There was a lot of conversation leading up to the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills Week 17 game that this was going to be a big one for the Birds.
Many experts and fans wanted to see whether the Eagles could compete with the top teams in the NFL, like the Bills. They certainly showed that after getting a 13-12 win in ugly conditions outside, as Philly moved to 11-5 on the season and still within striking distance of earning the number two seed in the NFC playoffs.
After the win, Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata was not happy about how the Eagles were being viewed before the game, as he feels they earned the respect of being considered one of the top teams.
"For me, perspective-wise, I just don't like when we're not considered a heavyweight and we're like, 'Oh, you guys have to match them.' That pisses me off. I think we deserve a little respect. Just a little bit, a little consideration."
Jordan Mailata is not wrong about the Eagles being disrespected
Among the teams in the playoffs this season, the Eagles are 3-3 against those teams. They have beaten teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, and the Bills, all of which are very good football teams.
Of course, the disrespect stems from the fact that there isn't much respect for the Eagles' offense, which has held this team back from being number one all season. It's fair to question the offense as they had 16 yards on 18 plays in the second half of the Bills game, which has been the story of this team all year.
Even so, the Eagles have had a winning record under head coach Nick Sirianni every year and have been in the playoffs each year. How about two Super Bowl appearances and one title to Philly since 2021?
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Yes, the Eagles are far from a perfect team, but they deserve the respect of being considered one of the NFL's top teams, as they seem to find a way to win most of the time. They deserve better than what they are getting.