Welcome to The Linc, the daily Philadelphia Eagles links roundup at Bleeding Green Nation!
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is apparently big on the Birds this year. Losing another Super Bowl to the Chiefs by three points sure wouldn’t be fun. I do think it would be cool to see a rubber match between these two teams. Same goes for a potential Super Bowl matchup against the Patriots. Especially cool if the Eagles actually go out and win the game.
Predicting the 2026 NFL playoff field, plus Super Bowl pick – ESPN
On the NFC side, I’ll pick the Eagles. I really believe in their defense as potentially being the league’s most complete unit, with difference-makers at all three levels and one of the best defensive coaches in Vic Fangio. There’s understandable skepticism about the offense after the Eagles made coaching changes and moved on from legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, but when Lane Johnson has been on the field, the Eagles have been successful. The star right tackle should be in the lineup more often in 2026, and the Eagles will have more success running the ball than they did a year ago. They’re one of the few teams that can compete with the Rams along the line of scrimmage and hold up in coverage against their playmakers. […] That leaves us with a Super Bowl rubber match. And as you can probably guess, if I believed enough in the Chiefs to pick them to win the AFC, I’ll ride with them to gain a measure of revenge and beat the Eagles in Super Bowl LXI. The added rushing element with Walker will give the Eagles issues they didn’t face when these two teams met in Super Bowl LIX, when the Chiefs basically abandoned the run altogether after the Eagles took an early lead. Without the ability to pin their ears back and strictly go after Mahomes as a passer, the Eagles might not be quite as dominant on defense this time around. Jalen Hurts has been spectacular in the Super Bowl matchups against Mahomes, but his one fumble in Super Bowl LVII helped swing seven points back to the Chiefs in a 38-35 victory. This one wouldn’t be quite as high-scoring, but let’s say that the Chiefs let Kelce (and potentially other members of the organization) ride off into the sunset. My pick: Chiefs 27, Eagles 24.
Eagles Film Preview: Commanders could struggle to stop Philadelphia’s rushing attack – BGN
Overall, I still favor the Eagles. Washington is installing a complicated new defensive system with a number of new starters, while the Eagles have far more continuity within the roster even if the offensive structure has changed. The obvious concern is that Jones’ entire defensive philosophy is built around making quarterbacks and offensive lines second-guess what they are seeing. That is probably not ideal for an offense playing its first meaningful game under a new coordinator. However, Washington also has to execute all of that complexity, and I’m not convinced the defensive personnel is good enough right now.
Every NFL team ranked by their 2027 Super Bowl chances entering Week 1 – SB Nation
Tier 1: Super Bowl Contenders. Nobody in our top five should really surprise anyone. These are the teams that are the elite of the elite, the cream of the crop, the organizations that either have everything together they need to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, or have issues so minor they won’t play a major role in their success. These are the teams that would stun us if they missed the playoffs, or got eliminated early. The Rams speak for themselves in this tier. The big question comes at the back end with the Ravens, who perennially get ranked high because they should have all the tools to make it, but end up with a fatal flaw in the playoffs. This year we see new head coach Jesse Minter having the capability to get them over that hump. No. 1: Los Angeles Rams, No. 2: Seattle Seahawks, No. 3: Buffalo Bills, No. 4: Philadelphia Eagles, No. 5: Baltimore Ravens.
Season Predictions w/BLG | OTSP #157 – Eagles Pin-Pull Network
Shane and Jonny are joined by Brandon Lee Gowton from Bleeding Green Nation to make predictions for the Eagles’ season.
Know Your Enemy – Jayden Daniels – Iggles Blitz
Daniels having to open the season against a loaded Eagles defense isn’t ideal for Washington, especially behind a questionable OL. The one advantage is that the Eagles won’t have good game tape to study. Washington limited their playbook in the preseason. The Eagles faced the Lions offense last year so they know the basic system, but they don’t know about Blough as a play-caller or how the offense will look with Daniels running it. I think it is fair to say he’s just a tad different from Jared Goff.
Why Jalen Hurts will flourish in Sean Mannion’s offense – NBCSP
And I don’t see any reason Hurts won’t flourish in this system. For starters, he’s flourished in every system so I can’t come up with a reason this would be any different. But Mannion really seems to have tailored the offense to what Hurts likes to do within the heavy play-action, under-center tenets the scheme is built on. This is a system that is quarterback friendly because the QB doesn’t have to read the whole field, most passes are high-percentage low-risk throws and there’s a heavy emphasis on running the ball and disguising plays pre-snap to keep defenses off balance. If the offensive line can stay healthy – and so far so good – and Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Makai Lemon can help make up for the loss of good ol’ What’s His Name in New England, and Saquon Barkley can run the ball consistently and productively, there’s nothing that can hold this offense back. Will it take a few weeks before it all comes together? Probably. The starting offense hasn’t played one snap of real football with Mannion calling plays, and that’s a little scary. They’ll go into Sunday’s opener vs. Washington without a dry run. But ultimately, this season is going to end the same way as 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. With the Eagles in the playoffs and Hurts as one of the biggest reasons why.
Why Eagles OC Sean Mannion’s ‘beautiful mind’ matters more than new scheme – The Athletic
The Eagles did not game plan specifically for preseason games, so his first time planning and sequencing the calls comes Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Early feedback on the operation was favorable. Quarterbacks appreciated how quickly they heard the play call. The call sheet appeared organized. Communication remained sound. Substitutions were clean. Mystery still exists. The scheme, which the Eagles consider a competitive advantage, will evolve as Mannion sees how it fits the personnel. But Mannion’s success will depend on more than the binder he put together. It hinges on how he puts those ideas to work. “As the year goes on,” Mailata said, “we get to display what’s in the beautiful mind of his.”
