Episodes

  • Week 10 vs. Cowboys: Feeding DeVonta Smith

    Week 10 vs. Cowboys: Feeding DeVonta Smith
    Nov 12 2024
    The Philadelphia Eagles handled the first team on their schedule this week - beating the Dallas Cowboys on the road. And it wasn’t just a win. It was a drubbing, marking the Eagles’ first win at AT&T Stadium in seven years. Now, on short rest, what figures to be a much stiffer, significant challenge awaits - a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Washington Commanders. At stake, sole control of the NFC East heading into the home stretch of the season. The Eagles say Washington has their full attention. In fact, the Birds believe they still haven’t played their best football yet, despite winning five in a row. What would help them reach a higher level? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane thinks the answer could lie with getting star receiver DeVonta Smith back in the mix. Plus, in this week’s “Pick Six” interview, Zack Baun tells Jeff what it was like growing up with a single mom, and why he refuses to let the sport he plays define him. 00:00 DeVonta Smith says fewer targets “tough,” but wants to win 14:17 “Pick Six” with Zack Baun 22:22 First place on the line in Thursday Night Football showdown with Washington Commanders 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.
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    27 mins
  • Week 9 vs. Jaguars: "We got Saquon 'F***ing' Barkley"

    Week 9 vs. Jaguars: "We got Saquon 'F***ing' Barkley"
    Nov 5 2024
    Four games into the season, the Eagles’ offense was stuck. With the team on its bye week, key members of the offensive line felt it was time to speak up. So they went to their head coach and offensive coordinator with feedback. It was straightforward and to the point. “We’ve got Saquon ‘F***ing’ Barkley. Let’s give him the f***ing ball.” Message received. Since then, the Eagles haven’t lost, climbing their way to the top of the NFC. But for as much as the players deserve props for pushing a run-first attack, so too does Nick Sirianni for implementing it. Given the Eagles' steady improvement during the season, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane wonders if there’s more Sirianni should be getting credit for… Plus, in this week’s “Pick Six,” Jeff catches up with tight end Grant Calcaterra, who grew up a triplet, briefly retired from football, only to later find his way back and break through to the NFL. Jeff also reexamines some of Sirianni’s crucial decisions against the Jaguars, and, despite the decisions not working out, explains why we shouldn’t have been surprised by Sirianni’s aggressive approach. 00:00 “Give him the f****ing ball” 13:05 Don’t blame Sirianni for being aggressive 17:37 “Pick Six” with Grant Calcaterra 25:33 It’s Cowboys Week! 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.
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    28 mins
  • Week 8 vs. Bengals: The identity question

    Week 8 vs. Bengals: The identity question
    Oct 29 2024
    Hope can be fickle in football, but right now, following an impressive Week 8 victory vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, the Philadelphia Eagles have built modest momentum. What’s been responsible for the turnaround during the team's three-game winning streak? For starters, the head coach tweaked his approach, and his quarterback has responded with improved play. Are Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts sold on the evolution of the offense? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes a look at the Eagles’ new identity, and explains why certain players might be more eager to fully embrace it than Sirianni. Plus, with A.J. Brown putting together another dominant season, Jeff poses the question: could the 27-year old be the Eagles’ best receiver of all-time? And in this week’s “Pick Six” segment, find out which member of the offensive line Landon Dickerson has developed a secret language with. 00:00 How DeVonta Smith’s big touchdown signals change in offense 08:52 Is A.J. Brown the Eagles’ best receiver of all-time? 18:25 “Pick Six” with Landon Dickerson 31:30 Welcome back, Dough Pederson (Part II) Links referenced by Jeff in the episode… A.J. Brown podcast: https://www.audacy.com/podcast/uncovering-the-birds-with-jeff-mclane-e8fbc/episodes/raising-aj-brown-24ecc A.J. Brown article: https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/inq2/eagles-aj-brown-bio-starkville-mississippi-20230905.html 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.
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    34 mins
  • Week 7 vs. Giants: Truths from Hurts' tape

    Week 7 vs. Giants: Truths from Hurts' tape
    Oct 22 2024
    Saquon Barkley was a stud, the defense was dominant, and all seems well in Eagles Land, at least for now, following a blowout win over the New York Giants. But beyond the breakout runs and bevy of sacks, there were other noteworthy developments from the victory - some encouraging, others indicators of just how much more work the Eagles have to do as they near the halfway point of the season. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes a look at the coaches’ tape, and zeroes in on areas where quarterback Jalen Hurts still needs to improve. Plus, ahead of a potential matchup with Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell joins Jeff for this week’s “Pick Six” segment. They talk about nicknames, family, and favorite movies. 00:00 Jalen Hurts film study 12:01 Where’s Jordan Davis? 17:00 “Pick Six” with Quinyon Mitchell 24:11 Vindication for Nick Sirianni 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.
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    28 mins
  • Week 6 vs. Browns: Sirianni's sideshow

