Resilient Eagles back in playoff mix
PHILADELPHIA — Facing a must win with their Super Bowl MVP backup quarterback leading the way, the Philadelphia Eagles responded like champions.
Don’t write them off just yet.
“We’re still playing for something,” coach Doug Pederson said Monday, less than 24 hours after Nick Foles led the Eagles to a 30-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
“Our backs are against the wall. We know the nature of where we are, what needs to be done, and I think you saw a little bit of that last night. Just how well this team kind of came together in all three phases to get this win against a great football team.”
The Eagles (7-7) still need help to get in the playoffs. They can only win the NFC East if they beat Houston (10-4) at home and Washington (7-7) on the road and Dallas (8-6) goes 0-2 or 0-1-1 vs. Tampa Bay (5-9) and at the Giants (5-9).
A wild-card berth is more likely if Philadelphia wins out, though Minnesota (7-6-1) or Carolina (6-7) has to lose or tie once more or Seattle (8-6) has to go 0-2 or 0-1-1.
“We want to continue to play,” safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “If we want our dreams to
a two-time Golden Gloves champion in three years of boxing and began to explore more opportunities in fighting.
Starting out in a car garage cushioned with rolled out carpet, Gifford and his friends soon found interest in other fighting disciplines. He eventually worked with Everett Williams, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, and entered a grappling tournament.
“After that tournament, I was hooked,” Gifford said. “I wanted more, more, more. So, I decided to make MMA a career.”
Gifford turned professional at just 19 years of age, three years after starting MMA training. He was 11-2 in his amateur career.
“I have been dead set on getting to fight on the elite shows like Bellator and UFC for 10 years now,” Gifford said.
Standing at 6-2 and 175 pounds, his current weight class is 155 pounds, where he has a record of 16-3 in the lightweight division. Ranked No. 15 out of 1,500 professional lightweight fighters in the country, Thomas holds a title belt for both the Kansas City Fighting Alliance in Missouri and the Colosseum Combat promotion in Indiana, but he also remains a contracted log-cutter.
Gifford has a 17-7 record overall, also fighting in the welterweight division at 170 pounds. He said he is looking to build off of his current five-fight win streak with the training trip with Team Alpha Male in Sacramento.
Former UFC fighter Urijah Faber founded Team Alpha Male in 2004. The team has produced a number of professional fighters, including UFC bantamweight champions Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw.
The trip was made possible with the support from local businesses and organizations such as Bath Planet, All Points Transport, Tilco Construction, Arch Street Wheel and Tire, and Karate for Christ.
“MMA isn’t just my passion, it is my life,” Gifford said. “I don’t just fight because it is a hobby, I fight to spread God’s word. MMA has given me a spotlight and I use it to glorify God. Instead of “normal” MMA walkout music, I choose to walk out to spoken word’s preaching.
“Everything that I do, I do it with God’s will on my mind. I love the sport and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I thank God every day for the talent and natural abilities that he has gifted me with. I cannot wait to be under contract with the elite promotions because I will be able to tell millions about the message of my lord, Jesus Christ, on the biggest stage of my craft.”