/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73563427/2167442490.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,800&ssl=1 "The Linc – Biggest reasons for Eagles optimism in 2024")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73563427/2167442490.0.jpg "The Linc – Biggest reasons for Eagles optimism in 2024")
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Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …
2024 NFC East preview: Big offseason changes will make or break each team’s season – SB Nation
Reason for optimism: Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio. The Eagles roster has been among the very best in the NFL, and could be even better in 2024. However, coaching losses after 2022 led to a disappointing 2023 campaign. Kellen Moore is an excellent offensive mind and his offensive philosophy could fit Jalen Hurts very well. The return of Vic Fangio could help the Eagles regain their dominant defensive identity from the 2022 season. It’s worth noting that Fangio was with the Eagles in an advisory role in 2022, and while they attempted to keep continuity in 2023, Fangio’s disciples have rarely performed as well as he has.
The big news is that Devin White is listed under DID NOT PARTICIPATE. He is not traveling with the team to Brazil and has thus been ruled OUT of Friday’s game. White unexpectedly appeared on Tuesday’s injury report as a limited participant due to an ankle injury. Apparently he got hurt in practice. Based on how he took nearly all of the first first-team linebacker reps in practice this offseason, White was originally expected to be a Week 1 starter. But reports indicate Dean was actually slated to be the guy at MIKE.
2024 NFL playoff field predictions: 20 teams that could make it – ESPN+
There are two scenarios for this team. In the positive one, running back Saquon Barkley excels after a massive situation/line improvement, taking some of the pressure off Jalen Hurts. The young draftees (and the return of defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson) in the secondary solidify a group that aged rapidly during the second half. Vic Fangio is a major upgrade at defensive coordinator, the pass rush comes together and a complete Philadelphia team improves its turnover margin and underlying level of play and wins the NFC East comfortably. The other one doesn’t go quite as well. The two new coordinators fail to make an immediate impact. The oft-injured Barkley only lasts half a season, and the offensive line battles injuries and inconsistent play on the interior all season. Rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean aren’t immediate impact players at cornerback, and the Eagles are behind the curve in running a Fangio defense that seems to have peaked in effectiveness a couple of years ago, leading to lots of long, comfortable drives for opposing offenses. I fall somewhere between the two, but I lean toward the latter scenario as more likely. In this universe, the Eagles finish 9-8 and just miss out on a wild-card berth.
2) How will the Eagles look in 2024? An Eagles offense that ranked seventh in scoring in 2023 is looking to forget the late-season slump that ultimately led to the team’s early playoff exit. The biggest loss from last year’s unit is undoubtedly center Jason Kelce, a team leader who was an integral part of the prolific “Tush Push” (or “Brotherly Shove”) play, but Philadelphia still boasts plenty of talent at the skill positions. At the center of new coordinator Kellen Moore’s offense: Jalen Hurts, who’s looking to rebound after posting the fourth-most giveaways last season (20) and finishing outside the top 10 in passing yards (3,858) and passing touchdowns (23). He’s flanked by the dynamic receiving duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith — one of just three teammate tandems to each post 1,000 receiving yards last season — newly acquired WR Jahan Dotson, tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley. This unit looks good on paper but needs stronger support from a defense that ranked near the bottom in 2023, allowing more than 25 points per game (30th in the league).
It might be the Saquon Barkley Show, but don’t forget about Kenny Gainwell – NBCSP
Saquon, Saquon, Saquon, Saquon, Saquon. Yeah. But don’t forget about Kenny Gainwell either. It’s easy to do. Saquon Barkley has the big contract, three 1,000-yard seasons and two Pro Bowls on his resume. He’s the star in the Eagles’ running back room. But new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s history says Gainwell will play a significant role this year as well. “Hopefully so and I’m pretty sure Kellen will make sure that we get those great opportunities and once they come our way, we are going to take full advantage,” Gainwell said. “He’s basically just giving us a greater opportunity to get everyone involved. He’s doing a great job at that. I’m excited about it. I get a great opportunity. I’m just glad for him to be here.” Gainwell has averaged 6.4 touches per game in his first three years with the Eagles, with a high of 7.1 last year. Among running backs who’ve started fewer than five games since 2021, he’s got the 4th-most touches and 4th-most scrimmage yards.
The Best NFL Bets for Week 1 – The Ringer
Both of these offenses have among the most talent and upside in the NFL. I’m especially interested in seeing whether Jalen Hurts is better able to throw to the middle of the field with DeVonta Smith deployed in the slot more often and since new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore relies on motion more than outgoing offensive coordinator Brian Johnson did. We don’t know how much Green Bay will blitz Hurts in this game, but given how talented both of these offenses are, I expect early fireworks in Sao Paulo. Moore and LaFleur are both good at scripting early plays, and this first-half total should not still be sitting at 24. If the Packers get to +3 across the board, I’ll be betting them against the spread as well. If not, they are an excellent teaser option in what should be a highly competitive Week 1 game. LaFleur is 13-2 against the spread in the first three weeks of the regular season, per Evan Abrams. Verdict: Bet first half over 24 points (-110); bet Green Bay if it gets to +3 (-110).
Brazilian Eagles fans eagerly await the team’s arrival – PE.com
Thousands of Eagles fans will migrate down to Brazil throughout the week for the first-ever NFL game played in South America against the Packers on Friday night. While American fans will bring their energy and excitement, they will be met by Brazilian fans who are just as passionate as them about football. Yes, American football. Ale Branco and Renan Oliveira run the EaglesBrasil Instagram account, a community for Brazilian Eagles fans which has more than 7,000 followers. Oliveira got into football when he was in high school, learning about the history through movies. The more he saw, the more engaged his curiosity became before he picked the Eagles after he saw the passion of the team and its fan base. Branco fell in love with the Eagles after playing with them on NFL 2K2 – he went with the Eagles first because of his love for Sixers legend Allen Iverson. The first game he ever watched was the Eagles NFC Championship victory over the Falcons in 2004.
