    Kevin Willard believes his new-look Villanova team has closed the gap between the Wildcats and Big East powers

    NEW YORK — The first thing worth mentioning is that most of the hoopla and prognosticating going on Thursday morning at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square is rather meaningless. The transactional nature of college sports — Villanova’s men’s team, for example, has two returning players — has made it so that trying to predict an order of teams, and which players will fill out the all-conference teams, is like throwing darts with one eye closed after several pints.

    Kevin Willard at one point responded to a reporter who asked about scouting other teams that he had “no idea who is on anyone’s roster.” Surely he knows a few, but the sentiment was an honest one. Villanova won’t play a Big East game until Dec. 19, and Willard has to continue getting his new-look team ready for the start of its 12-game nonconference slate.

    But where Villanova landed in the preseason coaches poll was fitting. The Wildcats are third, right where they finished last season, behind the 1-2 punch of Connecticut and St. John’s at the top of the Big East. Villanova went 15-5 in the conference last season, Willard’s first campaign as Villanova coach. St. John’s was 18-2 and UConn was 17-3. There was a clear top tier, a clear No. 3 in Villanova, and then the rest of the pack started with fourth-place Seton Hall at 10-10.

    Willard took the data from last season and went to work in the offseason. The Wildcats lost just about every time they matched up with NCAA Tournament-quality teams. Blown out and beaten up at Michigan. Bullied twice by St. John’s. Beaten twice by UConn, which went to the Final Four. Not composed enough down the stretch in a tournament loss to Utah State. The offseason rebuild had a clear goal: Get bigger, more physical, more experienced.

    Villanova guard Tyler Perkins was the team’s leading scorer last season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Leading scorer Tyler Perkins is back, as is forward Matt Hodge, who is recovering from an ACL surgery. But the Wildcats are likely to roll out a five-man starting lineup one month from Thursday in Rome against Notre Dame with four newcomers. They include 7-foot-3 center Luigi Suigo, a 19-year-old freshman from Italy projected to be selected in the first round of next year’s NBA draft. Next to Suigo in the front court are two seniors who played three seasons of Big Ten basketball prior to transferring to Villanova in 6-10 power forward Kwame Evans Jr. (Oregon) and 6-6 forward Devin Royal (Ohio State). Junior Illinois-Chicago transfer Elijah Crawford is projected to start at point guard next to Perkins.

    The bench has two senior guards in Jake Fiegen (Cornell), a sharpshooter, and a smaller scorer in Buddy Simmons (St. Bonaventure), who scored 16.4 points per game last season. Hodge will be a 22-year-old redshirt sophomore whose shooting prowess will be useful as soon as he’s ready to return from surgery. Freshman Adam Oumiddoch, a 6-5 guard, also will get minutes and contribute. Willard may play as many as 11 guys after finishing last season with an eight-man rotation that sometimes was more like seven. That final rotation had two freshmen, two sophomores, and a redshirt sophomore.

    Villanova men picked third, women second in preseason Big East polls

    This team, by contrast, will start a junior, three seniors, and a freshman lottery pick, while the top of its bench rotation has two seniors and a 22-year-old redshirt sophomore.

    Willard was open about what separated his roster from the better ones last season and what he had to do to rectify that.

    So, gap closed?

    “Absolutely,” he said Thursday. “I think in practice, if you come watch practice, the level of physicality, it’s almost a little bit too much. I haven’t practiced longer than 90 minutes so far. Just the experience we have, the games that these guys have played in, they understand what high-level basketball is all about.

    “I think one of the issues last year was we were so young at times we just didn’t understand the physicality we were going to have to play. Last year’s group played with unbelievable heart and passion. It’s why we won so many games. It just wasn’t old enough and physical enough to be able to understand what you have to do to win at a little bit higher level.”

    Kevin Willard with forward Devin Royal during an open practice on July 27.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    There’s a different understanding with this group.

    “We already know the expectations that come with coming to Nova and what we have to bring every night,” said Evans, who has shed the walking boot he wore on his left leg during the team’s Summer Jam open practice in July.

    Those physical practices and the different bodies Villanova has in the rotation are certainly noticeable to Perkins, who is back to full basketball activities after right shoulder surgery.

    “It’s definitely an adjustment,” Perkins said. “This year when I drive the paint I got 7-3 Luigi Suigo and 7-1 Nico [Onyekwere, a reserve center]. It’s not every time you can get a layup. Shooting over them has also been something I’ve been noticing.”

    Kevin Willard accomplished most of his goals in Villanova’s roster rebuild. Then came Luigi Suigo.

    A new roster with a new makeup also means the coach has changed his approach.

    “It’s two total polar opposites,” Willard said when asked if his coaching style changes this year. “Last year’s team was really fun to coach because you had to do so much coaching and teaching. So from that standpoint it was really fun. This team is a lot of fun because they know what they’re doing.

    “From that standpoint it’s a lot of fun because we kind of let them be who they are and the team can kind of evolve around their personalities instead of mine.”

