unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane
Hosted by Jeff McLane, this podcast offers behind-the-scenes stories and insider perspectives on the Philadelphia Eagles. McLane, a longtime Eagles beat writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, shares exclusive access and scoops from his years covering the team. The show is presented by Wawa and produced by The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts.
Episodes
How sharp did the Eagles look? | Minicamp recap
There was closure. There were opportunities to set records straight and start fresh. There was a chance for the Eagles to take the new philosophies and personnel acquired during the offseason, and give it all a test run on the field. What did the team find out about itself? How well prepared are the Eagles to hit the ground running in training camp once they return from their offseason hiatus late
The A.J. Brown trade - were the Eagles winners or losers? | Reaction & analysis
A.J. Brown is officially an Eagle no more! We knew the move was coming for weeks, if not months, but that doesn't make the departure of the Pro Bowl wide receiver and Super Bowl champion any less jarring. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane and Dave Murphy react to general manager Howie Roseman's trade with the New England Patriots.
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inq
OTA recap and reactions | Practice plays, press conferences, and projections
Feast your ears and eyes! This week's organized team activities in South Philadelphia marked the first look at the 2026 edition of the Eagles. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner check in and report on the sounds and sights from practices and press conferences that could offer clues about the direction the Eagles are headed as preparations begin for next season.
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Ertz keeps the faith | How struggles led beloved tight end to find a higher calling
By all accounts, Zach Ertz is one of the most beloved players in modern Eagles history. Not only does he rank statistically as the top tight end to ever play for the team, he caught the decisive touchdown to bring Philadelphia its first Super Bowl victory, earned multiple Pro Bowl selections, and was regarded as a locker room leader. But for as strong a mark as he left on the city, Ertz had a coup
From first-time players to new coaches, the earliest of impressions | Eagles rookie camp recap
The Eagles held a rookie minicamp over the weekend, which means that, for the first time this offseason, there are actual on-field football things to talk about! The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner were on hand, and share what they learned from practice observations and locker room conversations. Plus, Jeff gives context to the recent departures of two key members of general
How should the Eagles attack the draft? | Analysis with Devin Jackson
The Eagles have a solid stash of draft picks (8) and, for a team just one season removed from winning the Super Bowl, a lot of positions that need to be addressed. Several elite members of the offensive line could be on the verge of retirement, while the wide receiver corps appears destined to lose a dynamic member. After bolstering the defense in the early rounds of the draft in recent years, wil
Talking A.J. Brown, the draft, and more Eagles football with the Gov | Josh Shapiro interview
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is a die-hard Eagles fan, and just like you, he’s got takes on the offseason, A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, and stadium plans. By the nature of his day job, however, he’s also ecstatic that Pittsburgh will become the epicenter of the NFL universe in two weeks, when the Steel City hosts the draft. It marks the second time in 10 years the Commonwealth has welcomed the m
Truths (and half-truths?) from Jeffrey Lurie's annual address | Owners meeting recap
The annual NFL owners meetings has become the only event of year the Philadelphia Eagles formally make owner Jeffrey Lurie available to meet with reporters. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane covered the event, and puts Lurie’s recent remarks - from new stadium speculation to Lurie’s commitment to quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver AJ Brown - under the microscope with columnist Marcus
Last ride for the vets on offense? | What the Eagles' offseason strategy is signaling
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has stuck to a steady, mostly predictable formula this offseason: add depth to appropriate places via pragmatic, sensible signings. Whether his strategy stays the same moving forward remains unclear. Just last week, Roseman dipped his toes into a growing NFL trade market, and with the draft weeks away, along with the flurry of transactions that typically comes
Free agency | What’s happened, what could happen next
NFL free agency is underway, and the first week was kind of...just nuts and bolts for the Eagles. Howie Roseman made sensible, measured decisions, highlighted by a major investment in homegrown defensive talent and the smart, short-term signing of a proven corner back. Compared to past years, though, Howie SZN has been relatively chill. What does this initial strategy foreshadow for the rest of th
Albert Breer forecasts free agency
A year ago, the Eagles’ roster seemed sound and solid. The franchise was coming off its second Super Bowl, buoyed by electric skill position players on offense and young, bruising talent on defense. Following a disappointing 2025 season, the personnel situation feels anything but stable. A.J. Brown might be on the trading block. Key contract decisions loom. Several positions could use an upgrade.
