There are five winnable games ahead.

Eagles fans, that should be your mindset for the remainder of the season.

Remember when you were ready to sit down and enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers watching the Eagles-Bears game Friday? It was a combination of the Eagles’ ineptitude on both sides of the ball, and the Bears’ grind-it-out style on both sides of the ball, that ruined your appetite.

Maybe your New Year’s leftovers will taste better after the next five weeks.

The 8-4 Birds have to travel to Los Angeles to meet the Chargers next Monday, host the Raiders, have a home and away with the Commanders and travel to Buffalo remaining on their schedule.

Despite their recent brutal beating by the Bears, the Eagles are still in control of their own destiny to win the NFC East.

In this version of my Inside the Huddle column, I’ll look at some recent Eagles’ numbers, a Super Bowl contender, check in on the Fightin’ Irish, swirl around the league, and rekindle Northwestern’s first championship 30 years ago.

What’s Going On? ... There has been much written and spoken about the Eagles’ offensive issues. Their defense that dominated the Lions three weeks ago, has vanished.

Philly-area fans aren’t happy with offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, as they reportedly egged his house after the Bears’ defeat.

Here are some numbers you may have missed: The Eagles lead the league in three-and-outs; they have been penalized 16 times for 154 yards in the past two weeks; and they are the only team to lose multiple games after leading by 14 or more points this season, blowing a 14-point lead to the Denver Broncos in Week 5 and a 21-point lead to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12.

Also, they have rushed for a combined 150 yards in their last two games.

Defensively, the Birds have allowed 406 yards rushing and 498 yards passing with three sacks, in their last two games.

Ram Tough ... Before their lackluster loss in Carolina Sunday, the Rams arguably were considered the best team in the league. Still, at 9-3, the Rams are a Super Bowl favorite. It certainly was a clunker and uncharacteristic of their season.

MVP candidate quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had two interceptions and a fumble for the first time in a game since 2021, has 32 touchdown passes and had 28 straight without an interception before Sunday. Dallas’ Dak Prescott — who also has an MVP season — is second with 25.

Wide receiver Davante Adams is looking as good as his Green Bay days with his 52 catches and a league-high 14 touchdowns. Puca Nacua is back on track after an injury and is tied for second in receptions. Running back Kyren Williams quietly is among the top 10 rushers in the league.

Before Sunday, the Rams’ defense was ranked ninth overall in total defense, 12th against the rush and 13th against the pass. They have allowed a second-best 210 points. Linebacker Jared Verse had six of the team’s 33 sacks, which is ranked fourth overall.

The Rams lost their top seed to the Bears based on conference record, but they will still be in the mix. Over their last five weeks, their biggest challenge will be hosting Detroit, and then traveling to Seattle in a span of four days.

Los Angeles is on track for a possible 12-plus-win season, its first since 2021 when it won the Super Bowl with Stafford. In 2018, they went 13-3 and lost the Super Bowl with Jared Goff.

Jettisons ... At 3-9, the Jets are slowly coming together under first-year coach Aaron Glenn. However, they have one of the league’s best special teams’ units.

The Jets lead the NFL in kickoff return average at 28.7 yards per return, and are ninth in punt returns at 12.1. They are first in special teams’ touchdowns with three, fourth in punts inside-the-20, and have the fifth-best starting field position after opponents’ returns.

Topping Off ... Here’s an opinion of the top five teams:

1. Patriots (11-2) - They scored 17 points in their first 16 snaps against the Giants. It’s difficult to win 10 straight games.