    What the personality of this team ends up being remains to be seen. The Wildcats begin a three-game exhibition slate on Oct. 11 at Rutgers and then open their season Nov. 1 in Italy. They have a measuring stick game on Nov. 21 vs. Michigan in South Philly and play at Kansas on Black Friday.

    Are they ready for UConn and St. John’s? Are they ready to be back in the conversation at the top of a conference Jay Wright once lorded over?

    Perkins had a pretty simple answer for what proving that looks like.

    “Just winning games,” he said. “That’s what it takes, to win games.”

  • Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion: Andy Dalton interception, lack of play action ‘starts with me’

    Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion: Andy Dalton interception, lack of play action ‘starts with me’

    The play that could have helped turn the tide of Monday night’s game in Chicago is one that Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion wants back.

    A negative run followed by a run for no gain left the Eagles at third-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Jalen Hurts was being evaluated for a concussion. Andy Dalton was in the game. Mannion called a shotgun pass out of 11 personnel. Dalton locked his eyes on Dontayvion Wicks and the pass was picked off by Bears safety Dillon Thieneman.

    Instead of a tie game, the Eagles ended up being down 10-0 after the Bears turned that turnover into three points.

    “With the outcome, it’s one I certainly wish I could have back if I could do it over again,” Mannion said Thursday, his first time meeting with reporters since the 27-7 defeat. “It was a call that we felt confident in throughout the week. We had a good week’s worth of practice. It was something that Andy has banked reps on, so I felt like it was something he could execute.

    “Obviously you got to protect the ball, particularly down in the red zone. He knows that. And on my end, hindsight being 20/20, I wish I would have called something different.”

    Jalen Hurts challenges Eagles to look inward following Monday’s loss to the Bears: ‘Who are we?’

    Execution in the red zone, Mannion said, “starts with me.” That was the overarching sentiment Thursday from the first-year coordinator when he fielded questions about the things plaguing his offense through three games. The Eagles are 2-1 heading into their Week 4 matchup Sunday vs. the Los Angeles Rams, but they have some concerning issues on offense.

    Among them is the way the scheme is looking right now. After Mannion and Nick Sirianni spent most of the offseason talking about marrying the run and pass games and utilizing more under center play-action concepts, the Eagles are averaging fewer play-action passes per game (5) than anyone in the league. And when they go to it, they haven’t been very successful doing it.

    What should the Eagles do about their backup QB situation?
    Video: What should the Eagles do about their backup QB situation?

    “I think some of it varies based on the opponent, based on the defensive front you might be getting, in terms of your protection plan and what things you can have up in the plan and not,” Mannion said Thursday when asked why they haven’t gotten to those plays more. “I was really encouraged with the run game. We tried to build off of it. Early in the game we had a keeper into a tough look. We had a couple things we just need to clean up in terms of the execution of our play-pass protection.

    “Ultimately, I need to build the best plan possible to find that marriage. That’s on me to put us in the best position possible to build our marriage of the run and pass, the way we want it to look. I think with the way we got the run game going, there’s more to maximize off of that.”

    Jalen Hurts hands off to Saquon Barkley in the first quarter at Soldier Field on Monday night. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    It will be easier said than done against a tough Rams defense, especially if the Eagles are missing DeVonta Smith, who missed practice again on Thursday with a hamstring injury.

    The Eagles found some success with their outside zone runs in the first half Monday night, but they couldn’t get to their play-action game. Hurts was under pressure. The offense again got behind the sticks for various reasons. The Eagles lead the league with six passing plays at second-and-16 or longer. They lead the league with five passing plays on third down with between 11 and 15 yards to go.

    It is, of course, harder to sell the run when you’re in obvious pass situations.

    “If we get the run game going the way it looked last Monday, I think there’s a lot of big plays to be had in the play-pass game,” Mannion said.

    DeVonta Smith’s target share, intermediate issues, and other numbers to know ahead of Eagles-Rams

    Injury report

    Zack Baun remains in the concussion protocol and did not practice again on Thursday, making it even more likely he is forced to miss Sunday’s contest.

    Other absences were Smith (hamstring), Hollywood Brown (ankle), Dallas Goedert (knee), and Fred Johnson (knee).

    Jordan Davis (calf), Marcus Epps (groin), Moro Ojomo (calf/elbow), and Will Shipley (foot) were all listed as limited on Thursday.

  • Villanova men picked third, women second in preseason Big East polls; several players make all-conference team

    Villanova men picked third, women second in preseason Big East polls; several players make all-conference team

    NEW YORK — The finishing point from the end of last season is where the Villanova men’s basketball team starts — at least on paper — to begin the 2026-27 basketball season.

    The Wildcats landed as expected in the third spot behind Connecticut and St. John’s in the preseason Big East coaches poll announced Thursday morning in New York at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

    St. John’s went 18-2 in Big East play last season, UConn went 17-3, and third-place Villanova was 15-5. Fourth-place Seton Hall, meanwhile, was 10-10. Villanova’s offseason was spent reloading a roster in the hopes that the Wildcats, who reached the NCAA Tournament in Kevin Willard’s first season, close the gap between themselves and the top two teams in the conference.

