Three Eagles Wins in 2024 That Are Blueprints for Continued Success
The Philadelphia Eagles won 18 of their 21 games last season en route to a Super Bowl victory.
Which of those games can serve as blueprints for continued success?
Eagles at Rams, Week 12 // 37-20 Win
The Eagles’ 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams encapsulated what they do well as a team. While the Birds didn’t pull away in semi-blowout fashion until later in the game, their strengths were apparent.
The Jalen Hurts-led passing attack, though not busy, was efficient and came through when needed. Hurts completed 15 of his 22 attempts on the night (68.18%), threw for 179 yards and a touchdown, didn’t turn the ball over, and only took one sack.
Hurts alone put the Eagles in a position to win, but it was Saquon Barkley who put them over the top. His record-setting evening consisted of 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns, both of which were of at least 70 yards.
Cumulatively, the offense converted 60% of its third downs (9-for-15) and out-possessed the Rams by over seven minutes. That’s how the guys up front win games and how they did it all season long.
As for the defense, though they gave up points early, and Matthew Stafford had good numbers on paper, it was a nice showing from them. Stafford and the Rams were sacked five times, fumbled the ball four times (lost it once), and converted zero of their eight third-down opportunities.
Philadelphia’s defense bent at times, but it did its job. This was a big road win against a very good football team—one that demoralized a 14-3 Minnesota Vikings team in the playoffs.
Eagles vs. Steelers, Week 15 // 27-13 Win
PHOTO: Alex Gallardo/Imagn Images
While the Pittsburgh Steelers’ record was worse than indicated at the time (10-3), that didn’t change the fact that the Eagles were going up against one of the top teams in the NFL. This game is on here because, despite being imperfect, the Birds won pretty convincingly, 27-13.
This one stands out because of the time of possession. Philadelphia had the ball for nearly 20 more minutes than Pittsburgh, capped off by a 10-minute fourth-quarter drive to end the game.
The Eagles played sloppily to start, turning the ball over twice (once at their own 11-yard line). Their in-state rival’s defense caused some problems, too, registering three sacks in the second quarter alone. But at the end of the day, talent won.
Philadelphia’s last two drives saw them flawlessly close out the game. The first of which chewed six minutes off the clock and resulted in a touchdown. The second was enabled by a Steelers punt with 10:29 remaining in the fourth quarter. They never saw the ball again.
That’s just perfect execution on the Eagles’ part. If they could do it against a Steelers team that held their own against contenders, they can do it against almost anyone.
Eagles vs. Chiefs, Super Bowl LIX // 40-22 Win
Of course, the Super Bowl is worth remembering. Don’t let the Kansas City Chiefs’ 22 points (16 of which were scored in the last three minutes) fool you—this might have been Patrick Mahomes’ worst performance ever. Perhaps it was one of the worst performances from a quarterback in the Super Bowl ever. Seriously.
Vic Fangio’s defense forced Mahomes to throw two bad interceptions, which led to 14 points on the board for Philadelphia. He was sacked six times, fumbling once. Additionally, a notoriously cold-blooded late-down converter got only three of 12 attempts to go his way.
A defensive masterclass that should never be forgotten by any football fan. That’s how incredible this game was. If the Eagles can make one of the best quarterbacks in history who is in his prime a detrimental liability to his team, that says a lot. It says a lot about their core, one which they were mostly able to retain in the offseason.
What’s also interesting is the fact that Barkley was totally neutralized. The Chiefs made it their mission to make Hurts, not Barkley, beat them. Well, Hurts beat them. Badly—his iconic 46-yard strike to DeVonta Smith was one of the best moments of the night.
The Eagles showed the potential of their roster in many key moments.
Their epic shellacking of the Chiefs stands out, obviously, but they also won in a variety of ways.
Whether it was Barkley setting records, the offense possessing the ball for nearly an entire fourth quarter, or the defense suffocating Mahomes, they found a way.
They should do the same in 2025.
PHOTO: Alex Gallardo/Imagn Images
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