PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-7)
EXPECTATIONS: After reaching the Super Bowl in the 2022 season and losing a thriller to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Eagles stumbled badly down the stretch last season and will be looking to bounce back into title contention in 2024. Philadelphia started 10-1 last season, but dropped five of its final six regular-season games, completing the freefall with a 32-9 trouncing by the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Head coach Nick Sirianni kept his job, but the Eagles replaced both coordinators, bringing in Kellen Moore to run the offense and Vic Fangio the defense. Philadelphia still has MVP candidate Jalen Hurts, their franchise quarterback entering his fifth year who has thrown for 11,764 yards and rushed for 2,503 in his career, and top wide receiver targets A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. To help offset the loss of six-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce, a potential first-ballot Hall of Famer, the Eagles added two-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley through free agency. Defensively, Philadelphia has shored up its secondary, which struggled last season, by drafting cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and bringing back safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who played in Detroit last season after being a key player during Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run the season prior. Add it all up, and Philadelphia expects to be a contender once again in the NFC.
NEW FACES: Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, RB Saquon Barkley, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, RG Mekhi Becton, EDGE Bryce Huff and CB Quinyon Mitchell, WR Jahan Dotson.
KEY LOSSES: C Jason Kelce and Haason Reddick.
STRENGTHS: Hurts has no shortage of options on offense. Brown and Smith became the first Eagles wide receiver duo to each have 1,000 or more yards receiving in 2022, and they did it again in 2023. A three-time Pro Bowl pick, Brown set a club record in 2023 with 106 receptions and an NFL mark with six consecutive games with 125 or more receiving yards. In three seasons, Smith has caught 240 passes for 3,178 yards, both of which are the most for any Eagles receiver in his first three years. Tight end Dallas Goedert is a reliable option in the middle of the field for Hurts, having grabbed 307 passes for 3,589 yards in his six seasons. And Barkley, whom the Eagles signed to $26 million guaranteed in the offseason, has been one of the top backs in the league during six seasons for the New York Giants, where the former No. 2 overall pick rushed for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns and caught 288 passes for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.
WEAKNESSES: While Philadelphia bolstered the position in the offseason, there are still questions about the secondary, which was picked apart in 2023. Last season, opponents completed 425 passes against Philadelphia. Only the Vikings (426) allowed more pass completions in the NFL. Cornerback James Bradberry, who played opposite six-time Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay last season, moved to safety in training camp though his spot on the roster is tenuous. A healthy Avonte Maddox has returned to help in the secondary as a nickel corner or safety after playing just 13 games combined the past two seasons because of injuries. Philadelphia also re-signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the offseason. Johnson tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions in 2022 when he helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl. The Eagles drafted a pair of rookies to help strengthen the secondary, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Mitchell, the No. 22 overall pick, has looked good at cornerback in training camp and preseason games. DeJean, a second-round pick at No. 40 overall, has been limited in camp because of a hamstring injury.
CAMP DEVELOPMENT: With Kelce’s retirement, Cam Jurgens shifted from right guard to Kelce’s former spot at center. The vacated right guard position appears to have been won by Becton, whom the Eagles are converting to a guard from a tackle. The No. 11 overall pick in 2020 by the Jets, Becton has made 28 of his 30 career starts at left tackle and the other two at right tackle.
FANTASY PLAYER TO WATCH: Kicker Jake Elliott set a club record by hitting 93.8 percent of his field-goal attempts last season when he had 135 points. Elliott ranks second among kickers with 80 or more attempts with a 90.9 percent field-goal rate since 2021.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Win Super Bowl: 14-1. Over/under wins: 10 1/2.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