    Villanova coach Kevin Willard with forward Devin Royal during an open practice on July 27.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The roster looks a lot different. Only two players returned, including senior Tyler Perkins, who was selected preseason first-team all-conference. Matthew Hodge, the other returning player, is recovering from ACL surgery.

    Villanova will begin its season in Rome vs. Notre Dame on Nov. 1. Its new-look starting lineup is projected to feature Perkins and four new players: point guard Elijah Crawford, forwards Kwame Evans Jr. and Devin Royal, and Italian big man Luigi Suigo, a 7-foot-3 center who is projected to be a first-round pick in next year’s NBA draft. Evans and Royal were both named to the all-Big East second team announced Thursday.

    Big man Luigi Suigo has arrived at Villanova. His journey to the 2027 NBA draft is underway.

    UConn received eight first-place votes while St. John’s received two and Marquette got one. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.

    Wildcats women picked second

    Like the men, Denise Dillon’s Villanova women’s team also is where it was at the end of last season: staring up at powerhouse UConn from the No. 2 spot.

    The Wildcats received one first-place vote, which had to be from UConn coach Geno Auriemma, considering the rest of the first-place votes went to the Huskies.

    Villanova had its fifth consecutive 20-win season last year. The Wildcats finished 25-8 and 16-4 in Big East play. They reached the NCAA Tournament and lost a first-round game to Texas Tech.

    Villanova star Jasmine Bascoe represents home nation on global stage: ‘What more could you ask for?’
    Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe averaged 18.9 points and 4.0 rebounds last season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe, a junior guard, is back after averaging 18.9 points and 4.0 rebounds. She was a unanimous first-team all-conference player last season and landed on this year’s preseason all-Big East team alongside sophomore guard Kennedy Henry.

    The full men’s and women’s preseason polls are below:

    (Points in parentheses)

    Men

    • UConn (98)
    • St. John’s (90)
    • Villanova (81)
    • Marquette (73)
    • Providence (59)
    • Xavier (54)
    • Creighton (47)
    • DePaul (32)
    • Seton Hall (31)
    • Georgetown (27)
    • Butler (13)

    Women

    • UConn (100)
    • Villanova (90)
    • Creighton (78)
    • St. John’s (68)
    • Seton Hall (67)
    • Marquette (60)
    • Providence (38)
    • Georgetown (36)
    • Xavier (29)
    • Butler (21)
    • DePaul (18)
  • DeVonta Smith’s target share, intermediate issues, and other numbers to know ahead of Eagles-Rams

    DeVonta Smith’s target share, intermediate issues, and other numbers to know ahead of Eagles-Rams

    The Eagles fell to 2-1 Monday night after a disappointing 27-7 loss in Chicago, one that raised many questions about the state of the team through three games.

    Here are a few of the big picture issues to consider: Is Vic Fangio’s defense much worse than we originally thought? Is Sean Mannion comfortable calling and sequencing games yet? Does the offense have an identity?

    The answers need clarity fast, and maybe they’ll come as soon as Sunday, when the Los Angeles Rams come to town for a 1 p.m. game at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles are entering the meat of their schedule. Next is a Rams team that has Super Bowl aspirations, and after them is a trip to London to face a Jaguars team that just beat the defending AFC champions by almost 30 points.

    Here’s a look at some numbers to know ahead of a highly anticipated Eagles-Rams game:

    32.9%

    Brandon Graham, now away from football and in the podcasting world, got some traction last week after the Eagles’ Week 2 win when he said he thought Jalen Hurts was playing freely and not having to force the ball to certain players.

    Maybe he meant the way the offense is designed gives Hurts more answers, or maybe he was referring to Hurts not having to force the ball to A.J. Brown.

    Either way, the numbers tell a different story. Because DeVonta Smith is seeing a lot … a lot … of action.

    Through three games, 32.9% of Eagles pass attempts have gone toward Smith, the second-highest rate in the NFL behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba (37.9%).

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 4 vs. the Rams

    If Smith’s target share number holds up, he would have the highest single-season target share of any Eagles player since at least 2000, according to Next Gen Stats.

    There’s some context and curiosity to unpack here. The new Eagles offense asks Hurts to go through pure progression reads rather than the previous iteration that had him diagnose coverages before the snap.

    Is Hurts not getting to his second read often enough? Dontayvion Wicks has better separation metrics than Smith through three games, but his 14 targets lag way behind Smith’s 27. Makai Lemon, meanwhile, has nine targets. Dallas Goedert’s injury also eliminated a trusted pass catcher from the equation.

    Hurts’ pass protection has been shaky, but he’s also not yet been able to spread the ball around effectively.

    Eagles linebackers Zack Baun (left) and Jihaad Campbell tackle Bears tight end Colston Loveland on Monday night.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    15

    That’s how many intermediate level throws the Eagles have allowed through three games, according to Next Gen, which classifies an intermediate throw as one that travels 10-to-19 air yards. Five per game doesn’t sound like a lot, but they’re already almost a third of the way to the 49 intermediate throws they allowed in all of 2025.

