Free agency is less than a week in the books. The NFL draft is still almost two months away. Nobody would question that the Philadelphia Eagles are an improved team since the end of the 2013 season.
How much better is a debatable topic, but the team is moving in the right direction.
With all of the acquisitions taking place in the NFL, have the Eagles” moved up” in the NFC power rankings?
The NFC East title has already been handed to the Eagles by both the local and outside experts. The Eagles did not lose the talent to free agency that the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys did. Even though the verdict is still out on Nick Foles, he did enough last year and the weapons around him have improved that he ranks ahead of the “rehabbing” Romo, the” will he ever return to form” RG3 and the “better days are behind him” Eli Manning. All of the NFC East teams had their share of issues on the defensive side of the football, but the Eagles retained and improved their unit while the other teams in the division saw their big names sign elsewhere.
It is one thing to win the division, but the expectation is to win playoff games and compete for representation of the NFC in the Super Bowl. The length of time for that appearance could very well be a few years away with some of the roadblocks in our way.
As is currently stands, I have the Eagles ranked as the 4thhad them at the end of the 2013 season. (I previously had the Saints at the 4ththe 5th spot)
The top two teams above the Eagles have defenses that we hope to resemble. The best team in the NFC and Super Bowl Champion Seahawks and the second best NFC team 49ers have built through solid drafts with head coaches coming from the college ranks. Although the Eagles approach their offensive and defensive play scheme differently than these NFC West powerhouses, I firmly believe they are following a similar and successful building pattern.
The third best team in the NFC is the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers is still in his prime, and with a true running threat in Lacy and an improved defense, the Packers will return to Super Bowl contention. Their offensive line is always a bit of a mess, similar to that of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they always seem to manage to be good enough. Rodgers is such a competitor and they will address the offensive line and tight-end position in a draft class that is deep in both categories.
To summarize I have the Seahawks, 49ers and Packers ahead of the Eagles. Rounding out the top six, I would have the Saints at #5 and the Lions at #6 with the Bears and Cardinals breathing down their necks.
We will know exactly how we match up with the three teams I have in front of the Eagles as we face them all this season. Are the Eagles ready to compete with the big boys? Two of the three teams have won Super Bowls in the last four years while the other made a Super Bowl appearance.
The 2014 season is full of hope and anticipation. We know the Eagles are a good team with great pieces. Will a solid draft, the free agent signings, Chip Kelly year two and growth by the young talent be enough to move us to greatness?
I would include the Arizona Cardinals in this conversation as a NFC
Contender, remember they won 10 Games in Football’s
Toughest Division and QB Palmer played very well in the 2nd half of the Season, they upgraded their biggest weakness which was OL
So far in Free-Agency..
I also believe the Lions made some nice improvements just by getting rid of that terrible HC in Schwartz and replacing him with the strict,calm and experienced Jim Caldwell who will bring some discipline back to the Lions and specializes working with QB’s (Manning & Flacco) in their decision making
If QB Stafford plays smarter and protects the ball, they are a Playoff contender
The Bears have also made some moves in improving their Defense which was uncharacteristically horrible last year, but their Offense is as good as any in the NFC
I believe the 49ers take a step back in 2014 with an aging Frank Gore, Anquan Boldin & Even Vernon Davis as their Top weapons all have some mileage on them.. Also remember that All-Pro Guard Mike Iupati broke his leg and All-Pro
LB Navarro Bowman with major knee injury in NFC Championship
So they may be slow going the first part of the 2014 Season
They lost leaders in their Secondary with Whitner & Carlos Rogers gone
And Pat Willis and DE Justin Smith best days are behind them and then let’s not forget the angst between HC Jim Harbaugh and the GM Balkey who
Appear to be at odds with each other about his Contract status
I see the Cardinals overtaking the 49ers in the NFC West as the 2nd place Team behind the Seahawks..
16 games next season and all of them count. We will compete and play hard because that is the new culture Kelly brought with him. We will get stronger over the next few seasons. How we rank will be determined on the field but I will say this…
The Eagles went from ranking Shameful under AR the last 2 years he was here to Ranking Fun to Watch last season. I expect them to rank as MUST SEE TV this season.
Paulman, Bears and Cards are a non issue so long as they have Cutler and Palmer choking it up when it matters.
