Eagles Need to Reset
With so many close wins, the Eagles were living a little dangerously, but winning is winning and that is all that matters in the NFL.
Then the San Francisco 49ers delivered a knockout punch in the form of Sunday’s 42-19 win at Lincoln Financial Field.
Every Eagles loss—in the case of this season, both of them—is treated by the nervous fan base as if the world is going to end.
The Eagles are still 10-2 and control their own destiny to earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed. They face a major challenge this week when visiting the Dallas Cowboys (9-3).
Even if Dallas wins to force a tie in the NFC East, the Eagles have a much easier end of the season schedule.
After meeting Dallas, the Eagles visit slumping Seattle and have two games against the New York Giants sandwiched around a meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.
Dallas, doesn’t own a win over a team with a current winning record and the Cowboys close out the season with road games at Buffalo and Miami, home against Detroit and then visit Washington.
The Eagles do have to worry about San Francisco (9-3). If the Eagles tie with San Francisco, the 49ers would own the head-to-head tiebreaker.Article continues below
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San Francisco’s remaining games are home against Seattle, at Arizona, home against the formidable Baltimore Ravens, at Washington and then home against the LA Rams.
Earning the top seed is so important, not only for home field advantage, but only the No. 1 seed will earn a first-round bye.
OK, the Eagles were bulldozed by the 49ers. Now it is their time to respond.
What the win did do was give the 49ers confidence that they can win in Philadelphia, something that still appears as if they will have to do in the postseason.
Brock Purdy, who was knocked out of last year’s 31-7 loss to the Eagles in the NFC championship, played almost a perfect game, 19 of 27 passing for 304 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 148.8 passer rating.
What is difficult about the 49ers is they run as well as they throw the ball. Coach Kyle Shanahan does a great job scheming, getting speeders like Deebo Samuel in open space.
Samuel, who has been running his mouth off ever since the NFC championship loss, backed it up with three touchdowns in Sunday’s win. He is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, but the knock on him has recently been his durability.
That is the key for both teams. They will each need to be at or near full strength health-wise if they want to make a long playoff run.
The Eagles got a major scare when Jalen Hurts had to miss some time against the 49ers while in concussion protocol, but he was able to return.
The Eagles are hoping they can clinch the No. 1 seed early and rest Hurts down the stretch.
If the Eagles beat Dallas, then they should earn the No. 1 seed. If not, it could be a fight to the end.
Still, one bad performance against a franchise that most are now anointing the best in the NFL, shouldn’t change the Eagles status.
They remain one of the best teams in the NFL. Before the 49ers game, they were clearly the top team, but now that loss has put some doubt.
It’s up to the Eagles to regain their footing and it begins Sunday night in Arlington Texas against the Cowboys.
Then the San Francisco 49ers delivered a knockout punch in the form of Sunday’s 42-19 win at Lincoln Financial Field.
Every Eagles loss—in the case of this season, both of them—is treated by the nervous fan base as if the world is going to end.
The Eagles are still 10-2 and control their own destiny to earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed. They face a major challenge this week when visiting the Dallas Cowboys (9-3).
Even if Dallas wins to force a tie in the NFC East, the Eagles have a much easier end of the season schedule.
After meeting Dallas, the Eagles visit slumping Seattle and have two games against the New York Giants sandwiched around a meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.
Dallas, doesn’t own a win over a team with a current winning record and the Cowboys close out the season with road games at Buffalo and Miami, home against Detroit and then visit Washington.
The Eagles do have to worry about San Francisco (9-3). If the Eagles tie with San Francisco, the 49ers would own the head-to-head tiebreaker.
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San Francisco’s remaining games are home against Seattle, at Arizona, home against the formidable Baltimore Ravens, at Washington and then home against the LA Rams.
Earning the top seed is so important, not only for home field advantage, but only the No. 1 seed will earn a first-round bye.
OK, the Eagles were bulldozed by the 49ers. Now it is their time to respond.
What the win did do was give the 49ers confidence that they can win in Philadelphia, something that still appears as if they will have to do in the postseason.
Brock Purdy, who was knocked out of last year’s 31-7 loss to the Eagles in the NFC championship, played almost a perfect game, 19 of 27 passing for 304 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 148.8 passer rating.
What is difficult about the 49ers is they run as well as they throw the ball. Coach Kyle Shanahan does a great job scheming, getting speeders like Deebo Samuel in open space.
Samuel, who has been running his mouth off ever since the NFC championship loss, backed it up with three touchdowns in Sunday’s win. He is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, but the knock on him has recently been his durability.
That is the key for both teams. They will each need to be at or near full strength health-wise if they want to make a long playoff run.
The Eagles got a major scare when Jalen Hurts had to miss some time against the 49ers while in concussion protocol, but he was able to return.
The Eagles are hoping they can clinch the No. 1 seed early and rest Hurts down the stretch.
If the Eagles beat Dallas, then they should earn the No. 1 seed. If not, it could be a fight to the end.
Still, one bad performance against a franchise that most are now anointing the best in the NFL, shouldn’t change the Eagles status.
They remain one of the best teams in the NFL. Before the 49ers game, they were clearly the top team, but now that loss has put some doubt.
It’s up to the Eagles to regain their footing and it begins Sunday night in Arlington Texas against the Cowboys.
Photo of Eagles DeVonta Smith - Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles
Author: Marc Narducci
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