Anthony Edwards came for new 76ers stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in a roast-style commercial released Thursday afternoon.
In the video promoting his new sneakers with Adidas, the Anthony Edwards 3, the Minnesota Timberwolves star dunked on James’ decision to play for the Sixers.
“You see where big dog ended up? He was going to join me in Minnesota, but I guess his knees couldn’t handle the cold weather,” Edwards said jokingly.
The comedy continued in the commercial, dubbed “Minn-Atlanta-Sota,” a homage to Edwards’ hometown. Edwards also came for their haircuts — or lack thereof.
“We know why he really made that decision,” Edwards said. “Philly has some of the best barbers in the world. Between him and ol’ boy from Boston, they’re going to have a whole lot of enhancements going on in the locker room.”
Welcome to Minnatlantasota. The Cold Blooded Anthony Edwards 3 drops tomorrow.
Those “enhancements” Edwards is referring to? Hair spray paint. Both basketball stars have been the butt of jokes about their hairlines.
Brown caught flak last season for hair product mishaps after the product appeared to rub off onto opponents’ jerseys during games. James, 41, is no stranger to jabs at his hairline, having gone viral for his suspiciously thick hair in Space Jam and faced more than a few hair transplant accusations. Basketball fans on social media are now joking about the newly teamed-up duo’s shared struggle.
“If you’re on the court against me, anybody could get it, even your daddy. I don’t care if he’s your assistant coach,” Edwards said in a lighthearted dig at ’Nova Knick Jalen Brunson and his dad, New York Knicks assistant Rick Brunson.
Edwards, who led his team to a 49-33 record and the Western Conference semifinals last season, also said that for his upcoming season, “the cage is open, and the dog is unleashed.” Sixers fans will get to see that up close on Jan. 16, when the Timberwolves visit Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Anthony Edwards will face Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers in January.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
After escaping Week 1 with a 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders, the Eagles (1-0) travel to Nissan Stadium in Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans (0-1). As both teams prepare for the Week 2 matchup, here’s an updated look at game odds and some interesting player prop bets from two of the biggest sportsbooks:
Eagles vs. Titans updated odds
The last time these teams met was in 2022, the Eagles defeated the Ryan Tannehill-led Titans, 35-10, at Lincoln Financial Field. While the Eagles are coming off a win, the Titans are coming off a 23-10 loss to the New York Jets, the team’s sixth straight season opening loss.
Entering the week, the FanDuel and DraftKings sportsbooks have the Eagles listed as 7-point favorites.
Jalen Hurts got it done through the air and on his feet in the Eagles’ Week 1 win over Washington, completing 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards while rushing for 46 yards on seven carries.
Titans starting quarterback Cam Ward completed 19 of 32 passes for 140 yards vs. the Jets. For Sunday’s game, Hurts’ over/under is set at around 206 passing yards, while Ward’s is set at around 188 passing yards.
Tight end Dallas Goedert led the Eagles in receiving with 77 yards on four receptions vs. Washington. Dontayvion Wicks followed with two receptions for 73 yards.
Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate led the Titans with 38 receiving yards in their loss to the Jets.
On Wednesday, former Eagles center Jason Kelce said “You never want to overreact to Week 1.”
Still, Jason’s warning about reading too much into things too soon didn’t stop him and his brother, Travis, from dissecting all of the ins and outs of the NFL’s opening week on the latest episode of their podcast, New Heights.
‘Find the tight end’
He might be biased, but Travis had some advice for quarterbacks, including the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts.
While Jason acknowledged that most people were curious to see what the offense would look like under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, he said his biggest takeaway was how good Hurts looked.
Both brothers credited Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert for helping with what Jason called “awesome plays,” resulting in four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
“This offense I think will fit [Goedert] pretty well,” Jason said. “All this misdirection and stuff, they scheme things up, and it stresses those linebackers.”
He also acknowledged the struggles for the Eagles offensive line, including left guard Landon Dickerson, who was placed on injured reserve with a bone bruise on Monday.
“You could tell he wasn’t redirecting as well as he needs to or has,” Jason said. “And it’s a shame because when he is healthy, he is one of the best guards in the league. So he struggled a little bit in the game, and then I think Cam Jurgens had a couple holding calls. I don’t think he played as bad as I think what Twitter maybe seemed to say.”
