Know Your Enemy completes the NFC East opponents with the defending Super Bowl Champ (only because Lions were so injured) Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles were 14-3 as the 2nd seed, had a stud back in Saquan Barkley and beat the Packers, Rams, Commanders to reach the Super Bowl. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. They crushed the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Nick Siranni ended all questions about his coaching ability but the Eagles did lose OC Kellen Moore to Saints (new head coach). The Eagles were 7th at 27.2 PPG offense. DC Vic Fangio returns with a very talented defense allowing only 17.8 PPG (2nd). Getcha popcorn ready.
Eagles Offense
Jalen Hurts had a good but not great year with 103.7 QB rating 68.7% completion, 2903 yards 18 TDs and 5 interceptions in 15 regular season games. He rushed for 630 yards and 14 TDs though and the tush push is continued to be allowed. Saquan Barkley was the Eagles best pickup with 2,005 yards and 13 TDs on 5.8 YPC. Absolute stud and the Giants are idiots.
Eagles offensive line is the best in football with Jordan Mailata at left tackle, Landon Dickerson at LG, Cam Jurgens at center, Tyler Steen the new RG (Mekhi Bechton gone) and stud all pro RT Lane Johnson. Another monster season incoming for Barkley and Hurts.
Eagles are loaded with weapons of AJ Brown (1,079 yards and 7 TDs in 13 games), Devonta Smith (833 yards and 8 TDS in 13 games), TE Dallas Goedert 496 yards and 2 TDs. Jahan Dotson didn’t step up in the slot but returns and 6tth round pick Johnny Wilson and Terrace Marshall are the depth. The Eagles need their top 3 weapons to stay healthy plus Barkley of course.
Top 5 offense with health, no doubt, even with new OC Kevin Patullo with Sirianni more involved in play calling.
Eagles Defense
Loaded but lost some firepower with free agents leaving. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are still absolute beasts in the middle. Every bad team is an idiot for letting Carter drop to 10. Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt will need to step up on the EDGE along with Josh Uche, Moro Ojomo, Ogbo Oronkwo as Josh Sweat and Milton Williams are gone and Brandon Graham retired. The Eagles might lose some pass rush unless Fangio works some magic. Jihaad Campbell was drafted in Round 1 and could play inside LB or EDGE and be a nightmare though once healthy.
Inside Linebacker Zach Baun returns after a stud year on a big deal. Why did Saints let him walk? Nakobe Dean returns healthy at MIKE LB. Two good LBs for the Eagles
Eagles secondary is looking good but did lose Darius Slay in free agency (Steelers), Avonte Maddox (Detroit) and traded away CJ Gardner-Johnson (Houston). Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean enter year 2 and are absolute studs. Eagles hope Kelee Ringo steps up at outside CB in year 3. Sydney Brown and Reed Blankenship are the safeties and rookie 2nd round pick Andrew Mukuba was added in the draft.
The Eagles should still have a top 10 D, but they lost a good amount of talent and need others to step up for Fangio.
Schedule
Philadelphia goes to Minnesota in Week 7 1 PM ET FOX and Green Bay in Week 10 (MNF). The Eagles host the Lions in Week 11 (MNF) and the Bears in Week 13 (Black Friday on Prime Video). This a very tough game for the entire NFC North but not as tough as last season.