Flash back to the second week of the 2015 season and think about how you felt as a fan after that game. Personally, that was as low as I’ve felt following a regular season game.
The Eagles were horrible in that game, almost beyond words. Sam Bradford looked completely inept, scared, uncomfortable and skittish in the pocket. DeMarco Murray was stuffed on six consecutive carries and finished with 2 yards on 13 carries. The offensive line was completely overmatched on all levels. And prized free-agent cornerback Byron Maxwell failed to contain pedestrian receiver Terrance Williams, a week after he was torched by All-Pro receiver Julio Jones.
Now flash forward just two months later. Oh, how things have changed.
After countless weeks of criticism from the national media, the fan base, and even their coach, Kelly’s offseason acquisitions are paying dividends as the Eagles look to make a push for the NFC East title.
Sam Bradford turned in the best performance of his Eagles career against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. He completed 25 of 36 passes for close to 300 yards, plus a dramatic 41-yard walkoff overtime touchdown to Jordan Matthews. He also led the Eagles down the field in the final minutes with the game tied. It was the most clutch performance by Bradford since he was acquired last offseason. For the first time all season, he looked like the quarterback Chip Kelly sent Nick Foles and two draft picks to acquire. There’s still work to be done, however, and the good news is that Bradford still probably hasn’t reached his ceiling. Imagine him with a true number one receiver in this offense, and another legitimate receiving threat.
On the ground, DeMarco Murray actually looked like an NFL running back. Blame the offensive line for Week 2, and I do, but there’s no denying that Murray looked slow and sluggish against the Cowboys’ defensive line in that loss. But in Week 9, Murray looked strong and powerful, rushing for 83 yards and a touchdown on 18 totes. He also grabbed six balls for 78 yards. In overtime, Murray put the Eagles on his back, carrying three times for 32 yards, and setting up the winning touchdown.
The offensive line, even without future Hall of Fame left tackle Jason Peters, allowed just one sack of Bradford and continually opened up holes for both Murray and Mathews. The game marked the fifth in a row that the dynamic duo combined for more than 150 rushing yards. That’s especially incredible when you consider the team started Lane Johnson at left tackle, Matt Tobin at right guard and Dennis Kelly at right tackle – not exactly what Chip Kelly envisioned during the preseason.
Cornerback Byron Maxwell also turned in perhaps his best game of the season, allowing just eight passing yards against Dez Bryant. Although he was flagged for two controversial intentional grounding penalties in the final minute of the fourth quarter, he’s done a tremendous job in coverage in recent weeks. In fact, he’s ninth out of 100 qualifying cornerbacks in passer rating allowed over the last month.
It was Chip Kelly who chose to bring in players like Bradford, Murray and Maxwell this offseason, as well as releasing Evan Mathis from the offensive line. The results were in after the season’s first two games and they really couldn’t have gone worse. There was open speculation of the Eagles’ head coach losing the locker room and every week, a new college rumor seemed to surface.
And now? Well things still have a long way before they reach the massive preseason expectations. But at 4-4, with the quarterback playing better, the running game and offensive line clicking on all cylinders and the prized $63 million cornerback not looking like Nnamdi Asomugha 2.0, the Eagles have to be considered the favorite to win the NFC East.
As many teams in recent history have shown, from the 2007/2011 Giants to 2010 Packers to 2012 Ravens, you don’t need a 13-3 record and MVP quarterback to win the Super Bowl. You just have to reach the playoffs to have a chance. Right now, the Eagles are definitely trending in the right direction.
