Don’t look now, but the Philadelphia Eagles are coming on stronger than any other team in the NFL in the second half of the season. In fact, the Eagles are a perfect 5-0 during their back half, and have not lost since the end of October.
The Eagles currently sit at 8-5 on the season and thanks to the loss by Dallas Monday night to the Bears, are a full game up on the Cowboys in the NFC East.
It was a crazy game Sunday against Detroit, which saw the game played in ankle-deep snow throughout the contest. The Eagles came away with the victory, thanks to a record-breaking performance by LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 217 yards in the snow and a couple of touchdowns. McCoy set the Eagles’ single game rushing mark.
But what’s been most impressive during the win streak is the performance of quarterback Nick Foles. He did throw his first interception of the season against the Lions, but we might be able to give him a pass on that due to the intense conditions. After all, his competitor Matthew Stafford didn’t throw a touchdown after lighting the scoreboard up the past couple of weeks. It was a runner’s game, and Philadelphia proved to have the better one for that day.
But we want to look at the big picture for the Eagles – whether or not this team can put it all together in Chip Kelly’s first season and make some noise in the playoffs. It sure looks like they are beginning to click, and Foles is really settling into the role of the starter.
The problem is that the Eagles would likely have to go on the road to New Orleans or Seattle in the playoffs, which are probably the two most-difficult places to win in the NFL. Having said that, it’s been impressive to watch this team over the last month and a half and what they have been able to do since the 3-5 start.
The question will be how Philadelphia finishes over the course of its final three games – two of which are on the road. They go to Minnesota in Week 15, home against Chicago in Week 16, and then the regular season finale at Dallas in Week 17.
The toughest of the matchups appears to be the home game against Chicago, and then possibly the road matchup with the Cowboys. Though the Dallas defense appears to have difficulty stopping anybody running with a football. They just gave up 45 points to the Bears Monday night, in which Chicago scored on every possession except for the final one only because they took a knee.
It’s definitely setting up nice for the Eagles to win the NFC and get a home game in the postseason. But if you’re asking us whether or not this team is ready to challenge the Seahawks or Saints on the road, that probably isn’t likely as of now.