Eagles are reeling after three straight losses, but here are seven numbers that suggest the sky isn’t falling

After a spell in which the Eagles boasted not only world-class talent but championship-caliber fortitude, the wheels have fallen off in Philadelphia, or so it seems. Fresh off a prime-time defeat to the Seahawks, the reigning NFC champions have lost three straight for the first time since head coach Nick Sirianni’s first month on the job. They no longer control their path to a potential No. 1 seed. And amid abrupt staffing shakeups and questions of commitment, well, Philly fans have reason to lean into their trademark ire.

But this is a 10-4 team, you say! Lots of aspiring playoff contenders would kill for such a record. Well, tell that to the 2022 Vikings, who finished 13-4 and went one-and-done in the playoffs, in part because their improbable string of close wins masked a negative point differential. Or the 2020 Steelers, who started 11-0 with ugly offense, only to drop four of their last five and get bounced in the wild-card round. Yes, a 10-4 record will punch the Eagles’ ticket to the postseason, but after the Birds’ 2022 breakout set a title-winning standard, no one in Philly cares much about simply making the playoffs; they want to know if this team can fight for it all.

So, can they? The skeptics look at the franchise’s recent activity — a quarterback who keeps forcing big plays to offset a predictable offense, a new defensive coordinator stripped of play-calling in late December — and sees only panic from within. Where, then, might the eternal optimist find reason to buckle in for what’s ahead? Is there truly any reason to anticipate a turnaround?

Here are seven key numbers that suggest the sky isn’t actually falling for these Eagles (yet):

.566

You can’t control your opponents; you can only control your performance. But the Eagles literally drew the toughest 2023 schedule of any team (according to opponents’ combined 2022 win percentage, .566). That included a Week 9-15…

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Author : Cody Benjamin

Publish date : 2023-12-20 20:50:16

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