The Philadelphia Eagles are the only team still undefeated after five games this NFL season. The fact that the Eagles are already so successful is remarkable for several reasons.
As the Eagles picking a quarterback in Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 draft, reactions from Philadelphia fans ranged from confused to outraged. After all, in Carson Wentz they already had a quarterback under contract with whom they had already won the Super Bowl in early 2018, even though he himself had been injured in the final. Wentz also had the fifth most touchdowns in the league in the 2019 season.
Jalen Hurts – more than a backup?
At the time, many scouts reported that Hurts could be a “solid backup” due to his running skills and despite some shortcomings in passing. To use a pick in the second round seemed to be the way to go Eagles-Fans as bugs. After all, they wanted to play for the title again after a painful early playoff end they had just suffered and needed reinforcements on the field and not on the bench.
But things turned out differently. Like the whole team, Wentz played a very weak season and shortly before the end of the season it was decided: Wentz is out, Hurts is in. The season was already up at that point and things didn’t get any better with the youngster either. With four wins and eleven losses, the Eages were one of the worst teams in the NFL. The former successful duo Wentz and trainer Doug Pederson had to go.
Consistency is rare in the NFL
Few teams in the NFL have consistently managed to stay in the top flight for many years. And even those who managed to do this in the past had to pay the price at some point and initially fell from the sport.
The system that gives the bad teams the “good” draft picks and the contracts of good players, who are permanently expensive and eventually exceed the salary cap, are inherently such that a change will inevitably take place at some point.
The young head coach – a direct hit
That’s where the Eagles are after the 2020 season – but the young quarterback should get a chance to prove himself. A quarterback who is still playing under his rookie contract, which usually lasts four years, is significantly cheaper than an experienced top player. On the other hand, they could Eagles so at least wait and see whether Hurts might not be more than a very flexible backup.
In Nick Sirianni, none of the big names on the market were signed as new ones head coach. Sirianni had never worked as a head coach for an NFL team before and was only 39 years old when he signed.
Surprisingly strong in the first year
Inexperienced coach, inexperienced quarterback, almost no really good receivers – the expectations for the Eagles for the 2021 season were low. But already in the first year of the duo Hurts/Sirianni achieved Philadelphia the playoffs after a moderate start to the season. And even if it was already over there in the first round, it was not difficult to see: In Philadelphia, things are growing up a little faster than expected.
The freshly drafted one wide receivers DeVonta Smith quickly gave the lie to the doubters who had seen him as possibly not physically enough for the NFL due to his rather small stature and had a good season. Sirianni also had one offense installed, which met the strengths and weaknesses of his quarterback. A lot of creative running game and at the same time as many “simple” decisions as possible for hurts in his passes.
Strong offensive line – and two top receivers
That helped. Hurts gained safety. And even if the offense is still based on the strong running game in the 2022 season – no team has more rushing touchdowns than Philadelphia – the passing game has also improved.
Because opponents just the very variable run game of Eagles have to defend, there are always opportunities for so-called “big plays”, i.e. large space gains, via the passing game. Meanwhile, Hurts is also able to recognize these constantly. 8.6 yards per pass attempt is a league high.
Two other factors help him with this: The Eagles offensive line is among the best in the league, so Hurts has excellent protection from opposing players and time to make his decision. Remarkable, by the way: your top players in the O line have the Eagles all of them selected in the draft themselves in the past few years and did not bring anyone “externally” in. A rarity.
Philadelphia also signed one of their brightest youngsters that summer in AJ Brown wide receivers the league of the Tennessee Titans. They traded their first-round pick in the last draft and directly gave Brown a long-term and then from 2024 also very expensive contract.
Young top players also mean more financial flexibility
You can afford that, if you are in the expensive positions quarterbacks and wide receivers two more people play on favorable contracts. Because they too defence previously high demands and the schedule of the Eagles does not have the really big chunks ready this year, it is quite possible that Philadelphia make the playoffs as one of the top teams.
Whether it will then be enough to make a big hit with so little experience in the key positions is of course still in the stars, but the near future in Philadelphia currently looks much rosier than the boldest optimists could have expected two years ago.