2017 Record - 13-3-0
Head Coach - Doug Pederson
2017 Offensive Ranking - 7th (366 ypg, 28.6 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 4th (307 ypg, 18.4 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Carson Wentz will be the starting quarterback once again after a superb season (3,296 yards passing, 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions) was cut short by a knee injury. Nick Foles (537 yards passing, five TD and two INT) is an excellent backup QB and showed it by leading the Eagles offense all the way to the Super Bowl victory.
Jay Ajayi came over in a mid-season trade and rushed for 408 yards (5.8 ypc average) and will be the primary back, especially with LeGarrette Blount leaving via free agency. Corey Clement (321 yards, four TD) and Darren Sproles will be factors on offense as well.
Wide receivers include Alshon Jeffery (57 receptions, 789 yards, nine TD), Nelson Agholor (62, 768, eight TD) and Mike Wallace (52, 748, four TD with Baltimore). The tight ends are Zach Ertz (74, 824, eight TD), Richard Rodgers (12, 160, one TD with Green Bay) and rookie Dallas Goedert (South Dakota State).
DEFENSE - Brandon Graham (9 1/2 QB sacks), Fletcher Cox (5 1/2 sacks), Derek Barnett (five sacks) and Chris Long (five sacks) form a strong pass rushing presence up front while Haloti Ngata and Michael Bennett will bring experienced depth. Linebackers include Nathan Gerry, Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham.
In the secondary will be corners Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby, who each had three interceptions. The safeties are Malcolm Jenkins (two INT) and Rodney McLeod, who had three picks. Corey Graham (two INT) adds depth and rookie draft pick Avonte Maddox (Pittsburgh) will look to make an impact.
OUTLOOK - The defending Super Bowl champions will have a very large target on their collective backs this season and Head Coach Doug Pederson knows it won't be easy to get back to another Super Bowl.
However, having Carson Wentz back healthy at quarterback is big, especially with Nick Foles in reserve. There is good speed and ability at the wide receiver spot and tight end Zach Ertz is deadly for opponents when the Eagles reach the red zone.
The running game should be solid with Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement forming a solid one-two punch and if veteran third-down back Darren Sproles returns to his old form coming back from injury, it adds even more to the potent attack.
Defensively, the Eagles led the NFL in rushing defense, allowing just 79 yards per game while also having the ability to get after opposing quarterbacks. The secondary can be hit-and-miss as they did intercept 19 passes last year, but also allowed 227 yards per game. A big plus was in the turnover category, where the Eagles were a plus-11, which was fourth best in the league.
As long as the Eagles have either Wentz or Foles at quarterback, they should continue to score points and the defense has some added depth with some free agent pickups in the off-season.
As long as they stay healthy and play up to their capabilities, the Eagles should get back to the playoffs. An 11-5 record should be enough to win the NFC East again and how far they go in the playoffs will depend on their desire to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 14 years.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Atlanta
Week 2 - at Tampa Bay
Week 3 - vs. Indianapolis
Week 4 - at Tennessee
Week 5 - vs. Minnesota
Week 6 - at NY Giants
Week 7 - vs. Carolina
Week 8 - at Jacksonville (in London)
Week 9 - Bye
Week 10 - vs. Dallas
Week 11 - at New Orleans
Week 12 - vs. NY Giants
Week 13 - vs. Washington
Week 14 - at Dallas
Week 15 - at LA Rams
Week 16 - vs. Houston
Week 17 - at Washington
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