Neither Kelce thinks there’s reason to worry just yet as the Eagles settle into this season and the new offense with a 1-0 record, which Travis said it “doesn’t get much better” than.
During a dominant 31-10 Monday Night Football win over the Denver Broncos, Travis became second all-time in receiving yards for a tight end. He currently has 13,073 career yards and passed Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten (13,046) with a 59-yard catch in the third quarter.
But don’t get it twisted. Travis was adamant that it wasn’t a record, despite his brother’s protests that he “broke Jason Witten’s record.” Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez remains the all-time leader with 15,127 career receiving yards.
Just being in conversations with players like Gonzalez, Witten, and other tight end stars from his childhood is a big deal for Travis.
“To be in the same talks as these guys at this point in my career, Jason [Witten], it’s an absolute honor to be in the same conversation as you,” Travis said. “I’ll have to just play another five years to catch Tony.”
Travis also gave credit to the rest of the Chiefs, including Patrick Mahomes, who returned from knee surgeryi and “did what he needed to do,” and running back Kenneth Walker III who, in his first game with the Chiefs, had 173 rushing yards on 23 carries, including a 60-yard touchdown. Walker, the Super Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks last season, added a receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“You can’t say enough about what Kenneth Walker is and what he’s going to be for this, this team and this organization and this city,” Travis said. “He’s one of those Kansas City guys, and you guys in Kansas City that don’t know him yet, to the core of who that guy is. He’s, he’s an A1 person.”
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce climbed the all-time leaderboard for tight end receiving yards on Monday.Charlie Riedel
Down to a science?
The brothers discussed how other teams fared during Week 1. They took a look at how offenses seem to be trending upward with 10 teams scoring 30 or more points on Sunday, which is more than any Week 1 since the stat first started being recorded.
On the topic of firsts, they reviewed the first NFL Australia game, which the San Francisco 49ers won, 27-7, over the Los Angeles Rams.
The brothers focused on the teams’ travel. The Rams made the 15-hour flight one day before the game; the 49ers flew out a week in advance. Jason grew impassioned while not giving these studies much weight.
“To me, all these science, whatever they put in front of the team to sell you on the reason they’re doing it is you can find the science to say whatever … you want to do,” Jason said. “You can pick and pull. They made a whole study out of saying chocolate’s healthy for you because it has, like, antioxidants in it.”
The Eagles are traveling to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans this weekend. If it’s like their 2018 meeting, many Birds fans are expected to follow.
Coming off their team’s first Super Bowl win, Philadelphia fans took over Nashville — and the party started before they arrived. In a viral moment, a Southwest Airlines attendant shared on social media that 175 Eagles fans aboard a flight to the Music City finished every drop of alcohol on the plane. The attendant, Rachel Thomas, added that she was forced to listen to the Eagles fight song “35 times.”
Nissan Stadium was not quite converted to an Eagles home game then, but the stadium’s stands did boast huge clusters of green among the crowd. The Eagles lost in overtime that day, 26-23. This time around, Philly fans who are making the trip are expecting an Eagles (1-0) win on Sunday. The Titans are projected to be one of the worst teams in football this season and lost to the lowly Jets in Week 1.
Here’s everything Eagles fans need to know before traveling to Nashville …
Where do I find fellow Birds fans?
Eagles fan groups are holding a few meetups and tailgates before Sunday’s game.
The Green Legion, which has hosted road trips for Eagles fans since 2004, is kicking off the weekend with a Saturday Pep Rally aboard the General Jackson Showboat. The sunset cruise along the Cumberland River runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and will feature a three-hour open bar and “light food.”
The group is also hosting a tailgate on Sunday at Nashville Live! from 8 a.m. to noon. The bar, a distant cousin of South Philly’s Stateside Live!, is located across from Nissan Stadium. Tickets are limited for both events and can be found on the Green Legion’s website.
