PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - Philadelphia Eagles Kickoff: Tanner McKee leads Birds into regular season finale vs. Giants

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

The Eagles close out the regular season with most of their key players resting, locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC. That means Tanner McKee leads the charge at quarterback, Johnny Wilson and Jahan Dotson line up on the outside while Kenny Gainwell and Will Shipley run the ball. On defense, get ready for Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Kelee Ringo, Bryce Huff and Sydney Brown.Join Jamie Lynch and Fran Duffy as they preview the action before Zach Berman joins live from the LINC. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

and welcome in to a, let's not sugar-coded, a meaningless week 18 game for your Philadelphia Eagles. This is the PHLY Eagles pregame show, Jamie Lynch, Fran Duffy, and we are presented by Bet365. Find out why. It's never ordinary at Bet365. Use code PHLY365 at sign up. Get yourself $150 in bonus bets to tinker around with for maybe week 18, maybe the playoffs. Whatever it is, what up to all the sickos out. there. Fran, happy week 18. Happy Mormon Missile game. Happy preseason game four. Maybe the first preseason game of 2025, which is where you look at it. But look, obviously not a lot of stakes here in this game, but still some interesting storylines to follow. Appreciate everybody that's watching along with us. Love you sickos for being in here. Yes, we are going to talk to Zach Berman in about

five minutes down at Lincoln Financial Field. But the story of the week has been, you know, the decision to rest starters. And, you know, going for an NFL record would be awesome. And then I watched the Ravens game last night and Zay Flowers leaves with a sprained knee. And then you've rewinded to last year in week 18 and AJ Brown and Reed Blankenship, you end up losing for the playoffs. And you go, yeah, this is the right decision. But it would have been really cool to see some history.

Yeah. I mean, Jason Kelsey said it on ESPN last night and said that, yeah, if one of those guys got hurt, that people would be killing Nick Seri. Absolutely. And I think that's not why you do it in terms of like protecting Nick Ziriani's reputation, but it's the prudent decision. And I think it is the right call here for the Eagles in this game. You know, Sequin Barclay, he spoke on both ends of it here in this week during the lead up to the game where,

yes, like he would have won't, he woke up on Monday feeling a little bit more like he wanted to go for it, but also said on the other side of it that, hey, you know what, if AJ Brown or if Lane Johnson, And if one of those guys got hurt out there playing trying to help me get that record, that that would have weighed on him as well. And so I think everybody understands. They've got bigger goals in mind. And that's what they're gearing for with a week of rest, which, by the way, this team hasn't gotten since week five. Yeah.

Yeah. And, you know, we're going to be intently watching around the NFL today before we get into the nitty gritty of today's game and Tanner McKee and some others. Basically, it comes down to the commanders cowboys game. if the commanders win that game, the Green Bay Packers will be coming to South Philadelphia next week. If they lose that game and the Packers beat the Bears, both kind of have bunny opponents this week.

We'll see if the Bears are playing for pride and jobs and all that. But both theoretically should win. So in all likelihood, it looks like... Actually, the Cowboys have been battling, maybe not. But it does look like the Packers are the more likely team to come to South Philly next week. Yeah, the Cowboys have been battling, but they're obviously without C.D. Lamb,

who they put on the show. before the Eagles game last week. You know, Chicago, they're reeling as well. So I think Dana is it pointed out the fact that looking at gambling markets, it's basically a 75, 76% chance that the Eagles will be facing the Green Bay Packers next week, which will be bring everything full circles since that's how they started the season in week one. Yeah, that feels like a long time ago, but not that long time ago. I do think I shifted to take the seeing the team for the third time element,

the division opponent element out of it. think even though I think the Packers are a better team, Jaden Daniels gives me a little bit more of a scare. So I think I'd rather play the Packers than the commanders is where I settled in. Yeah, I think that, look, either way, you're going to be playing a good team that can beat you. But I do think that I, me personally, I feel like the better matchup for the Eagles would be Washington, you know, the look, the last time the Eagles played a team for the third time, they mollywapped them, the Giants in that 2020. Good to use a Molly Woff. Yeah, you could definitely use one of those, you know, going into the

into the rest of the postseason. But I think at the end of the day, the Eagles either way, you're going to be facing a good team with a good quarterback here in week one. Yeah. And unfortunately for the Eagles this year, the NFC does feel loaded because these two teams

that you're going to play in round one, these aren't Cupcake games. These are 12 win type of teams. And the NFC, top the bottom this year is pretty impressive. You know, pick your poison because you're going to probably get a really good team in the second round if you do advance.

