It's all about Nick Foles being back in Philadelphia. Philadelphiaeagles.com
Coming into the week, the mystery surrounding the Eagles quarterback situation, had many wondering if this team could still make a playoff push with Nick Foles under center.
Foles was very efficient going 24-of-38 for 237 yards while tossing four touchdowns. Even more impressive, his ability to spread the rock around as his four scores went to four different players. The ground game struggled for most of the game, and after being down 20-7 early, the game script was put in the backups hands. The Eagles were very fortunate; They were +1 in the Turnover margin; got a blocked FG, blocked PAT and a blocked punt, but still failed to cover the -7.5 point spread. Much can be credited to the slow start on offense and the fact the Eagles defense didn't look like the inspired unit we have seen all year. They allowed a shameful offense that lacks a true number one receiver and carries absolutely no ground game, to gain 504 total yards with two touchdowns coming on gains of 50 plus yards.
Foles answered some questions we might have had prior to Sunday. If the Eagles defense can get back to what they have been the entire year, where they rank 6th overall in weighted DVOA as a unit, then Foles can simply manage games and won't be forced to win games. A stout defense and a ground game that ranks second overall averaging 140.5 yards per game should be enough to keep this Eagles team competitive vs. any opponent.
Favorites ruled week 15
Teams favored dominated the week going 11-4-1 ATS. The only underdog to win outright was the Rams as the Chiefs started as underdogs but were bet down to PK and favorites in some places by kickoff. Favorites hold a 115-95-9 record in 2017
The over-under finished a dead heat ending 8-8 overall. The number for the year rest at 108-112-4.
Play action or Pass went 8-1 in week 15 bringing our yearly record to 41-28-1. 59.4%
Chiefs WIN
Carolina-2.5 WIN
Patriots/Steelers over 53.5 LOSS
49'ers PK WIN
Teasers 7 point
Vikings-3/ Eagles-.5 WIN
Teaser 10 point
Vikings PK/ Saints-6/ Jaguars-1 (2X) WIN 2x
Patriots-Steelers over 43.5/Vikings PK/Saints-6 (2X) WIN 2x
New England Patriots +240
Pittsburgh Steelers +600
Minnesota Vikings +650
Philadelphia Eagles +900
New Orleans Saints +900
Los Angeles Rams +900
Jacksonville Jaguars +1400
Atlanta Falcons +1600
Patriots
Steelers
Eagles
Vikings
Rams
Jaguars
For any questions or comments reach me at @JerryBoKnowz on twitter.
It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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