God gives his toughest battles to His strongest soldiers, and there’s no soldier stronger than the Fighting City of Philadelphia. The Eagles’ Monday night loss to the Chargers was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. If it weren’t for a few Guinnesses and some excellent company, I probably would have lost my mind.

This week’s edition of Weekend Rips is all about our opportunity to get right as a city. Fortunately, I did my part last night, making my triumphant return to the best bar in Philadelphia for the finest pint in all the land and a burger that almost made me cry. Weekend Rips is at its best when I have a few pints of the black stuff coursing through my veins. That’s just science.

Simply put, this is the most important sports weekend since the football season began. The Eagles simply have to win. The Sixers have a chance to continue pushing up the Eastern Conference standings.

So, my fellow Philadelphians. Enjoy these two nights before Sunday’s battle. If you have a holiday party, make sure the drinks are flowing and the games are on. Let me prime you for the fight of our lives. It’s time to let it rip.

Eagles welcome Kenny Pickett in must-win game vs. Raiders – Sunday @ 1 pm

We don’t need to talk about that Chargers game. We lived it. What we do need to talk about is how pivotal this game against the Raiders is. The Birds have dropped three straight games, and a fourth loss might actually kill me.

It’s likely Kenny Pickett will be starting for the silver and black, but even so, this game cannot be taken lightly by the players, coaches, or fans. A loss in this spot all but guarantees a collapse for the ages. I’m talking biblical stuff.

Of course, my pops was generous enough to get the family tickets to this game. While I’m still confident in the Birds’ ability to win this game, I can’t help but fear I’ll have a front row seat to the death of our season. This must be what it felt like to go watch executions in medieval times.

It will be cold, windy, and a true test of who wants it more. On paper, the Eagles should blow out the Raiders. It genuinely should not be close. Will that be the case? Only time will tell.

If we lose, I only have one option left. And it isn’t pretty.

Sixers host Pacers then head down to Hotlanta – Friday @ 7 pm and Sunday @ 6 pm

The Sixers currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference and face two opponents that they really should beat this weekend. Will they? That’s anyone’s guess, but the team is finding its groove with Tyrese Maxey taking the reins. We’ve got guards on guards making plays while Paul George and Joel Embiid look good, but unreliable.

The Pacers have already thrown in the towel this season, with Tyrese Halliburton still out with his heartbreaking Achilles injury from the Finals. So that’s a win as far as I’m concerned. The Hawks still haunt my dreams from four years ago, but I think 2-0 is very much in play for this Sixers team as they fight for playoff positioning.

Flyers have a home-and-home series vs. Carolina – Saturday @ 7 pm and Sunday @ 5pm

The Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes meet twice this weekend in a back-to-back NHL regular-season series. We start with Carolina visiting Philadelphia on Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and then the Flyers head to Raleigh on Sunday.

Carolina comes in riding solid form, including a recent shootout win that propelled them toward the top of the Eastern Conference standings. At the same time, Philadelphia has been competitive of late, with guys like Trevor Zegras and Dan Vladar playing key roles.

These games will be pivotal for both teams in the Metropolitan Division race and could hinge on goaltending and special teams as they battle for momentum heading into the midseason stretch.

Something I’ve been thinking about recently: Philadelphia deserves better from our sports media

Social media has been ablaze after 94.1 WIP was openly mocked on ESPN for their sky-is-falling, bullshit approach to sports radio. Unfortunately, they represent the city on a national stage in situations like this. That doesn’t sit right with us here at TLL.

The people of Philadelphia deserve better. I won’t reveal too much, but we are planning a total overhaul of the sports media ecosystem in this city. Free and fair elections are the only way to solve this. Philly is the birthplace of American democracy, and it’s time we started acting like it.

The day of reckoning will come. Stay tuned. The Philadelphia First Party is here to make things right.

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