Weekend Rips: Eagles head west to face Chargers, Sixers take on Bucks and Lakers, Flyers are hot

Hand up, I missed Weekend Rips last week. I was consumed by the Thanksgiving holiday and excitement - and subsequent disappointment - of the Eagles' Black Friday matchup against the Bears. For that, I'd like to apologize...

To absolutely nobody. I went down to Dallas to fight for this city, had my wallet stolen and my heart broken by the Birds, and still made it back to provide quality content in my new self-appointed role as Editor-at-large of The Liberty Line.

I traded in my usual Thursday night Guinness for a few glasses of red wine with some excellent company. I'll have to make a pilgrimage back to my ancestral home and grab a pint next week. But for now, the tempranillo coursing through my veins will serve as the fuel for this latest edition.

Also, if you enjoy Weekend Rips, why not get it straight to your email inbox every Friday (when I see fit)? Sign up for The Chase here. We've got a daily newsletter keeping you in the loop on all things Philly sports, so you'll never miss a story.

At any rate, this is shaping up to be a make-or-break weekend for Philly sports. Well, mostly the Birds, and they play on Monday, but the Sixers and Flyers have opportunities to keep moving up the standings if things fall their way.

The games begin tonight. So make sure you have a place to drink, people to drink with, and, well, drinks to enjoy. The last one is, in a way, key if you think about it. At any rate, strap in, it's time to let it rip.

Eagles try to get right vs. the Chargers - Monday @ 8:15 pm

Let's be honest, it's not looking pretty for the Philadelphia Eagles right now. That Black Friday pantsing was one of the most embarrassing losses in recent memory. The offense was abysmal as usual, and the defense finally cracked. It was a disasterclass in all three phases.

So, forgive me if I'm less than confident in their ability to beat the Chargers on Monday night. Granted, their offensive line is decimated, so even the Birds' pathetic pass rush should be able to cause problems. But considering the run defense has disappeared, and Omarion Hampton is returning from IR, we'll have to keep a close eye on that matchup.

This is the Eagles' first game against the Chargers since a home loss in 2021, a game I had the immense displeasure of attending in person. Hopefully, we can pull out a win and stay on track to win the NFC East.

If by chance you're going to the game with Phans of Philly, I have compiled a little travel guide to find the best bars and bites for your stay in sunny LA.

Fortunately, we have a free football Sunday to kick back and relax. Or, if you're like me, you're going to your parents' house to help hang Christmas lights and pilfer the food from their fridge. Either way, Sunday is yours, do with it what you please.

All things Philadelphia Eagles here »

Sixers at home vs. the Bucks and away at the Lakers - Friday @ 8 pm and Sunday @ 7 pm, respectively

The Sixers are heating up before our very eyes, and they're doing it all without Joel Embiid and Paul George. Tyrese Maxey has taken the reins and is becoming a superstar before our very eyes. He's averaging 32.6 points per game and dropped 35 in a win over Golden State last night, which he capped off with an incredible chasedown block.

The Bucks are in total disarray, and the Lakers are just weird, so I feel good about predicting a 2-0 weekend, especially after that electric last-second win against the Warriors last night.

All things Philadelphia 76ers here »

Flyers look to stay hot against the Avalanche - Sunday @ 1 pm

The Flyers are looking pretty damn good right now. They're 7-3 in their last 10 games and are fresh off waxing the Sabres at home on Wednesday. Tyson Foerster's injury is far from ideal, but time will tell how to team plays without him.

They head into Sunday looking to prove they can hang with one of the league’s fastest and most skilled teams. Colorado’s top-end talent will test Philadelphia’s structure, especially in transition. If the Flyers can slow the pace and get strong goaltending early, they’ll give themselves a real shot at stealing this one.

All things Philadelphia Flyers here »

Something I've been thinking about recently: Lane Kiffin might be the greatest living American

If you haven't been following along with my extensive coverage of the Lanestein Files, what the hell have you been doing? Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to take the LSU job right before the College Football Playoffs, and the SEC BurnerVerse unearthed some damning information and obscenely horny DMs from the 50-year-old coach. The man was doing cocaine and wheeling college girls three at a time, all while leading the Rebels to their best season in program history. Not my personal way of doing things, but you have to tip the cap to the guy.

• Release the #LanesteinFiles: Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss with a trail of drugs, co-eds, and absurd DMs in his wake

• Release the #LanesteinFiles II: Lane Kiffin continues to DM Ole Miss co-eds from Baton Rouge, gets exposed for hot yoga exploits, and more

• Release the #LanesteinFiles III: Lane Kiffin lied about Ole Miss players wanting him to stay and coach for the playoffs

☁️ HOODIE SZN

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