Howie Roseman, Nick Sirianni speak!
AJ Brown’s future, Sean Mannion’s hiring as offensive coordinator, Jeff Stoutland’s awkward exit, the Eagles’ strategy for free agency and the draft. These storylines have dominated the Eagles’ offseason. More than a month after the team’s unceremonious exit from the playoffs, its top two decision makers finally weighed in on these topics as well. Ahead of this week’s NFL combine, The Philadelphia
A.J. Brown, Sean Mannion's impact, and contract decisions: what the league will be saying about the Eagles at the combine
The offseason is about to blast into full swing and, unlike this time a year ago, the Eagles are surrounded by question marks. On the heels of the team’s failed bid for another Super Bowl, coaching changes ensued, which are expected to usher in a significant philosophical pivot on offense. But with next week’s scouting combine approaching, the Eagles, along with the rest of the NFL, will start to
Stoutland, Fangio, Mannion: What Jeff’s been hearing at the Super Bowl
The Eagles failed to make it back to the Super Bowl this year, but, as The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane can vouch for during his trip to the Bay Area, the team is still dominating conversations around the league. That’s because in the past week, the Eagles hired a new offensive coordinator, parted ways with a revered assistant, and, much to their relief, got word from their defensive guru t
The Eagles' offensive coordinator search, Jalen Hurts, and more with The Athletic's Michael Silver
Banged up offensive line? Underperforming star skill players? A quarterback who failed to lift his team? The 2025 edition of the Philadelphia Eagles checked all those boxes on offense. Sure, you could make a scapegoat out of the first-time offensive coordinator, but placing the blame squarely at the feet of Kevin Patullo would misrepresent the extent of the Eagles’ problems. The Athletic’s Michael
What do Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman really think of Nick Sirianni?
There was a lot said during the Eagles’ end-of-season news conference, but nothing stood out more to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane than a comment general manager Howie Roseman made about his head coach, Nick Sirianni. What did Roseman say, and why was it so noteworthy? McLane and Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes read between the lines in this recap of Roseman and Sirianni’s Q&A with repor
The Day After: What's next?
The Eagles might have been disappointed, but deep down, they likely weren’t surprised. The team that showed up in a 23-19 Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers was the version of the team the Eagles had been for most of the 2025 season. Good enough on defense, yet woefully ineffective on offense. Instead of rebooting repeat Super Bowl dreams, the Eagles’ matchup with the 49ers marked the fitti
A Super Bowl repeat? Reasons for hope, doubt
A common refrain from the NovaCare Complex during the Eagles’ up-and-down 2025 regular season has been that finding ways to win, regardless of style or circumstance, is the team’s greatest strength. Based on the group’s track record, especially the past two years, the claim would be hard to dismiss. The Eagles’ belief in themselves, however, will be put to the test this weekend, when the playoffs
The Day After: An early look at Eagles vs. 49ers in Wild Card round
Should the Eagles have rested most of their starters in Sunday’s regular season finale? After they blew a chance to jump up to the two-seed in the NFC, the question was certainly fair and ripe for debate. But the truth is, there’s nothing the Eagles can do about it now. They lost to Washington, and are subsequently locked into a Wild Card round matchup with San Francisco, an opponent with which th
The Day After: Can the Eagles sustain this formula for another deep playoff run?
With only one game to go in the regular season and the playoffs looming, there’s little reason to think the Eagles’ offense will or is capable of changing its stripes. The defense, on the other hand, continues to prove its dominance (as it did again in Buffalo), regardless of which players it has available, or the opponent it faces. This combination, while imperfect, has still positioned the Eagle
The Day After (the day after): Are the Eagles really playing their best?