The Rams, the Vikings, they're all viable, you know, teams. with some scary, you know, ten and season strengths that they have. I mean, just think about the teams that are playing tonight. You know,

it's Minnesota versus Detroit. You win. You're the one seed. You got home field advantage. You got the buy. If you lose that game, you're the five seed. You're probably,

you're never going to host a playoff game. You're going on the road for the rest of the postseason. I mean, the stakes could not be higher. But I think, again, that speaks to the strength, not just of that division in the NFC North,

but just the NFC in general. It's a really strong field in that conference. It absolutely is. And one thing we can take. off the pregame show list and the panic meter for next week. Jalen Hertz did participate in Eagles walk through on Saturday.

So he is expected to be back. So everybody take a deep breath there. It did seem a little weird, but I think just because this week not meaning anything for him, why not just take your time? Yeah. And so you know, I all know what the extent was that he was able to do any kind of mental prep

in terms of meetings and all of that, that participation standpoint. But the fact that he was able to get on the field on Saturday. Now it means as long as all things are clear, he will be good to go once they get to the field on Tuesday. I just chuckled in the chat there because the professor is in the chat and he said there is nobody here. 22 minutes before kickoff and we'll see, I believe Zach Berman may be with us. Maybe we'll get a lookout onto the field. I would imagine today is a rather inactive day in the stands. A lot of free tickets handed out. A lot of neighbors getting tickets. A lot of kids probably going to a game they might not otherwise go to type of thing.

This was a game where, you know, working for the team, you better have sold those tickets like a month ago for this game, knowing that this was kind of coming. You don't want to save that just in case you hopefully got rid of those tickets a while ago because, yeah, otherwise you were you were giving those things away by the time he got to this week. It feels like the old half field dog packages with like Philly's tickets. It's like, anybody want week 18 tickets. All right, well, let's bring him in. He is down at Lincoln Financial Field. the man, the myth, the legend. Zach Berman. What's up, Zach? Hey, good to see you guys.

You as well. And the professor was just in the chat, Zach, saying that there is nobody here. Vives a little un-lively down there today? Yeah, that's fair to say. This was like preseason game traffic, if you will. There was, it was easy to get in. The parking lots, you didn't have your typical tailgating.

Now, I'm speculating here as less to do with the gravity of the game and more to do with how cold it is outside. You know, you mentioned that this is a good game to bring kids to. I imagine for the kids, it's exciting for the fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers, whatever it may be. It is bone-chilling out there, right? It's something about these week 18 games without playoff implications that are always, you know, the coldest.

You think week 17, that 2017 season, they played that New Year's Day game against the Cowboys. was a six-nothing game, and that was as cold as the home game's been. So, yeah, if you're looking for the, I'm not a big vibes guy as it is, but if you want me to give you the pre-game vibes, it's relatively muted. It's certainly not like the Lions Vikings game we're just talking about. Yeah, Zach, you're all vibes, man. Don't tell yourself short. All right, so the inactive list today looks like a pro bowl roster, Zach. Jalen Hertz, Darius Lay, Devonte Smith, AJ Brown, Nekobo Dean, Aiquon Barkley, Zach Bonn, Lane Johnson, Jordan Myelot,

Alan Dickerson, Jalen Carter. A lot of those guys are active, meaning like Josh Sweat, Dallas Goddard, C.J. G.J., Quinyan Mitchell, Cooper DeGine. Your interpretation of what we're going to see today, I would imagine we only see starters play if so-and-so gets hurt or they're forced into action. What do you make of active versus inactives and what we're going to see today? Yeah, not necessarily. So pre-game warm-offs,

I was a bit surprised by the starters who were, by some of the starters who were out there. Dallas Goddor being one of them. Dallas Goddard was with the first team offense in seven-on-seven with the first team offense in 11-on-11 warm-ups. So maybe they wanted to shake some rust off of Dallas-Gaude. Jordan Davis was out there with the first-team defense. So was Milton Williams.

So that also surprised me a bit, too. Maybe those are guys that they want to get a few. snaps for go get into the playoffs as well. You are right. I mean, a lot of the headliners who are in uniform, whether it's Josh Sweat, Cam Juergens, I don't expect to see those guys on the field. But I was a bit surprised that I saw Goddard out there during pregame warmups. And I don't, you know, typically pregame warmups are a good indication of what it's going to look like at the start of the game. So it certainly looks like they're trying to get got her a few snaps today.

