The Philadelphia Eagles finally had their 10-game winning streak snapped by the Washington Commanders last week. Now they’ll attempt to return to their winning ways against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17, although they will likely be forced to do so without Jalen Hurts.
In the latest edition of my Eagles mailbag, I’ll discuss concerns about Philadelphia’s defense, power ranking potential NFC playoff opponents, and much more regarding the team moving forward.
@dirty_air13 asked, “Does our defensive performance against Washington concern you down the stretch?”
Heading into Week 16, Philadelphia’s defense held opposing offenses to 20 or less points in 10 straight weeks. Therefore, they were due for a letdown at some point and the Commanders presented the perfect storm last week.
Not only did the Eagles lose Jalen Hurts due to a concussion early against Washington, they also lost C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the second half as well. Which proved to be a pivotal turning point for Philadelphia’s defense.
Prior to Gardner-Johnson’s ejection, the Eagles held the Commanders to just 14 points, 194 total yards and forced four turnovers in Washington’s first nine possessions.
Yet following Gardner-Johnson’s ejection, the Eagles allowed the Commanders to score 21 points, gain 210 total yards and forced one turnover in Washington’s final four possessions.
It was clear that Gardner-Johnson’s absence put Philadelphia’s secondary in disarray. Washington consistently targeted backup safety Tristin McCollum down the final stretch of the game in Week 16.
While Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn’t want to just brush off Philadelphia’s defensive letdown as a “blip” on the radar, it’s fair to say that it was. If Gardner-Johnson and all of Philadelphia’s other defensive starters can remain on the field, I truly believe that they’ll be just fine moving forward.
@JoshBernard asked, “How worried about Dallas should we be if Jalen Hurts is out?”
Nearly six weeks ago, the Cowboys were 3-7 and it felt like Mike McCarthy’s days as head coach in Dallas were coming to an end. Yet his team has now won four of their last five games and continues to battle despite the absence of star quarterback Dak Prescott.
Cooper Rush is playing mistake free football, while Dallas’ defense is forcing turnovers at a high rate. The Cowboys have forced an interception in seven straight games, while the defense continues to benefit from the return of several key starters.
Despite Dallas’ hot streak, the Eagles still have more than enough talent to win in Week 17, even with Kenny Pickett likely starting in place of Hurts. Unlike last week, Philadelphia will have an entire week of practice to prepare and assemble a game plan for Pickett to execute on game day.
Pickett was 14-10 during his time as the starting QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers and understands what it takes to win in the NFL. While many are clamoring to see Tanner McKee start at QB in Philadelphia, Pickett is the obvious choice to start in this situation.
@RealThomasMott asked, “Rank the possible Eagles NFC playoff opponents from easiest to scariest”
As of right now, I’ll rank the six likely NFC playoff opponents from easiest to scariest:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Washington Commanders
- Los Angeles Rams
- Minnesota Vikings
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
The Packers have won nine of their last 11 games and their only losses during that timespan were to the Lions. While it might seem crazy to rank Green Bay ahead of Detroit, the Packers are healthier and played the Eagles close in Week 1.
At this time, it truly feels as though the Packers would be Philadelphia’s toughest opponent in the playoffs. Although the NFC playoff picture is loaded with intriguing players and storylines that we aren’t necessarily used to seeing in the postseason, which will certainly make things interesting moving forward.
@TimmyMack55 asked, “Whatever happened to James Bradberry?”
Eagles veteran cornerback James Bradberry suffered a lower leg injury during practice in late August. He was placed on injured reserve and the initial timeline for his recovery was reportedly six to eight weeks.
Yet Bradberry has yet to return, despite technically being eligible to return for several weeks now. While Bradberry has been spotted around the team’s facility, it does not seem like he’ll return for the Eagles this season and his future in Philadelphia remains unclear.
@BirdGangPat asked, “Who should the Eagles target in the upcoming draft to replace Dallas Goedert and should they also draft an edge rusher?”
While the 2025 NFL Draft is still several months away, it’s always interesting to take a look ahead at potential targets for the Eagles. During this year’s draft, Philadelphia should prioritize addressing three positions with their early round selections.
- Tight End
- Edge Rusher
- Offensive Tackle
I’ve stated for several years that the Eagles needed to make a significant investment at tight end behind Dallas Goedert. It’s clear that Goedert is guaranteed to miss multiple games each season and Grant Calcaterra has shown he isn’t the long-term answer.
Luckily for Philadelphia, the 2025 NFL Draft is loaded with tight end prospects that have Pro Bowl potential at the next level. If the Eagles are going to select a tight end on day one or day two, here are five names to watch for:
- Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
- Tyler Warren, Penn State
- Colston Loveland, Michigan
- Mason Taylor, LSU
- Gunnar Helm, Texas
There are plenty of other intriguing TE prospects that Philadelphia could select in the 2025 NFL Draft as well. It’s just worth noting that it’s a stacked draft class and a great year for any team to need a TE.
As far as edge rusher and offensive tackle, the Eagles love to invest in the trenches early in the NFL Draft. Philadelphia has dealt with injuries at both positions this season and could look to add talent with several players expected to hit free agency in 2025 as well.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