Are the Eagles really playing their best football of the season? That was their head coach’s claim following the team’s solid performance against Washington last weekend. But despite the Eagles outscoring the opposition by a combined 60-18 margin in back-to-back wins, trends are emerging with both promising and cautionary implications. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg highl
Can the Eagles keep Nakobe Dean? (and other unrestricted free agents)
Nakobe Dean’s value to the Eagles is as clear as the team’s improved defense performance since his return to play. Coming off his best game of the season in last week’s shutout win over the Raiders, the linebacker has made a remarkable turnaround from a serious knee injury that knocked him out of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX championship run. But what's Dean's future in Philadelphia beyond this seas
The Day After: Stock report after blowing out a bad team
For a game, at least, the Eagles looked like world-beaters, not the hardest thing to do these days when facing the lowly Las Vegas Raiders. The real question, however, isn’t if the 31-0 shutout win is going to be a cure all for the issues that ailed the Eagles during their three-game losing streak; it’s whether the progress the team showed Sunday can ultimately translate to the postseason, which a
Bad bunny
While cute and novel, the Positivity Bunny proved nothing short of an unceremonious bust. As soon as they could following a brutal overtime loss to the Chargers, the Eagles gave the preposterous 10-foot locker room inflatable the boot. It was not the good-luck charm they hoped for, and served as a reminder that, instead of wishing its woes away, this team will actually have to put in real work to
The Day After: A reckoning for Jalen Hurts
The blame game on offense this season has been a constant back and forth. One week it’s the coordinator. The next, it’s the head coach and his scheme. But after Monday’s game in LA, the pendulum took a major swing, and it was impossible to ignore the direction: right at the quarterback. Jalen Hurts isn’t the only problem, but five turnovers is unacceptable. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane
Other problems, beyond the obvious
Turn on sports talk radio or read coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles, and it's probably be impossible to find any analysis of the team’s recent woes that doesn’t reference the offense. The unit has been painfully disjointed and inconsistent to watch, unable to deploy a nucleus filled with all-pro talent. But to pin the Eagles’ issues on this factor alone would be misguided. Should head coach Nick
The Day After: A loss of belief
Things aren’t getting better; they’re getting worse. The theme doesn’t just apply to the Eagles’ Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears. It fits the narrative of the entire 2025 season. With five games to go, there’s little reason to hope or expect significant change to take place, particularly on the offensive side of the ball - unless... The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner
Bonus: From Super Bowl triumph to personal tragedy, Byron Young keeps father's memory close
Just weeks after a triumphant moment, Byron Young found himself dealing with the greatest tragedy of his life. Back in March, the defensive tackle returned home to Mississippi for a festive weekend with family. Not only did they celebrate him being part of the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl championship team, but his aunt’s birthday as well. A day later, Young’s father, Kenny, died suddenly. The Philadel
The Day After: An indictment of Sirianni's scheme
It looked like Sunday’s game in Dallas was going to be everything the Eagles needed. In the end, they wound up getting exactly what they deserved. Lack of focus, poor execution, conservative play calling. The Eagles picked each of these poisons, and died a miserable 24-21, walk-off death. In the aftermath of a defeat that knocked the defending Super Bowl champs out of the top spot in the NFC, The
Troubles at tight end (and, possibly, behind the scenes)
Between the scheme, the quarterback, the coaches calling plays, and the rest of the players responsible for executing them, the Eagles’ offense has been a well-documented, inconsistent mess this season. But what if there were a smaller area, one that isn’t getting much attention, that could hold the key to getting the much-maligned unit on track. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane zooms in on
The Day After: The Eagles finally have an identity (sort of...)
A.J. Brown might have been wrong. The Eagles' offense isn't just a "s--- show;" it's looking way worse. But enough about that side of the field, at least for now . The reason why the Eagles' path to the playoffs remains promising is because their defense has been lights out, increasingly so since the team returned from the bye two games ago. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg
What's A.J. Brown's problem?