    Then there’s this from Next Gen: their completion percentage allowed in that area is at 65.2%, seventh-highest in the NFL and nearly 20 percentage points higher than their league-low rate of 42.6% in 2025.

    What’s going on?

    Cooper DeJean hasn’t looked like the All-Pro he was last season, Jihaad Campbell has had some struggles, and the safeties aren’t playing well enough. DeJean and Zack Baun have already been charged with allowing four intermediate catches this year, according to Next Gen, after allowing eight and three, respectively, all of last season.

    It’s not going to get much easier. Here comes Puka Nacua (potentially), who has topped 100 receiving yards in each of his last two regular season matchups vs. the Eagles.

    Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell could be charged again with slowing Puka Nacua on Sunday, if Nacua returns from injury. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    6.1

    Rams coach Sean McVay sounded optimistic Nacua would return this week from his groin injury.

    It would be a big boost to a 1-2 Rams team that is much better with him on the field than off it.

    Best of unCovering the Birds: ‘Vic Fangio’s boogeyman’ and the biggest issues for the Eagles defense

    According to Next Gen, entering Week 3 and dating back to 2023 when Nacua was drafted, the Rams have averaged a full yard per play more with him on the field (6.1) than with him on the sideline (5.1).

    Will better success on first down lead to more play action for the Eagles?Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    4

    What if we told you three weeks ago, before the season started, that the Eagles would be averaging four under center play action plays per game?

    After all the talk about the new dynamic offense Mannion was going to bring to the Eagles, one that would put Hurts under center and marry the run and pass games, you’d think we were crazy, right?

    That’s where they are right now. Their 15 total play action passes are the fewest in the NFL, and they’re not very good when they’re running play action, ranking in the bottom six in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per play.

    What gives? It’s hard to threaten to run the ball when you’re so often behind the sticks. It’s hard to get into favorable play action situations when you’re struggling to run the ball.

    The Eagles need to stop taking penalties and getting negative plays, and they need to build on the first-half running performance from Monday in Chicago.

    Nick Sirianni (center) and Sean McVay (left) have both won Super Bowls, but McVay has yet to beat Sirianni. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    4-0

    Nick Sirianni has never lost to McVay. He’s 4-0 against the Rams coach, including a postseason victory.

    Reason to be hopeful for Eagles fans?

    Maybe. But maybe McVay is due, too.

  • Vic Fangio took the blame for Eagles defensive performance and said the safety rotation will continue

    Vic Fangio took the blame for Eagles defensive performance and said the safety rotation will continue

    Vic Fangio didn’t want to point a finger at any one player for the third-quarter Chicago Bears touchdown Monday night that put the Eagles in a two-score hole during their eventual 27-7 defeat, but he did take the blame for the overall effort.

    “I thought our guys were ready to play mentally and physically,” Fangio said Wednesday. “Our details were off a little bit, especially when they were throwing it quick, so that’s on me. Didn’t have them ready to execute better.”

    Eagles defense ‘not on the same page,’ as Ben Johnson and Case Keenum pick them apart

    The Eagles weren’t beat up on the ground the way they were vs. Chicago in Week 13 last season, but they didn’t have enough answers to limit 38-year-old third-string quarterback Case Keenum from causing damage in the passing game. The Bears dialed up quick throws and used play action to their advantage, as Keenum threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns while running in for another.

    Keenum’s 41-yard touchdown throw to Kalif Raymond was a backbreaker. Raymond was open in the middle of the field with no Eagles defender within 10 yards of him. Cooper DeJean followed Luther Burden III, who motioned to Raymond’s side of the field where Riq Woolen was also lined up. DeJean stayed with Burden and Woolen did not cover Raymond.

    “It was between Cooper and Riq, had a miscommunication on that,” Fangio said.

    Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond’s 41-yard touchdown Monday as a backbreaker.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The coordinator said the fix is correcting it and to “make sure they understand it, which we thought they did,” he said. “That wasn’t an uncommon motion from that team.” Asked what was supposed to happen on the play, Fangio said: “Well, those two guys have to sort it out. I’m not going to point blame.”

    DeJean and Zack Baun both mentioned communication being an issue in the locker room after Monday’s game. Asked if there were overarching issues there, Fangio said he thought the players were just talking about that specific play.

    But shortly after Fangio spoke in the auditorium at the Jefferson Health Training Complex, DeJean talked to reporters at his locker stall and elaborated a bit.

    “I would say our biggest thing right now is there’s not enough talking on the field — between everybody, myself included,” DeJean said. “To the corners, to the safeties, linebackers, everybody just needs to communicate a little bit more so we’re all on the same page. We made too many mistakes that were unforced that shouldn’t happen, that are easy things that we’ve repped many times.

    “In this defense, communication is key. There’s a lot of moving parts.”

    Eagles safeties under the microscope again as defensive woes continue in loss to Bears: ‘Got to tackle better’

    Safety rotation will continue

    The Eagles will continue the rotation they used at safety on Monday night, Fangio said Wednesday.

