I mentioned it last night, but this team needs to prioritize a backup option for Hurts in the form of a 2nd or 3rd round pick, have them on a rookie deal, and let them develop for a few years into a capable backup where best case scenario you can trade for a pick down the line. Enough of these failed vets like Mariota, Minshew, and Pickett. This is four straight years now Hurts has either been banged up or missed time and they haven’t had a capable backup, even though Minshew wasn’t terrible. 
 

I know they have McKee there but who knows what they have in him. Maybe they view him as a longer term backup. 
 

Some team will reach on Milroe, but he’d be a perfect guy to take somewhere around the 3rd round to stash as a backup who has a similar playing style to Hurts. 

1 minute ago, Maga301 said:

As did another Elliott missed FG - he needs to be better. 

Missing a 56 yarder in that weather is understandable. He nailed the 2 at the end.

16 hours ago, eagle45 said:

If Barkley has more than 20 carries for the rest of the year I will be storming novacare with a pitchfork.

Well there's a faction here that was saying run him into the ground lol.

2 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

Game would have been over by half time if Hurts didn't go out.

Not with those refs

Looking forward, I really don't hate this outcome. First off, winning 16-17 in a row is pretty impossible. Second, part of me would rather have the #2 seed and a week 18 "bye" than the #1 seed. If seeding holds, the WC round is WSH at PHI, GB at LAR and MIN at ATL. GB is the one team we couldn't see in the divisional round in that scenario, and that's fine by me. I'd think GB and MIN win, and we get Minny at home in the divisional round while the Lions get GB. I'd say there's a decent shot we could host GB in the NFCCG. I fear GB a LOT more than MIN, ATL, LAR or even TB (I know everyone is afraid of them, but I think we roll them is healthy). 

Beat Dallas this week, rest everyone against the Giants (yes, even Saquon). Get your bye week in week 18.

3 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Missing a 56 yarder in that weather is understandable. He nailed the 2 at the end.

Rarely does Elliott come up short, it looked like he put too much height on the kick. In the playoffs 3 points matters more times than not. It's nice to have those kicks. 

15 minutes ago, BDawk_ASamuel said:

I view dropping one of their final three as a blessing in disguise. The one seed was never a guarantee even if they won out and now all of their focus can be on Dallas next week to take week 18 as a bye instead of killing themselves to win out with no guarantee that it gets home field.
 

Forget about the rushing record for Saquon, start to taper him off and make sure he’s a full-go for the playoffs. Take care of business against Dallas and then hit the spa the following week. You still get two home playoff games if they win wildcard week and then you have to sack up and go into Detroit for a dog fight to get to the Super Bowl. Call it a 50/50 match and roll the dice. 

Tbh i didn’t think the lions were losing before week 18. 49ers have nothing to play for and look bad regardless. frankly Minnesota might not lose either. Although that packers/vikings week 17 game is going to be a fun one to watch as both teams are playing well right now. (Believe if GB wins tonight they clinch a playoff spot). I’m guessing the packers would like to win tonight and in Minnesota so they secure the 6 seed rather than be the 7 seed so can rest guys week 18. Going to LA is nice in terms of it being a de facto home game in LA for packers. I believe the Packers have an outside shot at the 5 seed if Minnesota loses next two games and they win out as they’d both be 1-1 against each other, 3-3 in the division, both be 8-4 in conference and common opponents both would have same losses outside of rams that packers won so they might hold that tiebreaker.

eagles need to focus on just beating dallas week 17 so that week 18 is meaningless and can rest guys. If the commanders manage to beat the falcons this week, then they are likely just resting guys in week 18 too. 

1 minute ago, Maga301 said:

Rarely does Elliott come up short, it looked like he put too much height on the kick. In the playoffs 3 points matters more times than not. It's nice to have those kicks. 

Given that kickoffs for both teams were coming up short for much of the game the weather played a major factor in that.

