We'd like to extend our sincerest apologies if this is your first experience with the NFL or the Philadelphia Eagles. If you're new to the game or you haven't paid attention before now, you're probably feeling overwhelmed, but the answers to your questions are all 'yes'.
You're absolutely right. Many of these people are crazy. Yes, people complain after wins AND losses. Yes, this team just won a playoff game.
The long and short of it is this. Sometimes, with Eagles fans, passion ventures over to paranoia and lunacy. Nothing is ever good enough. Arguing is a form of communication.
So, after 14 regular season wins and another in the Wild Card Round, panic still found a way to settle in. Philly's offense is under the microscope.
The Eagles produced the fewest points of any surviving Wild Card team, but fear not. They can score with anyone.
Both of the following theories contradict one another in many ways. Both theories are also factual.
Jalen Hurts is one of the best young quarterbacks in the game. The Eagles have their franchise signal-caller. They can certainly win a Super Bowl with him at the helm of their offense.
Facts... It's also factual that the Eagles have too many talented players on the offensive side of the ball to convert two of 11 third-down attempts.
Jalen Hurts wasn't given a five-year contract extension totaling $255 million with $180 million guaranteed to throw for 131 yards during a postseason game.
Oh, and by the way, the Eagles produced the lowest point total of the Wild Card Round's six surviving teams. They finished fifth out of the six teams in point differential.
Points scored
- Texans - 32
- Bills - 31
- Ravens - 28
- Commanders - 23
- Rams - 27
- Eagles - 22
Point differential
- Bills - 24
- Texans - 20
- Rams - 18
- Ravens - 14
- Eagles - 12
- Commanders - 3
Now, we've learned time and time again that stats can be misleading. They sometimes leave key points out of the argument, so let's throw two things out there. Hopefully, this provides more context.
If Saquon Barkley doesn't slide on that breakaway opportunity, Philly scores another touchdown. That certainly changes the point differential. This was also Jalen Hurts' first game since suffering the concussion. Both of those factors tie in with both metrics.
This is the NFL though, and we've already established how Philly sports work. The Eagles offense must be better. Its stars must dig even deeper and elevate their games to higher levels.
This season ends if Philly's offense performs vs. the L.A. Rams as it did vs. the Green Bay Packers. Here's the good news. Philly is the better team, so here's where we end this.
Jalen will be better. This team is still home to the best offensive line in the NFL. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, and Dallas Goedert are all still on the roster. Our prediction? Expect a better and complete showing by Kellen Moore and Philly's offense. We believe that. The Birds win this one by ten points or more.