    Marcus Epps started the game at safety in the non-base packages next to Andrew Mukuba, but he appeared to be benched after the first Chicago drive for Michael Carter II. Fangio said the plan was to rotate the players, which they did in practice last week.

    “Those two guys are still going to man it,” Fangio said.

    Is there any rhyme or reason to who is out there and when?

    “We’re just kind of rotating them,” Fangio said. “It’s not so much situationally as it is rotating them.”

    Eagles safety Marcus Epps has struggled with tackling in the past few games.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The goal, Fangio said, would be for one player to emerge as the obvious starter.

    There’s a new body in the defensive backfield in Kenny Moore II, who was signed to the active roster from the practice squad on Tuesday. Moore has primarily been a nickel corner throughout his long NFL career, but the Eagles could try him at safety.

    “He’s a down the line possibility maybe,” Fangio said. “He’s really never played safety in his career so that’ll be some heavy lifting for him.”

    Fangio did reiterate that there’s no current plan to move DeJean to safety full time.

    Zack Baun’s concussion highlights Wednesday injury report

    The first injury report of the week had a bit of news Wednesday night.

    The Eagles held a walkthrough on Wednesday that was not open to media. Had they held a regular practice, Baun would have missed it because he is in the concussion protocol. Baun was not on the field for the final Bears drive, but spoke in the locker room after the game.

    The full injury report from Wednesday is below:

    Did not participate

    • LB Zack Baun (concussion)
    • WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
    • TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
    • T Fred Johnson (knee)
    • RB Will Shipley (foot)
    • WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)

    Limited participant

    • LB Jihaad Campbell (knee)
    • DT Jordan Davis (calf)
    • DT Moro Ojomo (calf/elbow)

    Full participant

    • RB Tank Bigsby (abdomen)
    • DT Jalen Carter (wrist)
    • WR Darius Cooper (knee)
    • OLB Jonathan Greenard (pectoral)
    • DT Byron Young (toe)

    Jalen Carter’s injury is a hairline fracture

    Carter’s wrist injury is a hairline fracture, sources told The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Carter has been able to play through the injury with a cast on his right hand, but the injury and having to wear the cast may be limiting his effectiveness.

    “Well, it’s a negative,” Fangio said. “There’s no way it can’t be, but to be honest with you, he’s done better than I thought he would with it.”

    Jalen Carter has been playing with a hairline fracture in his wrist, sources tell Jeff McLane.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
  • Gameday Central: Eagles vs. Rams Preview | Sponsored by Xfinity

    Gameday Central: Eagles vs. Rams Preview | Sponsored by Xfinity

    Olivia Reiner and Jeff Neiburg break down the Eagles’ Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, discussing key storylines, matchups, injury updates and what Philadelphia needs to do.

  • Eagles sign Kenny Moore II to active roster to assist beleaguered secondary

    Eagles sign Kenny Moore II to active roster to assist beleaguered secondary

    A week after they signed free agent Kenny Moore II to their practice squad, the Eagles on Tuesday signed the veteran defensive back to their active roster, filling an open spot on the 53-man unit.

    Moore, 31, played nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, where Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was an assistant from 2018 to 2020. Moore has 111 starts in 132 career appearances and made the Pro Bowl in 2021.

    It’s unclear how the Eagles plan to use Moore in their defensive backfield. He has played just 58 of 7,525 career defensive snaps at safety and has primarily been a nickel corner.

    Vic Fangio last week said the Eagles did not have any plans to move nickel Cooper DeJean to safety on a full-time basis. DeJean has been playing safety in the team’s base package, but the position group has had a few concerning performances to open the 2026 season. Marcus Epps has missed multiple tackles and appeared to be benched during Monday night’s 27-7 loss in Chicago when the Eagles started rotating him and Michael Carter II next to Andrew Mukuba.

    Eagles defense ‘not on the same page,’ as Ben Johnson and Case Keenum pick them apart

    While Moore has not played a lot of safety, his acquisition likely means the Eagles think he’s capable of making the transition late in his career. Or at least trying to.

    “Just being a football player,” Moore said last week when asked about his role. “I think in the back end, the more you can do the better. Being in year 10, I just want to pour everything that I’ve learned, resources, however way I can help, be a great teammate, and push those guys as best as possible.”

    Asked last week about Moore’s role, Fangio said he wasn’t sure yet.

    “I’ve never laid eyes on him, never watched him play,” he said. “So, we’ll see.”

    Moore was released by the Colts in May after the Georgia native requested a trade and no deal came to fruition.

  • Eagles defense ‘not on the same page,’ as Ben Johnson and Case Keenum pick them apart

    Eagles defense ‘not on the same page,’ as Ben Johnson and Case Keenum pick them apart

    CHICAGO — A year from now, maybe two, when Case Keenum is done playing and looks back at a Monday night to remember, in the twilight of his football career, when he played an NFL game for the first time in three years and led a blowout Bears win over the Eagles, what will be the lasting image?

    The Eagles allowed him a highlight reel worth of them in a 27-7 defeat. Multiple plays have a case.

    Jalen Hurts and the Eagles took a major hit against the Bears. They have to find a way to bounce back.

