The Philadelphia Eagles strolled into the bye week with a kick in their step after they 'got their lick back' against the New York Giants. A dominant rushing display and an emphatic day at the office from Jalen Hurts led the Birds back to the kind of form fans have come to expect, but after a week to reflect on the opening stanza of the season, what really stands out?
It's easy to get lost in the noise during an NFL season. With a minimal amount of games compared to most other sports, every win and loss is amplified. And when you're a defending Super Bowl champion, greatness becomes the expectation.
The Eagles weren't great to start the 2025 season. There were glimmers of brilliance, often early in games, before the offense would stall out. However, when you look across the NFL, how many other teams have really played at an elite level all season?
The answer is none. You could argue that Drake Maye's Patriots, Baker's Bucs, or Love's Packers have, but even they have missed steps. The Bucs even faltered to the Eagles themselves.
Philadelphia underwent a lot of changes following their Super Bowl success, but the core of the team remains as strong as ever, and even on the days where the cylinders are a little rusty, they find ways to win...and frankly, being 6-2 with a 3-game lead in the East is an ideal place to be, no matter what minor criticisms there are.
Let's start with Jalen Hurts. 70% completion rate, 15 touchdowns, 1 interception. Oh, and 5 rushing scores too. He's been as diligent and protective of the football as ever. If the offense isn't clicking, the last thing you want is for a quarterback to put it on his shoulders and take unnecessary risks. Hurts manages the offense better than most and without him, this would be a very different season indeed.
Jalyx Hunt and Moro Ojomo are two young players who deserve their flowers. Ojomo leads the team in sacks with 4 having massively stepped up following the departure of Milton Williams, while Hunt has excelled in his second year, amassing a career-high 9 QB pressures against Jaxson Dart. Given how oft-criticized the pass-rush has been, getting so much production from two unlikely candidates has been a pleasant surprise.
And finally, Cooper DeJean's rookie season has been followed up with a stunning second-year. He currently grades out as PFF's 4th-best cornerback, 8th in pass breakups, and 4th in total tackles. A versatile DB who can impact the game in many ways, DeJean's growth has been a joy to watch.
The 'easy' part of the schedule is over. Ahead lies fixtures against the Bills, Packers, Lions, Chargers, Bears, and two against the Commanders.
The Birds have been lucky to get past their previous opponents without being perfect (outside of New York), and they won't be afforded that luxury as the second half of the season unfolds. If there's ever a time for this Eagles team to get it all together and punch in complete performances on both sides of the ball, it's now, when the stakes are at their highest...and if there's one thing we know, it's that this team shines when the lights are brightest.