2. Bears (9-3) - Have to give them their due this week. Caleb Williams may have arrived.

3. Rams (9-3) - LA will put a bad loss behind them.

4. Seahawks (9-3) - They slayed the Vikings and keep methodically winning.

5. Eagles (8-4) - All right, I haven’t given up yet, but they need a big game against the Chargers.

Bottoming Out ... Here’s an opinion of the five worst teams (worst to fifth worst):

1. Titans (1-11) - Watched them Sunday, and they are a mess. Cam Ward deserves better.

2. Raiders (2-10) - Only the Titans are worse, but not by much.

3. Saints (2-10) - Tyler Shough isn’t a bad quarterback.

4. Giants (2-11) - Jaxon Dart, that’s it.

5. Vikings (4-8) - Everything has fallen apart there.

Love Can’t Conquer All ... Notre Dame junior running Jeremiyah Love was in the running for the Heisman Trophy, but Love’s final regular-season performance in the Irish’s 49-20 victory over Stanford likely dampened his chances.

Love looked ready for a big night with 54 yards on eight carries and scored on Notre Dame’s first drive. But he left the game with a hip injury, and later returned, finishing the game with 66 yards on 14 carries.

He ended the regular season with 1,372 yards, the fourth best season mark. The lone running back among the Irish’s seven Heisman winners was Johnny Lattner in 1953.

Irish Sweepstakes ... Winners of 10 straight, Notre Dame continues to be one of the hottest teams in the country. The Irish have clearly dominated their opponents, outscoring them by an average of 34 points in eight contests. Their closest decisions were 34-24 over USC, and 25-10 over Boston College, both in consecutive weeks.

Most prognosticators have the Irish in the college football playoffs as the ninth-ranked team and meeting eighth-ranked Oklahoma, which could be a great matchup.

Freshman quarterback C. J. Carr is having a banner year, throwing for 2,741 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Scrapbook ... Each column, I’ll turn back the pages and review a former standout or team from our coverage area.

With Northwestern gunning for its second straight state championship Saturday, it was 30 years ago that the Tigers won their first district title in 1995 under head coach Bob Mitchell.

The late Brett Snyder, who also starred at Lehigh, ran for 2,376 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. Over the final six regular-season games, Snyder rushed for 200 yards in each of them. He ended his career with 4,281 yards and 49 TDs, which were both school records.

Northwestern beat Catasauqua 14-7 in the regular season finale, snapping the Roughies’ 19-game winning streak and gaining a share of the Colonial League title. They met again a week later for the District 11 2A title, and Snyder’s 50-yard touchdown run was the key play in a 23-7 victory that gave Northwestern its first district title.

Current Tigers’ head coach Josh Snyder was a cornerback on the team.

Readers Write

From Dodgers’ Blue to Rams’ Blue

Dear Jeff,

After watching my Rams recently destroy a good Bucs team, I feel they are Super Bowl bound.

First, they are in the toughest division in the NFL and have the best record in the NFC.

Matthew Stafford is having a MVP season and Puka Nacua and Devante Adams Pro Bowl years. The defense reminds me of the Aaron Donald years.

People ask me how, as a born and raised New Yorker, I became a lifelong Rams fan. In first grade in 1954, the teacher put on the chalkboard Yankees, Giants and Dodgers. Mrs. Klein said since you are New Yorkers, you should root for one of these teams. Since both Dallara and the Dodgers began with a D, I started my life long devotion to the Dodgers.

A few years later after they moved to LA, it seemed natural to root for Jon Arnette and Dick Bass. I stayed with both teams through their ups and downs. How I became a Montreal Canadians’ fan is another story.

Paul J. Dallara,

Hawley, PA.

Time Passages ... Periodically, I’ll rewind to a former game of the Eagles’ opponent this week.

In 1980, the Eagles and the Chargers had their second-ever meeting, this time in San Diego.

The Eagles fell into a 19-7 hole after three quarters, but Ron Jaworski’s two touchdown passes brought them to within 22-21 late in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Birds couldn’t stop the Chargers from converting a third down in the final two minutes.

Jaworski completed 20 of 31 passes for 201 yards, 11 of which went to Wilbert Montgomery, who also rushed for 61 yards. Dan Fouts completed 21 of 28 attempts for 342 yards and a pair of scores.

The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak.

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