The Linc – Eagles’ opponents are getting favorable officiating

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 12/29/24.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …

Week 17 NFL picks, Sunday and Monday edition – PhillyVoice
Yes, the Eagles are starting Kenny Pickett, a very clear downgrade from Jalen Hurts (as shown here). They’ll also be without Dallas Goedert, Brandon Graham, and likely Nakobe Dean. Those are significant losses, but they’re nothing compared to the Cowboys’ injury carnage. Dallas will be without their starting quarterback (Dak Prescott), their best offensive player otherwise (CeeDee Lamb), their nine-time All-Pro RG (Zack Martin), their No. 1 CB (Trevon Diggs), a dynamic, young starting linebacker (DeMarvion Overshown), and their version of Graham (DeMarcus Lawrence). The Eagles are the better team at full strength, in my opinion, while the Cowboys have much worse injuries than the Eagles and nothing to play for other than pride. Let’s not overthink this.

Game Preview – Cooper vs Kenny – Iggles Blitz
The Eagles host the Cowboys on Sunday. If the guys in Kelly Green win, they will take the NFC East title for the season. This is also a big game because it allows us to explore the age old question – is Kenny Pickett better than Cooper Rush? Joking aside, Rush is playing okay this year. He has started 7 games and gone 4-3. He’s got 11 TD passes and only 3 INTs. Rush only averages 6.1 yards per attempt and only completes 61 percent of his passes. That’s not ideal. If you throw a lot of short passes, you want to be in the upper 60’s in completion percentage. Rush was very conservative early this year but has been more aggressive in recent weeks. He has been willing to throw down the field and take some chances. I don’t know how easy that will be without CeeDee Lamb in the game. Lamb is a great target and also impacts the defense even when the ball doesn’t come to him. Pickett will be making his first start of the season. He was up and down last week. He’ll be better prepared this time out, but will also face a tougher defense.

Eagles rooting guide for Week 17 games – BGN
Let’s first acknowledge that the Eagles are not likely to get the No. 1 seed. And some will argue it’s best for the Eagles’ unrealistic pursuit of the No. 1 seed to be done with so they can locked in to the No. 2 seed and treat Week 18 like a bye as much as possible as opposed to going all out to win that game and then still not getting the No. 1 spot anyway. But, yes, I am saying there is a chance. According to DVOA playoff odds, the number is 7.4%.

Eagles updates and prediction: Nakobe Dean doubtful vs. Cowboys, Bryce Huff returns, Britain Covey to IR – PHLY
5. Finally, a prediction. The Eagles will miss Hurts and the Cowboys have played better in recent weeks (four wins in five games), but the Eagles should still have an edge in this game. The absence of CeeDee Lamb diminishes a Cowboys offense that is already missing Dak Prescott. Look for the Eagles to focus on limiting running back Rico Dowdle, and the Cowboys lack the firepower to hurt the Eagles otherwise. Dean’s absence could affect the run defense, so pay attention to the Eagles linebackers. On offense, my guess is the Cowboys will see what Washington did in the second half and try to bottle up Saquon Barkley and force Kenny Pickett to beat them. The offensive line should respond with a better performance and there should be a tailored plan with the run game with a full week of planning. But I wouldn’t rule out Pickett having a good day against the Cowboys pass defense missing two of their top three outside cornerbacks. Pickett had no problem finding A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith last week, and I can see the ball coming out quickly with Pickett and Brown and Smith both having big games. The Cowboys have allowed 100-yard receivers in four of the past six games. Don’t sleep on Pickett this week. The Eagles are 7.5-point favorites with their backup quarterback, which says something about their chances. The Eagles clinch the NFC East on Sunday. Eagles 23, Cowboys 16

Microsoft Teams Legend of the Week: Alshon Jeffery – PE.com
Super Bowl Champion Alshon Jeffery will serve as the Honorary Captain on Sunday when the Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The former wide receiver reflects on that incredible 2017 season and the game that brought the first Lombardi Trophy to Broad Street.

Cowboys vs Eagles: 3 bold predictions for Sunday’s matchup – Blogging The Boys
1) Saquon Barkley continues his historic season, rushing for over 150 yards in a game for the fifth time this season. The Philadelphia Eagles signing of running back Saquon Barkley in free agency will go down as one of the best free agent acquisitions in the last decade. Barkley, who played the first six years of his NFL career with the Giants, has finally reached his full potential in Philadelphia. 1) Saquon Barkley continues his historic season, rushing for over 150 yards in a game for the fifth time this season The Philadelphia Eagles signing of running back Saquon Barkley in free agency will go down as one of the best free agent acquisitions in the last decade. Barkley, who played the first six years of his NFL career with the Giants, has finally reached his full potential in Philadelphia.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson loses another $45,000 in fines after his ejection Sunday – PFT
The NFL fined Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson $45,022 for his two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Commanders last week. A second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is an automatic ejection, and thus Gardner-Johnson was sent to the locker room early in the third quarter. He has received three other unsportsmanlike conduct penalties this season and an unnecessary roughness. Gardner-Johnson’s total fines this season are $101,298.

The Ringer’s 55 Favorite Sports Moments of 2024 – The Ringer
Saquon Barkley’s Mind-Melting Reverse Hurdle. Ben Lindbergh: This year marked the 40th anniversary of John Madden agreeing to lend his name to (and help design) a franchise of football video games. John Madden Football, now named Madden NFL, has become a crossover cultural institution that was spotlighted late this year in a Prime Video documentary and an alternate broadcast on Peacock. So in Week 9 of the NFL season, when Eagles running back Saquon Barkley caught a pass from Jalen Hurts, broke a tackle, spun around Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd, and then leaped backward over cornerback Jarrian Jones for another 5 yards, the first question that came to my mind was, “Can you even do that in Madden?” The answer: No, you cannot. Madden, after all, was designed to be semi-realistic.

Washington Commanders Roster Moves: Phidarian Mathis release opens up spot for Jonathan Allen’s return from IR – Hogs Haven
The Washington Commanders have reportedly waived former Ron Rivera 2nd round pick DT Phidarian Mathis. This was an expected move from the team for several reasons. He has been a healthy scratch for the last three games and practice squad DT Carl Davis was elevated to get playing time over him. Dan Quinn called it “internal competition” which means he was beat out for his spot. His first two year’s were plagued by injuries, now healthy, he’s just not good enough.

Eli Manning named a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame – Big Blue View
Manning’s Hall of Fame candidacy has always been divisive. Supporters point to his two Super Bowl victories over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, after which he was named MVP of both games. Detractors point to his 117-117 career regular season record.

NFL playoff picture: AFC standings shift in Week 17 following Christmas shake-up – SB Nation
The L.A. Rams keep winning, and they’re in the NFC West driver’s seat. Los Angeles can clinch their division with some help on Sunday now that they won on Saturday night. In a thrilling game, they knocked off the Arizona Cardinals with a late interception. Next week’s game vs the Seahawks could be winner take all, but the Rams could clinch with some help from the rest of the league in Week 17.

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