Eagles News: Brandon Graham says his heart is always going to be with Philadelphia

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Eagles’ Brandon Graham tries not to think about leaving the only NFL locker room he has known - Daily News
“I feel good where I am [in my career],” Graham said Wednesday. “I’m just excited because I was able to bring a ring to Philly. Hopefully, because it’s not over, another one [lies ahead] … My heart is always going to be with this city. I’m going to be here anyway,” because he intends to build a life in the area after football. [...] “Working out with Larry Foote, he used to always say, ‘Try to stay with Philly as long as you can, ‘cause as soon as you start bouncing, that’s when you get out of the league,’ ” Graham said. He said he has seen this happen, even with Cole, who played 155 Eagles games, followed by 21 in Indianapolis before he retired. “For me, I want to be here as long as I can,” said Graham, who strip-sacked Tom Brady last Feb. 4 to help seal the franchise’s first championship in 57 years.

Report: DeSean Jackson wants to move on from the Buccaneers and the Eagles are a potential landing spot - BGN
UPDATE: DeSean reportedly has interest in the Eagles. But are they interested in him?

At the Podium #16.5: Fixing the Fourth - BGN Radio
What’s going on with the 23rd ranked 4th quarter defense of the Eagles? That’s just one of the questions Jim Schwartz has to answer in his presser, plus offensive coordinator Mike Groh weighs in on more Wentz talk and addresses his little spat with Nelson Agholor! Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.

Eagles vs. Redskins: Five matchups to watch - PhillyVoice
In previous seasons, DT Fletcher Cox vs. RG Brandon Scherff was a fun individual matchup to watch. With Scherff and starting LG Shawn Lauvao both done for the season, the Redskins are undermanned on the interior of the offensive line, and could be vulnerable to the Eagles’ interior defensive front. Starting in place of Scherff will be Tony Bergstrom. Starting in lace of Lauvao initially was Jonathan Cooper, who also went on IR. Now it’s Luke Bowanko. Cox, Timmy Jernigan, and whoever else lines up at DT for the Eagles must dominate those tomato cans.

More on the Improved Offense - Iggles Blitz
I think the biggest key is the O-line. Those guys have done a better job of blocking in recent weeks. Lane Johnson shut down J.J. Watt, one of the best defensive players in the league. Watt was basically a non-factor. Compare that to earlier in the year. Johnson was beaten for strip sacks by rookie Harold Landry of TEN and Vikings role player Stephen Weatherly. The ball was returned for a TD in the loss to the Vikings. If Johnson is 100 percent in those games, he likely doesn’t give up those sacks and the season could be very different. We can’t do anything about that, but I do think we have to acknowledge the fact that the line is healthier now and playing better. The return of Darren Sproles has made a difference. He’s scored 3 TDs since coming back and has made some impact plays.

Offense Finds Its Stride In Time For Playoff Push - PE.com
The Eagles’ offense is now what we thought it would be all season – explosive, diverse, high scoring. An offensive line that has withstood in-and-out changes for much of the season is playing its best football. The passing game is electric. The running game is effective enough to keep defenses honest. And the play calling has been daring and aggressive and confident. Back-to-back games of 30-plus points have put the Eagles in position to finish the regular season on a high note. What took so long to put it all together on a consistent basis? It’s not just the play of Nick Foles at the quarterback position, right? It’s more than that, of course.

NFL evaluators make picks on Week 17’s best games - ESPN In$ider
The Vikings have eight touchdowns from scrimmage over the past two weeks, tied with Seattle for most in the NFL. Will their successes against Miami and Detroit carry over against the Bears, who rank first in defensive efficiency? Will Chicago limit snaps for some players given that it has less than a 5 percent projected chance of improving its seeding for the playoffs? “Minnesota has to prove they can create offense against a team that will stop the run, and they have not shown that yet,” the insider picking the Bears said. “If Minnesota has to put it on [Kirk] Cousins’ shoulders, I like Chicago’s chances.”

Talking Eagles with Brandon Lee Gowton - KYW
The Eagles wrap up the regular season on Sunday by paying the Washington Redskins a visit. The Eagles need a win and a loss by Minnesota to head to the playoffs. KYW Newsradio’s Matt Leon spoke with Brandon Lee Gowton of BleedingGreenNation.com to talk all things Eagles.

