The Philadelphia Eagles were one quarter away from another Super Bowl. What does a successful 2023 season look like?
The Philadelphia Eagles were the best team in the best division in football last season. Jalen Hurts made the jump from promising young quarterback to MVP candidate, A.J. Brown cemented a dominant offense, and the vaunted defense turned in another dominant season across the board.
The result was a trip to the Super Bowl. The Eagles were even up 24-14 over Andy Reid and the Chiefs at halftime before it all went south. That fourth quarter was nightmare fuel for Eagles fans, from the sudden incompetence of the NFL's best defense to a maddening holding call in the game's waning moments that all but locked up Kansas City's comeback victory.
Now Philadelphia has to hit the reset button and prepare for another deep run in 2023. A promising mix of new and old adorns the roster. A few key pieces were lost, both others were gained. Now a fresh crop of former Georgia Bulldogs join the mix, including D'Andre Swift, who Howie Roseman swindled away from Detroit for pennies on the dollar, and No. 9 pick Jalen Carter.
So, what does a dream season for the reigning NFC champs look like exactly? Let's dive into the best-case scenarios.
No. 5 Eagles dream scenario: Defense stays elite
The Eagles boasted arguably the best defense in all of football last season. It lasted right up until the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, when Jonathan Gannon's crew suddenly became more permeable than a colander in the ocean.
Philadelphia allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL during the regular season. Ideally, the new season will follow a similar track, but there is doubt as to whether or not the current defensive core is up to the task.
Notably, star safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson left for Detroit over the summer. The Eagles also have a new defensive coordinator in Sean Desai after Gannon departed for the head coaching job in Arizona. While Philly fans probably aren't panicking over Gannon's exit after the Super Bowl, it's fair to be skeptical of any new regime and last season's success speaks for itself.
That said, Desai spent last season as the associate head coach under Pete Carroll in Seattle. It's hard to imagine a better teacher for a defensive coordinator. The Eagles are still loaded on the front line and should put plenty of pressure on the quarterback. New arrival Terrell Edmunds will have big shoes to fill at safety, but he's more than competent.
If the Eagles can keep points off the board, there's no real doubt about the offense pulling its weight under the guidance of Jalen Hurts.
No. 4 Eagles dream scenario: Jalen Carter wins Defensive Rookie of the Year
The Eagles traded up from No. 10 to No. 9 in April's NFL Draft to select Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The move surprised many, primarily because Carter wasn't supposed to be available at No. 9. How lucky could the defending NFC champs get?
Philadelphia's front office has been exemplary on the roster-building front under Howie Roseman. Carter now joins an impressive young core on the Eagles' defensive front line. He will have the opportunity for immediate first-team reps with a winning defense while getting to learn the ropes from tenured stars like Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox.
Carter was involved in off-field controversy at UGA, which led to his draft night tumble. He was projected at the No. 1 pick all season and he showed up to Eagles camp in top shape, already earning rave reviews and punishing unsuspecting blocking sleds. His speed and power at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds is not common.
The 22-year-old compiled 83 total tackles across 35 games at UGA. He introduced running backs to the dirt as frequently as any lineman in college football, and he was no stranger to opposing quarterbacks in the pocket either.
If the Eagles defense is going to remain elite — or, in a dreamworld, get even better — Carter will have to play a significant role. It can be easy to set expectations too high for a young player joining an experienced group that's focused on winning games, but Carter looks the part of an immediate winner. He was a foundational piece of the most dominant defense in recent college football history. He won back-to-back rings with the Dawgs and now he'll look to make it three-straight individually with the Eagles, who are preseason favorites in the NFC for good reason.
No. 3 Eagles dream scenario: Top scoring offense in NFL
The Eagles' offense was an absolute buzzsaw last season. Jalen Hurts emerged as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and the arrival of A.J. Brown, combined with another year of progress from DeVonta Smith, made the Eagles' receiving corps remarkably potent.