Hoppers Bar Tours, a Nashville-based tour operator, is hosting an “Ultimate Birds Weekend” bar crawl. The crawl will take Eagles fans to six bars over three days beginning Friday. Former Eagles kicker David Akers, the franchise’s all-time leader in total points, is slated to do a “meet and greet” Friday night at Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up. Tickets can be purchased on Hoppers’ website.
Fans hold up a sign for their next opponent, the Giants, after the Eagles beat the Titans 35-10 in Philly in 2022.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Where should I get a cheesesteak?
If you can’t go a weekend without one or want to try Nashville’s take on the Philly staple, Brotherly Love Cheesesteaks boasts what they claim to be an authentic cheesesteak.
Restaurant co-owner John Hoffman, alongside partners Nicholas Nathan and Jeremy Smith, ate their way through Philadelphia’s top cheesesteak spots a few years ago to perfect their cheesesteak. They settled on using thin-sliced steak on their sandwiches. The only issue? Southerners weren’t used to “flats.”
“We found out that Southerners don’t think that’s a cheesesteak,” Hoffman told The Inquirer. “But we now are chopping it, and people are really enjoying it. I think we’re up there as maybe best cheesesteak in Nashville, which is awesome.”
Chase Utley and Vince Papale jerseys are among the Philly sports memorabilia hanging on the walls in Brotherly Love Cheesesteaks in Nashville, Tenn.Courtesy of Brothery Love Cheesesteaks
“We’re getting our rolls shipped down from Amoroso’s, using center-cut ribeye, using Whiz, Cooper Sharp,” he added. “You know, we’re trying to keep it as authentic as humanly possible.”
The restaurant, which has a significant amount of Philadelphia sports memorabilia, has hosted watch parties for every Eagles game since opening in 2024. Hoffman, a native of Harrisburg, will be cheering on the Eagles at Nissan Stadium.
Where can I dance?
There are plenty of places to hear songs that are not “Fly Eagles Fly” this weekend.
Nashville is known for its country music. Most “honky-tonks” on Lower Broadway, the city’s main strip of bars, feature live music without a cover fee. Popular music venues in the district include Robert’s Western World and Tootsies Orchid Lounge. There are also a slew of venues owned and named after country music stars.
If you are interested learning to line dance, consider checking out Bootleggers Inn on Broadway, a Prohibition-era bar. The bar offers lessons every day courtesy of Stompin Grounds, a line dancing company. You can book lessons at Bootleggers on Stompin Ground’s website.
Where can I celebrate Dolly Parton?
Most Eagles fans will be flying into Nashville International Airport — which will soon carry a different name.
Last week, a 6-0 vote by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority established that the airport will be renamed after Tennessee native Dolly Parton. The country music legend died at 80 last month after a short battle with cancer.
A view of the Nashville International Airport, which will be named after Dolly Parton.George Walker IV
Dollywood, Parton’s amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., is about a three-hour drive from Nashville. However, Birds fans can still pay their respects to the “9 to 5” singer without making the pilgrimage. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located in downtown Nashville, is hosting a special exhibition for Parton through October, titled Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker. The exhibitfeatures some of Parton’s signature rhinestone dresses and other memorabilia from her career.
If museums are not your speed, you can dine at White Limozeen — a rooftop restaurant in Midtown Nashville named after Parton’s 1989 album. White Limozeen features pink decor, a rooftop pool, and a 9-foot-tall statue of Parton’s head made of chicken wire. The restaurant is almost as extravagant as Parton, herself.
The former franchise quarterback called the offense “pedestrian” during Tuesday’s debut of Eagles Collective and outlined how new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion can better tailor the unit to quarterback Jalen Hurts’ strengths.
McNabb joined The Athletic’s Zach Berman and digital creator Thomas Mott for the first episode of Hog Media Agency’s weekly roundtable show. The trio discussed Hurts’ relationship with Mannion, the Eagles’ decision to rest their starters during the preseason, and what to expect Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
The Birds scored 24 points in their season-opening win, but the offense struggled to sustain drives while playing behind the sticks. The Eagles averaged 10 yards to go on second down, and an injured Landon Dickerson struggled to protect Hurts. Dickerson was officially placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
“If it wasn’t for some of those downfield throws that Jalen Hurts made, then the crowd would have started to get restless,” McNabb said. “This offense, to me, was not exciting.”
