Thursday, August 22, 2024

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - 2024 Season Preview

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES                         



2023 Record - 11-6

Head Coach - Nick Sirianni

Key Additions - Saquon Barkley (RB), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (DB), Mekhi Becton (OL), DeVante Parker (WR), Kenny Pickett (QB), Devin White (LB)

Key Losses - Jason Kelce (OL), D'Andre Swift (RB), Kevin Byard (DB), Zach Cunningham (LB), Fletcher Cox (DL), Haason Reddick (DL), Nicholas Morrow (LB)

2023 STATS LINE 

PASSING - Jalen Hurts (3,858 yards, 23 TD, 15 INT)

RUSHING - D'Andre Swift (1,049 yards, 4.6 ypc, 5 TD)

RECEIVING - A.J. Brown (106 receptions, 1,456 yards, 7 TD), DeVonta Smith (81, 1,066, 7 TD)

SACKS - Haason Reddick (11)

INTERCEPTIONS - Reed Blankenship (3)

 

OUTLOOK FOR 2024 - The Eagles imploded big time last season as they dropped five of the last six regular season games and finished in second place in the NFC East and then were blown out, 32-9 against Tampa Bay in the NFC Wild Card round. Head Coach Nick Sirianni will be feeling the heat from the passionate Philadelphia fan base if they don't rebound in the 2024 season. 

The Eagles offense ranked eighth overall in the NFL last year, averaging 354 yards per game and they scored 25.5 points per game. The rushing game was solid (129 YPG - 8th in NFL) and will have a new face in the backfield as Saquon Barkley takes over for D'Andre Swift, who signed with the Chicago Bears in the off-season. Barkley gained 962 rushing yards last year (3.9 ypc) and scored six touchdowns with the New York Giants. Quarterback Jalen Hurts dropped off from the 2022 season as he threw 15 interceptions and the Eagles had a minus-10 in the turnover category. With wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in tow, the Eagles have a solid passing game and should score a lot of points once again. 

The defense wasn't real good in 2023, allowing 25.2 points per game and 356 YPG, which ranked 26th in the league. The run defense was decent (103 YPG - 10th), but the pass defense was terrible, finishing 31st in the NFL, allowing 253 yards per game. The Eagles registered 43 sacks and had nine interceptions. Leading pass rusher Haason Reddick left for the New York Jets and the team will have Josh Sweat (6 1/2 sacks) and Jalen Carter (six sacks) leading the way up front. The secondary features safety Reed Blankenship and the return of C.J. Gardner-Johnson as well along with corners Avonte Maddox , Darius Slay (two picks) and Quinyon Mitchell. 

Philadelphia will definitely be a front runner to win the NFC East division and will likely battle it out with the Dallas Cowboys once again. The Eagles split the two games with Dallas last season and were 4-2 in divisional play. They open the 2024 season against Green Bay in Brazil on a Friday, the day after the Thursday night season kickoff game in Kansas City. As long as Hurts stays healthy and keeps the turnovers to a minimum and the defense gets back on track to the level of 2022, the Eagles should soar again this season. How far they can go in January will likely determine the future of Sirianni as the head coach as well. Stay tuned.

 

TEAM SCHEDULE

Week One - vs. Green Bay (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Week Two - vs. Atlanta 

Week Three - at New Orleans 

Week Four - at Tampa Bay 

Week Five - BYE 

Week Six - vs. Cleveland 

Week Seven - at N.Y. Giants 

Week Eight - at Cincinnati 

Week Nine - vs. Jacksonville 

Week Ten - at Dallas 

Week Eleven - vs. Washington 

Week Twelve - at L.A. Rams 

Week Thirteen - at Baltimore 

Week Fourteen - vs. Carolina 

Week Fifteen - vs. Pittsburgh 

Week Sixteen - at Washington 

Week Seventeen - vs. Dallas 

Week Eighteen - vs. N.Y. Giants

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