Elite
1 – Seattle (obv)
Contenders
2 – SF (but I think ripe for a big fade. Coach and QB troubles loom large)
3 – GB
4 – Eagles (and rising)
Feisty…
5 – Det (IF Caldwell has desired effect…otherwise much too undisciplined)
6 – NO – Fading, but still strong at home
7 – Atl (I expect a rebound after down year, but still no RB or D)
8 – Chicago (Flukiest team in the NFL. I like Trestman, but hitching wagon to Cutler was a mistake)
Pretenders
9 – Carolina (Only on their D. Their QB is a candidate for a nervous breakdown just about every game)
10 – Arizona. (Palmer and tough division)
11 – Dallas (Offense will keep them in against shitty teams)
12 – STL (Jeff Fischer is the king of 8-8)
13 – TB (Lots of Free agents, but no QB)
No Chance
14 – Minny (Should trade Peterson while they have a chance)
15 – NYG – Coughlins last year.
16 – Washington – This is what happens when you sacrifice 2 drafts for a QB that isn’t all that good
The only team I’m not sure of is Minny…probably should be a little higher….
Paulman’s NFC Power Rankings as of Today
1) Seahawks
2) Packers
3) NO Saints
4) Cardinals
5) 49ers
6) Eagles
7) Bears
8) Lions
9) Falcons
10) Giants
11) Vikings
12) TB Bucs
13) Rams
14) Cowboys
15) Panthers
16) Redskins
We play an extremely tough schedule this year going up against tough defenses…not the soft patsies that we got last year…We have not made moves that will enable us to beat the better teams in the conference…
Kook look at the schedule again, I see ten wins bro. Always remember our division stinks.
I meant kool dam spell check
I expect Seattle at home to be Sunday night, Indy on the road Mon or Sunday night, SF on the road 400 pm game of the week., and Washington at home Monday night.
I see Cowboys/Eagles on Thanksgiving
Right now I think the cowboys are going to be really bad, but it’s still early yet.
Cowboys & Redskins are bad, maybe 4-5 Wins each..
The eagles are as an organization ,fully locked and loaded..the vision appears to be to build from within on known entities..they’ve resigned every player they feel fits there scheme…unlike AR trying to convince us all of how he’s smarter than the rest ,and schemes make the players ..this simple approach to the philosophy of the organization has made us relevant once again..we will add to the depth via the draft and we will be cap ready to pounce on available free agents still in the days to come ..I like most fans want a dream team approach ,however,there’s an obvious tendency to finding the right types of players ..we need a OLB..and a hard hitting safety (Pryor).. If they use trades to obtain the guys they have there sights upon ,even better..I have higher expectations than at anytime since the arrival of T.O. I’m excited and all in with the team ….let’s not underestimate the effect paying or overpaying new guys on the morale in the locker room..it’s like the old adage happy wife ..happy life…go birds
Where do the eagles stand?
A lot of optimism, but ultimately it all comes down in large part on whether foles can play like he did last year, or reasonably close and consistent
This franchise was in shambles before foles saw Oakland, before that game the owner laid down the gauntlet, he said he was looking for a qb, either in house or through the draft, and foles took over
So it all depends on.foles
Hey Paulman right now NFC has to go like this for power rankings
1. Seahawks
2. 49ers
3.packers
4.eagles
5.tampa bay
6. Falcons
7. Lions
8.saints
9..bears
10.cards
11.rams
12. Vikings
13.giants
14.redskins
15.cowgirls
16.panthers
Paulman the cards got a good defense but Carson Palmer sucks and they lost dansby and the saints lost to much for me to put them so high as you did. Every other teams spot is up for grabs where you can put them at but unless the panthers get a wr they are gonna suck this year
Cardinals have more weapons with a good WR’s a big pkay RB in
Ellington, and got some much needed help
with OT Vanderleer signed from the Raiders
They also get Guard Jonathon Cooper who was injured in their first game
Back and missed the rest of their Season so their OL should be much better
They also get a full season from LB Darryk Washington who was suspended
For 4 weeks last season which is why they resigned Dansby last year after the Dolphins released him..
They have a very good and young Secondary full of Ball Hawks
In CB Patrick Petersen who is a Top 3 CB in all of a Football
Tyranny Mathieu and Safety Tony Jefferson
These guys are all 22-24 years old with great upside
And the last thing they have going for them is a HC in Bruce Arians who is a winner and responds to young players well
And a young GM who is aggressive and smart whose name escapes me at the moment.. They are building a good Team & Roster down there despite having
Carson Palmer who is healthy and the best shape of his Career
And who still has a nice NFL arm with weapons like Fitz,
Floyd up and coming TE Housler
I like where they are heading but do need to groom a young QB for the Future soon
And they signed WR/Returnnan Ted Ginn Jr.
To give them the deep threat that’ve been lacking
Fitz is more of a intermediate threat and not a deep threat like Ginn is
Paul, Ginn hasn’t been a deep threat since Ohio State….and a below average Pro…….