Hurts helped compensate for the Eagles’ blocking problems by completing 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns while adding 46 rushing yards. McNabb cautioned against treating all of Hurts’ scrambles as successful offensive plays, however, because several followed a protection breakdown.
“A lot of those plays that Jalen was making with his legs were due to lack of blocking,” McNabb said. “There were great opportunities for Saquon [Barkley] to be able to create more explosive plays in the run game if our big guys up front could cover up a body.”
Donovan McNabb says many of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ run plays followed breakdowns in blocking.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
McNabb wants Mannion to incorporate more quick passes and running-back screens, particularly when defenses begin dropping deeper to prevent explosive plays. He believes those adjustments could create more open-field opportunities for Barkley while easing the pressure on Hurts and the offensive line.
“When you utilize your quick game and utilize your intermediate passing game, and then you continue to run the football, defenses have to figure out how they’re going to attack you,” McNabb said. “That screen game to the halfback becomes major.”
But McNabb believes Mannion’s larger responsibility is constructing an offense around Hurts rather than asking the quarterback to conform entirely to a new system. When Berman asked how much an offense should be tailored to its franchise quarterback, McNabb proposed a 70-30 split.
“You build your schemes around your athletes,” McNabb said. “When you have a franchise guy, you build that offense around his ability and his strengths. What you do is try to enhance his weaknesses by giving him that confidence.”
Video: unCovering the Birds: Shades of 2022 Jalen Hurts?
That responsibility is especially important because Mannion is Hurts’ latest in a long line of play-callers. McNabb said the turnover at offensive coordinator has made it difficult for Hurts to develop lasting comfort within one system.
“I feel bad for Jalen, to be honest with you, because there’s no comfort level,” McNabb said. “You can’t get comfortable with an offense when you’re hiring and firing a new coordinator.”
McNabb also attributed some of the uneven performance to the organization’s decision to rest its starters throughout the preseason. The Eagles instead relied on joint practices to prepare their first-team players for the regular season, an approach Berman said the organization believes provides competitive repetitions with less injury risk.
McNabb was unconvinced.
“You’ve got to go through game situations,” McNabb said. “You [didn’t] sign up for flag football. This ain’t seven-on-seven. This ain’t touch.”
Despite his concerns, McNabb expects the offense to improve Sunday against Tennessee. He predicted Barkley would rush for 105-110 yards, and the Eagles would finish with approximately 400 yards of total offense, including 185 on the ground.
“I think this is when we start to find ways to get the ball in our athletes’ hands with the quick game, quick and intermediate game,” McNabb said. “We’ll still see things that we could change and clean up, but it won’t be as bad as last week.”
McNabb predicted a 28-10 Eagles victory, while Berman picked Philadelphia to win, 24-10, and Mott forecast a 31-17 triumph.
Those varied opinions are reflected in the NFL power rankings ahead of Week 2 when the Eagles take on the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. Sunday in Nashville. Here’s where the Eagles stand in the power rankings of several national media outlets.
ESPN: Sixth
The Eagles moved down from fifth to sixth in ESPN’s power rankings.
ESPN’s Tim McManus credited Dontayvion Wicks for the role he played with two catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
“His 64-yard catch-and-run in the first half marked the longest reception of his career, providing a much-needed spark to the Eagles’ new-look offense,” McManus wrote.
Video: unCovering the Birds: Shades of 2022 Jalen Hurts?
CBS Sports: Seventh
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports moved the Eagles up six spots from 13.
“It wasn’t pretty against the Commanders, but there were good signs,” Prisco wrote. “Saquon Barkley averaged 5.5 per rush and Jalen Hurts threw three touchdown passes.”
Hurts’ three touchdown passes matched a career high in a season opener and helped move the Eagles up one spot..
“The final box score isn’t going to instill a ton of faith that the Eagles’ offense has suddenly morphed back into one of the league’s best,” Chad Graff and Josh Kendall wrote. “But Hurts made enough big plays when his team needed him, connecting on a deep ball and improvising with his legs on a third-and-18 conversion to offer hope as Philadelphia settles into this new offensive scheme under Sean Mannion.”
