Eagles Climb To Top Of NFC Ladder Without Playing A Game
PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles didn’t have to play a game on Sunday, and they still climbed the ladder in the NFC. If the season ended today, they would be the top seed in the NFC playoffs. Of course, the season doesn’t end today.
It has, however, reached the halfway point. They will enter Week 9 leading the pack at 6-2. It is the fourth straight season the Eagles started 6-2 or better, and if they go on to earn the No. 1 seed, it would be their third in four years.
The Bucs are also 6-2, but the Eagles beat them, so they own the tiebreaker. The Rams won to get to 6-2, but the Eagles beat them already, too. The Seahawks can reach 6-2 by beating the Commanders in Washington on Sunday Night Football, but the Eagles have a better conference record than Seattle.
If the Eagles want to send a couple of thank you’s after getting help in their ascension to the top rung, they can start with the Panthers and Rico Dowdle and Ryan Fitzgerald.
It was Fitzgerald who kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired for a 16-13 win over the Packers at Lambeau Field. Dowdle ran for a 130 yards against the Packers’ third-ranked run defense.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni surveys practice. / John McMullen/Eagles On SI
So, the Packers are now 5-2-1 with the Eagles scheduled to visit Lambeau next Monday night, and presumably an angry group, losing despite being favored by 13.5 points.
As for the Eagles, it will have been 16 days since they last played a game, but they are 4-0 under head coach Nick Sirianni exiting a bye.
“The bye week process, we just continue to evolve it,” said Sirianni last week. “But I think that to say, ‘Hey, here's what I've learned in my past four years here,’ it really goes back, ‘What have I learned in my time in the NFL in these bye weeks?’
“That's why you're just constantly in this growth mindset of how you can get better at your process. I think that's been an evolving thing. Obviously these last four, five years, I've been the head coach, so obviously there's more to it than when I was just the offensive coordinator. But I think that the process of our bye week has evolved throughout the years from the past 10 years of my coaching career.
“I think human nature could be, ‘Hey, we don't have a game this week,’ and have a tendency to relax. That's just not the way we think and that's just not the way we're about to go about our business. This week will be about finding ways to get better, identifying issues that we know we have, identifying strengths that we know we have, and tendencies, and looking for ways to improve on those things.”
After sending a thank you to Carolina, fire one out to Minnesota for the Vikings upsetting the Lions at Ford Field, 27-24. That loss left Detroit at 5-3. The Vikings appeared to be in shambles, but their defense showed up, sacking Jared Goff five times and punishing the Lions on the ground with 142 yards rushing as a team.
The Eagles will play the Lions on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 16, six days after going to Green Bay.
You Won’t Believe What Devin Neal Just Did for the Saints – A Bold Move That Could Lead Them to Glory!
In an unprecedented move that could send shockwaves through the NFL, New Orleans Saints star Devin Neal has put his money where his mouth is — literally. Despite being sidelined and unable to play, Neal has publicly announced that he’s ready to take a MASSIVE pay cut to help the
Is this a PR stunt, or is Devin Neal the selfless hero the Saints need to seal their championship fate? According to sources close to the team, Neal's offer is genuine — and management has been blown away by his commitment to winning.
"I cannot play right now, but I can still fight for the team in another way," Neal said, leaving fans speechless. "If reducing my salary helps us add players and get closer to the Lombardi Trophy, I am ready to do it. I love the
But the question remains: Will other NFL stars follow Neal's lead? Can a pay cut actually be the secret weapon the
Sources reveal that Saints management is seriously considering his offer, and fans are already going wild. Could this be the ultimate act of leadership, or is it a desperation move from a team desperate to get over the hump?
With his reputation as one of the league’s most dedicated players, Devin Neal’s offer could be the spark that ignites the Saints’ journey to the promised land. Will his gamble pay off, or will it all blow up in the
Stay tuned as we continue to track Neal’s incredible gesture, and find out whether other stars will join the
