This Feels Different

I have been lucky to see some really good Eagles teams over the years. They have been to four Super Bowls, winning it all in 2017 and restoring order to the world. We’ve seen other teams that were really good, some even special in a certain way. The Gang Green defense of 1991. Michael Vick and the explosive offense of 2010. The 2024 Eagles are good, possibly great. Some of the stuff we’ve seen this year feels different.

Let’s start with some comparisons to 2017. Do you remember the long drive to end the win over the Chargers that year? The Eagles ate up 6:44 to seal the game. The drive started at the 25-yard line. It came against an 0-3 team with a so-so defense. Sunday was different.

From drive stats guru James Armstrong: Philly’s 21-play drive to end the game against Pittsburgh was the longest game-ending drive in terms of the number of plays in the 32 years we have drive data for.

— Aaron Schatz (@ASchatzNFL) December 17, 2024

That was a historic drive. It started at the 3-yard line so that wasn’t exactly an ideal situation. It came against a red hot Steelers team (had won 7 of 8) that had a Top 10 defense. Having a drive eat up the final 10:29 of a game is just insane. You don’t hear of anything close to that.

The Eagles caught some flak earlier in the year for playing a soft schedule. That talk has changed a bit. They swept the AFC North. They have beaten three NFC teams projected to make the playoffs (WAS, LA, GB). Their only losses are to teams .500 or better.

The Eagles have played 6 teams with winning records this season. They’re 5-1 in those games with a scoring differential of +32.

In 2017 when the Eagles won the Super Bowl, they were 4-3 against opponents with a winning record and had a point differential of +16.

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) December 16, 2024

Now let’s talk about the units. I wrote yesterday about how good this defense is. Compare it to the most recent Super Bowl teams.

You can see that Vic Fangio’s unit is on another level. Those other two defenses were really good, but this group stands out because they are so much better situationally.

This defense hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game during the 10-game winning streak. The 2017 team never went more than 4 games without allowing more than 20 points. The 2022 team went 7 games without allowing more than 20 points. The 2024 Eagles could have 3 All Pro selections – Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell. And Cooper DeJean could get some votes. Mitchell has a legitimate chance to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The offense is doing some pretty impressive things as well. Saquon Barkley leads the NFL in rushing and is on pace to rush for more than 2,000 yards. He is a serious candidate for MVP. The Eagles lead the NFL in rushing as a team. Their worst game is 113 yards. They have eclipsed 200 yards in 5 games so far.

Jalen Hurts has a strong chance to set the NFL record for rushing TDs in a season by a QB. He’s got 14 and needs just 2 more to set the record. Hurts isn’t posting big passing numbers in terms of volume, but has career high figures in completion percentage and passer rating.

Jalen had 17 completions for 205 yards vs single high, his highest total in a game in more than 3 years@Eagles pic.twitter.com/pDX0gtcG3W

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 16, 2024

The part of this team that is the hardest to quantify is the OL. They are the first or second best line in the league, depending on what you think of Detroit’s line.

The OL is doing special things with their run blocking. Saquon Barkley has brought out the best in them and they have brought out the best in him. Their pass protection can be next level as well.

.@steelers @Eagles this offensive line is so good and the offense has so many ways to beat you…Its hard to be right. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/UXl8i1oxil

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 16, 2024

This team sure has a good feel to it. The 2017 group was on another level when it came to having fun. Jason Kelce, Chris Long, Beau Allen, Brandon Graham, and the rest of the gang were special in that regard. This team is celebrating more and seems to be getting comfortable with how good they are. They’re doing a good job of living in the moment.

We don’t know where this team will end up. What we do know is that this is a really good team with a chance to do special things. The last couple of months have a chance to be a lot of fun.

Make sure you enjoy the ride.

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