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after winning the season opening game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates a touchdown with Keyshawn James-Newby (center) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo celebrates a two-point conversion stop late during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles stop the two point conversion attempt during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert scores a fourth quarter touchdown past Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches the football for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts first down run during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs hugs the goalpost after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. Unsportsmanlike penalty was called pushing the Commanders back.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs scores in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball for a big first down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gains fourteen yards on a run in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles place kicker Jake Elliott kicks a third quarter field goad during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stops Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sacked in the third quarter by Washington Commanders linebacker Odafe Oweh at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles on a third down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni racts during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes to tight end Dallas Goedert late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter celebrates a blocked extra point late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hands off to Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after a second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after his second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith tries to block Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo goes after Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks celebrates a touchdown with Darius Cooper (left) and DeVonta Smith (right) during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles linebacker Zack Baun celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stops Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt for a loss, Washington punts on the drive, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley with a big run in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun sandwich Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles running back Saquon Barkley gains 42 yards during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates second quarter touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert spikes the ball after a touchdown in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches a touchdown against Commanders safety Quan Martin during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.nYong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans cheer in the first quarter of the season opener against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Makai Lemon catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley misses a pass in the first quarter, defended by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during a moment of silence before the start of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs out of the tunnel at the season opener against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs out of the tunnel during player introductions before the season opening game against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerGreg Gorski, of Elkins Park, poses for a portrait while tailgating before the Eagles play the Commanders in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Sports Illustrated: 12th
For Conor Orr at Sports Illustrated, Sunday’s game exposed more issues in the offense, and he moved the Eagles down one spot from 11. What Orr called “The Sean Mannion experience” included the Eagles punting on their first two drives of the game, and their first three drives in the second half. But for Orr, the biggest problem was the run game.
“Jalen Hurts was able to use his legs and smooth out the choppiness but the run game was of utmost concern: most of Saquon Barkley’s yards came after first contact and most came on one play. He was hit behind the line at a pretty high rate,” Orr wrote.
The Eagles took a decent hit in the NFL.com rankings, moving from fifth to 11th. While many outlets focused on Mannion’s offense, Nick Shook gave credit to Vic Fangio’s defense.
“The Eagles didn’t start the season like a well-oiled machine, but they were able to rely on their defense for a good portion of Sunday’s opener and received some timely contributions from Jalen Hurts and the offense to outlast the Commanders,“ Shook wrote. ”Philadelphia can be proud of starting 1-0, but the Eagles likely understand they’ll need to be better over the long haul to achieve their goals.”
Bleacher Report: Seventh
While most were complimentary of Hurts’ performance on Sunday, the B/R NFL staff wasn’t letting the quarterback off the hook that easily for some of the “rust” he and other starters might have been showing in their first game.
“Jalen Hurts threw three touchdown passes but completed just 56% of his passes. The offense averaged 6 yards per play but converted less than half their third-down tries. The Philly pass rush was all but invisible, recording just one sack and two QB hits,” the staff wrote. “The Eagles have their sights set on SoFi Stadium and Super Bowl LXI, and if they are going to make a deep playoff run they need to tighten things up on both sides on the ball.”
Boston Celtics fans took to social media expressing their disappointment in the offseason trade of Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George and draft picks in early July.
The reaction for Celtics fans largely centered on the Celtics moving on from Brown, who had been one of the organization’s top players and a key part of their NBA championship in 2023-24. He established himself as one of Boston’s most dependable players and is coming off a season in which he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
During his introductory news conference on Tuesday, George said the immediate response from Celtics fans was “fair.”
“Listen, I understand the circumstances. I understand how huge JB was, not only for the organization, but here in the city,” George said. “So I didn’t take it [personally]. To be honest, they should have a relationship, emotionally, to that trade. But my job here is to kind of come into a great opportunity for me.”
Paul George on Celtics Fans initial reaction to being involved in Jaylen Brown trade:
“No personal feelings towards the initial you know how it received here in Boston. To be honest it's fair…Hopefully with how we start this year they understand this is a new. You know a new… pic.twitter.com/ZUDfnbkL4L
George is a nine-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA selection, and former MVP contender who has spent 16 seasons in the NBA. However he suffered multiple injuries that limited him to just 78 games in the past two seasons.