Eagles and Bears could be having a 30-year Fog Bowl reunion - PFT
One day after the regular season ends, an obscure anniversary will arrive for the NFL. December 31, 1988. The Fog Bowl. During the second quarter of a wild-card playoff game between the Eagles and Bears on New Year’s Eve nearly 30 years ago, a dense fog rolled in to Soldier Field. The thick blanket of excessively liquified air dramatically reduced visibility. The unusual and intriguing development quickly melted to a virtually unwatchable game, televised by CBS and called by Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw.

Several Eagles might play their final game with the team on Sunday - NBCSP
Nick Foles: I think we’re all well aware of this situation. The Eagles are invested in Carson Wentz as their future quarterback. So barring something crazy, Foles is probably going to hit free agency because the Eagles aren’t going to pick up that $20 million option. I think that’s why Foles was so emotional after what was probably his final home game. He knows the situation and there’s nothing he can do to change it.

NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Bears climb into top three as we head into final week of NFL season - The Athletic
15. Philadelphia Eagles, 8-7. (Last week: 15) Fine, we’re on board for some more Nick Foles late-season magic. The Eagles will need some help in Week 17 to get into the playoffs, but if they somehow find a way into the last wild card spot, we’re not going to bet against Foles and Co.

Jay Gruden Redskins Presser: “This game is important. I want to see their character. I want to see them compete.” - Hogs Haven
Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden and Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky spoke to reporters after today’s practice. Gruden gave injury updates, and talked about today’s roster moves. Manusky reacted to the D.J. Swearinger controversy and his release from the team this week.

Week 17 Game preview: Bears vs. Vikings - Windy City Gridiron
The front seven against Mitch Trubisky looms large here, will Trubisky be able to recognize where the pressure will come from while keeping his eyes downfield and find where the open receiver is? Picking apart the tough secondary of the Vikings will be difficult, Trubisky struggled during the first meeting, throwing two picks and leading the offense to just one touchdown. What did he learn from that game? On defense, I think the match up is the Bears’ front four getting pressure on Kirk Cousins is the biggest key. Sure, I think that shutting down Dalvin Cook is important because he has the speed and the skillset to burn the defense, but Cousins makes the whole thing work. Cousins’ struggles against winning teams and big moments is well documented. If the Bears can rattle him, like they did in the first game, then he should turn the ball over.

Vikings injury report update: Linval Joseph, Mike Remmers return - Daily Norseman
We’re getting into “scary” territory with guys like Ham, Kendricks, Rhodes, and Sherels. They’ve all missed the first two practices of the week, so we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what they do on Friday. If they don’t practice tomorrow, there could be a lot of different faces for the Vikings in the most important game of the 2018 season. Hopefully at least a couple of them will be ready to go by then.

Who Should Win the NFL’s Biggest Awards This Season? - The Ringer
There’s still one week left on the regular-season schedule, but the cases for MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and more have already been made. Who should be rewarded with hardware this year?

How A Dwayne Haskins Declaration Can Prompt Trade Frenzy - The Draft Network
Remember that time the Giants passed on a quarterback last year to draft a running back? Yeah, it’s hard to forget because it is all anyone talks about. Here’s the deal. Saquon Barkley is allowed to be a great running back and a good pick. But now the Giants need to shift the focus to a long-term answer at QB. Eli Manning ain’t it, nor is Kyle Lauletta (2018 rookie). New York has the advantage of currently picking the highest in the order, but they’re out of striking distance to ensure they land the top prospect in Haskins, should he declare.

The 5 most fireable NFL coaches of Week 16, including one guy who maaaaybe could be replaced by Jim Harbaugh - SB Nation
The time is nigh. Black Monday is less than a week away. The Wikipedia label “current NFL head coaches” will get a whole lot less populated Dec. 31, one day after the 2018 regular season comes to its official close. Few traditions in the league are more reliable than underwhelming teams jettisoning scapegoats less than 24 hours after wrapping up a depressing year. A Black Monday firing is just the first step of an arduous healing process that can either clear a pathway to greatness (like when the Rams cast off Jeff Fisher and the platinum albatross of his “7-9 bullshit”) or leave a franchise panicking in search of traction like a Mercury Tracer driving through black ice (like every Browns coach after 1995). Several clubs destined for prime spots at the 2019 NFL Draft are ready for a change in management. The Jaguars’ impressive crash could see Doug Marrone fired from his second AFC team in five years. Marvin Lewis’ quest to see how long he can wallow in mediocrity before the Bengals’ management finally notices may find an answer after 16 seasons. And the Jets? Well...

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