Looking Legit

Posted: November 11th, 2024 | Author: Tommy Lawlor

The Eagles started this season 2-2. The loss to the Bucs raised a lot of questions about the Eagles, on offense, defense and special teams. Some subsequent games raised questions about coach Nick Sirianni. There was a lot of negativity swirling around the Eagles.

Those questions have disappeared as the Eagles rode a 5-game winning streak to a 7-2 record and first place in the NFC East. If the season ended today, they would be  the #2 seed in the NFC. Not bad for a lousy team with an idiot coach, huh?

It turns out the players are pretty good. The new coordinators actually know what they’re doing. And Sirianni is adjusting to his new role and finding ways to get the most out of his team. It just took some time. There were also changes along the way. The offense became very run-heavy. Kellen Moore started mixing in different formations and using a fullback. It didn’t hurt to get AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith healthy. Those guys are game-changers.

Vic Fangio had a great track record. His defense got off to a slow start this year and people wondered if he had the answers to fix this unit. Fangio always had a quiet confidence in his press conferences that gave you hope, but the on-field product wasn’t good. Since the bye week and the addition of Cooper DeJean as the nickel, the Eagles have been the best defense in football.

Is it safe to believe in the Eagles? Yes.

I’m not saying the Lions need to be in panic mode quite yet, but we do need to acknowledge that this team is good. The recent schedule hasn’t exactly been a gauntlet and we do have to keep that in mind. Still, the Eagles are dominating bad teams and that’s what you’re supposed to do.

That stat is nuts.

The upcoming schedule will provide more of a challenge and will give us a better feel for this team.

WAS
@LAR
@BAL

The Eagles will face three really good QBs and a pair of dynamic offenses. This will tell us a lot about the defense. It will also put pressure on the offense. You aren’t going to beat Washington or Baltimore with 17 points. The offense will need to score in those games.

If the Eagles can win 2 of the 3 games, they’ll be feeling pretty good about where things stand. If the Eagles lose a couple, there will be more questions. For now, enjoy the winning streak and feel good about the Birds.

The players and coaches are figuring things out, but there is still room to get better. Jahan Dotson has two long catches in the last two weeks. Johnny Wilson caught his first NFL TD on Sunday. Bryce Huff had a strip sack. Maybe that will get him going. The defense has 10 takeaways in the last three games. It feels like the team gets a little better each week.

Last year’s team feels worlds away from this group. The Eagles are well coached this time around. They block and tackle well. They are tough and physical. And Howie Roseman built a talented roster. They didn’t make a move at the trade deadline in part because they didn’t need to.

It has been exciting to see this team come together. Hopefully it will be even more fun to see what they do in the second half of the season.

*****

Jordan Mailata says he might be able to play on Thursday night. Fred Johnson has done a good job at LT, but Mailata is a better player and should make the offense even better.

*****

It feels like this team is coming together as people. The 2017 team had great vibes. The 2022 team also had really good vibes. Last year was odd, even when the team was winning. This group looks like they are having fun on the field, and off it.

Sirianni wants his guys to connect. Feels like that is happening.

http://igglesblitz.com/2024/11/looking-legit/

This defense has looked so good and it is really going to be tested the next few weeks with some good offenses coming up.