unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane

Jalen Hurts puffed a big a** cigar. Gillie da kid led a dance party. A pair of team-changing rookies basked in the shine of new hardware. These were just some of the snapshots from the Philadelphia Eagles’ victorious locker room following their NFC championship win over the Washington Commanders. Want to hear more? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane serves as your fly on the wall during the Eagles’ postgame celebration, and frames key factors that not only helped the team get back to the Super Bowl, but will also likely determine whether the group can exact revenge on the Kansas City Chiefs for a second championship. unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

With all due respect to the quarterback, maybe we should be spending more time talking about the other “Jalen” on the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster. For as up and down a performance as Jalen Hurts endured in the Eagles’ Divisional playoff matchup with the LA Rams, Jalen Carter proved an indomitable force, especially in crunch time. It’s hard to imagine his team surviving the nail-biter without him. In just his second year, Carter is becoming known as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Should he be getting even more love? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane puts the rising star’s season into context, and examines one of the most underrated aspects of his game. Plus, with Hurts and the passing attack continuing to struggle in the postseason, Jeff asks around to see if he can get a better sense of what the Eagles can do to right the ship. And be sure to check out the latest installment of our “Pick Six” interview series. This week, Jeff talks to Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who explains the origins of his ‘DJ Oreo’ nickname and the inspiration behind some of his dance moves. 00:00 The “other” Jalen, and his rising star 10:20 Can the passing game get on track? Does it need to? 25:11 Pick Six with Jordan Davis 31:48 Setting the table for Round 3 vs. Washington unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

The Eagles hear your concerns about the (lack of) offensive style points in their NFC Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. They know everyone’s got thoughts about which team they match up best against in the next round. Guess what? To borrow a phrase used by several players inside the victorious postgame locker room at Lincoln Financial Field, they “don’t give a f***.” Not because they’re being dismissive of fans or media, but because they understand that, in the playoffs, the bottom line is all that matters when faced with win-or-go-home stakes. And while the offense had its struggles against Green Bay, the defense was once again dominant, a sign The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane considers auspicious for the Eagles’ Super Bowl chances. Listen to his insights from the Eagles’ postseason opener, and analysis of the team’s rematch with the LA Rams. Also, breakout rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean joins Jeff for his latest “Pick Six” interview, and talks about growing up in a tiny midwest town, only to get to know WNBA star Caitlin Clark when she and DeJean overlapped at the University of Iowa. Plus, Jeff speaks with Eagles free-agents-to-be Milton Williams and Zack Baun about the excitement of the present, and uncertainty of their respective futures. 00:00 The Eagles' “IDGAF” mindset 04:42 Defense shines vs. Packers 15:15 What’s next for Milton Williams, Zack Baun, and other free-agents-to- be? 23:03 “Pick Six” with Cooper DeJean 31:07 Previewing the Rams unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

45 player interviews. An array of perspectives. This was the assignment The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane embarked on over the final two weeks of the regular season, during which he spoke with nearly every member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ revolving 53-man roster for his annual year-in-review player survey. On the heels of a bounce back 14-3 regular season, Jeff polled players on five big picture topics: team MVP, most memorable moment, turning point, unheralded player, and areas of personal growth and development. As the Eagles get ready to start their postseason run, listen back on the defining storylines from 2024 through the eyes of the players who lived them. Plus, Jeff previews the Eagles’ NFC WildCard playoff matchup with the Green Bay Packers, a team the Eagles defeated in the season opener. 00:00 Setting the stage for the playoffs 04:07 Jeff McLane’s annual end-of-regular season player survey: team MVP, most memorable moment, turning point, unheralded player, and areas of personal growth and development 32:11 Previewing the Green Bay unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

Byproduct of circumstance and the absence of key personnel, or warning signs of reasons for concern? What should be made of the Philadelphia Eagles’ disappointing last-second loss to Washington that halted a franchise-record 10-game winning streak, and diminished the Eagles’ chances of earning the no. 1 playoff seed in the NFC?The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes a measured look at the issues that surfaced against the Commanders, and addresses what the team can do about problems it can control, and others it can’t - namely, the status of injured quarterback Jalen Hurts. Plus, Jeff examines the underrated yet undeniably great season being put together by left tackle Jordan Mailata, who’s making a strong case for his first Pro Bowl bid. And did you catch that awkward exchange between head coach Nick Sirianni and former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz after the Commanders game? Jeff has the scoop on what happened. 00:00 Sorting through the slop from the loss to Washington 13:01 What happened between Nick Sirianni and Zach Ertz during their postgame handshake? 17:03 Jordan Mailata makes bid for first Pro Bowl 27:18 Previewing the Cowboys, Round 2 unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