‘It’s his time:’ DeVonta Smith enters 2026 primed to prove the Eagles — and himself — right as the new WR1 – PHLY Eagles
Dating back to the spring, there has been palpable internal enthusiasm for what Smith can become in new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s scheme. The 27-year-old has yet to surpass the 100-catch mark in his career mostly spent as the “1B” to Brown’s “1A.” How productive can he be if he starts getting thrown the ball more often? According to TruMedia, Smith ranked 12th in target share last year at 24.4%, while Brown finished 10th at 26.1%. But what if that number were closer to the 30% mark Jaxon Smith-Njigba surpassed last season (35.8%) and Puka Nacua approached (28.5%) in similar schemes geared around a play-action passing game that funnels targets to versatile pass catchers. Those close to Smith believe he’s ready for that workload. Actually, those close to Smith know he’s been not so patiently waiting for this. “Smitty fools everybody with this quiet, chill demeanor,” Murphy said. “Inside, there’s the heart of a diva receiver banging in his chest saying, ‘I want the ball, every time.’ I think he’s got a maturity and a respect for the team, so he goes out there just lunchpail and does the job. Whatever they’re going to ask him, he’s going to be in a position to execute it and do it. But he’s not lacking one ounce of confidence. Whatever anyone says about his body, he feels he’s 6-foot-5, 280.” Eagles wide receiver coach Aaron Moorehead added, “I think he’s always seen himself as a [No.] 1. And I think in this building we’ve always seen him as a one. You just had another guy that was a one. So for him, I think that he feels like it’s just his time.”
Riq Woolen wants to show Eagles fans the real him – PhiladelphiaEagles.com
It’s not every day that you hear a player coming off a Super Bowl Championship say that they look forward to proving themselves – but that is just the type of player Riq Woolen is. Selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, the former UTSA Roadrunner had a chip on his shoulder. Woolen exceeded all expectations as a late-round pick in his rookie year, co-leading the NFL in interceptions (6) and earning selection to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. After four productive years in Seattle that cumulated in a Super Bowl LX victory, Woolen signed with Philadelphia in free agency to play opposite first-team All-Pro Quinyon Mitchell. At the start of Training Camp, Woolen said he felt like the “new guy in class” entering a secondary with Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. While Woolen became more acclimated with his teammates as Training Camp progressed, joint practices against the Patriots in New England proved to be a turning point for the fifth-year cornerback. “When you are in somebody else’s territory, you have no choice but to grow closer,” Woolen said. “We are all in a hotel for a week straight. All the meetings are in the hotel, we are all going to practice. So, being able to keep spending time with each other, I felt like it made us closer.”
Merrill Reese wants to broadcast Eagles games ‘forever.’ His wife helps him stay sharp after 50 years. – Inquirer
Merrill Reese sat in his living room chair, awaiting the rapid-fire questions from his wife as she prepared the longtime Eagles broadcaster for another game. “Thirty-one,” said Cindy Reese, reading off an index card listing Cincinnati Bengals running backs. Reese — who begins his 50th season on Sunday as the voice of the Eagles — needed a moment to think. Cindy, who has a doctorate in education and spent 20 years teaching middle schoolers, quizzes him the night before each game on the opposing players. She reads him a number and he spits out a name. They repeat the numbers until he masters it, like a student preparing for a big test. “I can drill,” she said. “I know what to do.”
Packers sign RB Damon Bankston – Acme Packing Company
The Packers worked out former Eagles CB Ambry Thomas.
DB Ambry Thomas […] It’s possible that Green Bay is still looking for answers to practice squad bodies at quarterback, where they signed Kedon Slovis from the Arizona Cardinals, and tight end, where the team retained Drake Dabney, but it also makes a lot of sense that they’re keeping an eye on defensive backs, too. The team only has 11 total defensive backs available between the 53-man roster and the practice squad, barely enough to make a two-deep at the position once you include nickel defenders. Eventually, the Packers will probably want to add numbers somewhere on the team in the secondary.
Cowboys projected to have 52% chance of making the playoffs – Blogging The Boys
Question 1: What percentage chance would you give the Cowboys to make the playoffs this year? ESPN gives Dallas a 33.9% chance of winning the division, behind the Eagles who are at 46.3% chance. (Good luck Washington and New York). They have the Cowboys with a projected win total of 9.2 wins. We’ll round that off to 9-8 record. The Cowboys went 7-9-1 last year in a poor season. Only two more wins on the year feels somewhat low. Does it to you?
The Washington Commanders release Week 1 depth chart – Hogs Haven
There aren’t many surprises on the document, with some clarity provided at the cornerback spot. Mike Sainristil and Amik Roberson are listed as first-teamers, with Rasul Douglas and Fabian Moreau behind them. There isn’t a slot cornerback position listed, so we’re unsure of who would play inside within the sub packages. Odds seem great that Roberton or Sainristil would move into the slot and Douglas would play on the outside.
Darius Slayton cut is a gamble the NY Giants might regret – Big Blue View
John Harbaugh is running a meritocracy, and Darius Slayton’s play this summer did not warrant him being ahead of any other wide receiver on the New York Giants’ roster. That is the biggest reason Slayton is an ex-Giant today. Slayton missed the entire spring after double sports hernia surgery. He had a quiet summer, admitting not long ago that he still was not running at 100%, though he felt “pretty good.” Malik Nabers is the Giants’ No. 1 wide receiver. Malachi Fields, Odell Beckham Jr., and Darnell Mooney were all better than Slayton this summer. For that matter, practice squad receivers Braxton Berrios and Dalen Cambre were also better. Slayton was ticketed for the game-day inactive list when Sunday’s season-opening game against the Dallas Cowboys rolled around. None of that means that cutting Slayton isn’t a massive gamble by the Giants.
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