How Real Are the Eagles’ Super Bowl Chances?
Through the first 10 games of the season, it is clear that Philadelphia’s chances of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy are alive. They stand at 8-2 in the NFC and only trail the Lions by one game for the top seed in the conference. After a controversial 2-2 start before the bye week, Philadelphia has responded by going to win all six of their games since then. Both sides of the ball have improved mightily, and it seems that the team many thought they could be before the season is finally a reality. The Eagles’ own control of the NFC East after their victory against their rival Washington Commanders. In this slate of the season where many teams are accumulating injuries, Philadelphia is fortunately healthy to this point. As the Eagles continue to play into the second half of their season, what does the road ahead look like to play into February?
The nucleus of Philadelphia’s success will all come down to Jalen Hurts. Compared to his struggles earlier this season, the franchise quarterback has responded quite nicely. Since Week Six, Hurts ranks second in yards per attempt, first in rushing touchdowns, and third in TD-INT ratio. Jalen has certainly flipped the script over the past month, and it’s translated to the Eagles’ winning ways as of late. Saquon Barkley has arguably been the most electrifying player in football, as his productivity has exceeded many expectations. He is second in the league and rushing, and the identity of this offense focuses on the superstar back. As A.J. Brown is back fully healthy, in the seven games he’s played, the star receiver has accumulated 618 yards and 33 receptions. Down the line, heading into the playoffs, Brown will be the leading factor in the passing game. He is Hurts’ favorite target and is amongst the top receivers in the NFL. It’s worth recognizing DeVonta Smith as well, who is among the most productive number two receivers in the NFL as well. His big-play ability and the red zone threat he poses will be vital as the Eagles play into the ladder portion of this season.
Numbers do not lie, and the analytics prove the Eagles’ defense is in the upper threshold of the NFL. Philadelphia ranks top 10 in red zone efficiency, touchdowns allowed, points allowed, and total yards allowed. There has been spectacular play from the defensive line, into the secondary. A few notable names to mention are Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean. All four have had incredible consistency, and their play into December and January will truly determine the identity of this defense heading to the playoffs. The defense has been relatively consistent the whole season, and it’s been great to see the young players develop and take on greater roles. As long as they stay healthy, it is safe to say the Eagles have a Super Bowl-caliber defense.
With that being said, the question remains. Can the Eagles get back to their third Super Bowl within the last decade? They certainly have an arsenal surrounding Jalen Hurts. They have two-star receivers, a top offensive line, and perhaps the best running back in football. On defense, they have a rookie cornerback in Quinyon Mitchell who already possesses to be a superstar. They have a talented defensive line and have nightly improved at linebacker. The greatest competitor within the NFC seems to be the Lions, and possibly the Packers or Commanders. If the Eagles can get the one seed in the NFC, a first-round bye along with home-field advantage serves to be the best path to heading to New Orleans. As the Eagles head into a critical seven-game stretch, the stakes will continue to rise each week as we get closer to playoff football. At this point, the Eagles continue to clear the pathway to play into their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