That said, Zach, who are some of the young players? Maybe we're just starting the offensive side that you got your eye on. Who are you expecting to see most of here in this game? Yeah. So this is this like if you're a nerd for the roster like I am, this is the fun game to monitor because you've been, we've been talking about these guys for a long time. Obviously Tanner McKee, but Johan Dotson, who, well, John Dotson is the third receiver here, but hasn't been productive.

If you can get hints from some momentum going into the playoffs, this is a chance for him to get some yards. Will Shipley at running back. Now, Kenny Gainwell is out there with the first team, but I would expect to see a lot more of Shipley. Shipley was someone who I was intrigued by coming out of Clemson. And then, you know, some of the

backup offensive linemen, Darian Canard's a player who are behind the scenes and heard good things about. You know, so I think some people were surprised that he made the 53. I wasn't based on what I heard this summer of how he looked. I want to see Steve. You know, I

I think all snaps are meaningful for Kylo's team at this point. And the Eagles are going to have a decision to make after the season with Mackay Beckton. So those are a few names on the offensive side. On the defensive side, obviously Sidney Brown. Sydney Brown is someone who we really haven't seen much of in a defensive role this year. And I thought going into the year, he would be in the team's plans. So I want to see some Sydney Brown. Keeley Ringo getting some snaps on the outside.

Keeley hasn't played as much defense. this year, as he did a year ago. I would say at linebacker, obviously, Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. is someone who I'm intrigued with. And Eagles have been pretty healthy at linebacker this year. He's the fourth guy. He hasn't been the third guy. Orrin Berks has been the next one up.

But I want to see Trotter get some snaps. And then on that defensive front, Bryce Huff. Bryce Huff was supposed to be a headliner for the Eagles. Obviously, hasn't been. Vic Fangio said he was rusty last week. I would expect him to play Bryce Huff quite a bit today. just so they can get a good look at him going into the full season. Zach, it's going to be an interesting one outside of Philadelphia today

as Trey Lance is getting the start for the Dallas Cowboys versus the Washington commanders. If the Washington commanders win, they are the sixth seed, and the Eagles will host the Packers next week. Have you made an official which team you'd rather see? I'm sure you have. I just may have missed it. Would you rather see the commanders of the Packers coming

to Philadelphia next week. Absolutely, Washington. I think Green Bay, I think Green Bay is dangerous. I think Green Bay is a legit Super Bowl contender. I understand Washington's playing well. Washington's beating the Eagles, so, you know, there might be some confidence there. I think Green Bay is the better football team,

and especially, I think they're better suited for the postseason. Look, they've won big postseason games on the road before. I know Washington hasn't had the opportunity to do that. This is a new Washington regime. But if you just look at the matchups, I like the way the Eagles match up against Washington. I don't put as much into that game two weeks ago. Jaywin went down early on.

Washington was trying a few different things that obviously they put advantage of the Eagles in the second half of that game. I think Eagles were clearly better than Washington. I think Green Bay is a much tougher team. And I know the odds are highly in favor of this being a game against Big Bay than against Washington. I think Eagles fans should be rooting for Dallas today

and hoping Green Bay wins because I would rather see Washington in the opening round than the Packers. Do you disagree? The only reason I slightly do is because Jaden Daniel scares me. I think he's the scarier of the two opponents. I agree with you, the Packers are the better team, but losing Zaire last week and he's out.

Jordan Love, I feel like, is still prone to mistakes and turnovers. I've been real conflicted on it. I've gone back and forth all week on it, to be honest. Yeah, I mean, look, I can't take anything away from, from Jaydon Daniels. He's been awesome this year. And the division opponent aspect of it, too. I just would rather face somebody that you don't see a third time. What you saw from Jordan Love last year against Dallas in the postseason,

which you saw from Jordan Love last year against San Francisco in the postseason, that's a guy who I wouldn't want to see in the month of January. because, you know, when I've seen you do that in a big playoff game before, I know you can do that big balloff game and that. So that would concern me if I were to do this thing. Yeah. To me, when I look at Green Bay as well, I mean, look, this is a team that's certainly battle tested. They played in the best division in football this year.

Now, they haven't, they don't have that big win. You know, they haven't beaten any of these elite teams they've gone up against, but this is still a team that finished in the top five in DVOA, both on offense and defense as professor, Dana is pointed out on the show on Friday. So this is a team, certainly that has some teeth. I think it can give you concerns on both sides. I think they're beating either team.

