NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
This is what happens when you win when you’re not picked to win. No one had the Philadelphia Eagles making the Super Bowl last season. Hell, not many picked them to win the NFC East. And yet, they did both in loud fashion. The Eagles were not the flashy choice. The Dallas Cowboys were supposed to be the team to beat in the NFC, along with the San Francisco 49ers. But not the Eagles.
However, since they did reel off 14 regular season wins and make short work in the NFC Playoffs, many are wondering if that was a fluke or are they really that good. It shouldn’t be up for debate but it is. Let’s examine the Buffalo Bills. In 2020, they made it to the AFC Championship Game but since they’ve been ousted in two straight Divisional Rounds. As good as they are, they may have played their best football as a unit. Will this happen to this bunch in Philadelphia?
Will The Philadelphia Eagles Return To The Super Bowl
Think about the storylines of the 2022-23 Philadelphia Eagles. Jalen Hurts was supposed to be on his way out the door. And yet, he almost won MVP last season. Miles Sanders never posted a 1000-yard rushing season and he finished the year with 1200+ yards. DeVonta Smith was supposedly too small to be a productive receiver in the NFL. Darius Slay and James Bradberry were treated like peasants from their former teams, and why would the Carolina Panthers just let Haason Reddick walk out the door like that? Then you look at Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, and Jason Kelce who were supposedly on their last leg.
A team with so many question marks, who in their right mind envisioned them doing what they did? But was last season their ceiling?
Then came the offseason and as the Philadelphia Eagles lost players and coaches, many figured the writing was on the wall early on. However, Howie Roseman was just in the wings watching and waiting. In his mind, this team was just getting started on their run last season. While players such as TJ Edwards, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Sanders, Kyzir White, Javon Hargrave, Andre Lillard, and Marcus Epps walked, the sharks came out for blood. A winning season brings the hounds and rightfully so. The goal was to take as much talent from this core as possible.
Not so fast. While Sanders was a vital part of the offense, as stated earlier, that was his first big season as a pro. He was replaced by Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott. LBs White and Edwards will be replaced by Nakobe Dean and Nicholas Marrow. Hargrove is gone but the Eagles filled that hole with Nolan Smith.
But that DL is getting older they say. No problem, all they did was find studs with Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. But what about that secondary that lost key cogs? Roseman made a few moves and snagged Terrell Edmunds, Greedy Williams, Justin Evans, and drafted Kelee Ringo. Did they peak too soon? No, the Philadelphia Eagles are right on schedule.
No one is asking if the Cincinnati Bengals peaked too soon or if they’re legit contenders. Well, two straight trips to the AFC Championship Game will give them that right. But this is what the Philadelphia Eagles will be facing this season. Missing the playoffs will draw criticism but making it back to at least the Conference Championship will garner this unit praise.
No way in hell the 2022-23 season was a fluke for the Philadelphia Eagles. This is a talented bunch and will continue to prove so this coming season.
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