Better Prepared

[time2rock]

Better Prepared

Posted: February 2nd, 2025 | Author: Tommy Lawlor

The Super Bowl is more than just a game. It is an experience. There are all the festivities that take place in the week leading up to the game. There is intense media scrutiny. The pregame festivities are one of a kind. Halftime is longer than usual.

The 2022 Eagles had some holdovers from Super Bowl LII, but the experience was a new one for many of the players and most of the coaches. Just think about Nick Sirianni crying during the anthem. The moment got to him and brought out his emotions. That didn’t cause the team to lose, but it shows you how a Super Bowl can affect those dealing with it for the first time.

Think about what AJ Brown said recently.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1885180798019486199

Sirianni isn’t new to the Super Bowl anymore. Vic Fangio has been before. This will be new to Kellen Moore. There are plenty of key players making a return trip. All of this will help the Eagles to be better prepared this time around. They know what to expect. It is one thing for a couple of people to offer advice on what to do, but it is very different when the bulk of the key people have lived it. They can explain things from the top down and make sure everyone is as ready as possible.

Beyond the pomp and circumstance of the game, the Eagles are better prepared in other ways. The 2022 team had an easy route through the playoffs. They had a bye and missed the wild card round. They blew out a mediocre Giants team 38-7 in the next round. Then the Eagles knocked Brock Purdy out of the title game and won that 31-7. Not one legitimate test. If you add in the regular season, the last good team the Eagles played was Dallas on Christmas Eve.

The Eagles played the Chiefs on Feb 12th. I think the lack of true tests hurt them. The Chiefs made the critical plays needed to win that game. The Eagles didn’t.

This year is different. The Eagles had to play three playoff games and they had challenging opponents with legit QBs. They weren’t beating Daniel Jones and Josh Johnson. This year it was Jordan Love, Matthew Stafford and Jayden Daniels. Those are very different scenarios.

Think about the challenge the offenses were for Fangio and his unit. Green Bay has one of the most creative run games in the league. Love is a mobile QB who likes to attack downfield with his strong arm. The Rams have a pocket passer who can make every throw in the book and a workhorse RB. Both teams use motion very effectively. The Commanders had a dynamic athlete at QB, a workhorse TE and ran more no-huddle than anyone else in the league.

The Chiefs have a great QB who can win with his legs or arm, a workhorse TE and some talented skill players. They also have a great coach. The Eagles got tested by the offense they faced and that should have them better prepared for Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the guys in red.

The Eagles offense didn’t have it easy. They faced a Packers defense that was 6th in points allowed and 5th in yards allowed. The Rams had an outstanding pass rush and their starting defense hadn’t allowed more than 9 points in a game since early December. Washington was the weakest defense, but they still had good playmakers and an aggressive scheme.

The Chiefs have one of the best defenses in the league and Steve Spagnuolo is one of the best defensive coordinators. He loves to blitz and attack. Facing those three defenses was a good way for the Eagles offense to get ready for KC.

Being better prepared doesn’t mean the Eagles will win, but it should help their chances.

*****

It feels like BG is going to be able to play next week. Things are certainly trending in the right direction.

BG could be a big help because of his ability to play on the edge or inside. And we certainly know BG can make a big play in the big game.

*****

I don’t know that "most” people have the Eagles winning, but it is great to see how good this defense is. That absolutely gives them a good chance to win next Sunday.

http://igglesblitz.com/2025/02/better-prepared/

[PoconoDon]

Don't suffer from paralysis by analysis...

Here's all you need to know:

Spoiler

The Eagles are going to WIN.