Power Rankings Roundup: Where do the Eagles stand going into Week 1?
After months of waiting, the Philadelphia Eagles’ season kicks off in just six days against the Atlanta Falcons. Over the last few weeks, people both inside the city and out have begun to hype up the Eagles as a sleeper team this upcoming season. Despite that, many are still iffy about how successful Philly will be under Nick Sirianni.
With that in mind, let’s look at where several national outlets rank the Eagles going into week one.
“Nick Sirianni entered as head coach, but the team seems to lack direction, beginning with the quarterback position. The coaching staff has yet to name Jalen Hurts its starter despite the fact that he showed flashes last year and that there’s no better alternative on the roster.” (Rankings released before Hurts was named starter)
“Jalen Hurts knows they’re interested in Deshaun Watson. His job is tough enough without having to worry about a Watson trade.”
“The Eagles are no longer a top contender in the conference, but given how bad the NFC East was in 2020, it wouldn’t be crazy if Philly is in the division title mix late in the season. The main objective for the Eagles this season should be developing 2020 second-round pick and starting quarterback Jalen Hurts.
He played well in training camp and the preseason, which was certainly an encouraging sign. Hurts also will have a really talented wide receiver in 2021 first-round pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith to target in the passing attack. The Eagles will go as far as Hurts takes them in 2021.”
“This isn’t exactly fair to the 23-year-old Hurts, who is entering his second season and has shown promise as a player and leader during his brief time as the front man in Philadelphia. But the Eagles are in a transition period and have upward of three first-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft, assets they can use to acquire their QB of the future if they’re not sold on Hurts. In other words, he’s already facing a prove-it year.”
“The Philadelphia Eagles one major question entering this season is whether or not Jalen Hurts can get it done. They play in a division that has been bad (to say the least) in recent years and Washington even won it with a record of 7-9 in 2020.”
“Much was made in the offseason about an impending divorce between the Eagles and Super Bowl hero Zach Ertz, but fast-forward to August, and the veteran tight end has been one of the favorite targets of second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts, according to one camp dispatch. It makes you wonder if Ertz’s down 2020 season was less about a genuine decline — as had been widely speculated — and more a product of injuries limiting his play. Hurts threw to his tight ends nearly a third of the time in his limited play as a rookie, and a healthy Ertz — playing alongside the rising Dallas Goedert — will make the young QB better.”
The Eagles are flipping the page from their short-lived Super Bowl makeup with Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz to a quick reboot with Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts. The offense will be a work in progress as all the key personnel gets settled in a new scheme, while the defense is closer to rebuild than top form.”
Mandatory Credit: Drew Hallowell
