The NFC will be represented by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, and it seems like they were headed for this result for several months. Although some would point to an easy schedule as a main reason for their success, the Eagles have passed pretty much every test they’ve encountered.
They had a good chance to make noise in the conference this season, and head coach Nick Sirianni was able to bring it all together masterfully.
Adding A Legitimate Passing Weapon
It was pretty much a given heading into the season that Philadelphia was going to be able to move the ball on the ground. In his short time in the NFL, quarterback Jalen Hurts has proven to be one of the most dangerous players in the league with his legs. Having him take snaps out of the shotgun, with the option of handing it off to capable backs like Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell already put defenses in a predicament.
However, it wasn’t a certainty that the Eagles passing offense would be able to produce against good teams. Philadelphia’s 2021 season came to a crashing halt in the playoffs, as Hurts and his teammates couldn’t muster much through the air against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, their 2022 draft-day trade for Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown changed everything. Brown is one of the hardest players to cover in the NFL, and he established chemistry with Hurts almost instantly.
Bolstering An Already Solid Defense
Led by reliable veterans Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham, the Eagles’ front seven has been formidable for the better part of a decade. Their presence allowed Philadelphia’s defense to remain relevant, but the front office decided that they wanted to elevate that unit’s potential by adding some key pieces.
With the 13th pick in last year’s draft, the franchise selected defensive tackle Jordan Davis. While he hasn’t been a standout player yet, his future is bright, and his talent may shine through in the Super Bowl. The Eagles also brought in veteran Ndamukong Suh during the season, who has a boatload of playoff experience. Philadelphia acquired Hasson Reddick and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to play linebacker and cornerback respectively, and both players have had fantastic seasons.
Securing What Was Rightfully Theirs
The Eagles have been the best team from start to finish in the NFL this season. Philadelphia was the last team to lose a game, and has been on top of the standings from day one. Of course, that didn’t guarantee that they would make the Super Bowl, but they’ve made emphatic statements during the playoffs about why they’re the class of the league.
They stumbled a little bit in December when Hurts had to miss time with a shoulder injury, which put their number one overall seed position in a bit of jeopardy. However, the team was able to close out the year strong, and hold off the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings for homefield advantage in the conference.