Anytime a player goes public and describes an aspect of his team as a “s--- show,” you’ve got a story. When the person saying it is a star whose happiness has been in question all season long, you’ve got a major headline. Such is where the Eagles and A.J. Brown landed this week. As much as Brown, his teammates, and coaches downplayed the shock value of his remarks, to think that everything is “bus
The Day After: Getting gritty in Green Bay
It wasn’t flashy, but the Eagles certainly made a statement coming back from the bye with a gritty 10-7 win in Green Bay. They beat a good team, in a hostile environment, and played with valuable intangibles that could serve them well down the stretch of the season. Yes, the offense remains a mystery. But the defense, with new and familiar faces in the fold, showed why it could very well be capabl
The Day After: How the Eagles reversed course heading into the bye
The turnaround the Eagles orchestrated in less than three weeks was no small feat. The defending Super Bowl champs went from looking listless to inspired, showcasing a dominant, balanced performance against an opponent that had blown them out just two games earlier. From Jalen Hurts' poise and precision to Saquon Barkley's first breakout day of the season, the Eagles, which also boasted a punishin
Explaining Saquon Barkley’s struggles
Can the Eagles finally get Saquon Barkley going? The question feels like it’s the last big one left for the Eagles’ offense to answer this season, which has seen the group go through ups and downs during the first half of the year. But on the heels of the Eagles deploying a more under-center, play-action flavored attack in Minnesota to tap into an explosive passing performance, there’s growing opt
The Day After: Hurts, receivers lead major step forward
Not only was Jalen Hurts called upon to step up, he got a phone call in the middle of his post-game press conference in Minnesota. “When you win, everyone wants to call you,” he joked. In the Eagles’ 28-22 victory over the Vikings, the star quarterback was certainly a winner, delivering one of the most statistically-impressive performances of his career. The 326 passing yards and three touchdowns
"Solutions" for Jalen Hurts
“Solutions.” This has been the buzzword of choice for Nick Sirianni this week, as he and the Eagles try to turn things around after back-to-back losses. The Eagles’ head coach says he’s not in the business of assigning blame; instead, he wants answers. So, in the spirit of Sirianni’s spin, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane examines one of the biggest issues holding the Eagles back - Jalen Hu
The Day After: Is this (already) the inflection point?
There’s clearly something wrong with the Eagles. All that “wait-and-see” couching about it being early in the season and the need to be patient, that stuff is out the window after the team’s ugly 34-17 loss to the New York Giants. The defeat was the second in five days for the defending Super Bowl champs, which now have a mini-bye to not only lick their wounds, but figure out how to get back on tr
The Day After: Why it's not time to panic...yet
The Eagles aren’t on the brink - not even close. But with a quick, four-day turnaround looming before their next game, another bad performance could change the tone around the team, and fast. In the aftermath of the Eagles giving up 18 unanswered points en route to a 21-17 loss to Denver, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg pick apart what went wrong, and what can be fixed bef
What about DeVonta Smith, and the partnership between two "alpha" receivers?
When the Eagles opened their locker room to the media this week for the first time since leaving Tampa with a victory, A.J. Brown’s latest social media-instigated saga was the focal point of the media. Reporters swarmed his locker stall, waiting for the star wideout to explain himself. One locker over, however, the team’s other stud receiver stood and smiled. Over the years, DeVonta Smith has seen
The Day After: Should the Eagles get the benefit of the doubt, and thoughts on A.J. Brown's frustrations
How can a team so successful continue to be the source of so many questions? This remains the state of the Eagles. They’re 4-0, and have gone 20-1 over the last 365 days. But in each game the Eagles have played this season, they've shown some concerning flaws. Following the team's 31-25 win in Tampa, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane and David Murphy try to make sense of what they've seen, a
Heading to Tampa, nightmare city, in hopes of hacking Todd Bowles
Nick Sirianni hasn’t lost much in his four-plus seasons as Eagles head coach, but there’s one team that has his number: Tampa Bay. He’s 1-4 all-time against the Buccaneers. The Eagles’ two most recent defeats to the Bucs, road games in the Wild Card round of the 2023-24 playoffs and Week 4 of the 2024 regular season, were so embarrassing they threatened Sirianni’s job security. But there’s far mor
The Day After: Is it time to take off the kid gloves?
The Eagles’ 3-0 start to the 2025 regular season has been full of imperfections, but the NFL is a bottom line business, and the defending Super Bowl champs have shown a remarkable knack for adapting to whatever circumstances are needed to win. Their latest victory, an epic 33-26 comeback over the LA Rams, featured a second half for the ages, capped by defensive lineman Jordan Davis blocking a woul
Jalen Hurts' favorite move: how he turned the "Dead Leg" into a running weapon
Jalen Hurts might not be the fastest. He might not be the most agile or smooth either. In spite of all that, Hurts has still established himself as one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks of all-time, and he’s done it by relying on a signature move. From his days playing football in the neighborhood just outside Houston to his ascent to Philadelphia Eagles’ star, Hurts has turned the “Dead
The Day After: Beating the Chiefs was big; are the offensive concerns real?
