The Philadelphia Eagles boasted one of the most talented rosters in the NFL last season and were one year removed from a Super Bowl appearance.
Early on, it was looking like the Eagles were going to get back there again, as they got off to a torrid 10-1 start and even topped the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch.
Then, something very strange happened.
Philadelphia proceeded to lose five of its last six regular-season games to finish the year 11-6. It marked the first time in NFL history that a team failed to register 12 wins after winning 10 of their first 11 contests.
Then, Philly was absolutely hammered by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, the same Buccaneers squad the Eagles handled earlier in the regular season.
It’s hard to truly quantify what happened to Philadelphia in 2023, but apparently, the front office took things very seriously, signing running back Saquon Barkley in free agency and revamping the club’s ailing secondary in the NFL Draft.
The Eagles stayed with head coach Nick Sirianni, which surprised some people. However, they did bring in a couple of new coordinators in Kellen Moore (offensive) and Vic Fangio (defensive).
Philadelphia is once again being pegged as a Super Bowl contender in the NFC, which is why Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski has dubbed this a make-or-break season in the City of Brotherly Love.
It’s hard to disagree with Sobleski.
For Sirianni, the time is now. He got the Eagles to a Super Bowl two seasons ago. Last year, he looked clueless as Philadelphia folded down the stretch.
If Philly falters once again in 2024, it will almost certainly cost Sirianni his job, and the Birds may end up overhauling their roster in general (or at least seriously tweaking it).
The Eagles are playing in an NFC East division in which they really only have one competitor: the Dallas Cowboys, who captured the division crown this past season.
Yes, the New York Giants and Washington Commanders should both be improved, but it seems hard to imagine either squad challenging for the division title.
While it may not necessarily be Super Bowl or bust for Sirianni and Co., Philadelphia at least has to put forth a better showing than it did in 2023.
Does Philly have enough to beat teams like the San Francisco 49ers or Detroit Lions? It remains to be seen, but there is no question that Eagles brass is expecting a much better ending this time around.
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