PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
2021 Record - 9-8-0
Head Coach - Nick Sirianni
New Additions - A.J. Brown (WR), Zach Pascal (WR), James Bradberry (DB), Devon Allen (WR), Haason Reddick (LB), Kyzir White (LB)
Offensive Rank in 2021 - 14th (360 YPG); Scoring - 12th (26.1 PPG)
Defensive Rank in 2021 - 10th (329 YPG); Scoring - 8th (22.6 PPG)
Jalen Hurts is the starting quarterback and he passed for 3,114 yards last year with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions while also leading the team in rushing with 784 yards (5.6 YPC average) and scoring ten touchdowns. Gardner Minshew (439 passing yards, four TD, one INT) is the backup. Miles Sanders (754, 5.5 YPC) and Boston Scott (373, 4.3 YPC, seven TD) are the primary backs. The wide receiving corps looks to DeVonta Smith (64 receptions for 916 yards and five TD) and A.J. Brown, who had 63 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns with Tennessee last season. The Eagles also have Jalen Reagor (33, 299, two TD), Quez Watkins (43, 667, one TD), Devon Allen and Zach Pascal (38, 384, three TD with the Colts) along with tight end Dallas Goedert, who had 56 catches for 830 yards and four touchdowns.
On defense, it's Javon Hargrave (7 1/2 QB sacks) and Josh Sweat (also 7 1/2 sacks) leading the way up front while Jordan Davis (rookie draft pick from Georgia) will look to make an impact. Kyzir White and Haason Reddick (11 sacks with Carolina) lead the linebackers and the secondary has corners Darius Slay (three interceptions) and James Bradberry, who had four picks with the New York Giants last year. The safeties include Anthony Harris, K'Von Wallace and also Avonte Maddox, who had one interception.
Outlook for 2022 season - The Eagles finished strong in 2021 and made the playoffs, but they were easily beaten by Tampa Bay in the wild card round. The offense was decent and Philly led the NFL in rushing (159.7 YPG) and picked up a top notch wide receiver (A.J. Brown) for 2022 to team with DeVonta Smith to give QB Jalen Hurts a bona fide dual threat in the passing game. The running game was the best in pro football last season, thanks in big part to Hurts, but Head Coach Nick Sirianni would like to see more balance on the offensive side as the Eagles were exposed by the Buccaneers in the playoffs.
In fact, Philadelphia was 1-8 last year against teams with winning records. To be a legitimate contender in the NFC, that record must improve. The Eagles can challenge Dallas in the NFC East division if they can get better production in the passing game this season while also seeing better results from the defense with the pass rush. The Eagles had just 29 sacks in 2021 and only twelve interceptions. They brought in some big names on defense to help improve in those areas.
The playoffs are definitely a possibility again this year, but advancing past the first round will be a challenge if Hurts doesn't get help from his surrounding cast. Beating Dallas would be a plus as well. The Cowboys hammered the Eagles twice last season. The first five games will tell a lot about the Eagles this season and a good start could lead to a divisional title if things go right, especially in division games.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Detroit
Week Two - vs. Minnesota
Week Three - at Washington
Week Four - vs. Jacksonville
Week Five - at Arizona
Week Six - vs. Dallas
Week Seven - BYE
Week Eight - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Nine - at Houston
Week Ten - vs. Washington
Week Eleven - at Indianapolis
Week Twelve - vs. Green Bay
Week Thirteen - vs. Tennessee
Week Fourteen - at N.Y. Giants
Week Fifteen - at Chicago
Week Sixteen - at Dallas
Week Seventeen - vs. New Orleans
Week Eighteen - vs. N.Y. Giants
No comments:
Post a Comment