For a team that was supposed to be “retooling” the 2022 NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles soared above expectations answering all the questions and silencing all the critics week after week in the 2022 season. General Manager Howie Roseman put together a star-studded roster to allow the Eagles and Head Coach Nick Sirianni to flourish. The Eagles began the season led by stellar play in the trenches from the offensive and defensive line dominating games. The offense was being led by MVP candidate Jalen Hurts, new star receiver A.J. Brown and up and coming receiver Devonta Smith. Hurts silenced his doubters very quickly leading the Eagles to an 8-0 start for the first time in franchise history before being upset at home on Monday Night Football by the Washington Commanders 32-21. This loss wouldn’t have much of an effect on the Eagles season unlike many people thought. A.J. Brown would go on to break the franchise single-season receiving record, Devonta Smith would also go on to break the most receptions by a wide receiver in a single season. The defense also broke a franchise record going on to put up 70 sacks during the season.
The road would become a little bit harder when during a game against the Chicago Bears, the head of the snake Jalen Hurts suffered a shoulder sprain and would cause him to be sidelined for two weeks. During those two weeks injuries would start to haunt the Eagles when Avonte Maddox, Lane Johnson, and Josh Sweat would all pick up injuries. This all started happening at the wrong time while the Eagles were trying to secure the one seed in the NFC. Jalen Hurts would go on to find a way and come back and play in Week 18 against division rival New York Giants. Hurts was clearly not himself and was not throwing the ball much although the Birds would go on to win 22-16. The Eagles got the win they needed to clinch a first-round by which would allow their players to get healthier for the Playoffs.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles would end the year with a 14-3 record, but questions were left unanswered with the injury to Jalen Hurts and others if the rust would be too much to overcome. After the Playoff bye week, the Eagles would be faced up against the New York Giants who were coming off of a huge Playoff win and just two weeks later after squeaking by them before which again left more questions for this Philadelphia team who finished the season with the best record in the whole NFL. Was Jalen Hurts shoulder fine though?
The simple answer, yes. Jalen Hurts first pass attempt was a deep ball to Devonta Smith and the pair looked they didn’t miss a beat. The drive would be capped off with a touchdown throw to Tight End Dallas Goedert. The rest of the game would be complete domination for the Birds as they would go on to win 38-7 after a 28-0 nothing lead at halftime. As for Jalen Hurts shoulder, he went on the throw for two touchdowns. This performance by Hurts would leave Coach Sirianni in awe as he compared his QB to Michael Jordan in very high praise.
The next week was the biggest game for the Philadelphia Eagles to that point. It was the NFC Championship game against a red-hot Super Bowl favorite team San Francisco 49ers who were already playing with a chip on their shoulder. The stakes were set though, win and in. This game would be far from competitive though. 49ers QB Brock Purdy would leave with a shoulder injury early who was already the third string at the time as well as their back up would go down with an injury leaving them empty as the Eagles would put them out of their misery and win 31-7. This was it. The Eagles were in the Super Bowl.
The grand finale was set. Super Bowl LVII would feature the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles. Plenty of headlines were featured in this game with the biggest being the brother rivalry with Chiefs star TE Travis Kelce vs Eagles star Center Jason Kelce making it the first one in NFL history. The Eagles came out explosive with a first drive touchdown and a ten point halftime lead. This wouldn’t matter as the Eagles couldn’t hang on losing on a game winning field goal and controversial call. The final score would be 38-35 Kansas City and a disappointing loss for the Philadelphia faithful.
Howie Roseman would get to work shortly after this loss. During the off season so far the Eagles have made plenty of moves to assure a strong depth chart again to after a ring for next season and really compete. Along the way Howie Roseman has made big acquisitions in free agency such as Philadelphia native RB D’Andre Swift from the Detroit Lions, RB Rashaad Penny, and Safety Terrell Edmunds from the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as CB Greedy Williams from the Cleveland Browns. Howie Roseman also had a great 2023 draft class getting a bunch of young studs who many believe are steals. These players include DT Jalen Carter, Edge Nolan Smith, and CB Kelee Ringo. The Eagles would lose players to make room for some new faces like DT Javon Hargrave, LB Kyzir White, and Safety Marcus Epps just to name a few.
With these moves Howie Roseman and the Eagles as well as the Philadelphia faithful are very confident that the Eagles will be in position again to make a very deep Playoff run and have hopes the Birds will be back in the Super Bowl next year.
Once again, Jalen Hurts and the offense will have to live up to the hype and prove that they are the next big thing and will run the NFC East and Conference. Best believe, the Eagles will be competing in Las Vegas next season.