    Will it be the flip pass to Luther Burden III to cap off a brilliant opening script? Burden bounced off three Eagles defenders, and then, with the help of a few linemen, was carried across the goal line. Maybe it will be Kalif Raymond with no Eagles defender within 10 yards of him over the middle of the field on his way to a 41-yard touchdown reception. Maybe it’s the sucker sneak Keenum ran in from a yard out to give the game its final scoring play — the finishing touches on an offensive game plan from Bears coach Ben Johnson that made suckers of those who pegged Vic Fangio’s defense as one of the league’s best entering the season.

    Less than a year ago, Johnson’s Bears bullied the Eagles on the ground for 281 yards. On Monday night, a 38-year-old Keenum carved them up through the air for 247 yards while completing more than 70% of his passes.

    “We just got beat, straight up,” said pass rusher Jonathan Greenard, who made his Eagles debut. “They had a hell of a game plan, came out of the gates slinging. We just weren’t on our P’s and Q’s, obviously the worst time to not be on your P’s and Q’s on Monday night primetime, but it is what it is, they came in with a good game plan and executed.”

    The Eagles didn’t, and issues that have plagued the unit early in the season continued Monday night. Their safeties are struggling. They are missing too many tackles. They pressured Keenum just 10 times. Their vaunted interior front hasn’t been overwhelming. They still haven’t forced a turnover. They are, as Cooper DeJean said, not communicating well enough.

    Linebacker Jonathan Greenard made his season debut, but the Eagles failed to register a sack of Case Keenum.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Johnson’s offense offers what Jihaad Campbell called “a variety pack of boots, receiver jets, screens, play actions” that can cause chaos and communication errors. On Raymond’s 41-yard score in the third quarter that upped Chicago’s lead to 20-7, DeJean followed a motioning Burden across the formation prior to the snap. But the Eagles then had DeJean and Riq Woolen both covering Burden while Raymond ran a crossing route over the middle of the field. Raymond then beat safety Andrew Mukuba in a foot race to the pylon.

    DeJean said the play was a “miscommunication” but did not elaborate.

    Eagles grades vs Bears: Nick Sirianni, entire defense culpable in blowout loss

    “We just got to get on the same page,” he said.

    Linebacker Zack Baun had a similar takeaway. The Eagles, he said, did a much better job stopping the run than they did the last time they played the Bears. Chicago averaged 3.7 yards per carry compared to 6.0 last season. But stopping the run, Baun said, came with a price.

    “When you do a good job of stopping the run, you bring your safeties down and it’s harder to read run-pass for the safeties and linebackers, and they got us on those play actions,” he said.

    “As a defense, it just comes down to being on the same page.”

    It is a worrying issue for a defense that entered 2026 with high expectations based in part on its continuity. Core players have been playing in Fangio’s system for more than two seasons. But communication issues and poor tackling have been a big part of a sloppy start.

    Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III scores after the Eagles failed to make a tackle near the goal line.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    DeJean said tackling after last week’s performance in Tennessee was a “big emphasis” for the Eagles in the lead-up to Monday night. The Eagles were credited with nine missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, after missing a dozen last week. Campbell said: “It’s as simple as it is, we got to get the guy down.”

    It is one of the many issues Greenard said the Eagles need to clean up.

    “We just got to wrap, man,” he said. “Wrap up. Fundamentals. I think that’s a want-to thing. Tackling is just a want-to thing. Wrapping up and driving legs. They had a lot of leaky yardage. We make contact and they gain an extra three or four yards. You go from potentially a second-and-8 to second-and-6. Those two yards matter. We know that.”

    Frustrations boil over, Jason Kelce’s affinity for the Birds remains, and more from the Eagles-Bears broadcast

    They also know that it’s early, and they’re still 2-1. But tougher challenges are ahead beginning Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Rams on a short week.

    At one point in the locker room late Monday night, Jalyx Hunt turned to Baun and said: “Group film session when we get back?”

    Baun planned to get a head start.

    “I’m going to watch this tape on the flight back and I know I’m going to see some really, really good things that we did,” he said. “I thought we did a good job on the run. That was a big point of emphasis for us, especially with what happened last year against them.

    “But then there’s other things that I know are going to be really bad. It comes down to communication, whether that’s hearing the call, playing the right thing, knowing the assignment. Those are the things we got to get better at.”

    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum embrace at the end of the game at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill. Chicago won 27-7.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard leave after the Chicago Bears game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts lies on the ground after getting sacked during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bears game.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts watches the last two minutes of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gets up after getting sacked in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws long on fourth down in the fourth quarter, pass incomplete at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon makes a reception in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles fan reacts after a penalty is called in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in the fourth quarter. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum almost loses possession of the ball in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards after intercepting a pass in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after throwing a third-quarter interception.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards celebrates an interception in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is wrapped up by Chicago Bears safety Elijah Hicks in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles fans in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun tackle Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon was tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt goes after Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears fan reacts to the last-minute “tush push” score by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks up after scoring on the tush push with one second left to go.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman celebrates an interception in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell stops Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is defended by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs by Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman in the second quarter, just short of a touchdown.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell breaks up a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift gets stopped by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (left) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo (right) in the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Incomplete pass to Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze in the second quarter, defended by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III scores as the Philadelphia Eagles defense tries to stop him during the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell forces Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III out of bounds in the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift runs with the ball against Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum hands off to Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
  • Eagles vs. Bears: Predictions, odds, injury updates, and why people are talking about kickoffs again

    Eagles vs. Bears: Predictions, odds, injury updates, and why people are talking about kickoffs again

    Once again, the way the Eagles interpret a rule and how they use it to their advantage, is under the microscope.

    NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Friday that special teams coordinators were meeting Friday to clarify a rule “that some teams are believed to have misunderstood — or found a loophole in — through the first two weeks of the season.”

    Did you notice Braden Mann on the field holding for Jake Elliott on kickoffs in Week 2? It was really hot in Nashville, but it wasn’t windy. Special teams coordinator Michael Clay watches every snap of special teams play on Monday mornings. He noticed the Atlanta Falcons using a holder in Week 1 and decided to have the Eagles work on it.

    Mann angled the ball a certain way, and Elliott liked the way it looked in practice enough to use it in the game. The Eagles allowed 30.8 yards per kick return on five attempts in Week 1 and 25.3 on four returns in Week 2.

    “I’m sure it’s different for every kicker, but just the way I was able to make the ball move in the air, I liked what I was able to accomplish with that,” Elliott said Friday.

    Now, apparently, there’s an effort to make sure the 12th player on the field acting as the holder puts the ball on a tee and not the ground.

    Elliott said he didn’t think adding a tee to the equation would impact Mann’s ability to angle the ball for him to kick.

    “There’s a lot of attention surrounding it because there are nuances,” Elliott said. “And because they’re changing the kickoff rules so much, we’re obviously all trying to figure out what the best way to manipulate that is and kind of trying to figure out the best way to attack that and what gives us an advantage.”

    The Eagles have some experience with this kind of thing (see Push, Tush).

    Nick Sirianni was diplomatic when asked about it Saturday. “Everything we’re doing is within the rules of the game, and we’ll continue to do the things that we need to do that give us the best chance to win each and every game,” he said.

    — @Jeff_Neiburg

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    How to watch Eagles vs. Bears

    The Eagles and Bears kick off 8:15 p.m. Philadelphia time. The game will air on ESPN and 6abc. The normal Monday Night Football crew will call the game. That means the polarizing Joe Buck on play-by-play with Troy Aikman as the analyst and Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge doing the sideline reporting.

    Aikman is continuing to call games while his future remains unclear. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand talked about that on his latest sports media podcast.

    Of course, the pomp and circumstance of MNF means viewers will have their fix of Jason Kelce, Pat McAfee et al. during the pregame and halftime shows.

    Like the old-school experience of listening on the radio or syncing up your television with the hometown call? Merrill Reese and Mike Quick will have you covered there on 94 WIP as usual.

    Looking to watch the game somewhere in the city with fellow Eagles fans? Here’s our latest list of places to watch.

    Final injury report

    Jonathan Greenard is questionable for Monday’s game.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Will Jonathan Greenard make his Eagles debut? It’s possible.

    The edge rusher was listed as a full participant Saturday for the first time since joining the team and said he was optimistic. If he plays, he’ll likely be on a snap count.

    Eagles

    Out

    • TE Dallas Goedert, knee
    • WR Hollywood Brown, ankle
    • OL Fred Johnson, knee

    Questionable

    • EDGE Jonathan Greenard, pectoral

    Bears

    Out

    • QB Caleb Williams, hamstring
    • LB Noah Sewell, Achilles
    • DL Shemar Turner, knee

    Questionable

    • QB Tyson Bagent, concussion

    Storylines to watch

    Caleb Williams’ status, who might play quarterback in his absence, and how the Eagles will prepare have been major storylines this week.Nam Y. Huh

    Who plays quarterback for the Bears? That was the biggest storyline of the week, and the picture got a bit clearer on Saturday, when the Bears ruled out Caleb Williams and made Tyson Bagent questionable.

    All signs pointed toward third-string quarterback Case Keenum getting the call, but Bagent, who was concussed in his brief relief of Williams last week, was upgraded to a full participant Saturday and may play Monday.

    Surely Vic Fangio has been preparing all week as if Williams wouldn’t play. And the Eagles have plenty to worry about in their own building, too, after narrowly escaping Weeks 1 and 2 with victories.

    They got some good injury news themselves when Saquon Barkley (stinger) progressed to a full participant Friday and said he was “good to go” for Monday night’s game.

    Speaking of Eagles injuries, life without Dallas Goedert (sprained MCL) begins this week. The Eagles brought back Zach Ertz, who was “nervous” for his first practice on Thursday and could provide the team with an immediate impact on Monday if he plays. That decision, he said Saturday, is up to the coaches.

    Our Eagles Week 3 preview show

    What can we expect from Zach Ertz? What’s unexpected about the way the Eagles got to 2-0? Those answers and more are in this week’s Gameday Central pregame show.

