5 Methods This Eagles Staff Resembles 2018 Tremendous Bowl Winners

The Philadelphia Eagles are 5 years faraway from profitable the first Tremendous Bowl in franchise historical past.

The Eagles did in order the perfect group within the league your entire season, till dropping Carson Wentz late within the 12 months. As a result of Nick Foles performed the remainder of the way in which in 2017-18, the Eagles had been underdogs within the playoffs in opposition to all three groups they confronted.

Although that may be a stark distinction to this 12 months’s group, the 2022 Eagles are related in so some ways as a visit to the Tremendous Bowl is on the road this Sunday.

High 5 methods the 2017 and 2022 Philadelphia Eagles evaluate

No. 1 – Comparable group information and scores

The 2017 Eagles and 2022 Eagles each led the NFC wire-to-wire and every had sustained profitable streaks in the course of the 12 months.

The 2017 Eagles began 1-1 however reeled off 9 straight to enhance to 10-1, earlier than dropping their second recreation to Seattle in Week 13. These Eagles completed the common season atop the NFC at 13-3.

The 2022 Eagles began the season with eight consecutive wins earlier than dropping to Washington in Week 10. With one further recreation, these Eagles completed the common season at 14-3 with the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

When the playoffs arrived in 2017, a lot of town was nervous about how Nick Foles would fare. After a gritty 15-10 win over Atlanta within the NFC Divisional Spherical, the Eagles throttled the Vikings 38-7 within the NFC Championship recreation to advance to the Tremendous Bowl.

On Saturday, the Eagles dominated the Giants 38-7 within the divisional spherical on the five-year anniversary of defeating the Vikings in January 2018.

No. 2 – Second-year head coaches attain NFC Championship recreation

Doug Pederson introduced Philadelphia its first ever Tremendous Bowl, and Nick Sirianni is on the point of bringing one other.

The 2 coaches have had related paths to develop into the Eagles head coach, and as soon as they did, each shared an identical quantity of highs and lows.

Neither Pederson nor Sirianni interviewed with some other group earlier than the Eagles chosen them, which is extremely uncommon.

Pederson began out his rookie 12 months sizzling at 3-0 earlier than flaming out and lacking the playoffs at 7-9. Sirianni began his rookie season gradual at 2-5, earlier than making the playoffs at 9-8.

After discovering their footing, each coaches had been in full command of their second seasons as head coach. As beforehand talked about, each had almost an identical information and clinched the No. 1 seed within the NFC.

Pederson’s ebook is over in Philadelphia, as Sirianni’s continues to be being written. A Tremendous Bowl victory this season would make the 2 eerily related.

No. 3 – Accidents derailing MVP seasons for Wentz, Hurts

Each Eagles groups had MVP candidates at quarterback, which might be an important cause to every group’s success.

Wentz was on observe to win the MVP because the quarterback of the perfect group within the NFL. Wentz went 11-2 and threw for 33 touchdowns to simply seven interceptions. He threw 4 landing passes within the recreation he acquired injured in Week 13 vs. the Rams. An ACL tear ended Wentz’s season.

Jalen Hurts was the favourite to win MVP in Week 15 earlier than struggling a sprained shoulder in opposition to the Bears. Hurts missed the subsequent two video games earlier than returning in Week 18 to assist the Eagles clinch the No. 1 seed. Although Hurts’ damage wasn’t season-ending, lacking two video games precipitated him to drop to 3rd in MVP odds. It’s unlikely Hurts wins the award.

Foles saved the season for the 2017 Eagles by profitable the Tremendous Bowl because the backup quarterback. If Hurts stays wholesome this playoff run, that might be a giant distinction between the 2 groups. However each had MVP-caliber quarterbacks that acquired robbed due to damage.

No. 4 – Buying a No. 1 receiver within the offseason

The 2022 and 2017 have similarities everywhere in the roster, with one among them being at receiver. Every group made a key transfer in buying a No. 1 receiver previous to the season.

The 2017 Eagles signed Alshon Jeffery away from the Chicago Bears. Jeffery was already a Professional Bowler and reached 1,000 yards in his profession twice. Jeffery completed with simply 789 yards and 9 touchdowns, however commanded a noticeable presence on the sphere that 12 months.

The acquisition of A.J. Brown within the 2022 offseason is indubitably top-of-the-line the Eagles have made. Brown can be a No. 1 receiver and recorded two 1,000-yard seasons and a Professional Bowl in his three seasons in Tennessee. He completed with 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first 12 months as an Eagle and helped put Hurts within the MVP dialog.

Brown is best than Jeffery, however the impression on the offense that each made is immeasurable.

No. 5 – Key statistical similarities

Any nice group goes to be statistical leaders in loads of main classes. The 2017 Eagles and the 2022 Eagles have loads of the identical traits.

Right here is the place they completed in some key stats within the NFL:

Defensive yards allowed:

• ‘17 Eagles: 4th
• ‘22 Eagles: 2nd

Factors per recreation:

• ‘17 Eagles: T-2nd
• ‘22 Eagles: third

Dashing yards per recreation:

• ‘17 Eagles: third
• ‘22 Eagles: fifth

Turnover differential:

• ‘17 Eagles: 4th
• ‘22 Eagles: third

It’s clear that each groups took care of the ball and scored among the many prime groups within the league.

A giant similarity between each groups is the importance of the offensive and defensive position. Each place teams are keys in defensive yards per recreation, creating turnovers and having a run-game.

The ‘22 Eagles have the perfect defensive position in soccer this season and led the NFL with 70 sacks. The ‘17 Eagles weren’t too shabby both, with gamers like Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Chris Lengthy, Tim Jernigan and Derek Barnett. This Eagles group has Graham and Cox nonetheless, Hasson Reddick, Josh Sweat, Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh.

Every group additionally had a three-headed monster at operating again, which contributed to elite run-games.

• ‘17 Eagles: LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, Corey Clement
• ‘22 Eagles: Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott

Each Eagles groups did the whole lot proper to be nice. If the Eagles end the 2022 season with confetti falling in Arizona, they are going to be in lockstep with the 2017 Eagles.