The way the Eagles ended their season can only be described as a meltdown. Philly was the top team for most of the year. The team went 10-1, defeating several rivals in the process, including the Bills and Chiefs. The week after the Bills win was when things seemed to fall apart.
The Eagles host the second-ranked 49ers in the first game of December. The game went horribly wrong for Philadelphia as the Niners completely stifled their rushing game and allowed just 46 yards to all rushers. The defense just couldn’t get a stop against Brock Purdy who scored 4 goals and had maybe his best game of the season.
After that loss, Philly visited their division rival Dallas. That game ended the same way the defense couldn’t get a stop and the Eagles lost by 20 or more points again, but it hurt more. After that game, Philly lost the next three of four games to end the regular season. The Eagles then finished fifth in the NFC and limped into the Wild Card, where they visited Tampa Bay.
The pirates were hungry and they showed it. The Bucs quickly went on a 10-0 run, and Philly’s defense seemed to miss a beat. Tampa did exactly what they needed to do to win this game and that was to take advantage of the Eagle’s explosive defense. Cornerback James Bradberry struggled the most Monday night, allowing the most yards on the team.
How the Draft and Free Agency Can Help Eagles Struggles
The Eagles’ struggles this season have centered on defense. Their offense continued to be dominant, but the defense, especially the secondary, washed the offense clean. Fortunately for Philly, 2024 is deep on defense.
The highlight of the defensive back line is Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry, but there’s a good chance he goes in the top 20. However, the Eagles have the 22nd pick and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean could be the highest player to the needs of the team. DeJean excels in zone coverage and would fit well in the Eagle’s system. He runs a 4.50 40 yard dash and is a decent height at 6’1.
Philly tends to cover a lot of zones, so this corner would be handy for the Eagles if he’s available. Philadelphia could also benefit from signing a veteran quarterback. Baltimore’s Patrick Queen, who is above average in both run and pass protection, makes the most sense here. It’s possible the Ravens decide to extend him, but if not, he’s perfect for Philly’s zone defense.
How the Eagles can go deep again in January
The key for the Eagles is to keep their current lineup as much as possible. They could lose several players to retirement, including Jason Kelce. The future Hall of Fame center might hang it up after the rumor mill. Defensive lineman Fletcher Cox will likely be next, especially since Philly has used the last two drafts to bolster their defensive line.
The offense is mostly the same, the one possible exception here is Deandre Swift. The midfielder only had a one-year contract, even though he is from Philadelphia, so he may want to play cheap to stay with his hometown team. If he moves on, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them add a veteran point guard.
If Philadelphia can keep most of their roster, they should still be in good shape heading into the 2024 season. They are probably the best team in the NFC East and will contend for the division. 2023 didn’t go as planned and wheels started falling off, but that doesn’t mean 2024 will be the same.
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