The Philadelphia Eagles head into the 2025 season as favorites to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, but they also have a lot of concerns.
The Naysayers and doubters will always have their opinions but are also logical responses and reasons why they may be wrong.
Some of the bigger issues that fans are concerned about are addressed here, along with responses that hopefully alleviate your concerns.
Saquon Barkley’s workload will cause him to regress!
Barkley had one of the greatest regular seasons (2,005 rushing yards) and postseasons (499 rushing yards) in NFL history. Combined, he ran for the most yards in a single season (2,504 yards), ever. Over those twenty games, 2K SA had 482 touches, which is historically high. In fact, it is the 10th-highest total over the course of a season in NFL history. So, that means there must be regression, right?
No, it doesn’t. That also doesn’t mean he will duplicate or exceed those totals either. Expecting Saquon to have another 2,000+ yard season is not realistic, nor expected. But that doesn’t mean he can’t do it, even if history is not on his side.
There have been eight running backs who have rushed for over 2,000 yards before Barkley, and of those eight, the most yards one of them ran for the following year was Barry Sanders with 1,491. Two of them didn’t even rush for 1,000 yards the next season.
But Saquon is in his prime, has a great offensive line, a quarterback who is a cheat code for assisting in the run game, and plays for a team that has the scheme and workload to exceed those of his predecessors. The only way he does not pass Barry’s 1,491 is if the injury big bites. It would not be shocking if he makes another run towards 2000, and the team for another Lombardi Trophy.
“It was a lot of workload (last season), but my body feels great, so that’s the most important thing.” – Saquon Barkley
The Schedule is Hard!
The schedule release day, with all of the dates and times, has become like a National holiday, and is usually when it gets scrutinized the most by fans. This year, the Eagles face one of the toughest schedules in the NFL, based on the strength of schedule from the previous year’s results. They also do not have any back-to-back home games. While the schedule has its challenges, most years do.
Last year’s schedule included losing a home game at the Linc to host a game thousands of miles away in Brazil, in addition to the extra travel miles. The 2023 season included the grueling “gauntlet” portion of the schedule that had many concerned.
The schedules are known years in advance, aside from the teams you play who finish in the same divisional place as you, which this season for the Birds means a first-place schedule and tougher opponents.
Every year brings challenges, and usually some good news as well. For instance, this season, the Eagles are not playing any team that has just come off their bye week. If you are one of the best teams, you thrive over the course of a long season despite any hardships along the way. The NFL season is a grind, the survival of the fittest, and the Eagles will be fine.
Jalen Hurts has a new OC, again!
It is true there is a new Offensive Coordinator, but Kevin Patullo is no stranger to working with Jalen.
The hiring of Patullo ensures continuity and the advantage of moving forward with a similar offense that they can dissect and improve upon, as opposed to everyone, including QB Jalen Hurts, having to learn an entirely new system. Kevin is also bringing a lot of fresh ideas.
Kevin has been working tirelessly as a game planner and designing plays. The difference will be that he is choosing from the play sheet that the team designs for each game situation during the week. Jalen Hurts is on board with the transition, and fans should feel confident in the move as well.
“I think the more important thing is being able to detect what I can improve on and how important it is to improve in that. We can all work hard in something but not necessarily be working hard in the right thing. We were able to evolve and add a different dynamic obviously with having 2–6 back there and what he’s able to do.” – Jalen Hurts
The Eagles will have too many new faces in the trenches!
Along the line, the Birds will have to replace long-time leader Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, and Milton Williams. Every team in the NFL has men go down with injuries and lose players to free agency. Fortunately, Philadelphia has Howie Roseman, one of the best GMs in the sport, leading the way for their contingency plan, and he has been planning for this for a long time.
Let’s start in the trenches. They still have all-world DT Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis is in year four with a lot to play for (see Milton Williams 2024), and Moro Ojomo has earned more playing time. They drafted athletic tackle Ty Robinson, who has looked great in camp and impressed Jalen Carter while doing so.
Nolan Smith Jr is a player on the rise who should take another step towards being one of the better pass rushers in the league. Jalyx Hunt is an ascending player who showcased his ability during the postseason, and the Birds signed a few veterans at Edge this offseason.
Josh Uche and another former Georgia Bulldog, Azeez Ojulari, to be rotated in. I am excited to see how the position plays out, and would not be surprised to see Howie add another piece between now and the first game of the season.
The Eagles lost a starting Linebacker, Safety, and Cornerback!
Philadelphia moved on from starting safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and cornerback ‘Big Play’ Slay. Not to mention the loss of starting LB Nakobe Dean via injury, but the losses were known in advance, or purposefully executed.
The linebacking core and safety position added a first-round talent, Jihaad Campbell, and a second-round talent, Drew Mukuba, to the roster, and both will likely play significant snaps for the team during the season. Campbell is recovering from off-season surgery, but was the best LB in the 2025 NFL Draft. He will make an immediate impact when healthy. While the team waits for him, 2024 Draft pick Jeremiah Trotter Jr will have his chance to prove he belongs starting.
Last year, the Eagles relied on a rookie, Quinyon Mitchell, opposite Slay, and many worried he would need time to adjust to be successful at the NFL level. He didn’t. Quinyonamo clamped down receivers all season, and they are hoping for similar results from Kelee Ringo this year. The 22-year-old corner has had two seasons of on-the-job training and has come a long way in improving his game. A phrase many Philadelphians no longer like reading is the best advice while watching Ringo this season: “Trust the process.” He might surprise you!
As always, thank you for reading!
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Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
