Episode Summary: BILLS vs EAGLES Preview – What They're Saying in Philly with Rob Ellis

Podcast: Buffalo Plus
Hosts: Mike Catalana (A), Guest: Rob Ellis, WIP Sports Radio (B)
Date: December 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth preview of the upcoming Buffalo Bills vs. Philadelphia Eagles matchup from both the Buffalo and Philadelphia perspectives. Mike Catalana welcomes Rob Ellis, Eagles postgame show host at the iconic WIP Sports Radio in Philly, for a candid and comprehensive discussion spanning team strengths, weaknesses, fan bases, coaching styles, and playoff implications. The focus is on providing Bills fans with direct insight into the Eagles' current state, key players, and what Philly insiders are thinking ahead of this pivotal late-season game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eagles: Good, But Not Great

Timestamp: 01:28

• Rob Ellis immediately differentiates between last year’s dominant Eagles and this year’s version:
  • “Good team? Yes. Great team? No. No. As good as last year? No. Good enough to make a serious run in the NFC... Yes. But...this is choppy, you know, this is not smooth sailing.” – Rob Ellis
• Recognizes Philly's place in a loaded NFC, but emphasizes that wins haven’t come as easily or impressively.

2. Offensive Line Issues and Impact on Run Game

Timestamp: 02:43–04:17

• Offensive line no longer elite; injuries and regression have left the unit “a shell of what they were.”
• Highlights key players:
  • Jordan Mailata “has just not played as well.”
  • Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens have played hurt all year.
  • Lane Johnson’s absence dramatically impacts results.
• "Saquon [Barkley] hasn’t lost a step. It’s the offensive line...If you can’t run and you become predictable, your offense is lesser, and they're much lesser as an offense." – Rob Ellis

3. Saquon Barkley’s Season and Offensive Adjustments

Timestamp: 04:38–06:04

• Saquon broke huge gains last year; this season he’s shown flashes but less consistency.
• Offense began improving after mini-bye week with schematic changes (Hurts under center, new run designs).
• “I think the passing game flowed a little bit better. Certainly the running game worked a lot better. That’s the thing, if I’m an Eagles fan, I’m encouraged by.” – Rob Ellis

4. Jalen Hurts: Strengths, Limitations & Usage

Timestamp: 07:03–09:20

• Rob weighs how much blame Hurts deserves versus scheme and OL issues, ultimately lands more on the QB:
  • "There have been plays to be made really, throughout the season, and he hasn't made them."
• Compares Hurts to a “scorer instead of a shooter” in basketball terms—finds a way to succeed, but not a classic, precise passer.
• Designed QB runs resurfacing lately; debate among fans about how much to risk Hurts' health vs. maximizing his unique skills:
  • “If you’re taking away his running, you’re tying an arm behind his back.”
• Hurts “not going to pick you apart... not accurate enough...doesn’t utilize the middle enough.” – Rob Ellis

5. AJ Brown vs. DeVonta Smith & Eagles WR Dynamics

Timestamp: 09:43–11:23

• Rob ranks DeVonta Smith as the best WR over AJ Brown, citing Smith’s route-running and technical skills.
• On AJ Brown: “He wants his numbers...My just my opinion, I think he and the Eagles at the bye had a sit down and said, look, let’s get through the year without any more flare-ups and we’ll make you happy at the end of the year and we’ll move on. I think this is the last year of AJ Brown.” – Rob Ellis

6. Coaching Influence: Nick Sirianni’s Evolving Role

Timestamp: 11:32–13:39

• After the mini-bye, Sirianni “got a little bit more hands on” with the offense, to mixed fan reaction.
• Categorizes Sirianni as more of a “connector than a strategist,” but credits him with motivating and rallying the team:
  • “I’m a big Nick Sirianni fan. To me, I want my teams to win and all the guy does is win.”
• Emphasizes his positive relationship and communication with Hurts.

7. Tush Push/Tush Push Backlash

Timestamp: 13:39–15:52

• The famous/infamous QB sneak play, less effective this year:
  • “The offensive line isn’t as good, period...NFL teams, man. They’re going to adjust.”
• Rob rails against Sean McDermott and the Bills for opposing the play on (in his view) overblown safety grounds:
  • "The two biggest crybabies were the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills when it came to this, by far." – Rob Ellis [14:42]
• Variations of the play now being used in Philly.

