Following Jason Kelce’s claim that the Eagles can win the NFC East this season, we take a look at the reasons why this could become a reality.
Where to bet on the Eagles in 2021
DraftKings Sports SPECIAL OFFER
BetRivers Sports SECOND CHANCE
In what was one of their worst seasons in history, the Philadelphia Eagles managed to pick up just four wins in the 2020 NFL season. Often described as one of the best fanbases in the world, the Eagles’ loyal following certainly didn’t deserve what they had to endure.
Now, the Eagles and their fans can look ahead to the future as they undertake a roster rebuild. However, as Jason Kelce said, “I think the biggest difference between football and other sports is being in a transition period doesn’t mean that you can’t compete and be competitive”. We will outline four reasons why Kelce is right – the Eagles can be competitive this season and they can succeed in the NFC East as a result.
Philadelphia Eagles could have one of the best O-Lines
Head Coach Nick Sirianni and his coaching staff are new to the job. This is expected to be of benefit in the early stages of the season as opponents will be unsure as to how approach a game against a new-look Eagles side.
The element of surprise at the start of the season is not all that the Eagles have going for them. Quarterback Jalen Hurts struggled to live up to expectations in 2020, but the potential is definitely there and he can definitely develop in 2021 to become a big player in the NFL.
Alongside Jalen, Philadelphia have wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Jalen Reagor and tight end Dallas Goedert. This is enough ammunition for offensive coordinator Shane Steichen to work with in the passing game. If their offensive talents can click this season, then why can’t the Eagles rack up a decent number of wins?
Disruption does not mean failure
Last year was the perfect example of how disruption in a camp does not necessarily result in failure. The Browns experienced considerable disturbance to their flow when they were hit with COVID complications and they still managed to push on and defeat the high-flying Steelers in the Wild Card Round.
Washington also experienced change within the franchise last season when making a strong attempt to adjust its culture. Amidst this disturbance, Washington still managed to top the NFC East.
So, just because the Eagles are going through a major rebuilding phase doesn’t mean we should rule them out of contention this season. Rapid change doesn’t need to be a bad thing!
Julio Jones could become an Eagle
Yes, it is more likely that Julio Jones will be heading from Atlanta to New England, San Francisco or Baltimore. However, several teams are hoping to snap up the unsettled wide receiver and Philadelphia is one of them.
The Eagles are very eager to make trades to add talent during their rebuilding phase and the owner has traditionally been a big spender. Additionally, they have a massive draft haul already assembled over the next few years so adding Julio Jones is definitely a possibility.
Julio Jones would be a huge addition to this Eagles roster. Not many would say no to having him at Lincoln Financial Field.
There is a lot of heart in this Eagles team
Just watch Jason Kelce’s recent interview. This team believe they can be victorious in the NFC East this season.
There is character throughout the squad and games are there to be won. The next couple of months will give us a better idea of how the Eagles will fare in the NFC East this coming season. Here are the current NFC East odds at DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Dallas Cowboys (+125)
- Washington Football Team (+260)
- New York Giants (+350)
- Philadelphia Eagles (+500)
Upsets do happen in Football. And, judging by current odds, the NFC East is looking like it’s going to be the most open division in the NFL in 2021.