36 Receptions, 556 Yards (16 yd average) 5 TD’s
4 TD’s of which, were over 40 Yards for Ginn Jr last Season
I call that a Deep Threat..
Last Season was FG’s first Year the agin was 100% Healthy
And probably the first time he played with a QB in Newton
Who throw the ball down the field as opposed to the QB’ he had
In Miami (Moore & Henne) & the 49ers (Alex Smith) which none of the
QB’s are Deep Passers like Carson Palmer is, but I guess you
Already knew that Cliff..
I know but Carson hasn’t had a good year since like 01
Path to the NFC title is there. Need a big time rush and some injury luck. After that is anyone’s guess. Not so certain Seattle keeps their dominance this year. Lots of turnover
At the time when I mentioned the other NFC east teams needed to be stocking up on quality corners because of the moves the eagles made, none were active.
Now it appears that the other teams are still alive, they’re not dead. The Giants bolstered their corners group and LB position. Cowboys are looking to replace Ware so they have eyes for Jared Allen and the Redskins added to their DLine and corners
The Eagles are the favorites to take the east, but I need to see more additions before I say they’ll contend for the conference championship… Let’s see how the draft goes..
This Draft won’t produce any Players who will make an impact Defensively in
2014.. They may grab a Safety in Rd 2 (Buchannon) who may take over by mid-season from Maragos but the bottom line
If the Eagles. Can’t improve their pass rush as a Team and
Get to that 50 Sack Total + that all good Teams reach
Then they are a 2nd Tier NFC Conference Team
Last Season, they only got 37 Sacks as a Defense
What single move have they made at this point
To improve in this area.. I have not seen 1 yet
Whoever they may Draft at #22 is not going to
Change this dramatically..
They missed an opportunity to improve the Pass Rush and Safety Positions which is why I have them ranked where I do..
Foles will be a better QB but he will not have a 27-2 TD to Int
For that’s impossible to maintain and the Eagles will be an overall better Team
On 2014 than in 2013 being the 2nd Season for Chip Kelly, Staff & Players
But as they play better Teams with better QB’s there is no one Defensively
On the Eagles that scares anyone or a Player or 2 that opposing Offenses have to game plan for.. A 9-10 Win Season and a NFC East Crown
Again, but little success versus the stop Teams in the NFC
NATE ALLEN IS BACK SUPERBOWL BABY!!!!!!!
Carolina, New Orleans and San Fran miss the playoffs this year
1) Seattle – few weaknesses
2)Atalanta – there back
3) Detroit – 10-6 Schwartz was a dingbat, Caldwell is 4 times as good a HC.
4) Philadelphia 9-7 best team in bad division
5WC Arizona – 11-5 this team is loaded with talent
6WC Green Bay – fight between Rodgers and Kap for last playoff spot
7) San Fran – Arizona is too good. 3rd place in NFC West in Wild Card hunt.
8) Chicago – Wild Card fight with Green Bay and San Fran
9) Washington – just removing Shanny is worth 3 wins – big fan of Jordan Reed
10)Tampa – 2nd place in South but could be 1st place
11) St Louis – Bradford is too fragile to lead
12) New Orleans – the end is near
13) Dallas – no QB ( until I see Romo after back surgery, no QB)
14) Minnesota – need a QB
15) Carolina – no OL
16) NYGiants- no OL
lmfao detroit aint going anywhere with stafford
dropping new orleans to 12 is crazy talk
you mean I’m not going to win a billion dollars with my quicken loans warren buffet prognostication skills for March Madness —
1)Eagles 9-7 – Eagles and Washington slug it out for division.
2) Washington – 9-7 Just as good as the Eagles ( dog fight for division)
3) Dallas 5-11 — until I see Romo play well after back surgery, bottom dweller
4) NY Giants – 3-13 bad DL and worse OL
You Eagles fans get more delusional EVERY YEAR, this is crazy!! You think you’re 4TH BEST IN THE CONFERENCE?!?!? BCUZ YOU WON THE NFC LEAST?!?!? The jury still our on Foles, Eagles beat ONE playoff team last season, the Packers, and Rodgers didn’t play. Calm down, haha
another thing hurting the eagles is they only have 6 picks in the draft, they haven’t had fewer than 8 since 2003 and this is considered a really good draft. They need more picks, look for Desean to be traded at Draft
D-Jax to the Raiders or Jags for an early 2nd Round Pick & a 4th or 5th
Round Pick.. I take this Deal all day long..
And Throw in a Bryce Brown who is no longer needed with Spokes signing on for the next 3 Seasons now..