The Eagles’ 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs was a good win. Pretty? Not so much, at least on the offensive side of the ball. The passing attack didn’t really establish a deep threat (again). There wasn’t much rhythm to the play calling. But when you go on the road and defeat an opponent hungry and motivated to avenge an embarrassing loss in the Super Bowl just seven months earlier, should st
Kevin Patullo's debut: the successes and struggles
What should we make of offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s debut? It’s an obvious question, one that calls back directly to one of the most significant subplots of a season in which the Philadelphia Eagles are bidding for a second straight title. The answer, however, is less clear. Were there positives to pull from the offense’s performance in the Eagles’ opening night, 24-20 win over the Dallas
The Day After: How could (should) the Eagles handle Jalen Carter?
The Eagles’ opener was a lot of things - ugly, bad, and, ultimately in terms of the outcome, good. Jalen Hurts? Nice! Jalen Carter? Yikes. Adoree’ Jackson? Is it already time to move on? It’s early, just one game. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane isn’t ready to make any blanket statements or knee jerk reactions, but he does have some first impressions from the Eagles’ 2025 debut. Inquirer E
The road to an Eagles repeat: four factors
It was a long preseason and, quite frankly, a pretty dull one, too. In other words, for a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, which kept its core intact and is looking to accomplish the exact same thing this year as last year, it was perfect. But don’t let the lack of drama or juicy position battles fool you. The reigning Super Bowl champions still have some big questions to answer once they start
Joint practices: ups and downs on offense and other observations
The offense hasn't looked great, and the defense is still searching for answers at certain positions. But Jalen Hurts' vibes? They're all good, and noticeably different from last season. What's the reason for the change? The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane explores this questions, while addressing other key issues that emerged during the Eagles' joint practice sessions this past week with the
Tales from T.O.’s driveway - 20 years later
It was one of the most infamous spectacles in Philadelphia sports history: Terrell Owens working out in his driveway, hours after getting kicked out of training camp. The backdrop was a months-long contract dispute. Owens, the electric wide receiver who finally helped the Eagles get to their lone Super Bowl of the Andy Reid - Donovan McNabb era, felt that he deserved more money than he signed for
Training camp clues: is Jalen Hurts not running as much?
To run or not to run? With Jalen Hurts entering his fifth season as the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback, the question becomes increasingly pertinent. Listen, there’s no doubting the dynamic that Hurts’ legs bring to the Eagles’ offense. For proof, look no further than the backbreaking scrambles he delivered in the team’s dominant Super Bowl victory over Kansas City in February. But as Hu
Turning the page: what did the Eagles accomplish this spring?
How prepared are the Eagles to defend their Super Bowl title? This question likely won’t get answered until the regular season kicks off in a few months. Odds are, it might even take longer than that; a few games, perhaps, to gauge the Eagles’ 2025 potential. But one thing is for sure: NFL teams begin building their DNA and habits in the spring through organized team activities and minicamps. With
Mike Mayock tackles the 2025 NFL Draft
There are lots of sources you can go to for comprehensive NFL Draft analysis, but there’s only one Mike Mayock. The suburban Philadelphia native and The Haverford School graduate played a few years in the league after a strong stint at Boston College, but his biggest claim to fame is indisputably as a draft expert. Between his seemingly endless familiarity with prospects and an ability to articula
Howie Roseman’s ride to the top
Imagine this: you’ve got an exclusive, high-profile, high-pressure gig; only 31 other people on the planet do what you do. You’re on vacation; your regular spot in a relatively obscure location. Then, off in the distance, you see someone familiar approaching. Could it really be one of your professional peers, out for a leisurely bike ride in the same vacation town? A little more than a decade ago,
Jeffrey Lurie’s post-Super Bowl glow
The weather in Palm Beach during the annual NFL owners meetings was touch-and-go by South Florida standards. One attendee, however, was certainly shining brighter than most. Yes, Jeffrey Lurie, on the heels of his Philadelphia Eagles winning a second Super Bowl title in seven years, was aglow. Not only that, his public comments sent a clear message to the rest of the league: he expects the franchi
Howie Roseman's other obsession
We know Howie Roseman is passionate. Obsessive, too. These traits have revealed themselves constantly throughout his 15-year tenure as the Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager, propelling him to the top of his profession. The characteristics, however, show up in other parts of his life as well, specifically one of his favorite endeavors away from the game. Join The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McL
