PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles are poised for a strong playoff push after clinching the NFC East title, thanks to a fortunate turn of events. On Sunday night, while the Eagles were on a bye week, Dan Quinn, head coach of the Washington Commanders, left his franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels in a hopeless game, leading to an injury that sidelined him.
Daniels dislocated his left elbow during a scramble for a late, inconsequential touchdown in a match where the Commanders were down by 31 points. The following night, the struggling Arizona Cardinals, led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, managed to upset the Dallas Cowboys, who have faced a series of challenges this season.
Although the Eagles did not play last weekend, they had recently dismantled the New York Giants, effectively ending that team”s hopes for the season. With nine games remaining, the Eagles have a 96% probability of securing the division title, according to BetMGM. They are also projected to finish as the top seed in the NFC, sharing even odds with the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC championship, while only the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have better chances for the Super Bowl.
As the Eagles prepare for their matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, they boast a 6-2 record with a 2.5-game lead over the Cowboys and a head-to-head advantage against the 6-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who also enjoyed a bye last week. Many analysts initially believed that the Eagles would struggle this season due to a perceived Super Bowl hangover and defensive losses, predicting the Packers and Detroit Lions would outperform them. However, Green Bay suffered a surprising home defeat against the Carolina Panthers last weekend and also lost star tight end Tucker Kraft to injury.
In contrast, the Eagles have overcome early-season injuries and inefficiencies. They entered the Minnesota game three weeks ago with a 4-2 record, which some believed was fortunate. However, quarterback Jalen Hurts has found his rhythm under new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. Hurts recorded a career-high passer rating of 158.3 against the Vikings and followed that with a 141.5 rating in a revenge win over the Giants, despite being without A.J. Brown, the franchise”s top receiver at that time.
Brown has since returned, and the Eagles are regaining their strength overall. Running back Saquon Barkley exited the Giants game with a groin injury but has recovered. Left guard Landon Dickerson and right tackle Lane Johnson have benefited from a week of rest, along with defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who has dealt with shoulder issues. The Eagles are also hopeful about defensive end Nolan Smith, who has returned from injury, potentially providing a boost to their defensive line.
General manager Howie Roseman further strengthened the team ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring Jaelan Phillips from Miami for a valuable third-round pick. Earlier, he brought in cornerbacks Jaire Alexander from the Ravens and Michael Carter II from the Jets, aiming to address weaknesses in the secondary, particularly with cornerbacks Kelee Ringo and Adoree” Jackson struggling this season.
A victory against the Packers will solidify the Eagles” position in the conference. While the Cowboys” offensive performance has exceeded expectations, they have struggled defensively, especially following the trade of Micah Parsons to the Packers. The Commanders maintain hope that Daniels may return later this season, but their current form shows they are unlikely to make a significant impact.
Looking ahead, the Eagles face a challenging schedule with tough matchups after the Packers, including games against the Lions, the 6-3 Chargers, and a daunting trip to Buffalo. Despite their struggles early in the season, the Eagles appear to be finding their stride just in time for the critical second half of the campaign.
