PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles declared from the first day of training camp last summer and into the fall and winter throughout another season that included an NFC East Division title that the word “repeat” is not part of the locker-room vernacular for the team that won the most recent Super Bowl.
“We’re not defending nothing,” offensive lineman Jordan Mailata said.
However they want to spin it, this much is true: The Eagles are real contenders to repeat as NFL champions.
Yes, the offense has lacked the spark of the 2024 season, when every snap had the promise of a spectacular play. Yes, there’s been some unhappiness about everything from play calling to a worn-out offensive line to the kicking game. Even the Eagles’ playoff seeding — No. 3 in the NFC — was scrutinized after coach Nick Sirianni rested his starters in the regular-season finale, costing them a shot at the No. 2 seed and perhaps more home games.
The Eagles (11-6) believe little of that matters once they open their bid for a third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons Sunday, when the NFC West’s San Francisco 49ers (12-5) visit Lincoln Financial Field. San Francisco wound up seeded sixth after playing for No. 1 and home-field advantage throughout the postseason last weekend but falling short in a loss to the visiting Seattle Seahawks.
“We are here in this spot because you want to run it back and you want to play and compete again,” Sirianni said. “That’s part of the reason why you’re here. There’s a reason that the people are in this building, that are in this building. They have that hunger.”
They have that trophy, too.
Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts is one of three quarterbacks in this season’s playoffs who has won a Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers — who did it 15 years ago with the Green Bay Packers — and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams are the others.
San Francisco’s Brock Purdy lost in his only Super Bowl appearance. His shot at another was derailed three years ago when he injured his elbow in the NFC championship game and was ineffective in a 31-7 loss at Philadelphia.
“I haven’t reviewed that game for a little bit,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said.
Led by Purdy, the 49ers have one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses, but they stalled out with a shot at the top seed at stake against the Seahawks, who came out on top in the winner-take-all game to win the NFC West and earn a first-round bye as the conference’s top seed. Purdy threw for 127 yards, and versatile running back Christian McCaffrey finished with a season-low 57 yards from scrimmage against a strong Seattle defense.
The Eagles lost last Sunday to the Washington Commanders with many starters resting. The move backfired in the moment because a win would have given Philadelphia the No. 2 seed, but it could pay off in the postseason if the Eagles have the extra juice needed for another long playoff run.
“Incredibly beneficial for us,” Mailata said. “It’s more like delayed gratification. You feel (the rest) more toward the end of the week. At the start of the week, kind of rusty, feel a little slow. As you practice during the week, you get your legs, you get everything firing again.”
Counting last weekend’s finale, the wild-card game marks the first time all season the Eagles will play consecutive home games. The road to last season’s Super Bowl ran through Philadelphia. The Eagles say they’re ready to pack their bags for the rest of January — as long as they can beat the 49ers.
Bills on the road vs. Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Buffalo Bills don’t have to beat the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals or Kansas City Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl.
The team with the reigning NFL MVP in quarterback Josh Allen and the AFC’s most playoff experience faces a new playoff path, beginning with Sunday’s wild-card game against the third-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars. Although this journey doesn’t seem as daunting as those in recent years that included opposing quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes, it might be equally treacherous.
Especially with the sixth-seeded Bills being on the road — and the streaking and surprising Jaguars already feeling overlooked.
Most outsiders will look at the matchup as Allen opening his latest quest to get Buffalo back to the NFL’s ultimate stage, with the Bills failing to reach the Super Bowl since losing four in a row from the 1990 to the 1993 season.
Here’s another.
“The whole football industry is going to be watching us,” Jaguars running back Travis Etienne said. “People who haven’t been seeing us, we get to show them who we are.”
AFC South champion Jacksonville has won eight in a row while averaging 33.6 points a game and has derived extra motivation from being underappreciated all season, whether it’s perceived slights from national pundits or actual snubs like Pro Bowl votes cast by players, coaches and fans.
For this game, the Jaguars merely need to peek at the betting line to find fuel: BetMGM installed Buffalo as a one-point favorite at EverBank Stadium, where the Bills last won in 2013.
Buffalo also is 0-5 on the road in the playoffs under coach Sean McDermott, starting with a 10-3 loss at Jacksonville in the 2017 wild-card round. The Bills have dropped eight consecutive postseason games on the road since winning against the Miami Dolphins in the 1992 season’s AFC championship game. It’s the NFL’s second-longest active playoff road skid.
“Just got to go out there and play,” Bills running back James Cook said. “You’ve only got one game left, so every game, you’ve just got to play like it’s your last.”
Buffalo has been at its best when Cook is, well, cooking. The Bills are 8-1 when the NFL rushing leader tops 100 yards on the ground. He’s facing a tough task against the Jaguars, who haven’t allowed anyone to reach 75 rushing yards while becoming the league’s top run defense in 2025.
“What a great opportunity for us to be the only team playing,” Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. “Great opportunity for us to maximize what we can do and be on a platform to where people can watch our games everywhere and see what type of team we are.”
All eyes will be on the quarterbacks, and for good reason.
Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence is playing as well as anyone. Lawrence has accounted for 24 touchdowns during the team’s winning streak.
Allen, meanwhile, carried the Bills as usual — he has four fourth-quarter comebacks this season — and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. Could this finally be his Super Bowl year?
“Josh just wants to win,” Bills receiver Gabe Davis said. “He’s a huge competitor. And I feel like when it comes to these moments, it’s when he really shines.”
Patriots host Chargers in prime time
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In a year’s time, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has gone from the rookie starter on a losing team to an MVP candidate and the face of a playoff squad.
That rapid rise hasn’t altered the 23-year-old’s mindset as he prepares to lead the storied franchise with six Super Bowl titles this century into its first playoff game since the 2021 season. The second-seeded Patriots (14-3), who won the AFC East for the first time since 2019, host the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium.
Maye insists his focus is on following the same process that helped him get this far.
“I’ve got to play well for us to win,” Maye said. “I know that’s the nature of this league and the nature of the position. I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.”
Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs doesn’t think Maye will be rattled by the postseason stage.
“I expect to see the same player, if not him doing more,” Diggs said. “Whatever duty calls, or whatever the job calls for, he’s been consistent. I’m excited for Drake, though. Another stage for him to shine.”
New England will be seeking its first home playoff victory since the 2018 season, which concluded with the franchise’s most recent Super Bowl title. That run started with a divisional-round victory over the Chargers.
“We’re not here just to get here,” said Patriots first-year coach Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowl titles with New England as a linebacker playing for coach Bill Belichick on teams quarterbacked by Tom Brady. “We have to be able to host games and compete for championships. There’s not going to be any consolation prize for anybody. We understand what we have to do.”
Los Angeles is making its second straight playoff appearance under coach Jim Harbaugh. The franchise hasn’t won a postseason game since the 2018 season.
In his sixth NFL season, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is seeking his first playoff win. He enters with an 0-2 postseason record.
“To keep going on in the playoffs is the goal for every team. We’re handling and taking advantage of this opportunity and doing everything we can to be prepared for that,” Herbert said. “Experience is a good thing. I think you learn from what you did right, what you did wrong.”
Herbert’s health could be a factor in whether he’s able to get over his postseason struggles. He’s just more than a month removed from having surgery to repair a broken bone in his nonthrowing hand.
He was among several starters who sat out the team’s regular-season finale, a road loss to the AFC West rival Denver Broncos, who have a bye this weekend as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
“I think not taking hits on it last week was probably pretty helpful for it,” Herbert said of his left hand. “Just getting back to making sure you have full strength and able to hold on to a football.”