Is there a very good cause aside from roster expertise to imagine within the Philadelphia Eagles proper now? Severely, when you’ve got a very good reply I’d prefer to see your work — as a result of regardless of dropping their first recreation of the season to the Jets there’s nothing about this staff that reveals they deserve being 5-1 proper now.
We noticed this one yr in the past with one other 5-1 staff who persistently performed right down to their competitors and squeezed out wins by a single rating: The Minnesota Vikings. All season lengthy we heard from Vikings followers that it didn’t matter, wins are wins, and labored justifications for his or her inconsistent outcomes. Then the 13-4 groups obtained bounced within the Wild Automotive spherical by the Giants — by a single rating.
In the event you’re mapping out the perfect groups within the NFL after the primary third of the season it feels just like the Eagles are merely being included by default. No one has actually stopped to consider whether or not they really are one the perfect groups within the league, or drafting off the expectation that they’d be representing the NFC within the Tremendous Bowl as soon as extra.
The loss to the Jets was embarassing, however not essentially a debacle. Robert Saleh’s staff is the perfect defensive unit within the NFL exterior of San Francisco, and so they’d be a professional Tremendous Bowl contender with an actual quarterback. That also doesn’t change the calculus that this staff crumbled in opposition to the Jets, largely based mostly on the horrific play of Jalen Hurts on Sunday — and it’s not the primary time we’ve seen disappointing outcomes from Hurts and the Eagles this season.
Let’s take away the sport on Sunday from the equation for a second and take a look at the remainder of their video games up to now:
- 5 level win over the Patriots (1-5)
- Six level win over the Vikings (2-4)
- 14 level win over the Buccaneers (3-2)
- Three level win over the Commanders (3-3)
- 9 level win over the Rams (3-3)
This can be a staff struggling in opposition to probably the most mid groups within the NFL. Their 20.2 level in opposition to per recreation ranks eighth within the NFL. They rating 21.08 per recreation, which is 14th within the league. Superior stats don’t do the Eagles any favors both, with Philadelphia enjoying groups with a -7.9% in whole DVOA, one of many best schedules within the NFL up so far.
The danger of a Tremendous Bowl hangover was all the time actual, however what we’re seeing greater than something is a staff that’s actually lacking its offensive and defensive coordinators from a yr in the past, each of whom obtained head teaching jobs. All of it seems like an excessive amount of change too rapidly for a staff simply rounding the nook to search out its method, and Jalen Hurts is struggling because of this. An inconsistent run recreation has led to an excessive amount of strain for Hurts to must play hero ball, and an enormous cause for the loss on Sunday was as a result of the QB felt the necessity to do an excessive amount of on offense and turned the ball over because of this.
A yr in the past this staff felt like a effectively oiled machine dominating straightforward video games, successful their toss-ups, and pushing the perfect groups within the NFL to the restrict. In 2023 this Eagles staff doesn’t have a transparent id — and so they’ve taken a mammoth step again. It hasn’t mirrored in wins or losses but, however with a six recreation stretch arising that features the Dolphins, 49ers, Chiefs, and Payments it wouldn’t be shocking in any respect to see this staff in a gap.
There must be a way of urgency in Philadelphia that begins proper now, as a result of this staff is much too proficient to relaxation on its 5-1 laurels, take a look at this Jets loss like a blip on the radar, and get caught in a deep gap that turns into unattainable to dig their method out of.
Winner: Cleveland Browns
You may get right down to a granular degree and say the explanation this staff was capable of pull out a win was missed subject targets by Jake Moody and a few useful accidents that stored two of the Niners’ greatest weapons off the sector — however that reductions that the Browns are nonetheless with out Nick Chubb and began Philip Walker at quarterback.
You greatest imagine that is going to be a recreation faucet each staff provides to their preparation, as a result of no person has contained the Brock Purdy-run 49ers offense this effectively.
This wasn’t a lot a case of thoughts blowing particular person performs that warped the sport, and relatively a whole defensive efficiency that stored San Francisco to 215 yards and 3-of-12 on third down. It was a significant achievement, and protection like that is what may carry Cleveland into the playoffs.
Winner: Tyreek Hill
This was a baller transfer, I don’t care concerning the penalty — it was value it.
Loser: Justin Fields
I really feel actually unhealthy placing Fields within the loser column this week after his hand harm, however previous to him being harm the Bears’ offense was a putrid dumpster hearth with Fields on the helm. No matter progress was made in opposition to the Commanders washed away vs. the Vikings — a staff that has truthfully struggled in opposition to the cross loads this season up to now due to their lack of a secondary.
There was some good twin menace traits to Fields’ recreation, however every thing is so unhealthy with this passing recreation proper now that I don’t know if it may be rectified. The worst half is that we appear destined to be hurtling in the direction of Caleb Williams ending up on the Bears subsequent, the place his profession will be sacrificed on Chicago’s altar as effectively.
Winner: The Detroit Lions
Are the Lions the perfect staff within the NFC exterior of the 49ers? Yeah, in all probability.
This staff is doing every thing proper for the time being. They’re successful the video games they need to, and stepping up when wanted. The previous attribute Lions are useless, and truthfully the Lions of 2022 would have dropped that recreation on Sunday in opposition to the Buccaneers.
Above all else Detroit is enjoying with delight. There’s earnest perception in their very own capability, and it’s exhibiting in how they play. Jared Goff is likely one of the greatest quarterbacks within the league proper, Amon-Ra St. Brown is quick changing into an elite receiver, and defensively everyone seems to be stepping up as effectively.
Soccer typically isn’t heartwarming, however man, it’s such a really feel good story for this franchise.
