Phrase to the smart: When you’re a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, go away your Tremendous Bowl ring in its field at house.
Positively don’t let Jalen Hurts, Jordan Mailata or Nick Sirianni catch you sporting it as you put together for the brand new season. The Eagles could also be in prime place to repeat as champions, however they refuse to even entertain that mindset.
“No matter we did final 12 months, that’s within the rearview mirror. We’re not defending nothing,” Mailata stated this summer season. “We’re not the defending champs. We’re the 2024 world champions. That’s it. We’re not defending (expletive).”
Sirianni caught a whole lot of grief from his personal followers early final 12 months, however he has his gamers in the suitable state of mind, an nearly Belichickian insistence that they’re on to their subsequent task.
“I believe that when groups are attempting so exhausting to repeat or making an attempt so exhausting to recapture, there are two errors that they make,” Sirianni stated. “They both are taking a look at their previous accomplishments or they’re trying too far into the way forward for how do you try this once more?”
If Philadelphia falls in need of one other Lombardi Trophy, mentality gained’t be the wrongdoer.
However there are two potential sore spots to look at should you root for the Birds.
Let’s begin with the runner-up to the precise Achilles’ heel. The Eagles shouldn’t have any hassle working the ball to start the season. They nonetheless have maybe the very best line in soccer, and the signing of Saquon Barkley is what really put them excessive final 12 months.
You know the way many working backs have had 2,000-yard seasons, now that Barkley has joined the membership? 9. You know the way many have completed it twice? None.
It will be silly to not anticipate a slight dip in manufacturing for Barkley this 12 months, even when a 1,600-yard speeding season would nonetheless be terrific. However the greater concern is his put on and tear — and the way he appears in Week 14 in comparison with Week 1.
The Eagles want Barkley contemporary on the finish of the season, after they face their chief division rival, the Washington Commanders, in Weeks 16 and 18 with a visit to Buffalo in between. And with No. 2 working again Kenneth Gainwell gone, the job of spelling Barkley falls to rookie Will Shipley and veteran A.J. Dillon, whose prime could already be behind him. Will they be efficient?
However the offense isn’t the true concern. ESPN lately ranked each workforce’s positional teams, and the Eagles landed within the prime 10 throughout the board on offense — moreover tight finish, which got here in at No. 14.
One spot, although, caught out like a sore thumb: edge rusher. Philadelphia ranked No. 31.
Attending to the quarterback is paramount in at this time’s NFL. The Eagles have been positive final 12 months, amassing 41 sacks, proper across the league median. They added 16 extra within the playoffs.
However main sack artist Josh Sweat left in free company, and veteran Brandon Graham retired, leaving them very younger on the place. Apart from Nolan Smith — who had 6.5 sacks within the common season and 4 extra within the playoffs — it’s unclear what they actually have. Jalyx Hunt? Giants castoff Azeez Ojulari?
Philly has to face Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen this season, two of the toughest quarterbacks to carry down. Even the Giants nominally upgraded on the place with a still-somewhat-mobile Russell Wilson. The Eagles might use a real drive-killing cannonball off the sting.
This workforce doesn’t carry the identical air of dynastic inevitability the Chiefs had earlier this decade. Possibly it’s all of the fake doubt folks nonetheless spew about Hurts.
Nonetheless, this is without doubt one of the finest groups within the league for the fourth 12 months in a row. However towards a brutal schedule, a crack or two within the armor may very well be sufficient to finish their hopes of repeating.
