Philadelphia Eagles Inching Closer to a Surprising Playoff Appearance
E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles! The roars from the Philadelphia faithful could be heard all Tuesday night at Lincoln Financial Field during their 27-17 win over the Washington Football Team. It was a dominating effort, one that allows the Philadelphia Eagles to enjoy a rare “Victory Wednesday.”
The win – which saw them gain 519 offensive yards – puts Philadelphia at 7-7 with three games remaining in the regular season and sole possession of second place in the NFC East. Despite a miserable 2020 season and distracting offseason, one that saw moving parts around the roster and coaching staff, the Birds are just one spot out of a wild card playoff spot.
Is the team that arguably had the most drastic win range coming into the season gaining momentum late in the season? It sure looks that way. The Eagles have won two straight, and they welcome the lowly Giants (4-10) in Week 16. It’s very possible this football team enters a Week 17 game in Washington with a record above .500, even though they started 2-5.
With all the moving parts, and players and coaches embracing a hefty load of responsibility in their first year, this team is outshining preseason win predictions from everywhere all over the country. There were times where their own fan base thought going through another four- or five-win season was bound to happen. There were national media heads thinking this team had zero identity. All the Eagles have done this year is prove them all wrong.
What has Worked for the 2021 Eagles?
Head coach Nick Sirianni was brought in because players lost just about all faith in Doug Pederson after a disastrous 4-11-1 season in 2020. Many questioned what the offense was going to look like with Jalen Hurts, now a full-time starter in just his second career season, under center. Sirianni even waited until midway through the team’s preseason games to announce him as the starter. But it looks like he’s glad he did because Hurts has been something special this season.
Hurts’ ability to run was always going to be his bread and butter in the NFL. Sirianni has embraced that ability and has taken it to another level. Nick Sirianni has found the identity of the 2021 Philadelphia Eagles, and when it’s clicking, it is extremely fun to watch.
It’s obvious, isn’t it? The Philadelphia Eagles have the number one rushing offense in the NFL this season, and it’s really not even close. The Birds are averaging 165.6 rushing yards per game this year and 210.3(!!!) in their last three games. The next closest is the Indianapolis Colts with 157.0 per game.
Hurts’ versatility sees him leading the team in passing and rushing. If you don’t include Lamar Jackson of this season, Hurts – still, despite missing an entire game this year – could achieve something that has been done just 23 times in the history of the NFL, joining former Eagles quarterbacks Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb. He’s on pace to finish with 903 rushing yards, which would be the sixth most ever by a quarterback in a single season.
But he hasn’t just been using his legs. In fact, Philly ranks 11th in the league in total offensive yards per game with 367.9, far from their 25th ranked offense from last year. Their 423.0 over the last three games is number one in that span.
A Quick Turnaround
Hurts’ success has Philadelphia Eagles fans long forgetting the years Carson Wentz was under center. After his tumultuous 2020, management was ready for a change, so they traded him to Indy for a couple of draft picks. Now, Wentz is on pace to play at least 75% of the Colts’ offensive snaps, meaning one of those picks becomes a first rounder. That brings the Eagles’ first-round pick total in 2022 up to three.
A team that owns three Day One selections that is in the playoff hunt this deep into the season is a scary thought. I think the Philadelphia Eagles have found their franchise quarterback, so the opportunity to select the best player available with each of the three picks should have their front office salivating. Maybe a highly touted wide receiver, linebacker, and safety is just what this team needs heading into 2022, regardless of if they make the postseason or not. Using the Dallas Cowboys as an example, if you take a talented roster and add the best available talent, the odds should be in your favor for having it all click the very next year.
The Eagles could very well have this ship righted by the end of this season, and a 2022 deadline is looking more and more promising. Maybe we shouldn’t rip Howie Roseman so much? Sure, he’s had his mishaps along the way, like taking J.J. Arcega-Whiteside over D.K. Metcalf and Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson (and getting laughed at by Minnesota for it), but he has been able to keep a talented core together for years and bring so hope back to the fans. The way his team is preforming this year tells me he still has that magic he brought out for the Super Bowl 52 run, and that’s without big names like Brandon Graham and Brandon Brooks for the entire season. Point is, he’s far from the cancer we all thought he became last season.
One of Roseman’s picks from last year’s draft is playing amazingly this season, and that’s none other than wide receiver DeVonta Smith. As a rookie, he leads the team in receiving yards over tight end Dallas Goedert by 10 with 741. Smith should finish right at 900 receiving yards, but if he has a big game or two, 1,000 is certainly not out of the question. Goedert, a second-round in 2018, is proving to be the true successor to Zach Ertz, who was traded early in the season after the team’s sluggish start.
Can They Make the Playoffs This Year?
Absolutely. The Philadelphia Eagles have an extremely favorable schedule down the stretch, and they’re right in the middle of it. As mentioned before, their next two opponents have worse records than them, and if they win both of them, you bet your behind they’ll be fired up for a Week 18 matchup at home against their biggest rival, the Cowboys, with a chance to clinch a playoff spot. If they win all three? Well, that may just be the most surprising 10-win team I can remember – like last year’s Miami Dolphins.
The Atlanta Falcons (6-8) hold the same record as Washington, and, at the moment, the Eagles hold head-to-head tiebreakers over both of them. Philadelphia shouldn’t have to worry about them if they handle their business, but Atlanta could help the Eagles by playing spoiler in Week 18 versus New Orleans.
The Saints and Vikings own the same 7-7 record as the Eagles, and the Eagles sit above New Orleans because of a win over them in Philly during Week 11. Minnesota has a challenging next two games, as they host the LA Rams (10-4) and then travel to Green Bay to play the NFC-leading Packers (11-3). As for the Saints, they host the Dolphins (7-7) next week in a game that most likely decides one of the teams’ fates for the season.
The San Francisco 49ers are in the driver’s seat for this group of teams, sitting at 8-6 with wins over Minnesota, Philly, and Atlanta. They don’t have a cake walk, though. They get both the Titans (9-5) and the Rams on the road down the stretch. The Eagles will need a bit of help if they want to overtake them.
Due to the recent success, this team has me and plenty of other Eagles fans believing again. We’ll see if they fall back into the inconsistency they showcased in the first half of the year, or if they are truly ready to come together and impose their will in the final remaining games. A 9-8 record might just be enough to sneak into the postseason, but 10-7 feels like an absolute lock, and it’s not out of the question at all. We’ll have to wait and see, but these Birds look ready for the challenge ahead.
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