The Philadelphia Eagles have dominated the NFC over the primary three months of the season en path to a league-best 10-1 begin. Besides the sport towards Washington a few weeks in the past, Philly has discovered a approach to slither out with a win each time. They’ve already crushed two of the highest three groups chasing them within the convention.
Sure, the Eagles are good, and reaching 10 wins earlier than every other crew is one thing to rejoice, however there’s one thing about Philly that isn’t price trusting. Well, that could possibly be loads of issues, however on the sphere, these Eagles call to mind the Pittsburgh Steelers of 2020. Those Steelers additionally received off to an important begin, successful their first 11 video games earlier than shedding three of their final 4 video games to shut the season. They have been additionally eradicated within the divisional spherical of the playoffs by the Cleveland Browns of all groups.
This Eagles squad feels prefer it’s headed for early disappointment within the postseason. But it’ll all depend upon matchups, and within the NFC, there aren’t many groups who appear to match up properly with Philadelphia proper now. Strength of schedule apart, the Eagles have proven via 12 weeks of the season that they’re contenders, however that doesn’t imply they’re going to win all of it. Teams who can run the ball successfully to eat the clock, play tight protection, or have a top-10 quarterback are greatest suited to knock these birds off their perch. In the NFC, only a few groups possess sufficient of those attributes to significantly problem the Eagles.
Dallas Cowboys
Philly took the primary assembly with the Cowboys this season, minus Dak Prescott. The division rivals play once more on Christmas Eve in Dallas, and relying on how the subsequent 4 weeks spherical out, it might go a good distance in deciding the division. With Prescott on the sphere, Dallas has what’s wanted to maintain up with the Eagles. They’ve received a playmaking QB just like the Eagles, they will run the ball when centered on it, and the Cowboys’ protection is fairly good at attending to the QB.
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One space that will probably be most significant for the Cowboys towards the Eagles is stopping the run. Philly is fourth within the league speeding the ball, whereas Dallas ranks within the decrease third towards the run. But as we’ve seen this 12 months, when Dallas decides to play ball management, they’re at their greatest. But, in fact, these are the Cowboys. Expecting them to return via, particularly within the playoffs, is like anticipating Daniel Snyder to do the precise factor in Washington.
San Francisco 49ers
I mentioned it a month in the past, and I’ll stand by it for the remainder of the season. The 49ers have the method to be probably the most harmful crew within the NFC and the perfect likelihood of beating the Eagles within the playoffs. Since shedding to the Chiefs final month, the Niners have reeled off 4 wins and have held opponents to 14, 16, 10, and 0 factors, respectively. This protection permits the fewest factors within the NFL at 15.7 per recreation. They’re No. 1 in whole yards and rush yards allowed.
On the opposite aspect of the ball, San Francisco has an explosive offense with loads of weapons to counteract these in Philly. And in contrast to the Cowboys teaching employees, Kyle Shanahan will run the ball as a lot because it takes to get the job performed. All the Niners have to proceed doing is limiting the potential for Jimmy Garoppolo to make errors. If the 49ers can proceed alongside this path, they’ll be within the NFC championship recreation once more, probably towards Philly. If it involves that, take the Niners.
Minnesota Vikings?
Ok, I do know what you’re saying. The Eagles dealt with the Vikings in Week 2, 24-7, behind 333 passing yards from Jalen Hurts. But that was Week 2, and Minnesota is a unique crew now. Following that loss to Philly, Minnesota went on a seven-game successful streak, by which they beat the Dolphins and Bills on the street.
By the time the Vikings face the Eagles once more, in the event that they do, they’ll be battle examined. The Vikings aren’t on the high of the league statistically, but they’ve discovered methods to play successful soccer. After seeing the Eagles as soon as and studying from their errors (hopefully), Kevin O’Connell’s employees will probably develop a significantly better recreation plan the second time round.
For Minnesota, it comes right down to Kirk Cousins not making large errors. He threw three interceptions within the Week 2 loss to Philadelphia. The Eagles battle towards the run, so a heavy dose early and infrequently is the important thing. Let the working recreation arrange some downfield makes an attempt for Cousins to Justin Jefferson. But you possibly can’t drive something. The Vikings would wish to get out forward of the Eagles as a result of it’s too arduous chasing them once you’re down greater than seven.