    Eagles-Bears predictions

    Jeff McLane: Eagles 27, Bears 24

    Jeff Neiburg: Eagles 24, Bears 11

    Olivia Reiner: Eagles 24, Bears 17

    Ryan Novozinsky: Eagles 28, Bears 3

    Check out the reasoning behind our picks and McLane’s keys to the game. As for the rest of the country, here’s a look at the national media predictions for Monday.

    One number to know

    The Eagles have struggled on first and second downs so far this season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    32nd

    That’s where the Eagles rank in success rate on first and second downs, according to Sportradar. As a reminder, there are 32 NFL teams.

    The Eagles average a league-worst 2.6 yards per play on first down. The Dolphins rank 31st at 3.2 yards. That is not the company you want to keep.

    The Eagles have survived, however, because they have been one of the best teams in the NFL on third and fourth downs.

    In fact, according to SumerSports, the Eagles have the largest difference in success rates between early downs and late downs to start a season since 2022.

    “We’re really close on a lot of our things on first and second down,” offensive coordinator Sean Mannion said Wednesday.

    We’ll see how close on Monday night.

    There are other numbers worth paying attention to, too.

    Latest Week 3 odds

    The point spread was up to 4½ points in the Eagles’ favor earlier in the week, but FanDuel and DraftKings had them as 3½-point favorites as of Saturday afternoon. The over/under at both books was 42½.

    Given the quarterback situation, oddsmakers aren’t expecting Bears pass catchers to make a big impact vs. the Eagles.

    What we’re saying about the Eagles

    Here’s what our columnists are saying this week, starting with Mike Sielski, who wrote about the intriguing coaching matchup between Nick Sirianni and Ben Johnson.

    Sielski: “Sirianni-Johnson might be the most compelling comparison and matchup Monday night. There are no two more polarizing coaches in the NFL for their demeanors and personalities, and neither appears in any hurry to apologize for who he is.” Read more.

    David Murphy: “With teams increasingly relying on nickel and three-safety defensive packages, and with defensive coordinators prioritizing versatility, tight end is a position that can decide which team has the matchup advantage on any given play. The question isn’t how close Ertz is to the player he was. It’s how close can he be to the players the Eagles suddenly need.” Read more.

    Marcus Hayes: “Since 2021, the year he was drafted just ahead of DeVonta Smith, Ja’Marr Chase has been targeted at least 10 times in 38 games. Justin Jefferson has been targeted at least 10 times in 39 games. CeeDee Lamb, 37. … Smith: 16. … The Eagles must feed Smith the way the Bengals feed Chase, the way the Vikings feed Jefferson, and the way the Cowboys feed Lamb.” Read more.

    What the Bears are saying

    Case Keenum could see his first regular-season action with the Bears on Monday night. He hasn’t started a regular-season game since 2023.George Walker IV

    Imagine you’re Case Keenum. You haven’t started a game since 2023. You’re the third-string quarterback behind Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent. You’re in a fun offense with a fun coach on an ascending team. You’re 38, live in a great city, and there’s no pressure.

    Then imagine being Keenum this week, potentially thrown into the fire for a key early-season national television game, and the opposing defense has Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, and others.

    “Up front, those are some of the best two guys up front that are playing the game right now,” Keenum said Wednesday. “I think all over the board you look at playmakers that they have on the defense. So we got our work cut out for us.”

    Keenum, however, can take some solace in knowing that he’s 3-0 against Vic Fangio’s defenses.

    That’s if he ends up playing. With Bagent listed as questionable, it remains possible the No. 2 gets the nod.

    Keenum on facing Fangio: “They play tricks on your eyes. They do a really good job pre- and post-snap, and there’s not a lot of just tells to tell you what coverage it’s going to be in beforehand. So you have to be on your P’s and Q’s because they’ll mix up the pressure and simulate some pressure.”

    Read more about what the Bears are saying heading into Monday’s game.

    What the national media is saying

    Jalen Hurts has carried the Eagles over the first few weeks, and others are noticing.

    “My overall expectations for the Eagles’ offense will remain tempered until I see the line and the running game return to form,” Ben Solak wrote for ESPN, “but if Hurts can use his arm to guide them to wins through September and into October, they’ll have time to iron out their rushing issues.”

    Meanwhile, all Nick Sirianni does is win.

    He is now the fifth coach in NFL history — with a minimum of 50 games coached — to hold a career winning percentage of .700 or higher, joining Guy Chamberlin (.784, 1922 to 1927), John Madden (.759, 1969 to 1978), Vince Lombardi (.738, 1959 to 1967 and ’69), and George Allen (.712, 1966 to 1977).

    The Athletic’s Mike Silver on Sirianni: “It’s time for some Eagles fans — and Nick Sirianni haters everywhere — to give up on the fiction that he’s a glorified gym teacher whose success is solely due to a talented roster.”

    What else we’re reading and watching

    Thanks for reading. The weekly Eagles newsletter will be back on Saturday next week ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game vs. the visiting Los Angeles Rams.