Never count out a champion. The Philadelphia Eagles are still in playoff contention after their win against the Washington Redskins on Monday night. Despite their up and down season, there's still hope for the 2017-18 self-proclaimed underdogs.
As the season started, the Eagles were surrounded by doubt. How long would Carson Wentz be out? Could Jay Ajayi handle the load as the lead back? Will they have to deal with a Super Bowl Hangover?
Well, to answer those questions, Wentz missed two games, Ajayi struggled before his season-ending injury, and a hangover was never the problem. What has plagued the Eagles so far has been the bullseye on their back and their inability to have role players step into starting roles.
While sitting right on the cusp with a 6-6 record heading into the final four games of the season, there's no reason to panic. The Philadelphia Eagles are a sure bet to defend their title. How can they be a sure thing with the Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, and Carolina Panthers on pace with them for the final spot?
Without waiting any longer to find out how that bold prediction can be made, here are three reasons why the Philadelphia Eagles will make the playoffs.
3. The Demise of the NFC
When the season started, who thought the Green Bay Packers would be sitting at 4-7-1 heading into the last leg of the season? With Aaron Rodgers healthy and leading the way, there was no reason to debate that they wouldn't be up there with the likes of the Los Angeles Rams and the Eagles as one of the top teams in the NFC. However, this is why the games are played on the field and not on paper.
The same can be said of the Minnesota Vikings (6-5) and the Carolina Panthers (6-6). While these teams are struggling, the Eagles find themselves in perfect position to ease past them all. Cam Newton and the Panthers continue to find ways to lose close games. And, with the season-ending injury to Greg Olsen, things could get worse in Charlotte. The Vikings, despite a change of quarterbacks this offseason, have been a disappointment. While the playoffs are still an option, the Vikings are not as solid as they were last year.
2. Experience
The rule in the NFL is, teams can win off experience. Every season, there are at least two teams who make their way into the playoffs off a great run. In 2017-18, it was the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars. While both teams may find themselves on the outside looking in this year, you still have the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and Seattle Seahawks doing what they do best. The Eagles are not that far off.
Yes, a debate can be made about their past failures. But you can't forget this bunch is coming off a Super Bowl victory. What they have over the likes of the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and even the Panthers is that they have been there. Yes, Newton has led the Panthers to a Super Bowl, but they haven't come close to sniffing another one since. The Vikings made the NFC Championship game in 2018, but these same Eagles were the ones to put them to shame.
Experience counts, and now, there is no other team in the NFC who has what the Eagles have.
1. Hunger
How can a team coming off a Super Bowl win still be hungry? Easy. The Philadelphia Eagles are not playing as if they just won a championship.
Philadelphia hates being called anything other than champions. As the struggles and injuries mount this year, the Eagles have dealt with heavy criticism and the infamous “fluke” title.
The Eagles have a point to prove even if they think they don't. No one wants to be the team who wins the championship only to miss the playoffs the following year. So, the hunger they have is one of desperation. The same non-Eagles' fans who cheered them on against the Patriots are the ones now wishing for their downfall.
Carson Wentz has to prove that he can lead the team to the playoffs again. The running backs are out to prove they can do it without Jay Ajayi. Finally, the defense, well, they have to prove to the offense they can actually contribute to success.
The season is far from over for the Eagles and these three reasons are why they will find themselves defending their title once the regular season is over.
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