NFL
BY: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles will head into the 2022-23 NFL season with more than just making the playoffs as a goal. The team went through what many consider one of the best offseasons in the NFL. However, that means nothing if the results on the field don’t show the work put in by the front office. While there are still questions regarding the ability of QB Jalen Hurts, the success of this Eagles team should not be tied down to one specific player. It’s a total team effort and if they play the way their offseason moves suggest, this could be a great year.
Here is the 2022 season preview for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Offense
Jalen Hurts, Jalen Hurts, and Jalen Hurts. Yes, I know I said earlier that the season should not be tied to one man, but Hurts is the offensive leader on this team. Where he goes, the Eagles go. They do have enough talent to withstand a subpar year from their QB but Hurts has shown improvement every season since taking over the duties as a rookie in 2020.
The front office made a major splash with the addition of WR AJ Brown from the Tennessee Titans. The Eagles will also boast one of the best offensive lines in the league hoping it will shore up more running lanes for RBs Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell. But that’s not it for the Bird’s attack. While Brown was the big addition on that side of the ball, the Eagles still have their top WR in DeVonta Smith and the underrated TE, Dallas Goedert.
Last season, the Eagles ranked 32nd in passing attempts, 25th in passing yards, and 28th in passing TDs. On the rushing side of the coin, the Eagles ranked 2nd in attempts, 1st in yards, and 1st in rushing TDs. The offense has holes but the addition of Brown and a full season under the belt for Smith and Hurts should have this offense clicking on all cylinders.
Defense
While the addition of AJ Brown caught major headlines in the offseason, what GM Howie Roseman did on the defensive side of the ball cannot be ignored. The Eagles, coming off a season in which the defense ranked 11th in Passing Yards, 9th in Rushing Yards, 20th in INTs, and 31st in sacks, were in desperate need of an upgrade. Thanks to the NFL Draft and some great offseason moves, the defense received that facelift.
Roseman managed to snag LBs Kyzir White and Haason Reddick, coupled with the addition of CB James Bradberry But then the Draft came and that’s where the Eagles really made a splash. For Roseman, it was about getting the pieces in place that will fit within the team structure more than going after the bigger names in Free Agency.
Following a few great trades, the Eagles were able to shore up their defensive front via the Draft with the selections of DT Jordan Davis and two exceptional LBs in Nakobe Dean and Kyron Johnson. What was once the weak link on this Eagles team, could very well be the reason they win the NFC East.
Projected Record 14-3
Before the naysayers start to act crazy, the schedule for the Philadelphia Eagles 2022 season is not hard. Before their Bye Week in Week 7, the Eagles will face off against the Detriot Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys appear to be their main competition in the early stages where a loss seems likely.
Moving on, they will take on the Pittsburg Steelers, Houston Texans, Commanders, Indianapolis Colts, and Green Bay Packers. To close out the season, they will finish their schedule against the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Giants.
If the team plays as it should, the Eagles will glide through their schedule. They will play just 5 teams who made the playoffs last season and that Steelers team no longer has Big Ben. Ending the regular season at 14-3 is not as crazy as it sounds if the defense can play up to its potential.
