Scoop City: Inside The NFL

Episode: Why A.J. Brown is Right About the Eagles Crisis
Date: November 13, 2025
Host: The Athletic’s James Palmer with guests Zach Berman (Eagles), Jeff Zrebiec (Ravens), Zach Allen (Broncos), Mike Sando (NFL Insider), Jake Ciely (Fantasy)

Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners on a tour of the NFL’s biggest stories heading into a decisive weekend. The headline topic centers on A.J. Brown’s candid criticism of the Eagles’ offense and why he’s justified in calling out the team’s shortcomings. The crew also covers the Ravens' health and playoff outlook, Broncos’ resurgence and huge game against the Chiefs, and deep dives on key matchups across the league. Notably, the show features exclusive insights from beat writers and players, as well as fantasy football tips from Jake Ciely.

Main Segments & Key Insights

1. The A.J. Brown/Eagles Offense Crisis

(03:45–13:50)
Guests: James Palmer & Zach Berman

Key Points

• A.J. Brown’s Frustrations:
  • Brown has publicly voiced his disappointment with the Eagles’ offensive regression.
  • He spoke on Twitch and at his locker, saying, “I’m not going to apologize. I want the offense to be better. The offense needs to play better.” (04:44, Brown via Berman)
• Lack of Offensive Impact:
  • Despite wins, the Eagles' offensive efficiency and explosiveness are both down.
  • Brown was targeted twice on the opening drive against the Packers and then not again until the end of the game.

  “He’s too good a player for that to happen.” (05:13, Berman)

• Sirianni's Philosophy:
  • Focus is on minimizing turnovers, but this has come with declining big-play ability.
  • “You can say they’re risk-averse, but they think you can take care of the ball and still be explosive…They just need to be more explosive than they’ve been.” (06:52, Berman)
• Versatility Questioned:
  • Some around the league doubt Philly’s ability to win games in different ways offensively.
  • Berman disagrees, citing past adaptability but notes it's not consistent enough this season.

Notable Quote

"There’s a standard that they have for an offense that they’re not hitting consistently enough. If they want to win in January and February, they need to play better offensively."
– Zach Berman, 05:03

Tactics & Stats

• Eagles’ lowest points per game, points per drive, and yards per play under Sirianni, but also the lowest turnovers.

Big Picture

• Bradman and Palmer agree: The issue isn’t Brown’s reaction—he’s right to push for improvement.
• Palmer: “Let’s get him the ball. Let’s go!” (13:48)

2. Eagles vs. Lions: NFC Showdown Preview

(09:09–13:48)

Key Points

• Game Significance:
  • “Absolutely the biggest game remaining” for the Eagles due to the Lions’ strength and playoff implications. (09:34, Berman)
  • A potential 17% swing in #1 seed probability rides on the outcome (from ~33% to over 50% for the Eagles).
• Matchup to Watch:
  • Eagles’ passing game vs. Lions’ depleted secondary.

  “I want to see if the Eagles can move the ball through the air consistently because this would be a week to do it.” (11:46, Berman)

3. Ravens Update: Lamar Jackson Health & Defensive Turnaround

(13:54–24:48)
Guest: Jeff Zrebiec

Key Points

• Lamar Jackson’s Knee Soreness:
  • Missed practice, but optimism he’ll play; caveat: “with everything Lamar, there’s always a caveat.” (14:31–15:19)
  • Took a “pounding” last week: 11 QB hits, including a major shot from Dallas Turner.
• Cleveland Struggles:
  • “They’ve lost three of their last four in Cleveland...Most of it is defense. They play Lamar really tough.” (16:22)
• Tight End Usage & Offensive Consistency:
  • Seek better balance feeding tight ends (Likely, Andrews) and WRs (Zay Flowers), still lacking consistency.
  • “They’re building towards it, but we still haven’t seen the consistency from this team.” (19:06)
• Defensive Surge:
  • Allowing just 14.5 ppg since Week 6; Kyle Hamilton’s unique hybrid role is the catalyst.

“What Kyle Hamilton is doing... is insane. He’s basically playing like a strong-side linebacker at times… He can do so many things.” (22:51, Zrebiec)

• Addition of Alohi Gilman has stabilized the secondary.

Notable Quote

"He’s the most unique defensive player in the NFL."
– Jeff Zrebiec on Kyle Hamilton, 23:55

4. Broncos' Resurgence & Matchup with Chiefs

(27:59–38:15)
Guest: Zach Allen (Broncos DE, live interview)

Key Points

• Defensive Line Depth & Chemistry:
  • Broncos' D-line group pushes each other for sacks.

