Why Are the Eagles Among Super Bowl LV Favorites?
With the draft out of the way and 2020 schedule confirmed, only five franchises have shorter odds to win the Super Bowl than the Philadelphia Eagles.
They are defending champions Kansas City, the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Eagles’ price has been set at 16/1, which is the kind of price you get on the sixth favorite in golf tournaments too, just check out the Evian Championship betting odds for example.
Given that the Eagles won the NFC East with just a 9-7 record last season, the division isn’t expected to be too short. Though, as per usual, the Dallas Cowboys will be expecting to go all the way once again, just as they have every season since 1995.
The Super Bowl LII champions took three wide receivers in the draft, much needed after the most unproductive season in this position since 1966. Not a single wide receiver reached even 500 yards. There are currently 14 on the books now for Doug Pederson and his team to reduce before the start of the season in September.
Goodbye Jeffery?
Given his hit on the salary cap and with just 35 catches over the past two seasons, one has to think 30-year-old Alshon Jeffery could be shown the door between now and week 1 when we are set to face Washington. What their team name will be by then also remains to be seen.
Strange Draft Pick?
Taking Jalen Hurts in the second round certainly raised the most eyebrows given the production of Carson Wentz, when healthy. The 2019 Heisman Trophy runner-up certainly won’t be content playing the backup role from day one so expect some competition for Wentz, who won’t be able to afford a poor season, particularly if we have a losing record going into the second half.
Strong Defense
Javon Hargrave has been added to the defensive line, signing a 3-year deal in free agency after leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers. This could produce an exciting partnership with Fletcher Cox in the middle, with Brandon Graham offering quarterback pressures from the end.
The Eagles already have two top corners in Darius Slay Jr and Nickell Robey-Coleman. Jim Schwartz has already proven himself as a top defensive coordinator.
How Do the Eagles Match Up?
It’s worth noting that the NFC East hasn’t had repeat division winners since the Eagles won four in a row between 2001-04. It’s shaping up to be another battle between Philadelphia and the Dallas Cowboys again this season after the New York Giants finished 4-12 and Washington 3-13 last season.
The Giants took two Offensive Tackles in the first three rounds of the draft, in an attempt to protect Daniel Jones next season. Safety Xavier McKinney from Alabama was taken in the second.
Washington took Chase Young with the overall second pick. Although he’s been highly touted, his production against the big teams at the end of his final year in college did leave something left to desire.
Their only other pick in the top 100 selections came with running back Antonio Gibson from Memphis in round 3. All the off-field distractions surrounding their team name could play in their advantage heading into the new season, but there was certainly little in last season to look forward to later this year.
Are the Philadelphia Eagles legitimate Super Bowl contenders? It was only in 2018 that they won the big one for the first time and many of that roster is still around.
Although winning the NFC East is a very realistic goal, going all the way again next season may just be a stretch too far.
Featured Image: 6ABC
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