“Obviously, the last two years have been rough, just with injuries,” said George, who spent 2024-25 and 2025-26 with the Sixers. “But for myself, personally, I feel great again. I feel like I’ve turned that corner of dealing with injuries and now kind of reestablishing myself from a physical standpoint again. And with that, I can carry it over to the court.”
As the Flyers prepare to take to the ice again, Gritty made a typically chaotic appearance Tuesday via the team’s social media to announce the theme nights and promotional schedule for the 2026-27 season.
The theme nights include some returning favorites, like the Peanuts’ Halloween Spooktacular (Oct. 27 vs. Columbus), as well as departures — the Flyers are forgoing Star Wars Night this season. The team also announced dates for giveaways and deal days, starting with a T-shirt for the season opener on Sept. 30 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Fans can expect a goalie-themed oven mitt (Nov. 15 vs. Edmonton), a Gritty blanket (Feb. 24 vs. Buffalo), and dollar dog nights (Oct. 19 vs. Colorado and March 2 vs. Vegas) as well as a $1 pretzel game (Oct. 13 vs. Seattle).
Dec. 11 against the Calgary Flames is the Marvel superhero game, and the holiday spirit begins Dec. 21 with the holiday spectacular against Columbus. The first 10,000 fans receive a Flyers ugly sweater beanie.
The new year will bring Kids Day on Jan. 30, against the Winnipeg Jets and a “Business Person Special” for the rare weekday matinee on Feb. 22 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Flyers fans can’t expect the giveaways to continue across a number of themed nights this season.Tim Hawk / For The Inquirer
As spring approaches, the PECO Go Green Game is March 16, against the Detroit Red Wings, with a Flyers corduroy hat giveaway, and the season’s promos wrap up with a Keystone Rivalry game on March 30 against Pittsburgh, featuring a Flyers sweatshirt giveaway.
The Flyers also will have several community games. The first is the Flyers Carnival Game, which will commemorate the 50th season of the Flyers Charity Carnival, on Oct. 17, against the Ottawa Senators. The game will feature specialty pucks and tickets to the annual Flyers Charities Carnival will be for sale. Other nights include Military Appreciation Night (Nov. 17 vs. Buffalo), Hockey Fights Cancer Night (Nov. 28 vs. New York Islanders), the Ed Snider Legacy Game (Jan. 7 vs. Toronto), and Pride Night (Jan. 21 vs. Nashville).
The Eagles escaped Week 1 with a 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. Following the game, most of the chatter has centered around Jalen Hurts’ performance, a lackluster showing from the offensive line, and concern for Landon Dickerson.
Here’s everything they’re saying about the Birds following the season opener …
‘He played elite’
Heading into the season, concerns surrounding Jalen Hurts and yet another offensive coordinator change was apparent. With the hiring of Sean Mannion, the veteran quarterback has now had five different offensive coordinators in five years. But following Sunday’s victory, some of those concerns have been addressed.
The Super Bowl champion got it done through the air and on the ground, completing 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He also scrambled for 48 yards.
Nick Foles, who made a strong debut as a studio analyst during Netflix’s broadcast of the 49ers-Rams game this week, said Jalen Hurts “was elite” in the Eagles’ win over the Commanders. Netflix
“How [Hurts] played today, he played elite,” said former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on The SZN with Nick & Evan. “Because what I saw from him, you’re going to miss throws. You’re going to, like, not be perfect. But I saw him deliver the ball downfield with authority. And then like a lot of his, all his touchdowns were on time and rhythm. He had great throws across the middle.
“What he did today was fantastic. With Jalen Hurts, [if he] isn’t out there, you’re not winning that game. He willed them the win. Defense played great, made some great plays. But everyone in Philadelphia, I know they know this, but Jalen Hurts is a great quarterback and he’s approaching that elite category.”
Nick Foles grades Jalen Hurts' Week 1 performance against the Commanders 🧐
And Foles wasn’t the only former Eagles player praising the quarterback for his performance.
