What A Difference a Year Makes — The 2022 Vs. The 2023 Philadelphia Eagles That Have Me Shitting Bricks

courtesy NJ.com

On December 18, 2022, a handsome and chipper young man, with his sanity still within his grasp, wrote and published the following:

A talented, well-coached football team from top to bottom that produces different solutions for different opponents to seal the victory. They’ve won several games with a well-executed gameplan — in control from start to finish with limited hiccups. They’ve also won by making the proper adjustments and big plays when needed most.

At their best, the Eagles look like an undeniable force, slowly bending the opposition to their will.

- Kevin Chevalier, The City Root

EL OH EL.

courtesy Bleeding Green Nation

Historic Levels of Stress

According to NFL NextGen statistics, based on standard body mass index reports and vital signs, this season has aged Philadelphia Eagles fans, on average, an astounding six years and seven months. That measurement was taken prior to the Eagles dropping three games in a row. At the time, it was a new record for any fanbase with a 10-1 team by a full four years and one month. It also broke the record for Philadelphia, a town so used to stress and sadness in professional athletics.

I mean HOLY SHIT. The ups, downs, and heart attacks we’ve endured. The kelly green dismantling of Miami, the league’s top offense. The Dallas win in an all-time Dak choke job. Then we took that momentum—as exhausted as the team was after three games in thirteen days—into the Buffalo game and Hurts got one of the best wins of his career in OT?!?! It’s been a ride.

Only to turn around and get whacked by the 49ers and the Cowboys in humiliating fashion. Then allowing Seattle to hang in and steal a win we basically had wrapped up in Washington state.

courtesy Philadelphia Inquirer

Last year, we were a dominant 13-1. It’s hard to even pick out a game that felt shaky besides Chicago, and of course the loss to Washington.

This year, we were really only a few plays away from being 7-4, instead of 10-1. Now, with the three losses we just picked up in nauseating fashion, we could easily be 7-7. But instead, we’re 10-4 and could still easily be a top seed in the NFC.

And now that we’ve experienced that kind of pain, for the first time since 2021, it’s only adding to the stress, to the nightmare of not making the absolute most out of what is likely Jason Kelce’s last season… and Brandon Graham’s… possibly Fletcher Cox’s… and beginning of Lane’s twilight years (even though he’s still the best RT in football).

And once again, we’re now looked at as underdogs.

So bring it the fuck on.

Time to embrace it once again.

“The System”

But things are different in good ways as well

Last year, at 13-1, I also wrote:

You’re allowed to say the Eagles haven’t really beaten anybody THAT good… yet.

This year we have the toughest schedule and despite this rough patch we’ve handled it better than 95% of the league would. The problem of course are the losses to our two biggest foes in San Francisco and Dallas in historically bad fashion. Losing to Seattle was hopefully the end of the skid. Even if the Giants win wasn’t convincing, the Birds are back in the proper column.

All that being said…

we’ve got High Hopes

Or at least I do… and I don’t really know why.

People think I’m crazy, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Hurts throws for 400 yards and 3 TDs, the D-Line gets 5 sacks, and the Eagles win by two touchdowns in both the wild card and divisional rounds.

To close this thing out…

Hungry Dogs.

Go Birds.