Does it feel like a jinx to talk about this openly, so early in the season? Sure. But this team always comes out on top, no matter what. They escaped with a win last week over the Rams even though it seemed impossible. They just can’t seem to lose. They are 20-1 in the last calendar year, and a season is only 17 games long.
It’s tempting fate to even mention that record, but when you think of the potential achievement involved, it’s irresponsible not to discuss it. It’s NFL history. The Eagles were 5-0 two years ago and almost got there. It’s an accomplishment that would upend decades of what fans thought could even be possible.
So I’m predicting it, right here right now. It’s within this team’s grasp. When you look ahead at the schedule, you see a path on how the birds can get there.
Yes, my friends, I firmly believe that this season, given the team’s talent, coaching and luck, the Eagles have what it takes …
.. to win the NFC East again.
Think about how crazy that would be. No team has won back-to-back NFC East titles since 2004 (when it was the Eagles winning their 4th division title in a row). But Jalen Hurts already has his team up two games on the second-place Commanders. It looks like 11 wins could be enough to secure the division title. That’s just seven more victories in the next 13 games.
I know they can do it. After all, it’s not a ridiculous goal like expecting them to go undefeated for the season.
QB: Dak Prescott, 36.96 pts — started by Jeff
WR: Romeo Doubs, 24.97 pts — on the waiver wire
RB: Ashton Jeanty, 31.93 pts — started by Jonathan
TE: Dallas Goedert, 16.47 pts — on Dad’s bench
K: Cairo Santos, 19.00 pts — on the wire
DEF: Detroit, 20.00 pts — started by Mike
D: Tuli Tuipulotu, 13.50 pts — on the wire
OK, the much-hyped rookie Jeanty finally had a big breakout game. But much more interesting was the #2 RB on the week: Current Steelers RB, former Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell, who rushed for 99 yards, caught six passes for 65 yards, collected 49 return yards and scored two TDs, all career highs. For the season so far, Gainwell is the #13 fantasy RB, despite going undrafted in most leagues. Number 12, with just 4 more points? Gainwell’s former running mate, Saquon Barkley.
Tuli Tuipulotu was a second-round pick of the Chargers and is the cousin of Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga. Their extended family is the reason for the West Coast’s current vowel drought.

2nd place: (tie) Dylan Sampson, -0.20 pts — started by Ant
2nd place: (tie) Kyle Williams, -0.20 pts — on Paul’s bench
2nd place: (tie) Joshua Dobbs, -0.20 pts — on the wire
2nd place: (tie) Kyle Allen, -0.20 pts — on the wire
1st place: Gardner Minshew, -0.30 pts — on the wire
Full disclosure: I’ve been wondering for three weeks how no position players have scored negative points so far this year. I initially chalked it up to more conservative playcalling and good luck. But the actual answer? Yahoo dropped the minus sign from its stats pages. So right now, Minshew is listed at 0.30 pts for the week, even though he had two kneeldowns for -3 yards in his only time on the field.
Don’t worry, I’ve reminded myself that Yahoo AI is always working against logic, and everything is back on track.
For the record, the worst position player in fantasy so far this year is backup Dallas QB Joe Milton, worth -0.36 pts. And the worst defense is … Dallas, at -4.00 pts. But, hey, Prescott was the best QB this week, so I’m sure that all evens out.

** The Cincinnati Reds went 33-32 in games since the All-Star break, just the 12th best record of any team in Major League Baseball.
And yet somehow that was more than enough to overtake the New York Mets, who had the best record in the league on June 12 and were up 5.5 games in the NL East, only to go 38-55 the rest of the season to miss the playoffs by a single game.
That would be the saddest baseball story I had ever heard … if it was anyone but the Mets. It’s just funny to see them collapse again and again and again.
** On the Kelce’s New Heights podcast last week, Colorado football coach Dieon Sanders said that both the Ravens and Eagles made overtures about drafting his son, Shedeur, in the middle rounds of the NFL draft last spring. But the family opted against that route, because they didn’t want Shedeur stuck behind established, all-Pro QBs.
“How in the world can somebody fault him for saying or thinking, ‘Why in the world would I go back up [them] for 10 more years?’ Who comes in with that mindset?” the elder Sanders said.
So, how’s that working out? Sanders is currently 3rd on the Cleveland Browns depth chart, behind starter Joe Flacco (former Baltimore QB). He was fourth in line before the Browns moved former Eagles backup QB Kenny Pickett before the start of the season. But, hey, I’m sure the mediocre former college passer will get the pro level coaching he needs from the Cleveland staff, where they’ve churned through 11 different starters in the last four years.
Best of luck to you, young man!
** The Sixers started training camp last week, and PF Paul George was asked about his mindset going into this year:
“Last year was tough, one of the toughest seasons I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “Not just from a team standpoint, but from just a personal standpoint. But you know, again, from a motivational standpoint, it can’t get no worse than last year, right?”
A few hours later, SG Jared McCain tore the UCL in his right thumb during a workout. I can’t wait to see what the next curse George puts on a teammate before the NBA games even start.
** Milwaukee Brewers — Sorry, but Packers fans are already obnoxious enough. Wisconsin doesn’t need more reasons to be full of its cold self.
** Chicago Cubs — Feels like they could use a distraction from the disappointment that is Caleb Williams so far.
** San Diego Padres — Chargers fans already have perfect weather, they don’t need good football or baseball.
** Los Angeles Dodgers — The Rams are getting more hateable each year, but not quite as hateable as the Dodgers themselves.
** Cincinnati Reds — Awwww, poor Bengals fans. I’d say it’s OK to root for them but I don’t think either team has anyone who can throw.
** New York Yankees — No.
** Boston Red Sox — Double no.
** Detroit Tigers — Lions fans are getting a little big for their britches, especially given that they live in a hockey city. Stick to what you’re good at.
** Cleveland Guardians — Poor Cleveland. If you have to watch the Browns, you deserve some baseball luck and blessings.
** Seattle Mariners — This city wasted the “Legion of Boom” nickname on football players instead of home run hitters.
** Toronto Blue Jays — The only NFL team that plays in Canada are the Bills, but even if their fans are tortured, I think baseball in the snow is just a silly idea.

