Faith and hope are sometimes incredibly hard to keep, not only as sports fans but as humans. Yet, after watching the Philadelphia Eagles' recent three-game losing streak, it became even harder for fans to hold steady.
There were problems this team had put on display all season long that seemed like they'd never get fixed. Yet, when the final seconds ticked off the clock in Week 15, and the Eagles had come out victorious over the Las Vegas Raiders, it was a much-needed feeling that very well could kickstart a late-season surge.
Defensive lineman Jordan Davis was one of those who hadn't lost faith, even though the most die-hard Eagles fan may have done so.
“Like I said, my faith is unwavering with this team," Davis told reporters after the game.
For many Eagles fans, this sentiment was tough to maintain over the past few weeks. There was hardly any hope left for a team that, on paper, has so much talent, yet failed to live up to expectations week in and week out.
Even in victories, the Eagles looked flat.
The Eagles are set up perfectly to ride the tone of Jordan Davis going into the playoffs
This "unwavering faith" that Davis shares is something the entire team can get behind, and their end-of-season schedule is pretty feasible. Of course, it looks like the Eagles are going to win the NFC East. But riding momentum into the playoffs is an entirely different story.
Two of the Eagles' next three games are against the division rival Washington Commanders. All season long, the Commanders have disappointed after becoming one of the pleasant surprises of last year. Whether it's injuries or the age factor, Washington has plenty of problems.
These are not the same Commanders who sent shockwaves throughout the league in 2024, and if the Eagles come out with the same type of energy they left their recent win over Vegas with, then they'll have no problem taking care of business against Washington.
Sandwiched in between the pair of games against Dan Quinn's squad is a game against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, who suddenly look much more like the Super Bowl contenders we thought they'd be going into this year.
An Eagles-Bills matchup should be what football fans live for, but Eagles fans will be on the edge of their seats watching this Jalen Hurts-led offense try to keep up with Josh Allen.
Read more: Commanders' latest move handed the Eagles huge advantage on a silver platter
Can the Eagles ride the good vibes coming off a win over a lifeless team? At this point, it's as much of a mental game as it is anything else. Philly needs the energy. They need the momentum. They've got to ride what Davis has long thought, and hopefully, it leads to continued success.