Written by: Rusty Miller
With only a quarter left in the NFL season, the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles sit in second in the NFC East and have an overall record of 6-6. This season has been absolutely disappointing for all Eagles fans. Everything that could has gone bad for the defending champs. Injuries, injuries, and more injuries have derailed the campaign, and unlike last season backups haven’t stepped up and played well. This year, multiple injuries have hampered the offensive and defensive backfields as well as the wide receiver position. Now though, Philadelphia has won back-to-back games and is only one game behind the division-leading Dallas Cowboys. whom they play this Sunday. Can the defending champions get a win and continue their long march back to the playoffs?
Philadelphia’s schedule is not favorable, with matches coming up at the Rams, home against the Houston and at Washington following this week’s Dallas game. All of these teams are at or above .500. Dallas is on a four-game win streak, Los Angeles has a three-game win streak and is 11-1 on the season, and Houston is riding a nine game win streak. Washington is the easier win, as they have lost two quarterbacks and the Eagles just beat them on Monday Night Football this past week. These tough opponents give the Eagles a chance to relive their underdog days from last season, as virtually no one is giving them a chance to win the division or make the playoffs.
But I caution you to write the Super Bowl champs off just yet. The midseason addition of Golden Tate appears to be heating up his connection with Carson Wentz, Darren Sproles is back in the lineup, and they can only get healthier in the secondary. I believe they can give the rolling Cowboys a loss and take the division lead for themselves. Wentz will need to continue his journey back from his injury and the defense needs to do just enough to win at least three of the last four. I think they can accomplish that feat, as I only predict a loss to the Rams. The Eagles will be in the playoffs as the NFC East champions at 9-7 (thanks in part to another December collapse in Dallas) and become the first back-to-back division winners since the 2001-’04 Eagles.