Obviously it won’t work, because just look at what the letters in his name clearly spell out:
New Dallas Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer
** Ethics? Bad call, nerds. We cheat, I am on heroin. Ha!
It is tough to bring significant change to an organization when illegal drug use is a prerequisite for hiring, as it has been in Dallas for the last few decades. But, gotta stick with the gameplan.

** I’ve been playing Madden 25 a lot lately, and I haven’t had a chance to share how realistic the game is. Last night, I was controlling the defense, and Jalen Carter made a fearsome bull rush to plow through the offensive line and come barrelling at Baker Mayfield. But just as Carter dove, Mayfield slipped to the side, unscathed, and threw the ball out of bounds. The computer refs immediately called roughing the passer, even though Carter never made contact with the QB. It’s just so, so spot on to how the real-life game looks and feels.
** In case you missed it, the league is considering sanctions against fans after abhorrent behavior towards opposing players this weekend. There was constant heckling, cursing about opponents’ family members, and even a thrown beer that hit the wife of one player. And I for one think Philadelphia should be ashamed by that kind of … oh, this was in New York? During the Ryder Cup golf event? Ah, nevermind. No need to dwell on a few bad apples, then.

Week 4 standings
Family Cup standings
House Doyle: 10-2
House Shane: 5-7
House Garrity: 5-7
House Quinn: 4-8
It’s worth noting that Team Doyle’s second loss of the year was self-inflicted: Mike beat up on his own daughter to claim first place in the league as the only remaining undefeated team. Ollie and Lexi are still just one game back, giving their house a ridiculous early lead in the standings. The Emma+Dad team got another brutal defeat this week — we had enough points to overcome seven other teams in the league, but not Jim, who posted the highest single-game score yet of 168.70 pts. For comparison, the matchup between Grandmom Shane and Tommy produced only 180.46 pts combined between the teams.
Awesome Cup standings
1 — Saquontum Leap (Capt. Awesome), 552.63 pts
2 — City Hands (Mike), 492.76 pts
3 — The Fightin Pickles (Sam), 464.31 4 — Vert der Ferks (Ant), 460.50 pts
5 — DeVonta’s Inferno (Mom D), 454.57 pts
6 — Still The Best (Jonathan), 450.49 pts
7 — One Plus One is Three SBs (Pop), 447.83 pts
8 — Schwarbombs (Jo), 426.75 pts
9 — Goederts and Monsterts (Bob), 419.70 pts
10 — The B Sharps (Paul), 400.25 pts
11 — Blue Collar Killers (Jeff), 369.53 pts
12 — All Rogers No Sauce (Joel), 336.94 pts
The good news is that I’ve opened a pretty impressive lead over the field this early in the season (almost 60 pts!) The bad news is that I may have killed my All-Pro QB (Lamar Jackson) to get to this point. Still, as the only team to top 500 pts so far on the season, I’m enjoying the strong start.
The two biggest changes in the standings this week were both tumbles down the rankings. Dad went from third to seventh after a rough outing, and Bob slipped from sixth to ninth. The big riser on the week was Mom D, who got huge points from Drake Maye and Omarion Hampton (two players I am confident she had never heard of before this week) to hop up into fifth.
Bye weeks start this Sunday, and there’s another overseas game. So check those rosters early and often to make sure you’re squeezing everything you can out of these players.