Tag: sports-trending

The Eagles don’t have it easy after their first loss of the season. Up next, they’ll face the Los Angeles Rams, whose 1-2 record isn’t reflective of their strength.

The Birds’ first loss came in prime time against the Bears on Monday Night Football, during which the offense put up just seven points. The Rams endured a Denver Broncos’ comeback on Sunday night for their second loss of the 2026 season.

The Eagles, however, will be without No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith, while the Rams are getting a star wideout back in Puka Nacua.

Let’s take a look at who the media is picking:

Inquirer predictions

The Inquirer’s beat reporters had full faith in the Eagles last week, but after their loss to the Bears, our writers don’t have much confidence in the Birds anymore.

Jeff Neiburg has the Rams winning, 30-20, as his concerns about the defense have grown following the Eagles’ first loss of the year.

Ryan Novozinsky, meanwhile, is picking Los Angeles because of the Eagles’ wide receiver situation. With Smith unlikely to play, things look a bit bleak for the Birds’ passing game.

National media predictions

NFL.com: The Rams edged out the Eagles for the majority this week by the NFL.com analysts. Brooke Cersosimo and Gennaro Filice are the two picking the Birds; Filice cited Rams coach Sean McVay’s poor record all-time against them as a reason for his decision.

ESPN.com: All of ESPN’s experts picked the Rams over the Eagles.

The Athletic: Chad Graff is the lone reporter picking the Eagles over the Rams, with his six colleagues backing Los Angeles on the road.

CBS Sports: This seven-person panel had one more Eagles selection than the Athletic’s, with Pete Prisco and Jamey Eisenberg picking the Birds to win at home.

USA Today: All six reporters picked Los Angeles to win. “Both teams have reason to be irritated. I give Los Angeles the edge, helped by an extra day of rest and Matthew Stafford’s ability to attack a Philadelphia defense that gave [Case] Keenum room to operate,” Adam Kaufman wrote.

Sports Illustrated: Senior editor Mitch Goldich is the only expert backing the Eagles.

Bleacher Report: Once again, only one expert has picked the Eagles. Brent Sobleski wrote, “Don’t count these Eagles out. Despite Philadelphia looking like the bad version from last season while playing the Case Keenum-led Bears, Nick Sirianni’s group knows how to respond. The team has gone through stretches of stagnation before and tended to bounce back.”

Pro Football Talk: Mike Florio has the Rams winning, 30-20. “Last year, a wild play on a game-winning field-goal attempt by the Rams gave the Eagles a win. This year, the Rams will make sure to not let it be that close,” he wrote.

Sporting News: Bill Bender also has Los Angeles taking home a win, 28-24.

Local media predictions

Philly Voice: Jimmy Kempski picked the visiting team, writing that “the Eagles have looked sloppy, disorganized, and they have surprisingly been beaten in the trenches through the first three weeks of the season.”

Bleeding Green Nation: The staff is split on who’s winning Sunday, with three writers taking the Eagles and the other three picking the Rams.

Delaware Online: Out of the 11 reporters making picks, eight backed the Rams.

Turf Show Times: Steven Ridings has Los Angeles winning a close one.

After practice on Friday, Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata had some wishes to grant.

After having a catch with the kids in attendance via the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he arranged them into a circle to play a quick game called claps, which he typically plays with other members of the offensive line. Mailata explained the rules: toss the ball to anyone in the circle, but you have to clap before you catch it.

Eventually, each player was eliminated until Mailata was the last one standing — that is until Jordan Davis entered the game, dethroning Mailata in front of everyone.

“He beat me at my own game,” Mailata said.

This was just one part of an already busy day for Dylan Hynum, 11; Sam Sweeten, 18; Evan Weiner, 16; Abdul-Sami Amedu, 19; Jemma Kearney, 15; and Dylan Parsons, 16.

Their schedule featured a $200 shopping spree at Mitchell & Ness, a tour of Lincoln Financial Field, and a meet-and-greet with Eagles players. They also got to sign a one-day contract with the team with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman in attendance.

One-day contract

Dylan Hynum approached the podium where Roseman stood. There was a football card with Hynum’s photo and a one-day contract to join the team on the desk.

Hynum signed the contract and took his first few photos as an official player.

“See you out there on Sunday,” Roseman said. “Whatever you need for good luck, bring it.”

Hynum then returned to the conference room with the rest of his new teammates, marveling at the Dunkin’ goodie bags that greeted them when they first entered the room. The bags included bucket hats, glasses, socks, tumblers, koozies, and Boston cream doughnuts with their faces stamped across the top.

But the fun didn’t stop there. After signing their contracts, the kids made their way toward the front entrance of the Jefferson Health Training Complex, where they signed their very first autographs.

Tour of Lincoln Financial Field

The festivities continued at Lincoln Financial Field, where the families were led through a tour around the stadium as the crew prepared for a home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (1 p.m., Fox29).

They were taken to several areas, including the news conference room where Amedu recreated Jalen Hurts’ famous line, “So that’s what y’all wanted to see, huh?”

Then they were brought into the locker room, where they were greeted by Swoop and they found custom Eagles jerseys with their names on the back hanging from their lockers.

The kids were taken onto the field in style with their new gear as they practiced their very own tunnel walk. Lights flashed, music played, and they made their way onto the field just as the Eagles would on game day.

Meeting the players

“You’re my favorite player of all time, I swear to you,” Weiner said. “I’m not even joking.”

After posing for a photo with Jalen Hurts, Weiner kept his composure and used the time to praise the quarterback. But as soon as Hurts left, Weiner let out a big breath and put his hands on his knees.

“Oh my God, that [didn’t] even feel real,” Weiner said.

Once practice wrapped, the team made its way over to the kids, and players posed for photos, signed autographs, and engaged in fun conversations — including video game talk. Davis encouraged the kids to start playing Elden Ring, and Fred Johnson asked whether they knew what an Easy-Bake Oven was.

Parsons, a New Jersey native, only needed a few words to describe the day: “It was amazing.”

Parsons, who was most excited to see Barkley, wore a smile on his face for most of the day. He immediately put on his Dunkin’ sunglasses and tossed on his custom No. 26 jersey on top of his Barkley threads in the locker room.

“This is amazing,” Dylan’s mom, Kari Parsons, said. “It’s really awesome to see everything that everyone has put into them.”

Dylan’s dad, Joshua Parsons, added: “We never expected this at all, and then, out of the blue, we got contacted. And it’s just amazing to see the amount of effort they put into it and everything they do for the kids to make it special for them.”

Attending Sunday’s game

The families also will attend Sunday’s game against the Rams. But first, Fanatics and Make-A-Wish surprised them with a $200 shopping spree at Mitchell & Ness to get them fitted up ahead of game day. Mitchell & Ness is owned by Fanatics, which has partnered with Make-A-Wish since October 2023.

Each kid will receive pregame field passes on Sunday and will have a special experience built around their wish.

Parsons will be a water boy. Weiner will shadow the team photographer. Amedu will get another tour of the stadium. Hynum will participate in the field flag experience. Sweeten, who is interested in being a sports broadcaster, will visit the Merrill Reese and Mike Quick radio booth, the broadcast booth with Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt, and the stadium control booth. Kearney will be on the field for pregame activities.