A live pod with Mike Quick
It’s been a little more than a month since the Philadelphia Eagles smashed the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. While the Eagles’ front office has been forced to move on from the victory rather quickly due to a flurry of offseason activity, the afterglow from the team’s second championship run still remains strong. A recent live taping of unCovering the Birds between The Philadelphia Inquirer’
Behind the scenes at the NFL Combine
The scouting combine. It’s the NFL’s ultimate mixer. Every year, prospects, powerbrokers, pundits, and aspiring professionals in the football industry descend on Indianapolis at the end of February for a week of talent evaluation, networking, and late nights. The TV networks covering the combine want you to see the drills, testing, and player soundbites. The reality, though, is that the real actio
Inside the Eagles’ championship party
What was the post-game celebration like inside the locker room and beyond? Who kept the festivities going way into the early hours of the morning? In the afterglow of the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, it was time to party, and the Eagles didn’t let the well-earned opportunity pass them by. From the mellow yet gratified vibes of the team’s defensive
A Super Bowl visit with Carson Wentz
The last time Carson Wentz was in a Super Bowl, he was on the wrong end of a fairy tail script - injured and watching from the sideline as Philadelphia Eagles’ back-up quarterback Nick Foles led the franchise to its first ever title, finishing the job that Wentz started during the regular season before getting hurt. This year, should anything happen to Kansas City starter Patrick Mahomes, Wentz, n
Howie and Nick reflect
This time a year ago, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni sat next to each other awkwardly on the dais at team headquarters, enduring a barrage of pointed press conference questions as they dissected the franchise’s emphatic failure to live up to the previous season’s Super Bowl run. Adding to the tension was prior speculation about Sirianni’s job, and wh
Saquon in the snow: An oral history
It was a dynamic play, a defining moment during the Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff run that helped propel the team closer to its second-ever championship. Whether they ultimately achieve that goal remains to be seen. But what’s already certain is that, regardless of the outcome in Super Bowl 59, running back Saquon Barkley’s snow-blanketed, 78-yard touchdown burst in the NFC divisional round against
Championship Game vs. Commanders: Super vibes
Jalen Hurts puffed a big a** cigar. Gillie da kid led a dance party. A pair of team-changing rookies basked in the shine of new hardware. These were just some of the snapshots from the Philadelphia Eagles’ victorious locker room following their NFC championship win over the Washington Commanders. Want to hear more? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane serves as your fly on the wall during the E
Divisional Round vs. Rams: A tale of two Jalens
With all due respect to the quarterback, maybe we should be spending more time talking about the other “Jalen” on the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster. For as up and down a performance as Jalen Hurts endured in the Eagles’ Divisional playoff matchup with the LA Rams, Jalen Carter proved an indomitable force, especially in crunch time. It’s hard to imagine his team surviving the nail-biter without him.
Wild Card Round vs. Packers: "IDGAF"
The Eagles hear your concerns about the (lack of) offensive style points in their NFC Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. They know everyone’s got thoughts about which team they match up best against in the next round. Guess what? To borrow a phrase used by several players inside the victorious postgame locker room at Lincoln Financial Field, they “don’t give a f***.” Not because they’re bei
Week 18 vs. Giants: Looking back, ahead to Packers
45 player interviews. An array of perspectives. This was the assignment The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane embarked on over the final two weeks of the regular season, during which he spoke with nearly every member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ revolving 53-man roster for his annual year-in-review player survey. On the heels of a bounce back 14-3 regular season, Jeff polled players on five big p
Week 16 vs. Commanders: Sorting through the slop
Byproduct of circumstance and the absence of key personnel, or warning signs of reasons for concern? What should be made of the Philadelphia Eagles’ disappointing last-second loss to Washington that halted a franchise-record 10-game winning streak, and diminished the Eagles’ chances of earning the no. 1 playoff seed in the NFC?The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes a measured look at the is
Week 15 vs. Steelers: Getting 'passed' the Hurts-Brown drama
First came a bombshell comment. Then, some backtracking and heart-to-hearts, followed by a few tears. In the end, there was reconciliation, capped by a most impressive win. All in a week’s work for the surging Philadelphia Eagles, which overcame internal tension stemming from Brandon Graham’s viral comments on WIP and a tough opponent in the Pittsburgh Steelers to earn a franchise-record 10th vict
