Heading into the closing stretch of the season, the Philadelphia Eagles are right in the thick of the NFC East division race, just like we all expected. It’s the team’s record, however, that may be surprising. The Eagles are just 6-7, and they’ve actually won two in a row to climb back into the playoff hunt after their disastrous three-game stretch that seemingly ended their season.
But while the season still has three games remaining, there’s just one more game until the NFL announces its Pro Bowl rosters for the 2015 season. The fan voting has already been announced, with no player finishing in the top eight of the voting. That’s to be expected, as the Eagles have been disappointing on a number of levels this season.
There’s just three players on the team I expect to make the Pro Bowl this season, and none of them play on the offensive side of the ball. That would have been shocking to many just three months ago, as the Eagles were one of the most hyped teams in the league heading into the regular season. But they’ve been subpar at most positions this season, from quarterback to running back to wide receiver to the offensive line.
The only offensive player with any chance at earning a Pro Bowl spot is left tackle Jason Peters, and that would be more on name recognition than his play throughout the 2015 season. Peters certainly hasn’t been bad. He’s been one of the better tackles in the game – Pro Football Focus rates him a solid 11th at the position – but he hasn’t the been elite force the fans have grown accustomed to over previous seasons. A common sight this year has been the 33-year-old Peters limping off the field, something that’s happened at least four times. He’s also missed two games with back spasms.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles have two legitimate Pro Bowl players.
The first is defensive end Fletcher Cox, who has been the best player on either team in most games he’s played this season. He’s probably a top 10 defensive player in the National Football League, a massive wrecking ball who is capable of single handedly destroying an offensive coordinator’s game plan. There have been games, like the last two against the Patriots and Bills, where Cox has been completely unblockable. At first glance, his 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles appear impressive but nothing worthy of Pro Bowl consideration. But throw in the game tape, and you’ll see the way Cox generates constant pressure, both as a pass-rusher and a run-stopper. He’s been as dominant as ever in his last few games, and one of the league’s most underrated defenders should finally earn his first Pro Bowl berth. This offseason, Cox has a very realistic chance to earn the highest contract in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles.
One more defensive player has emerged from an above-average starter to one of the best at his position in the game. That would be safety Malcolm Jenkins. It’s fascinating to look back on the outrage when the Eagles signed Jenkins to a three-year deal in free agency instead of Jairus Byrd or T.J. Ward. Jenkins has emerged as the vocal leader on the Eagles’ defense and he’s probably the best free-agent signing in the Chip Kelly era. This season, Jenkins has 69 solo tackles, easily the most on the team. He’s picked off a pair of passes, including a 99-yard interception touchdown against Tom Brady – arguably the signature defensive play of the season. He’s forced a trio of fumbles, recovered a fourth, and defensed seven passes, while serving, at times, as the team’s nickel cornerback. Whether against the pass or the run, Jenkins has made enough highlight-reel plays that the third-highest graded safety by Pro Football Focus should earn a trip to Hawaii in late January.
The final Eagles player deserving a nod in the Pro Bowl is a familiar face, and that’s versatile return man Darren Sproles. An easy fan favorite, Sproles earned his first Pro Bowl selection last year after leading the NFL in punt returns (39), yards (506) and touchdowns (2). His 13.0 yards per return was easily his career-high. Sproles has been just as effective this season, with 434 return yards and 2 more touchdowns, both an NFL-high. His signature special teams play of the season came in Week 3 against the New York Jets, an 89-yard return that led to the Eagles’ first victory of the season. His four return touchdowns in two seasons are tied for the most in team history.
It’s worth noting that rookie linebacker Jordan Hicks would probably have garnered Pro Bowl consideration had he remained healthy, but an unfortunate pectoral injury against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 prematurely ended his season. In just five starts, Hicks had established himself as the leader of the linebacker corps, with 42 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions (including a touchdown) and three passes defensed. He also provided the play that changed the landscape of the entire NFC East, sacking Tony Romo and breaking his collarbone in Week 2.
The only other possible Pro Bowler for the Eagles is one of a number of special teams players. Third-string tight end Trey Burton leads the Eagles with 19 special teams tackles, already the most by any Eagles player since 2010. Safety Chris Maragos has the biggest reputation for his special teams prowess, and he blocked a punt for a touchdown in Week 13. Even punter Donnie Jones is having a tremendous season, averaging 47.4 yards per punt, the fifth-highest mark in the game.
There’s a number of Eagles players who have really picked up their game recently, as evidenced by the team’s winning streak. But when it comes to season-long success, three players deserve a berth in the 2016 Pro Bowl: defensive end Fletcher Cox, safety Malcolm Jenkins and punt returner Darren Sproles.