Philadelphia was eighth in the NFL in total passing yards at 4,364. If Hurts can play all 17 games, there's no reason that number can't improve even further. He will have a full season of chemistry with Brown under his belt and Philadelphia's new top running back, D'Andre Swift, is one heck of a pass catcher.
As for Swift and the running game, that's where the Eagles will continue to butter their bread. With 2,509 total rushing yards, Philadelphia was the No. 5 running team in football last season. The departure of Miles Sanders stings, but Swift is a comparable talent. The Eagles also have one of the deepest running back depth charts in the NFL, with Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell all showing real ability operating out of the backfield.
Nick Sirianni's commitment to the run game, combined with Hurts' ability to break away for long scrambles, should place Philadelphia right back at the top of the rushing charts next season. The offensive line is certainly built for it.
With all this talent in place, it's not impossible for the Eagles to post the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL next season. The Eagles managed 49 total touchdowns last season, which placed them second behind Kansas City (51). The Chiefs' offense won't slow down any time soon, but Philadelphia has its sights set on toppling Arrowhead. One way to accomplish that is to beat the Chiefs at their own game.
No. 2 Eagles dream scenario: Jalen Hurts wins MVP
Patrick Mahomes received 48 of 50 first-place votes for last season's MVP award. Ultimately, it's hard to argue with Mahomes' inevitable brand of dominance. He's the best arm in the sport by a considerable margin and there aren't many chinks in his armor. That said, if anyone had a case to challenge Mahomes for No. 1 last season, it was Jalen Hurts.
The Eagles' QB put together a special campaign. He couldn't challenge Mahomes in the passing category (3,701 yards), but Hurts more than doubled Mahomes as a rusher (760 yards) with 13 touchdowns on the ground to complement his 22 touchdowns through the air.
Perhaps the most important stat for Hurts, however, was his record under center. The Eagles were 14-1 when Hurts played a full game. Without him, Philly went 0-2. The Eagles were the winningest team in football despite playing in the toughest division. A lot of credit inevitably circled back to Hurts, who captained the ship with preternatural poise.
Hurts is the ultimate leader. From his pre-game speeches to his unwavering confidence on the field, he's the exact type of person NFL teams want leading the charge on offense. Hurts doesn't get flustered under pressure and he's more willing than most quarterbacks to sacrifice his body for the greater good. His strength plowing through tackles on QB sneaks and his unfettered aggression on scrambles to the outside makes him a uniquely challenging cover for opposing defenses.
The Eagles have bigger fish to fry as a team, but Hurts winning the league's top individual award would serve as a fitting ode to his growth and a good sign of Philadelphia's ability to compete for the ultimate trophy when the playoffs arrive.
No. 1 Eagles dream scenario: Super Bowl champions
This is the logical conclusion for any dream season in Philadelphia. The Eagles were one quarter away from handing Patrick Mahomes his second Super Bowl loss last season. Ideally, the Eagles get another chance to tackle the Chiefs next January, but the fanbase would probably be content with any AFC opponent.
The Eagles absolutely have the firepower to make their second Super Bowl victory in six years a reality. The magic of Nick Foles and Doug Pederson has faded since the Eagles' riveting 2018 title, but Nick Sirianni has swiftly established a winning culture based around teamwork and old-fashioned, blue-collar Philly toughness.
Jalen Hurts is the best quarterback in the NFC with no real match inside or outside the NFC East. Philadelphia should still be able to control the line on defense and offense, while the collection of weapons at Hurts' disposal — A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, D'Andre Swift, etc. — can challenge any supporting cast in football.
Philadelphia towered over the competition in the NFC last season, with the San Francisco 49ers emerging as the only real threat. While the Niners traverse the uncertainty around Brock Purdy, however, the Eagles have a group with years of continuity and a track record of success at the highest level.
It's impossible to not trust Hurts to get Philly back to the promised land eventually. He's a big-game performer. He feels destined for another bite at the proverbial apple. Hurts only lost one game leading up to last season's Super Bowl. If the Eagles can maintain that prolific across-the-board dominance in 2023, the Chiefs probably shouldn't feel great about their repeat chances.