    Week 6 vs. Browns: Sirianni's sideshow
    Oct 15 2024
    The consensus within the Philadelphia Eagles was virtually unanimous: it wasn’t pretty, but they got what they needed against the lowly Cleveland Browns - a win. The result nudged the 3-2 Eagles back above .500, and brought them within a half-game of first place in the NFC East. All good things, right? Yes, but the seemingly impulsive actions of head coach Nick Sirianni overshadowed the Eagles’ success. What did Sirianni’s back-and-forth with the crowd in the closing moment of the fourth quarter say about his ability to handle his emotions? How did members of the organization feel about his antics? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane does some digging… Plus, ahead of Saquon Barkley’s first trip back to MetLife Stadium to face his former team, the New York Giants, the star running back joins Jeff for a “Pick Six” segment and dishes on Penn State culture, Philadelphia area golf clubs, and what he wants to do after his NFL playing career. 00:00 Team sources label Sirianni's behavior "embarrassing" 16:01 'Pick Six' with Saquon Barkley 27:23 Hurts, Sirianni relationship showing signs of progress Oh, and here’s the link Jeff referenced in the episode about the time Barkley torched the Eagles in 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D4oRMI0uCQ unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game.
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    32 mins
  • Week 4 vs. Bucs: Sirianni defends Hurts, to a fault?

    Week 4 vs. Bucs: Sirianni defends Hurts, to a fault?
    Oct 1 2024
    All it took was a confident, affirming answer. But once again, instead of seizing an opportunity to diffuse speculation, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts added fuel to the fire surrounding the stability of his relationship with head coach Nick Sirianni. The question posed to Hurts after the Eagles’ lopsided loss in Tampa: given their respective leadership duties with the team, would he and Sirianni huddle up and try to help solve the Eagles’ identity issues during the upcoming bye week? “We have our moments,” Hurts said flatly. The response was as brief as it was evasive, and marked yet another instance since last season’s collapse in which Hurts left his feelings towards Sirianni open to interpretation. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane examines the duo's dynamics, and why it seems like Sirianni typically goes out of his way to defend Hurts. Plus, we pull back the curtain on Cam Jurgens’ transition to the Eagles’ starting center job, all while the shadow of his future-Hall-of-Fame predecessor looms over him. 00:00 Does Nick Sirianni shield Jalen Hurts from criticism? 11:45 Cam Jurgens' transition to starting center 21:05 Bryce Huff is "frustrated" unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game.
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    24 mins
  • Week 3 vs. Saints: Playing angry

    Week 3 vs. Saints: Playing angry
    Sep 24 2024

    The Philadelphia Eagles were angry. And on the heels of a painful loss in their home opener, they played like it. From the dominance of the defensive line, to Jalen Hurts' poised, game-winning drive with time running out, the Eagles notched a resilient Week 3 win in New Orleans. Listen as The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes you on a tour around the victorious winners’ locker room at the Superdome through interviews with several key contributors.

    Plus, details on how and why Hurts, now in his fifth season, might finally be finding his leadership voice, and a new Pick Six interview with emerging linebacker Nakobe Dean.

    00:00 Jeff chats with C.J. Gardner-Johnson

    06:41 Jalen Carter tells Jeff why he thinks his performance vs. Saints was still "trash"

    09:48 Jordan Davis explains why the Eagles played angry

    13:07 Jalen Hurts and signs of stronger leadership

    20:30 'Pick Six' with Nakobe Dean

    29:40 Nick Sirianni's fourth-down decisions under the microscope

    unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game.

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    33 mins
  • Week 2 vs. Falcons: Where the D-Line has gone wrong

    Week 2 vs. Falcons: Where the D-Line has gone wrong
    Sep 18 2024

    The Eagles’ home opener on Monday Night Football was there for the taking, and the Atlanta Falcons obliged, pulling off a stunning upset in the final minutes. There were multiple factors that led to the 22-21 loss, which dropped the Eagles to 1-1. But two weeks into the season, one problem has proven more glaring and costly than the rest: the Eagles’ defensive line, a group loaded with blue-chip talent that seemed poised to take a crucial step forward this year. Why has the Eagles’ D-line underperformed? Can practice reps and continued development alone fix their issues? Or, did Eagles’ general manager Howie Roseman and his talent evaluators make some missteps in constructing the unit? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane examines these questions in the aftermath of the Eagles’ agonizing defeat.

    Plus, with Nick Foles in town for his retirement ceremony at Lincoln Financial Field, Jeff revisits an overlooked “what if” moment from the Super Bowl MVP’s career that, had it gone a different way, might have propelled his legacy to even higher heights.

    00:00 Where the defensive line has gone wrong, and whether the problems can be fixed

    15:05 The big "what if?" Nick Foles moment

    24:10 Should Vic Fangio get a pass?

    unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game.

    Here's the article link Jeff referenced in the episode.

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    27 mins