The Eagles won! The preseason is over! The world is a better place!

Some of you may not have watched, which is fine because the game consisted of just backups for the Birds.

This one ended in thrilling fashion for the fourth preseason game. Joe Callahan found Matt Jones for the short score with 18 seconds left to go ahead. And Jake Elliott made the extra point to spare us hell (overtime in the final preseason game).

It was a game in which guys like Josh Adams, Jordan Mailata, and DeAndre Carter had their final chance to make an impression for sneaking into the 53-man roster come Saturday afternoon. I think Adams and Mailata do make the roster, but I’m unsure if Carter sneaks in as the sixth wide receiver even though his chances are pretty good.

Prior to the game, Carson Wentz showed off his footwork again.

Lane Johnson thinks he’ll start Week 1 in six days.

“[Wentz] looks ready to me,” Johnson said. “I saw him throw a ball a couple weeks ago about 65 yards, so he looks about as impressive as I’ve seen.”

So … would he be surprised if Wentz isn’t the starter on Thursday night?

“Kinda,” the right tackle said, “the way I’m feeling.”

Lane is no doctor, because he’s an offensive tackle. But I do think Wentz will start Week 1. He could get cleared for contact on Wednesday or Thursday morning and my money would still be on Wentz starting. But we’ll see.

After the game, Doug Pederson mentioned that Alshon Jeffery would be activated off PUP later today. That’s not a big surprise.

As for opening night, NBC is having some of their programming at the Comcast Center Plaza on Thursday, including the Today Show and Mad Money with Jim Cramer. Bud Light is building some kind of Eagles statue that will be unveiled Thursday night, and Miller Lite is partnering with Septa to offer free rides on the Broad Street Line from 4 PM until midnight on the night of the opener.

But despite the night being about celebrating the Super Bowl and playing a meaningful football game, the Eagles are removing the Super Bowl sign from their locker room inside the NovaCare Complex. That’s a smart move.

Finally, a former Eagle will officially call it a career later today.

The Roundup:

The Phillies were off last night but gained a half-game thanks to the Braves losing to the Cubs. Speaking of the Cubs, they’ll be in Philly this weekend for a three-game series that starts tonight at 7:05 PM on NBC 10. Nick Pivetta will be on the mound to take the start.

Gabe Kapler has used a ton of defensive shifts thus far this season. But are they working?

Remember when Hector Neris was pretty bad? Now he’s looking like the most important reliever on the team.

Theories abound for why Neris wasn’t very good for much of the season’s first three months. Phillies pitching coach Rick Kranitz suggested Neris was throwing too many sliders when he should have stuck with his one-two punch. In the minors, Neris worked with Lehigh Valley pitching coach Dave Lundquist to speed up his delivery by shortening his leg lift. Kapler points to “more vertical movement” on Neris’ splitter now as opposed to earlier in the season.

But the biggest culprit might have been simply Neris’ inability to locate his fastball. In May, for instance, opponents teed off on his four-seamer, batting .400 and swinging and missing only once. Since his return from triple A, he’s holding opponents to a .154 average and has gotten eight swings and misses with his fastball.

“I think the fastball has more life in the zone,” Kapler said. “He’s got a ton of confidence. It seems like every time he goes out there, it’s like a snowball. He gets even more confidence, and as a result, we get more confidence. And we all feel like he’s going to pitch some really important innings for us down the stretch.”

Kapler also moved Aaron Nola’s next start up a day because he’s “awesome.” Early the next day, the team rolled out a Nola-themed promo for Sunday. Coincidence?

Snow the Goalie is back for another episode. This time, Anthony sits down with goalie Alex Lyon.

The team also revealed their promo schedule for the season. There’s a god damn Jake Voracek Chia Pet giveaway in October.

The Sixers’ starting five 2K ratings were leaked. Here are the ratings:

  • Ben Simmons (87)
  • JJ Redick (79)
  • Robert Covington (79)
  • Dario Saric (79)
  • Joel Embiid (90)

Speaking of Simmons, his relationship with Kendall Jenner is “cooling off.” Smart move by Simmons!

Despite sucking early on, the Union are actually a pretty good team. They’ll play Orlando City SC tomorrow night.

Even without Saquon Barkley, Penn State still has a legit chance of making the College Football Playoff this year.

Eliot Shorr-Parks is WIP’s new Eagles beat reporter.

The William Hill Sportsbook at Oceans Resort Casino is what heaven looks like.

In other sports news, college football is back! Northwestern held on to beat Purdue, UCF defended their undefeated championship* season by crushing UConn, and Wake Forest needed overtime to beat Tulane (who looked really nice in their unis).

Andrew McCutchen is now a Yankee.

Colin Kaepernick’s collusion case against the NFL is going to trial.

The UEFA Champions League groups were drawn, highlighted by Juventus and Manchester United in the same group.

In the news, five Veteran Stadium plaques stolen from Citizens Bank Park were found in a scrapyard.

Washington says good bye to John McCain today.

NBC News tried to block the reporting of Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual misconduct.