Philadelphia Eagles: 14 wins – 3 losses, NFC East champions, 2nd in NFC
After a lost Super Bowl 2 years ago, and an explosion at the end of last season, the future was full of questions for the Eagles. It's ultimately a very convincing season that Nick Sirianni's men have produced. Carried by a successful draft and a recruit who perhaps changed the destiny of the franchise: Saquon Barkley.
How did they get there?
The start of the season has been far from smooth sailing for the Eagles. With two defeats in the first four matches, including a humiliation against the Buccaneers, Philadelphia arrived until the bye week with a mind full of doubts.
What’s next? 10 wins in a row. The fault is a cleaner attack but above all a defense expected to be average and which was ultimately in the five best in the league in terms of advanced statistics. On the strength of this series, the Eagles won the NFC East but failed to secure the number 1 seed in the conference.
However, they have the assurance of playing the first (and second if ever) playoff match at home. Enough to see things coming for an ambitious young group.
The key player: Saquon Barkley (RB, Eagles)
When Saquon Barkley left the Giants for the Eagles, the Pennsylvania franchise's hopes were to see a ground-based, dominant offense like 2022. They got more than that as Saquon Barkley became the 9th player in history to produce 2,000 rushing yards.
The true centerpiece of this attack, he is by far the most important player in the system. In a modern NFL, this almost seems like an anomaly. The success or fall of the Eagles will depend on him, it's a virtual certainty.
Why are they going to go through with it?
Offensively, the Eagles have one of the two best offensive lines in the country, an outstanding runner and two excellent receivers. It’s a complete group that can look the Lions, the Ravens and the Chiefs in the eye. This squad must play the leading roles, as talent is everywhere.
Defense should have been a weakness, it is now a strength. Jalen Carter is one of the most dominant players in the league, and the line is historically complete. The two surprises come from the linebackers and defensive backs. Zack Baun had an incredible season, Nakobe Dean returned from the devil vauvert, and the rookie duo Quinyon Mitchell/Cooper Dejean is already very promising. With a coach like Vic Fangio, no reason to think of a loss of speed during the playoffs.
Why won't they go?
Is Jalen Hurts the title quarterback? The question is complex. On the other hand, he has already led his team to the Super Bowl and in the latter achieved one of the five best performances in history at the position in the big game. On the front side, it seems to be nothing more than a complement to this attack, and is no longer able to attack depth. One thing is certain: he is THE “X factor” of this team.
The other uncertainty concerns special teams. Jake Elliott is coming off his worst career performance, for whom 50 yards seems to have become a difficulty. The coverage and punting are very inconsistent and the overall rendering leaves doubt. A game cannot be won on special teams, but it can be lost.
Injured players
With the return of Dallas Goedert, the group is almost complete. There are ultimately only two notable absences. The first is that of Brandon Graham, vocal leader of this team since the departure of Jason Kelce. His absence on the field hurts, but he continues to be with the group and the overall performance does not seem to suffer too much.
The other is the absence of Britain Covey, the team's No. 1 returner. Compared to other competitors, the Eagles are doing well.
Prognosis
The Eagles will start with a trap game against the Commanders. Before having to release the Lions or the Vikings afterwards unless there is a huge surprise. It's not easy, but no journey is easy in this NFC.
The Eagles have fewer injuries than the Lions, and more experience than the Vikings. The Super Bowl therefore remains accessible. But like all the other teams, we will have to find a way to beat the unsinkable Chiefs.