“You want to play with great players…It’s a really special group up front. We have a lot of fun with the competition aspect of it." (28:49, Allen)

• Nick Bonito’s First Step:
  • “He’s the only guy where it’s like, I think he’s got me. It’s special – it’s a gift and he knows how to use it.” (29:40, Allen)
• Chiefs Game Magnitude:
  • Town is hyped, but the locker room keeps a business-like focus.
• Hitting QBs & Facing Mahomes:
  • Allen leads the league in QB hits; says Mahomes is the hardest to hit: “He’s so elusive…the best at seeing the pocket in the league.” (32:02)
• Addition of Greenlaw & Huff:
  • "They're the great erasers. Any mistake we make up front, they're right there to fix it." (33:02)
• Turnaround from Close Losses to Close Wins:
  • “Last year, we found every single way to lose a one-score game. The fact that we’ve reversed it, that’s what good teams do.” (34:16, Allen)
• On Vance Joseph (DC):
  • “He’s an amazing teacher. I wouldn’t want to gameplan us. He makes it so easy for us but it’s really simple to learn.” (36:51, Allen)

5. Seahawks vs. Rams & Bills Outlook

(40:35–53:46)
Guest: Mike Sando

Seahawks-Rams Matchup:

• DL Play: Both top-5 in offense/defense; interior line play likely to determine winner. Sando slightly favors Seattle’s group.
• Quarterbacks: Stafford is the “true pro” at handling pressure, but both QBs become turnover-prone when hit.
• Game Expectation: Tight contest, likely comes down to last drive or field goal.

Bills Offense & Deadline Inactivity:

• Buffalo failed to land a WR at the deadline, magnifying limitations in offensive explosiveness.
• "They're boxed in and how they want to play...they've also kind of been the hunted for a long time and they sort of don't always match the other team." (47:17, Sando)
• GM Brandon Beane recognizes the roster’s issues but is wary of overpaying for a move that might not pan out.

“I’d almost rather go down swinging trying to do something and have it not work than not do something and have it not work.” (49:15, Sando)

Future of NFL QBs:

• Quick hits on which “stuck” QB is most likely to move: Sando identifies Kyler Murray as most likely (Arizona regime looks ready to move on if coaching staff is retained).
• Tua and Lawrence likely stay for at least another year.

6. Fantasy Football Buy-Lows & High School Legends

(54:37–61:12)
Guest: Jake Ciely

Memorable High School Feats:

• Joe Mauer struck out once in his HS baseball career; Cheryl Miller scored 105 points in a game.
• Hosts trade tales of seeing Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Kobe Bryant in high school.

Fantasy Picks/Advice:

• Jameis Winston as a high-upside streamer: "He can finish the number one quarterback or he can finish 21st—put it this way, 15 is wrong.” (58:10–58:32, Ciely)
• Boost for Giants’ WRs Wandell Robinson & Darius Slayton with Winston at QB.
• Joe Burrow preferred stash for fantasy playoffs, slight edge over Jaden Daniels due to Bengals’ playoff scenario.
• Buy-low candidate: Justin Jefferson, who’s been undervalued due to QB changes and recent underperformance.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Eagles Standards:

  “There’s a standard that they have for an offense that they’re not hitting consistently enough.”
  (05:03, Zach Berman)

• On Kyle Hamilton:

  “He’s the most unique defensive player in the NFL just with his skill set. He can do so many things.”
  (23:55, Jeff Zrebiec)

• On Defensive Line Competition:

  “It’s a really special group up front. We have a lot of fun with the competition aspect of it."
  (28:49, Zach Allen)

• On the Bills’ Approach:

  “I’d almost rather go down swinging…than not do something and have it not work.”
  (49:15, Mike Sando)

• On Fantasy Streaming Jameis Winston:

  “He can finish the number one quarterback or he can finish 21st… 15 is wrong.”
  (58:10, Jake Ciely)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:45 – A.J. Brown/Eagles Offensive Crisis
• 09:09 – Eagles-Lions Matchup & Playoff Impact
• 13:54 – Ravens Update: Lamar’s Health, Defensive Improvement
• 27:59 – Broncos’ Defensive Line & Chiefs Preview (Zach Allen)
• 40:35 – Seahawks-Rams Preview & Bills Concerns (Mike Sando)
• 54:37 – High School Sports Feats & Fantasy Football (Jake Ciely)

Conclusion

This jam-packed episode expertly blends insider reporting, schematic breakdowns, and season-defining narratives. The heart of the episode is a clear defense of A.J. Brown’s criticism, framed not as a distraction but as vital leadership in a struggling Philly offense, with analysts agreeing that change is needed if the Eagles want postseason success. The show then spotlights other critical clashes shaping the landscape in the NFC and AFC, offers key player and fantasy insights, and brings the unique perspective of both insiders and players themselves.

If you want the pulse of the NFL’s top storylines and the real reasons behind them, this episode is must-listen, and the summary above captures every crucial angle.