NFL Power Rankings roundup (Week 3): Eagles are unanimously top-ten

It’s hard to be disappointed with what you’re seeing from the Philadelphia Eagles. Two rounds of an 18-week, 17-game marathon are in the books, and this team has already answered a pair of questions that have been asked on more than one occasion about its makeup.

One is often asked about all 32 franchises and, more often than not, will require an answer at some point. The second was one many thought we would avoid at the tail end of what proved to be a fantastic offseason.

How might the Eagles handle adversity when it comes?

The Birds flew into the Motor City and flew out with a passing grade. Week 1’s game versus the Detroit Lions showcased an Eagles team that can ‘win ugly’.

Facing a tough challenge from a team that we knew would give its best effort, the Birds thwarted an attempted rally and ended the game in the manner that every team desires, in the victory formation.

How might Philadelphia fare versus a team with realistic playoff expectations?

In Week 2, Philly performed in the manner that many thought we’d see during Week 1’s game. In the process, they finally cracked the curious case of Kirk Cousins. The Minnesota Vikings’ QB1 entered Week 2 with a 6-3 career record versus the Eagles. He left on the wrong end of a 27-3 score.

The one-day-at-a-time approach will be needed as the 2022-2023 NFL season progresses because, as you might imagine, their stock is rising.

The Eagles are a top-ten team in everyone’s NFL Power Rankings.

The beginning of another week in the NFL means teams are focused on the next opponent. It also means it’s time for some fresh power rankings. Here’s where everyone ranks the Eagles (and what they’re saying).

Sports Illustrated

SI’s Connor Orr ranks Philly ninth behind the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, and Baltimore Ravens. Here’s what Orr offers as his reasoning.

"The thought was always that if Jalen Hurts didn’t peak a year ago, the sky would be the limit for this roster. Well, Monday night’s stomping of the Vikings leads us to believe the Eagles might be in for some late January football this year."

ESPN

Philadelphia moves up from a ranking of ninth to the eighth spot on ESPN’s list. Here’s what Tim McManus says on the subject.

"The Eagles were gashed for 35 points in the season opener against Detroit, in part because defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon had his defensive backs playing soft in coverage at times and didn’t make Jared Goff uncomfortable in the pocket. On Monday night against the Vikings, he flipped the script. The corners gave Minnesota’s receivers little room to operate, making life difficult for quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw multiple interceptions and faced a number of creative blitzes. Gannon must keep his foot on the gas."

NFL.com and CBS Sports

NFL.com and CBS Sports rank the Eagles in the top five, third and fourth respectively. Here’s the skinny. We begin with Dan Hanzus’ take on NFL.com.

"The Eagles have hit the ground running. Nick Sirianni’s team dominated on both sides of the ball in a 24-7 win over the Vikings at raucous Lincoln Financial Field. Jalen Hurts again looked the part of a star on the rise, throwing for 333 yards while accounting for three total touchdowns. The star of the other side of the ball was cornerback Darius Slay, who will continue to intercept passes in Kirk Cousins’ nightmares for the next several evenings. The Eagles are a team without an obvious weakness right now — and upcoming matchups against the Commanders and Jaguars provide a recipe for more good times."

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco sees things this way.

"As long as Jalen Hurts continues to play at a high level, they are a legit Super Bowl contender. The defense was better against Minnesota as well."

Next up on the schedule is a trip to Landover, Maryland to see Ron Rivera, Carson Wentz, and the Commanders. The Birds are favored. Here’s Inside The Iggles‘ top ten to tide you over until game day and another day of rakings that are certain to follow a week from now.

1. Buffalo Bills
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Miami Dolphins
6. Green Bay Packers
7. L.A. Chargers
8. L.A. Rams
9. San Francisco 49ers
10. Arizona Cardinals

The debate table is open. We should hear some interesting conversations this week.