Week 14 vs. Panthers: Saquon, the Chosen Savior
From backwards hurdles to dazzling touchdown runs, whenever Saquon Barkley makes a big play on the field, people notice. Behind the scenes, his gestures are more subtle, but the impact is just as significant. It could be a dap for an anxious rookie, or an invitation to a third-stringer to come over for Thanksgiving dinner. In speaking to over a dozen members of the Philadelphia Eagles organization
Week 13 vs. Ravens: Vic Fangio, at last
He was much-hyped, and has much delivered. With five games to go in the 2024 regular season, Vic Fangio has the Philadelphia Eagles defense on pace to finish as one of the top statistical units in the NFL - an incredible ascent for a group that ranked towards the bottom of the league last year. Fangio’s fingerprints can be seen all over the place, from scheme to execution, and player development a
Week 12 vs. Rams: How Jalen Carter got on track
It’s a question that’s been dogging the Eagles ever since preparations for the season began in earnest, and has only gotten more prevalent the more the team has won. “What are the lessons learned from last year?” With the Eagles sporting a near identical record heading into Week 13 as they did before the bottom fell out in 2023, media and fans alike seem eager to see if the 2024 edition of the Bir
Week 11 vs. Commanders: Quinyon & Cooper, the dynamic duo
The last time the Philadelphia Eagles took a cornerback in the first round of the NFL Draft? Before this year, it was 2002. The last time they chose cornerbacks with each of their first two picks, like they also did this spring? Same deal, in 2022, when the team selected Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown - two mainstays during the Andy Reid-Donovan McNabb era. If early returns are any indication, th
Week 10 vs. Cowboys: Feeding DeVonta Smith
The Philadelphia Eagles handled the first team on their schedule this week - beating the Dallas Cowboys on the road. And it wasn’t just a win. It was a drubbing, marking the Eagles’ first win at AT&T Stadium in seven years. Now, on short rest, what figures to be a much stiffer, significant challenge awaits - a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Washington Commanders. At stake, sole control
Week 9 vs. Jaguars: "We got Saquon 'F***ing' Barkley"
Four games into the season, the Eagles’ offense was stuck. With the team on its bye week, key members of the offensive line felt it was time to speak up. So they went to their head coach and offensive coordinator with feedback. It was straightforward and to the point. “We’ve got Saquon ‘F***ing’ Barkley. Let’s give him the f***ing ball.” Message received. Since then, the Eagles haven’t lost, climb
Week 8 vs. Bengals: The identity question
Hope can be fickle in football, but right now, following an impressive Week 8 victory vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, the Philadelphia Eagles have built modest momentum. What’s been responsible for the turnaround during the team's three-game winning streak? For starters, the head coach tweaked his approach, and his quarterback has responded with improved play. Are Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts sold on
Week 7 vs. Giants: Truths from Hurts' tape
Saquon Barkley was a stud, the defense was dominant, and all seems well in Eagles Land, at least for now, following a blowout win over the New York Giants. But beyond the breakout runs and bevy of sacks, there were other noteworthy developments from the victory - some encouraging, others indicators of just how much more work the Eagles have to do as they near the halfway point of the season. The P
Week 6 vs. Browns: Sirianni's sideshow
The consensus within the Philadelphia Eagles was virtually unanimous: it wasn’t pretty, but they got what they needed against the lowly Cleveland Browns - a win. The result nudged the 3-2 Eagles back above .500, and brought them within a half-game of first place in the NFC East. All good things, right? Yes, but the seemingly impulsive actions of head coach Nick Sirianni overshadowed the Eagles’ su
Week 4 vs. Bucs: Sirianni defends Hurts, to a fault?
All it took was a confident, affirming answer. But once again, instead of seizing an opportunity to diffuse speculation, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts added fuel to the fire surrounding the stability of his relationship with head coach Nick Sirianni. The question posed to Hurts after the Eagles’ lopsided loss in Tampa: given their respective leadership duties with the team, would he
Week 3 vs. Saints: Playing angry
The Philadelphia Eagles were angry. And on the heels of a painful loss in their home opener, they played like it. From the dominance of the defensive line, to Jalen Hurts' poised, game-winning drive with time running out, the Eagles notched a resilient Week 3 win in New Orleans. Listen as The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes you on a tour around the victorious winners’ locker room at the
Week 2 vs. Falcons: Where the D-Line has gone wrong
The Eagles’ home opener on Monday Night Football was there for the taking, and the Atlanta Falcons obliged, pulling off a stunning upset in the final minutes. There were multiple factors that led to the 22-21 loss, which dropped the Eagles to 1-1. But two weeks into the season, one problem has proven more glaring and costly than the rest: the Eagles’ defensive line, a group loaded with blue-chip t