“Are we impressed?” said former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy on The Speakeasy podcast. “All you heard all year was ‘Jalen Hurts, he’s fighting for a new deal, what’s he going to do without A.J. [Brown]?’ Well, my friend. He looked good to me. When we couldn’t move the ball, he found ways to get it done with his arm and his legs. That’s a true testament to a real champion, a real winner, and a real QB1.
“The thing with Jalen Hurts is, I love it because he controlled the whole game, right. There were some points where we couldn’t move the ball. And you know, defense, they make plays on the other side, but Jalen showed up and I just wanted to see what they were going to say. What are they going to say though? Because he can throw the ball, or he can run the ball. Whatever y’all like, we give. And he doesn’t throw any picks, so what are we talking about?”
.@CutonDime25: "What's Jalen Hurts gonna do without AJ? WELL!!!! He looked good to me!"
Shady McCoy HYPE about his quarterback's performance in the Eagles' 24-22 win over the Commanders
The Commanders had a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion in the last minute before Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo sniffed out the shovel pass to give the Birds the win. Despite the victory, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky still needs to see a lot of growth from the team.
“They were fine, a lot of splash, not much substance, not much that is sustainable,” Orlovsky said on First Take. “There’s highs, which kind of happened at times last year, but still too many lows for me when it comes to the lack of consistency. I think the pass game was a little bit too horizontal, side-to-side.
Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo (center) made the tackle on the Commanders’ final two-point conversion attempt.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“There will have to be some pretty significant growth over the next month for this offense to play with the likes of San Francisco, what we saw from the Giants last night, the Buccaneers had a good offensive performance outside of turnovers. So, it was solid but nothing that I’m sitting here saying that this is a completely different unit and they’re going to score 30 points a game.”
Hurts joins Johnny Unitas and Roger Staubach as the only quarterbacks in the last 76 years to win each of their first six season openers. But Hurts was sacked three times, leaving many worried about the offensive line.
“The Eagles do not win that game without Jalen Hurts,” said Emmanuel Acho on The Speakeasy podcast. “Jalen Hurts is the sole reason why the Philadelphia Eagles won this game. The Eagles offensive line, not just bad, atrocious. Landon Dickerson played an incredibly forgettable game.”
The former Eagles linebacker also double downed on social media.
“Landon Dickerson has been great for the Eagles in his career, but he has to get healthy or hang it up,” Acho wrote. “Jalen Hurts is running for his life on nearly every pass play because of him.”
Landon Dickerson has been great for the Eagles in his career, but he has to get healthy or hang it up. Jalen Hurts is running for his life on nearly every pass play because of him.
Dickerson underwent knee surgery in August 2025 to repair a torn meniscus. The three-time Pro Bowler appeared slower on the field, leaving many concerned about his future.
“Landon Dickerson is playing like he’s not the Landon Dickerson we see get the contract extension and make Pro Bowls,” said Jon Marks on 97.5 The Fanatic. “He looked like a turnstile yesterday. And I’ve seen that term used a couple times and Andrew and I both said it today. It’s what we saw last year. He just doesn’t look like that’s him. And I don’t think that’s good enough right now.”
Foles isn’t too worried about the offensive line at the moment.
“The offensive line is going to be fine,” Foles said. “They have some amazing veterans there. When it’s a new scheme, it takes time to just acclimate, get comfortable with it. Let something marinate a little bit. You let something marinate overnight, it’s going to have a little more flavor. So, they’re going to be just fine.”
The Eagles played their first game of the 2026 regular season on Sunday and beat the Washington Commanders, 24-22. The win over an NFC East foe extended Nick Sirianni’s Week 1 streak to 6-0.
If you were at Lincoln Financial Field or its parking lots for the opener, here’s what you may have missed from the America’s Game of the Week broadcast on Fox:
Home (Field) Security
The broadcast cut to commercial, but Big Dom was still on the screen. And, no, it wasn’t technical difficulties. Dom DiSandro, the Eagles’ chief security officer, has his own commercial now.
DiSandro became widely known after an altercation with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw in Week 13 of the 2023 season, and since has been everywhere, from the voiceover for a PGA Championship introduction video to Pete Davidson’s Netflix show. And both of those appearances were from this offseason alone.