First came a bombshell comment. Then, some backtracking and heart-to-hearts, followed by a few tears. In the end, there was reconciliation, capped by a most impressive win. All in a week’s work for the surging Philadelphia Eagles, which overcame internal tension stemming from Brandon Graham’s viral comments on WIP and a tough opponent in the Pittsburgh Steelers to earn a franchise-record 10th victory in a row. The Eagles now share the top record in the NFC, and look as much like a Super Bowl contender as any team in the NFL. What happened behind the scenes at NovaCare Complex last week? How did the Eagles manage to weather the media storm? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane reports on the saga that seemed to consume everyone outside the organization, but not many people within it. Plus, veteran outside linebacker Josh Sweat joins Jeff for this week’s “Pick Six,” and shares his tips on computer building, leadership, and when to switch your number. 00:00 - Behind-the-scenes of a saga 23:08 - “Pick Six” with Josh Sweat 33:20 - Postseason implications unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

From backwards hurdles to dazzling touchdown runs, whenever Saquon Barkley makes a big play on the field, people notice. Behind the scenes, his gestures are more subtle, but the impact is just as significant. It could be a dap for an anxious rookie, or an invitation to a third-stringer to come over for Thanksgiving dinner. In speaking to over a dozen members of the Philadelphia Eagles organization in recent weeks, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane came away with a unanimous consensus: players and coaches love the addition of Barkley, both to the depth chart and in the locker room. With the Eagles continuing to close in on the playoffs, find out why Barkley has been an ideal fit, and how his presence and intangibles should be enough to spare the team an inglorious fate the likes of which it suffered last year. 00:00 Saquon Barkley, Part I: The “special dude” 17:40 Saquon Barkley, Part II: The “enforcer” unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

He was much-hyped, and has much delivered. With five games to go in the 2024 regular season, Vic Fangio has the Philadelphia Eagles defense on pace to finish as one of the top statistical units in the NFL - an incredible ascent for a group that ranked towards the bottom of the league last year. Fangio’s fingerprints can be seen all over the place, from scheme to execution, and player development as well. What are the secrets to his success and, in turn, the success of the Eagles’ defense? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane zooms in on the old-school, veteran coordinator, and explains why Fangio has not only been a perfect fit, but a driving force behind the Eagles’ postseason push. Plus, in a new "Pick Six" segment, get to know right guard Mekhi Becton, whose become quite adept at figuring things out, whether he's on the football field, building bricks, or in the kitchen. 00:00 How Vic Fangio turned the Eagles defense around 19:20 “Pick Six” with Mekhi Becton 26:17 Outsiders are talking Super Bowl; what about inside the Eagles’ locker room? unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

It’s a question that’s been dogging the Eagles ever since preparations for the season began in earnest, and has only gotten more prevalent the more the team has won. “What are the lessons learned from last year?” With the Eagles sporting a near identical record heading into Week 13 as they did before the bottom fell out in 2023, media and fans alike seem eager to see if the 2024 edition of the Birds will suffer a similar fate. While there’s no guarantee for a deeper finish this winter, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane doubts the Eagles are in store for another epic collapse. The identity of the team is stronger, the talent and coaching better. But even though this year’s Eagles look better than last year’s group, obstacles lie ahead, especially in light of Brandon Graham’s season-ending injury, and Saquon Barkley’s increasing workload. Plus, with a major test against Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens looming, Jeff explores how an off-field mishap appears to have fueled defensive tackle Jalen Carter’s dominant second season. 00:00 Why this won’t be a repeat of 2023 03:41 Brandon Graham’s loss will hurt more on the field than in the locker room 11:56 The maturation and dominance of Jalen Carter 21:38 A big battle in Baltimore unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

The last time the Philadelphia Eagles took a cornerback in the first round of the NFL Draft? Before this year, it was 2002. The last time they chose cornerbacks with each of their first two picks, like they also did this spring? Same deal, in 2022, when the team selected Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown - two mainstays during the Andy Reid-Donovan McNabb era. If early returns are any indication, the rookie tandem of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean could be primed to have a similar positive impact on the franchise’s fortunes. What’s clicked for the youngsters both separately and collectively that’s allowed them to earn starting roles this early in their careers? How does their relationship contrast on and off the field? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane profiles the Birds’ budding defensive backfield duo. Also, as good as Saquon Barkley has been, it always helps to have a high-quality back-up for such a heavy-usage rusher. Jeff goes inside the weight room to highlight an area where second-stringer Kenny Gainwell has Barkley beat. Plus, with the Eagles looking more and more like a contender during their six-game winning streak, we examine three factors that could put the team in the running for the NFC’s top playoff seed, and three more that could hold them back. unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.