After falling just short in the Super Bowl last season, excitement and expectations are sky-high for the Philadelphia Eagles heading into the 2023 NFL season. Of course, outside expectations are high too. The Eagles have the second-shortest odds to win the Super Bowl and the shortest of any NFC team. Considering the popularity and vast amount of options provided by New Jersey sports betting, there are a lot of fans in the Philly area who might be betting money on the hometown team to win it all this season. Obviously, we don’t have a crystal ball to know what will happen. However, here are five reasons why we think the Eagles have an excellent chance to win Super Bowl LVIII.
Jalen Hurts
We might as well start with the biggest reason, which is Hurts. He’s fresh off an amazing 2022 season in which he established himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL and nearly won MVP honors. While that gives Hurts a hard act to follow, his performance last year was in no way an aberration. He has the tools to be a bonafide superstar. Equally important, Hurts has all of the help he needs around him. A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith are one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL while D’Andre Swift is a potential upgrade over Miles Sanders in the backfield. Tight end Dallas Goedert shouldn’t be overlooked either, giving Hurts the weapons he needs to succeed.
Strong at the Line of Scrimmage
Other than a quarterback, being good in the trenches is perhaps the most important ingredient for a Super Bowl contender to possess. Fortunately for the Eagles, they have it on both sides of the ball. On the offensive side of the ball, Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce are getting a little old, although they’ve also combined for 10 Pro Bowl selections. At left tackle, Jordan Mailata has established himself while the Eagles also have a great selection of young guards. Defensively, age is a little bit of an issue with veterans Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox. But those guys can still play at a high level. The Eagles also have young players like Derek Barnett and Jordan Davis to help balance out questions about Philly’s age at the line of scrimmage.
Talent Infusion on Defense
The Eagles had a top-10 defense in 2022. Also, they allowed just 14 total points in their two playoff games before the Chiefs got the better of them in the Super Bowl. Believe it or not, the Philadelphia defense has a chance to be even better this year. The Eagles used two first-round picks on defensive players this year, adding defensive tackle Jalen Carter and linebacker Nolan Smith. Neither is guaranteed to be a starter right away, which shows how much depth the Eagles have on defense. Mid-round picks Sydney Brown and Kelee Ringo have also added depth to the Philadelphia secondary, helping that unit to maintain the high level it reached last year.
Sound in the Kicking Game
A reliable kicker is also a key ingredient for a Super Bowl winner. The Eagles undoubtedly have one in Jake Elliott. He was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and was nearly as competent in 2022. For his career, Elliott has made 95% of his PATs, so the Eagles are getting seven points with every touchdown. Elliott is also a perfect 15 for 15 on field goal attempts in the playoffs. He was a rookie kicker when the Eagles won their last Super Bowl and is more than capable of helping them win another one.
The NFC is Weak
If the Eagles can get back to the Super Bowl, they will surely face a tough opponent. But Philadelphia’s journey to the Super Bowl will be far easier than for teams in the AFC. Outside of the 49ers and Cowboys, it’s hard to identify teams in the NFC that figure to be genuine challengers for the Eagles. With a manageable path to reach the Super Bowl, the Eagles are poised to go all the way and win their second Super Bowl in six years.