8. Eagles Defensive Standouts & Depth

Timestamp: 15:52–18:20

• While Jalen Carter made the Pro Bowl, “Jordan Davis has” been their best DT.
• Quinon Mitchell named as their “best defensive player, and it’s really not close.”
• DE addition Jalen Phillips, veteran Brandon Graham both praised.
• Linebacker depth is “the deepest core I can remember...maybe going back” decades, with Zach Baun and Nakobe Dean anchoring the group.
• “The defense really changed, Mike, when Nicobe Dean came back...since he’s gotten back, I'd put them in the top five, top three of any defense in the league.” – Rob Ellis

9. Run Defense and Buffalo’s Attack

Timestamp: 20:13–21:37

• Run defense stats somewhat misleading due to outlier games (e.g. Bears’ 285-yard rushing game).
• “Their run defense is really good...the trade deadline move to get Jalen Phillips changed things...don't be thrown too much by the numbers.”

10. Tight Ends vs. Eagles Coverage

Timestamp: 21:57–22:54

• Eagles cover tight ends “pretty good,” but noted that if backup LB Campbell is in for Nakobe Dean, “the Bills could take advantage of that.”
• Cooper DeJean praised as a form tackler with great instincts; not a coverage concern.

11. Philly Fans: Expectations, Edge, and Myth-Busting

Timestamp: 22:54–25:22

• Rob debunks the idea that one Super Bowl win would “satisfy” Philly fans for a decade:
  • “Absolute folly, nonsense...There was no bigger myth that was ever perpetrated, Mike.”
• Philly fans prefer holding teams “accountable than be satisfied”:
  • “I find that disgusting, that kind of thought process, quite frankly. I want to hold a team account.”
• Explains intensity as partially rooted in years of futility and a “waiting for the other shoe to drop” mentality.
• “You’re looking at it with an eye to say, okay, what do they have to do to repeat? I’m not happy just getting to the playoffs.”

12. Santa Claus, Cheesesteaks, and City Stereotypes

Timestamp: 26:12–26:46

• On notorious “booing Santa” legend:
  • “First of all, he was a bad Santa. Secondly, he was drunk and he should’ve been booed, number one...That was 1969, by the way.” – Rob Ellis
• Asks national media to move past tired Philly tropes:
  • “Don’t bring up booing Santa Claus, and you don’t have to show every cheesesteak spot in Philadelphia.”

13. Playoff Picture, Health, & Mindset for Bills Game

Timestamp: 26:52–28:11

• Eagles currently the number three seed, but still eyeing the two.
• “Got to have it. I’m doing everything I can to win the game. If there’s still a shot at me getting the number two seed, the more home games I can get, the better. So I’m giving it everything that I have.” – Rob Ellis
• Will rest injured players, but otherwise full-go.
• Both host and guest lament the late-season scheduling/stacked divisional games.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Eagles’ Current Level:
  “You’re going to get seasickness at times watching this Eagles team.”
  — Rob Ellis (01:47)

• On Offensive Evolution:
  “If you can’t run and you become predictable, I don’t care who you are. It makes your offense lesser and they're much lesser as an offense.”
  — Rob Ellis (03:47)

• On AJ Brown Dynamics:
  “He wants his numbers...I think this is the last year of AJ Brown.”
  — Rob Ellis (11:03)

• Fan Philosophy:
  “I would much rather the fan base holder team accountable than be satisfied...I like that. I find that disgusting, that kind of thought process, quite frankly. I want to hold a team account.”
  — Rob Ellis (23:15–23:40)

• Classic Rant on “Tush Push” Backlash:
  “The two biggest crybabies were the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills when it came to this, by far.”
  — Rob Ellis (14:42)

• On “Booing Santa”:
  “He was a bad Santa. Secondly, he was drunk and he should’ve been booed...That was 1969, by the way.”
  — Rob Ellis (26:12)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:28: Rob’s verdict on if the Eagles are a “good” or “great” team
• 02:43: Offensive line struggles detailed
• 04:38: How the Eagles adjusted the run game & used Saquon
• 07:03: In-depth on Jalen Hurts’ role, strengths, and limitations
• 09:43: Who’s the best Eagles receiver? AJ Brown/Smith discussion
• 11:57: Nick Sirianni’s influence and leadership style
• 13:39: Tush push discourse and NFL resistance/adjustments
• 15:52: Defensive standouts and depth chart analysis
• 20:13: Honesty about the Eagles’ run defense vs. Buffalo’s ground attack
• 22:54: Philly fan base, accountability, and why “just one Super Bowl” is a myth
• 26:12: “Booing Santa Claus” story and pushing back on city stereotypes
• 26:52: Eagles playoff focus and mindset entering this Bills matchup

Final Thoughts

This episode gives Bills fans a rare, unvarnished look into the Philadelphia Eagles’ current identity, where their season’s strengths and vulnerabilities lie, and uniquely Philly perspectives—delivered with humor, candor, and a dose of banter. The interplay between host and guest brings out honest opinions, with Rob Ellis both challenging and explaining Philly fan lore, team expectations, and the mood inside the Eagles locker room.

A must-listen for any Bills, Eagles, or even general NFL fan wanting cross-market insight as the playoffs loom.