For most of the 20th century, the Philadelphia Eagles have been the NFC’s primary fixture. Since 2001, with this year’s berth in the account, Philadelphia will have played in seven NFC title games. The only other NFC organization that can match such a rap sheet is the Green Bay Packers.
However, the Packers achieved their deep postseason run success this millennium with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Brett Favre (1) and Aaron Rodgers (5). The Eagles, meanwhile, have cycled through Donovan McNabb, Carson Wentz/Nick Foles, and now Jalen Hurts as signal-callers. Largely thanks to the efforts of executive Howie Roseman, the Eagles have cycled through several distinct team eras over roughly the last two decades and still found a way to call late January home more often than not.
That is very commendable, to say the least.
This Sunday’s NFC title game against the San Francisco 49ers might be one of Philadelphia’s stiffer tests since it started to corral the NFC. In a Championship Sunday matchup many expect to be an absolute slugfest, here are three reasons explaining how the Eagles can return to the Super Bowl for the first time since winning the whole dance in 2017.
3
Stacked teams of Philadelphia's profile don't usually fall short
Quick. Point out one flaw on the current Eagles’ roster. Scratch that. Think of one shortcoming. One legitimate area an opponent can expose on the Philadelphia depth chart. Take your time. I’ll be patient. I can wait.
Well, any ideas? Any at all? I thought as much.
From the jump, the Eagles have been the NFC’s top team because they arguably have the NFL’s top roster.
Between A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert as pass targets, an elite offensive line with no true liability, (takes a breath) a defensive front featuring four players with at least 10 sacks (!), and a secondary of requisite ballhawks in Darius Slay, James Bradberry, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson — there is not a place where I look at the Eagles and think, “Oh, that could be a problem.”
The 49ers might have a similarly loaded squad (maybe even the second-best). But, to me, they cannot compare to Philadelphia’s depth and talent across the board. These Eagles are pro football’s green and black envelope pushers and play impeccable complementary football as a result.
Wait, am I forgetting someone? Ah, right. That guy taking under center and from the shotgun? What was his name again?
2
Jalen Hurts' ascendance
Before he hurt his shoulder in late December, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts had the arguably top case for MVP. Even while missing two games, this third-year fully-blossomed QB still stuffed the shat sheet for the NFC’s No. 1 seed:
- 3,700 passing yards (22 touchdowns, just six picks, eight yards an attempt)
- 760 rushing yards (13 touchdowns, 4.6 yards per carry)
- And, on an EPA/CPOE composite basis, he was the NFL’s third-most efficient quarterback all year
The Eagles have a legitimate star quarterback in Hurts. This initial deep playoff run might only be the first of many for him and his teammates.
The 49ers? Well, that’s a different story entirely.
1
The Brock Purdy Phenomenon is due for a blast to reality
I won’t deny the Brock Purdy story in San Francisco isn’t really cool to see. How many rookie seventh-round picks are usually at the helms of teams in the NFC title game? (Hint: The answer is not more than zero.)
But at the same time, Purdy has had it relatively easy to this point. He’s got the 49ers’ incredible supporting cast. He’s got the genius Kyle Shanahan calling and designing plays. And San Francisco’s first two playoff opponents were an overmatched Seahawks team and an overmatched Cowboys squad (but in a different “Dallas” type of way).
The 49ers were able to survive the Cowboys because they’re the Cowboys. (Everyone knows what that means.) But that doesn’t mean Purdy didn’t show cracks in his plot armor. With an even slightly better performance from the (ahem) Dallas QB, we’re potentially talking a lot more about how Micah Parsons and Co. dominated the 49ers’ offensive front, making Purdy resemble the young man who was “Mr. Irrelevant” only last April.
In the event that the more complete Eagles take control of this NFC title game — which they very well might, thanks to Hurts — I don’t remotely trust Purdy chasing a lead, pressing, trying to make a play. This is a recipe for disaster against a Philadelphia defense that had 70 sacks and 32 takeaways in the regular season. San Francisco practically has to play perfectly just to keep the margin of error comfortable for an overmatched young QB.
This is not a recipe for Super Bowl berth success. This is how Cinderella somehow loses her slipper and never finds it.