It's just, I guess, personal preferences. Also, this little fact that Professor Selman brought up on the show Friday, I think shows the strength of Green Bay. Their only losses this season have come against Detroit, Minnesota, and Philadelphia, right? You're talking about three teams that might be 14 win teams if the Eagles win today. Like 14, you know, the only teams you've lost to all year are 14 win teams. That jumps out to me. Yeah, the professor's in the chat saying he agrees with me that Daniels is scarier,

but Green Bay is the better team. Completely agree. It's kind of like a coin flip matchup. Zach, what else are you going to be looking at for today? I know you walk through some of the backups. Do we see, I don't know, is there a wild card appearance from somebody you're excited about, anybody else that you're going to be paying attention to closely today? It's more if you're looking long-term in the NFC East.

This is a significant game in the sense that it's bad for the Giants if they win this game. And, you know, if the Giants are keeping Brian Daibble, then I got to imagine Brian Daibald doesn't want to win this game. And look, if you just take this field, you know, this field back in the 2020 season finale when the Eagles hanged it, if you will. That was the difference that year between the six and the nine pick. And there was obviously a lot that went on thereafter,

but the Eagles were able to use that six pick and make multiple trades over a three-year period that netted them elite players, right? They end up with Devonte Smith and A.J. Brown and J.L. and Carter, not all from that trade, but the optionality from getting the six pick was huge because you're able to make that pick with Miami. you're able to have multiple picks.

And I bring that up because if you're the Giants right now and you win this game. Yes, disaster. Right? And so from the Eagles perspective, you just talk about Jaden Daniels. If the best path for a Giants turnaround is getting a quarterback to build around, I'll defer to Fran. I don't love this quarterback to refast this year. Oh, it's weak.

But you never know. And if your chance of getting a potential franchise quarterback goes down significantly, going from drafting maybe fourth to ninth or tenth, right, then it changes the complexion of the NFC. So I'm curious to see how the Giants navigate this game. If this is something where Brian Daibald thinks he needs to win it for his job security, you know, you end the game or you end the season with two consecutive wins, there's some momentum you can argue there for him.

I think from the Eagles perspective, look, I think Nick Siriani would love to be a 14 game winner twice. And I know, I know, like, from a roster building perspective, you can say it hurts the Giants. If the Giants win, it hurts them. But I think for Nick's resume, he would love to say that the two best seasons in franchise history were the seasons he coach. So, yeah, I think the Eagles are going to be the more motivated team today.

I think the Giants will probably have more talent on the field, but I think the Eagles will be the more motivated team out there. All right, Zach. So why don't you leave us with your prediction for a backup bowl for the Eagles today. Yeah, so I got to tell you that I take pride in my analysis. I don't know how to forecast this game here. Yeah, there's both tangibly and intangibly.

There's so many variables. I just don't know. But I see the Pet 365 logo behind Fran's head. You know, the odds makers know what they're doing. And they have the Eagles as three-point favorites for, reason, right? So I'm not going to argue with, I always say argue with Vegas, but I actually don't think they're necessarily in Vegas anymore. Wherever that 3-65, the odd makers are, this is a three-point spread. This is a 36-point over-under. So I'm going to, I'm going to play

right on those lines. I see France shaking instead of me. I'm going, I'm going. Eagles 19, giant 17. So the Eagles win, but don't cover, and it hits the over-under. Wow, there you go. That's great analysis. Great handicapping from Zach Berman. Zach, we will talk to you on the postgame show. Look forward to it. Thanks, guys. See, Zach. And by the way, Jake Glazer apparently just said on TV that Dallas Goddard wants to knock some rust off, which is why he'll be playing some today. There we go. What do you think about that decision? I think that makes sense. I think when you're a player that has missed the amount of time that Goddard did miss this year, it's not just the last four games, but also he had that was his second.

and IR stand. So he's missed half the season due to injury this year. So being able to kind of knock some of that off, both as a blocker and as a receiver, probably a prudent decision there on his part. Yeah. And it's why I'll be paying a lot of attention to your tight end analysis this offseason. Yeah. I mean, look, we'll see. I mean, look, he's at that age now where the Eagles in the past. I mean, he's the same age that Zach Ertz was when the Eagles drafted Goddard. The same as Schellick was when they, when they drafted Ertz. And so I think you're at that point in a pretty strong, tight-end draft where they could try to address that position by the time you get to day two. All right, let's take a quick second and tell you about some friends of ours at PHLY.

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You deserve an expert and the best price, and Golden Nugget Jewelers gives you both. It's where Philly gets engaged. Head over to golden nuggetjulers.com to learn more. And while Sequin, Fran might not have a shot at the NFL all-time record, he does have some cool merch out now. Yeah? You know, he was rocking his own shirt on the field today.

and we here at PHLY have the Barclay with the 2K right there in the middle on all pHLY.com as well as the bring the trophy back Eagle with the arms out. So some cool new stuff you can check out on the merch shop on all pHLY.com. What Zach said there at the end, it is damn near impossible to handicap or make sense of this game. Are we seeing four four four quarters of Tanner McKee here? Is that?