13 minutes ago, hputenis said:

Not totally sure about a specific gameplan for him, but there were still little to no adjustments made once it was painfully obvious that they were going to fully sell out to stopping the run.  Maybe incorporate some trips, more motion, set up screens or quick passes to keep them honest. 

Yeah, those are good ideas but these are things we have a tough time implementing with our starter (we might not be practicing them), so is that available to a backup with no reps.

22 minutes ago, hputenis said:

It’s infuriating to see how well the Foreskins adjusted once Pickett was in the game.  They instantly altered their gameplan and they did it perfectly by run blitzing. Meanwhile, Kellen Moore didn’t seem to change anything on offense. No short passes, no screens, no adjustments. It was like they were just totally unprepared on offense when Hurts went out. 

You should challenge him to a fight. 

4 minutes ago, judunno said:

Well there's a faction here that was saying run him into the ground lol.

I was on the "run him into the ground and let him carry you” wagon all year and I’ve been fine with the workload he’s had all season. They needed his output to get to this stage of 12 wins and it’s been a success. That’s why you paid the guy, not to have him on a pitch count in the middle of the season losing key touches to Gainwell. He’s the best player on the team. 
 

But it’s been mission accomplished and it’s time to lighten his work load going into the playoffs. Which is why I’m not devastated about losing out on the one seed. They now have the opportunity to put him on a pitch count. 

34 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

 

 

It's fine.   This is the season of the trend breakers!   

Win in Cincy, never did that before... CHECK

Beat Russell Wilson, never did that before... CHECK

Get to the Super Bowl without having the #1 seed... CHECK??!??!

 

Let's make it happen.

35 minutes ago, devpool said:

Something I've been wondering this season, and especially yesterday, why not use Barkley to do tush pushes? It's not like they're running anything off of it (IP's biggest complaint about it) so it's not like he has to learn anything other than taking a snap. Takes Hurts out of harm's way and keeps it as an option if he's out.

Can't tell me the guy can't learn how to take a snap under center, so why not give it a try?

Weirdly, they have struggle repeatedly with the snap on the Tush Push this year... quite a few mishaps there.  I'm not sure its worth it.  But... why not run from under center with a FB in those short yardage situations with Barkley.   Back in the day, the RB used to leap over the top... like this...

Barkley could do that.

25 minutes ago, Casey @ Bat said:

 Maybe …  but if we traded for Fields half the city would be saying he should be the starter with every Hurts incompletion. At least this way we know Pickett sucks and is the backup . 

  Fields is a much worse passer.

22 minutes ago, just relax said:

Uzomah basically played FB. 30 snaps. If he lined up as a TE even once I didn’t notice it. Not as good as Van Sumeran, for sure.

I saw him much more in an H-back or wing back alignment.  Maybe I missed when he was in the I formation.  But, that's what I am talking about.  I formation, under center, or even offset I, but under center.  Those RO action runs with Pickett were pretty darn close to useless.  Pistol, under center, or just forget it.  

Can we take a look at some the penalties/non penalties.  I'm sure i'm missing some so please add on 

1. Roughing the QB on Milton Williams - Horrible call

2. Chauncey Talking - Horrible call on a 2nd and 14

3. Chauncey apparently talking again - Horrible call

3.Penalty on Trotter on the punt return for unnecessary roughness -  I can't honestly say I remember watching what he did so no comment

4. Carter gets personal foul for barely shoving a guy (this was right after a sack) which instead of 2nd and 13 it extended the drive giving them a TD

5.  The holding call on DeJean which was not a penalty but had that not been caught that would have extended their late drive

6. When Pickett slid the guy missed him with his arm and helmet but still looked like he hit him with his ass/leg which is still contact to the head when he gave himself up

7.  The Hurts concussion looked like a dirty hit as he was sliding.  

9 minutes ago, BDawk_ASamuel said:

I mentioned it last night, but this team needs to prioritize a backup option for Hurts in the form of a 2nd or 3rd round pick, have them on a rookie deal, and let them develop for a few years into a capable backup where best case scenario you can trade for a pick down the line. Enough of these failed vets like Mariota, Minshew, and Pickett. This is four straight years now Hurts has either been banged up or missed time and they haven’t had a capable backup, even though Minshew wasn’t terrible. 
 

