Inside the Iggles
FanSided

5 reasons the Philadelphia Eagles will make the playoffs in 2017

By Ryan Quigley

Sep 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

A better running game

Philadelphia’s running game in 2016 was inconsistent at best. Ryan Mathews was solid when healthy, but struggled to stay on the field, forcing Darren Sproles to take a bigger workload than he can handle. With Mathews likely to be released at some point before the season, the Eagles needed to find a lead back to replace him.

Insert LeGarrette Blount and the Eagles automatically have themselves an improved backfield.

Blount is coming off the best season of his seven-year career. As the New England Patriots‘ workhorse in 2016, he ran for 1,161 yards on 299 carries and scored a league-leading 18 touchdowns. The 30-year-old bruiser outweighs the Eagles’ heaviest linebacker by six pounds.

With Blount now in the fold, this frees up more opportunities for Darren Sproles to do what he does best—create mismatches and expose opposing teams’ weak points. Philadelphia’s ground attack will certainly be fun to watch this season.

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