Well, the Phillies’ hunt for Red October crashed and burned on the first day of the month. Last night’s 6-2 wild card loss in Atlanta ended a season that lasted 165 games and cost $322 million in payroll.
The Phillies have made the postseason in five consecutive years but haven’t won a postseason series since the 2023 National League division series against the Braves. Now, like the rest of us, the team will watch as the Braves take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS
Probably won’t be watching too intently, though, as Monday kicks off Sixers preseason; all eyes will be on whether the Eagles and Flyers can rebound from tough losses, and whether the Union can finish off its resurgent season on a high note.
However, for those of us who need to relive the Phillies loss:
Inquirer writer Lochlahn March recaps what went down in the ATL last night and,
Columnist David Murphy says the onus on the Phillies’ postseason struggles fall on Dave Dombrowski.
Enjoy one more unseasonably warm day with temps expected in the 80s on this first Friday in October. Enjoy.
— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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Jalen Hurts said that’s the question he asked his Eagles teammates following Monday’s loss to the Chicago Bears.
“Ask yourself that question because that’s a choice you can make, and being deliberate and intentional on how we move forward, so we can continue to improve,” Hurts recalled.
The Eagles’ identity crisis is one the team hopes to figure out sooner rather than later with the Los Angeles Rams coming to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday (1 p.m., Fox29). Inquirer writer Olivia Reiner has more on Hurts and the state of the offense.
What we’re …
🏈 Sharing: What the Rams are saying about playing the Eagles at the Linc this Sunday.
🤔 Wondering: What goes into the decision to play a sport as demanding as football with a wrist hairline fracture?
⚽ Reading: How playing soccer has gotten more “fun” for Union striker Milan Iloski in a return to his rightful position.
🪗 Watching: This one-woman band and superfan when it comes to the Eagles fight song.
🎧 Doing: Getting up to speed on all things Eagles courtesy of the unCovering the Birds podcast with Jeff McLane.
Jaylen Brown was once again the last player to leave the floor after practice on Wednesday, an encouraging sign heading into the first official preseason game against the New York Knicks on Monday (7 p.m., NBCSP).
After working on post-ups and back-to-the-basket moves on Wednesday, Brown was particularly in small group workouts with members of the player development staff and players like Justin Edwards and Rayan Rupert.
That facet of training camp — the ability to work with and impart knowledge to some of the younger players — has been a highlight for Brown so far.
“A lot of them have shown me a lot of respect,” Brown said. “Ask me questions, or ask to jump in my workouts, and I’m welcome, and I’m open to all of that, being a teacher. I was a guy who was always asking questions, so I appreciate it when the young guys are asking questions.”
Villanova is usually high atop the list of the coaches who help compile preseason basketball polls, but this year both the men’s and women’s programs are ahead of the pack. On the men’s side, the Wildcats are picked third in the polls, while the women were picked to finish second behind Geno Auriemma’s perennially dominant UConn program.
It’s where both teams ended last year, at least on paper, but what’s different about this year? Yesterday, Inquirer writer Jeff Neiburg attended Big East media day to take a look.
On this date
Oct. 2, 1991: The day that kickstarted the move of former Flyers great Eric Lindros to Philly, after he refused to play for the Quebec Nordiques after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft. Lindros landed in Philly a few months later on June 1992.
The Eagles hit the first bump in their 2026 schedule with a 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night, but the day wasn’t a total loss for Philly sports fans: it was also their first chance to see LeBron James in a Sixers uniform during the team’s media day. The Phillies also clinched a playoff berth a day earlier and traveled to Atlanta for a wild-card series against the Braves.
Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors picked the best sports images from the last seven days. Here’s this week’s Big Picture …
Amid the most optimism and the highest expectations around them in years, the Flyers opened their regular season Wednesday night and were bad. More than just bad, actually. They were horribly bad. They were terribly bad. They were Plan 9 from Outer Space bad, left-the-milk-out-too-long bad, Andy Dalton-on-third-and-goal bad. — Mike Sielski’s latest looks at whether or not the Flyers’ 7-0 season-opening loss is cause for concern or a fluke.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
SPAT NETEN
Which team held a players-only closed-door meeting this week to “get back on track” following a demoralizing conference loss? Think you know? Take a guess and then click here to see if you’re correct.
What you’re saying about the Flyers
We asked: After the Flyers’ opening night, share your prediction for this year’s squad. How far do you think they’ll go?
All right: last night was the worst home opener loss in 55 years. In 1971, the Flyers lost to the Kings by an identical 7-0 score. Let’s assume they got it out of their system, and that Vladař cleaned off the rust. (One has to hope he wasn’t playing hurt: if he was, that’s trouble.)
Two things were deeply disturbing: the pass-first mentality is still there, and the power play is completely inept. If either is allowed to persist, the playoffs may well be a long shot at best. If both persist, say hello to a lottery pick.
About all I can offer is the recommendation of going completely outside the organization and hiring the best available power play coach — that is, one with a proven record of success — and effectively giving them autonomy. As to the pass-first mentality...maybe it’s time to bar the old boys and the lifers from practice except from the stands. Keep them out of the locker room unless invited specifically, and don’t invite them to address the team under any circumstances. — John B.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from David Murphy, Mike Sielski, Lochlahn March, Jeff McLane, Kerith Gabriel, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Ariel Simpson, Lexie Linderman, Chris Hine, Mike Sielski, Becca O’Reilly, and The Inquirer’s photography staff.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy your first weekend of October. We’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday. — Kerith