Darius Slay apologizes for comments about Brazil ahead of Eagles game in São Paulo – Inquirer
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay apologized on social media Tuesday night for comments he made about the team’s season-opening trip to Brazil last week on his podcast. “I want to apologize to anyone I offended, that wasn’t my intention,” Slay wrote on X on the eve of the team’s 10-hour flight from Philadelphia to São Paulo, where the Eagles open their 2024 season vs. the Green Bay Packers on Friday night.
The Birds are coming back for a third — and final — holiday album. This one is called “A Philly Special Christmas Party,” and the guests include Philadelphia’s own Boyz II Men, as well as Travis Kelce. Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is once again teaming up with Eagles’ offensive linemen Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. The album will be available on all digital platforms on Black Friday: November 29.
As the 2024 season begins, it’s once again business as usual in Green Bay. Super Bowl expectations remain and you’d have no idea the team traded away arguably the best quarterback in franchise history around a year and a half ago. That’s how meteoric Love’s rise has been. Now he has to deal with something neither Rodgers or Brett Favre had to deal with: expectations of a title run in just his second season as a starter. Love should be proud of the progress he and his teammates have made but in the NFL, you’re only as good as your last game. They won’t sneak up on anyone this time. The Packers have been labeled contenders by just about every major media outlet during the off-season. The pressure is on. However, the smart money says Love will remain the calm and cool quarterback he has been since he took full control of the team.
Jack Driscoll rejoins Eagles after preseason stint with Miami Dolphins – The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins faced a pressing need on the offensive line after losing center Connor Williams and left guard Robert Hunt to free agency. Miami hoped Jack Driscoll would provide a boost entering his fifth season, but the team ultimately went in a different direction. The Dolphins opted for guards Lester Cotton and Robert Jones, releasing Driscoll to make room on the 53-man roster for wide receiver Grant DuBose. About a week later, Driscoll, 27, rejoined the Philadelphia Eagles Tuesday, the team that originally drafted him in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Titans transaction round-up: Kyle Philips, Caleb Farley, Luke Gifford – Music City Miracles
Titans general manager Ran Carthon waived Philips during the final cut-down period. Philips passed through waivers, and the Titans didn’t show much interest in retaining his services. They immediately signed two other receivers, Bryce Oliver and Mason Kinsey, to the practice squad. Philips waited in limbo for a few days before joining the Eagles. Head coach Brian Callahan displayed empathy when discussing Philips’ latest hamstring injury. Callahan was sure to remove blame from Philips, but it was poetic justice that another hamstring issue cost the former UCLA standout receiver an opportunity to play in the preseason down the stretch. The Titans were also well-stocked at the slot position with Tyler Boyd, Jha’Quan Jackson, and Kinsey.
When Will This End? – Gang Green Nation
This is a game of chicken between a stubborn Reddick and a GM who made a poor decision to trade for a player who was very open about wanting a new contract. To put it bluntly, this is far more problematic for Joe Douglas than Haason Reddick. Reddick made it abundantly clear to the Eagles he wanted a new and much more lucrative contract. Joe Douglas knew this before the trade. To trade for Reddick without a firm contract in hand is an egregious error which a rookie GM could have made, but Joe has been here for years. I understand that every player has a limited time frame to play this great game, so when they want to be paid what they’re worth, I have no problem with it.
Chiefs sign defensive tackle to active 53-man roster – Arrowhead Pride
Per its official X account, Kansas City signed defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu to its active roster from the practice squad. The defensive tackle had been added to the practice squad over the weekend. Tuipulotu, 25, first entered the league as a 2021 sixth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles. In three seasons and 28 appearances with the Eagles, the 6-foot-2, 307-pound defensive tackle registered 43 tackles (22 solo).
Steelers sign Shampklin to practice squad – Steelers
The team also placed running back Boston Scott on the Practice Squad/Injured List.
2024 NFL Week 1 Power Rankings: Welcome to a brand new season – Blogging The Boys
7 – Dallas Cowboys. It is wild how this remains one of the best teams in the NFL on paper given, uh, everything. […] 10 – Philadelphia Eagles. Do I wish the Cowboys were as aggressive as them from a front office perspective? Yes. Are there an enormously large amount of people forgetting their historic collapse across the second half of last season? Also yes.
NFL Week 1 power rankings: Giants considered one of league’s worst teams – Big Blue View
Well, not much has changed since the preseason began. The media doesn’t have much faith in the New York Giants heading into Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, as the franchise is ranked in the lower half of every team ranking leading up to this weekend’s opening kickoff. While one media outlet has a little more faith in the Giants, the majority believe they’ll finish within the bottom four spots of the league standings. If you average the eight mainstream media poll rankings we’ve included, the Giants sit at an average of No. 29 overall (just percentage points above the No. 30 overall spot).
NFL Power Rankings: The Washington Commanders have plenty of room to move up – Hogs Haven
FanDuel has the at 6 1⁄2 this year, which would be an improvement from last season’s 4-13 record. Washington isn’t expected to go from worst-to-first, but the progress of Daniels’, along with the rebuild of the franchise from the ground up will be the story of this and future seasons. The power rankers have Washington near the bottom of their rankings, and there are a lot of questions that need to be answered before that’s going to change.
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