Yeah, I would think so. I mean, Kenny, it's the backup and Ian's the emergency, so we're getting to all Mormon missile all the time? I would think that this is going to be mostly Tanner McKee, if not all Tanner McKee, in this game. Just with Pickett coming off the injury, I'm going to be honest, though, man. Like, I think the Eagles win this going away.

I don't think the Giants have, I don't think that the Giants make it even as close as Zach pointed out there. I do think the Eagles cover this. I think that there's just, even with most of these starters sitting, I do think that the Eagles have more talent than the Giants are going to be offering in this game. So the Giants, absolutely want to lose this. I still can't believe they won last week. That was very funny. Are we going to see Tommy cutlets in the second half? Like how do you think they handle this?

Drew Locke, obviously getting the start. When you go to Bet 365, you can't even find Eagles players props outside of touchdowns because they don't know who's playing. Do you think this is Drew Locke for four quarters or do you think we get a little cutlets in there? I mean, look, I will see if they decide that they're going to put cutlets in. But at the end of the day, we saw on TV this summer, how things can play out for a team. You might say, hey, you get to this point and it's like,

oh, it's a couple of draft slots, who cares? It's one point for them to get wins. They were left out of the cold, in the cold, in the quarterback market in the draft because they were two spots out. So look, this year's quarterback class

is not like last years. There's not going to be that same heated, desire to be able to move up for a lot of teams. Like there was a year ago, that said, for a team that is certainly going to be in that quarterback market, you want to have the option.

to be as high as possible in the draft. And for a team that would have loved to make that move for Drake May or for Jaden Daniels last spring, they don't want to be on the outside looking in here when they get to April. All right. Let's go to Bowen Eye's final regular season best bet segment of the game presented by Bet365. Find out why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Use promo code P.HLY365 when you sign up. Now, there are a lot of player incentives around the NFL today.

I put in a huge plus 3,200 parlay based on like Mike Evans and Gino Smith and J.K. Dobbins and all these guys that have a lot of money on the line. This game probably not going to touch. There's not many player props available for the Eagles offensively in this one because you just don't really know how to calculate this stuff. Even Bet 365 is like, yeah, we'll give you some touchdown odds here. But, you know, we don't really know about these over-unders. So I'm going to go with Will Shipley to get a first touchdown plus 900.

I originally had Kenny Gainwell in there at plus 500, which I think is the smarter bet. But Shipley, like, it just felt like one of those emotional intelligence. Let's get the rookie a touchdown in a meaningless game. Kenny Gainwell scored before. So that's me trying to tap into Siriani's mind a little bit. Okay. So I'm going with plus 900 for the first touchdown. And then I think Bose boy, Grant Calcatera, I'll take it plus 900 for the anytime.

touchdown. He's going against you with the E.J. Jenkins anytime touchdown. So a lot of focus right now on these tight ends between Dallas Goddard. And then we have Calcutara and E.J. Jenkins here on the best bet segment. Yeah. Boe. J. Anytime plus 550 there. I got to say, I think the Calcutterra's better value there. Plus 900 can play it plus 550. Both would be nice to hit. And then Bo's going with Tyrone Tracy. Longest run over 12 and a half yards laying minus. 120 to do so. So there you have it. I will say that if Grand Calcutara

does score, you have to just needle, though, with the Calcutera prop hitting for you. I don't want to use the coward word here with Bo, but he's really abandoned Grand Calcutara. Oh, he left him for dead. Yeah, no question. That is rough. All right, let's get out of here because we have a week 18 game

to get to prediction. Somewhere similar to Zach. Like, I think this is going to be like a 20 to 14 Eagles win. I do think they cover but it's just like there's so many variables up in the air here. What do you got? Eagles 2713. I think it feels,

it doesn't feel as close as that. Okay. There you have it, folks. Week 18, Fran and I will be live here at halftime, giving our reactions to the Mormon missile, and then the full crew with Bo and Vinny and Zach, joining us from the stadium for post game on the final regular season game of the year.

Man, season flew by. Yeah. Thanks to everybody that hung out with us. Why don't you do me a favor? Hit that thumbs up. Smash that like button. Subscribe to the channel if you haven't. We love you.

Go birds. See you at halftime. You all silly like the mayor.