I know they have McKee there but who knows what they have in him. Maybe they view him as a longer term backup. 
 

Some team will reach on Milroe, but he’d be a perfect guy to take somewhere around the 3rd round to stash as a backup who has a similar playing style to Hurts. 

I said the same thing after the game yesterday. It wasn’t Pickett was awful or Pickett was good enough. This is the 3rd time in 4 seasons he’s either been knocked out of a game or missed a game late in the season. Even last year when he didn’t miss a game, he was banged up. So the need for a backup QB that fits what your offense is matters if you want to run the same offense when he’s out or misses time. Yesterday it felt like they continuously tried to run the same things they did under hurts and it didn’t work cause Pickett isn’t able to do the things with the offense required of hurts.

Frankly if they keep Pickett for next year as the backup then essentially McKee would have 1 year left on his contract after 2025 as the main backup. Yet you have no clue what he is or isn’t as he never played a regular season snap. Tbh I’d rather just had him as the backup this year. He was the cheaper option and if he failed could always go get another in the draft and have 4 more cheap years. 

If Hurts doesn’t play, it feels increasingly likely that we drop another game to Dallas and have to play everyone week 18 just to clinch.

But I’m sure that won’t be a popular take.

18 minutes ago, Maga301 said:

As did another Elliott missed FG - he needs to be better. 

I'm not going to give Elliott crap for that particular kick.  56 yards in that weather seemed to be a big ask.   The conditions didn't seem favorable for that.

 

That doesn't let him off the hook for his misses in other games though.

14 minutes ago, BDawk_ASamuel said:

I mentioned it last night, but this team needs to prioritize a backup option for Hurts in the form of a 2nd or 3rd round pick, have them on a rookie deal, and let them develop for a few years into a capable backup where best case scenario you can trade for a pick down the line. Enough of these failed vets like Mariota, Minshew, and Pickett. This is four straight years now Hurts has either been banged up or missed time and they haven’t had a capable backup, even though Minshew wasn’t terrible. 
 

I know they have McKee there but who knows what they have in him. Maybe they view him as a longer term backup. 
 

Some team will reach on Milroe, but he’d be a perfect guy to take somewhere around the 3rd round to stash as a backup who has a similar playing style to Hurts. 

If Milroe isn't certain he will be a first or 2nd round pick, he should return to college.  He will make more money as a college player and likely be a better prospect coming out in the 2026 draft. 

3 minutes ago, garingovt2000 said:

7.  The Hurts concussion looked like a dirty hit as he was sliding.  

Hurts dove forward... but he definitely didn't need to have a guy jump on top of him from behind.   Borderline dirty... but definitely seemed to be head contact.

1 minute ago, NCiggles said:

If Milroe isn't certain he will be a first or 2nd round pick, he should return to college.  He will make more money as a college player and likely be a better prospect coming out in the 2026 draft. 

Agreed - you might make better money in college, and get yourself into round 1 next year (and the attachment that a franchise places on that).

4 hours ago, Iggles_Phan said:

You keep talking about screens.  They don't know what they are.

Boy do I have the perfect gift for Christmas for them 

 

 

Hot take for fun -- Atlanta is going to curb stomp Washington on Sunday Night. They seriously are acting like they won the Super Bowl.

9 minutes ago, DaEagles4Life said:

I said it yesterday and say it again today but  Calcaterra was beyond horrible with his blocking. It definitely shows we need a young TE moving forward..

Thankfully it is a deep class this year 

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/positions/TE/1/2025

There are a bunch of receiving TEs but precious few of them can block at the next level. Warren is probably the best of the bunch at that just based on size but he is at best mediocre as a blocker. I’m more inclined to take a FB like, say, Max Bredeson from Michigan and convert him to HB/TE. Sometime in Day 3.