His latest appearance was in an endorsement for Vivint, a home security and automation company, which came out earlier this week and aired during the first quarter of Sunday’s game.
“At work, I protect the home turf. At home, I used to do everything,” DiSandro said in the commercial. He continued by saying he was “working overtime” to monitor his home, before endorsing Vivant for helping him with his home’s security and energy uses.
“Now, I get to leave work at work,” DiSandro said.
He made another appearance in the actual game, when coach Nick Sirianni shared a few choice words with the referee after quarterback Jalen Hurts was tackled. Big Dom could be seen behind Sirianni making his way toward the conversation, prepared to hold Sirianni back if emotions escalated.
Nick Sirianni had some words for the ref after Jalen Hurts was tackled.
Lucky for DiSandro, he no longer had to worry about keeping an eye on his house at the same time, per his commercial.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after winning the season opening game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates a touchdown with Keyshawn James-Newby (center) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo celebrates a two-point conversion stop late during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles stop the two point conversion attempt during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert scores a fourth quarter touchdown past Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches the football for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts first down run during the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs hugs the goalpost after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. Unsportsmanlike penalty was called pushing the Commanders back.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerWashington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs scores in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball for a big first down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gains fourteen yards on a run in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles place kicker Jake Elliott kicks a third quarter field goad during the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stops Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Darius Rush during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sacked in the third quarter by Washington Commanders linebacker Odafe Oweh at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles on a third down during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni racts during the third quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes to tight end Dallas Goedert late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter celebrates a blocked extra point late during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hands off to Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after a second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni congratulates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks after his second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith tries to block Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo goes after Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks celebrates a touchdown with Darius Cooper (left) and DeVonta Smith (right) during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles linebacker Zack Baun celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stops Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt for a loss, Washington punts on the drive, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley with a big run in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun sandwich Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles running back Saquon Barkley gains 42 yards during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates second quarter touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert spikes the ball after a touchdown in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles tight end Dallas Goedert catches a touchdown against Commanders safety Quan Martin during the second quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.nYong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans cheer in the first quarter of the season opener against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerEagles wide receiver Makai Lemon catches the ball against Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson during the first quarter of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley misses a pass in the first quarter, defended by Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during a moment of silence before the start of the season opener against the Commanders Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs out of the tunnel at the season opener against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs out of the tunnel during player introductions before the season opening game against the Washington Commanders in Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerGreg Gorski, of Elkins Park, poses for a portrait while tailgating before the Eagles play the Commanders in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Brady made strides
With the first Fox broadcast of the season came Tom Brady’s return as a color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt. While many were quick to judge Brady for being stiff or awkward in his first games in 2024, his debut season in the booth, the seven-time Super Bowl champion has proven that if it involves football, he’s knows what he’s talking about.
Brady, who won his first Super Bowl in his third season, has taken strides in his broadcasting to start his third season. While he still has the occasional flub, like saying Hurts dropped the ball into receiver Dontayvion Wicks’ hands like “a butterfly with sore legs,” (and then defending that call on Fox’s postgame show) he’s also brought insight to the broadcasts.
Tom Brady: “He drops the ball in there like a butterfly with sore legs.”
During Sunday’s game, Brady even pulled out his a call sheet from Super Bowl LI, when the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, a Big Game first. With two new play-callers for the Commanders and a new Eagles offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, calling plays in the NFL for the first time, Brady explained the way call sheets work and how they’re to be read, using his own as a visual aid.
Entering the game, it was clear all eyes were going to be on Mannion. Pregame, Erin Andrews touched on how Hurts has had a new play-caller every year for the past 11 years, extending back to his college career. Now, as Andrews said, he’s taking the “Mannion mobile” for a spin.
During the game, the broadcast included a graphic showing every offensive coordinator Hurts has played under, from Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Brian Daboll, and Mike Locksley at Alabama to Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. With the Eagles, Hurts started with head coach Doug Pederson calling the plays, before Shane Steichen took the reins in 2021 and called the plays in 2022. Brian Johnson, Kellen Moore, and Kevin Patullo followed before Mannion’s hire in January.
