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What an incredible turn of events in Philadelphia! After three catastrophic years under Chip Kelly, which saw the departure of fan favorites and an abysmal record, the reigns of the franchise were handed back to general manager Howie Roseman. He was able to steady the ship with the hiring of Doug Peterson, a former Eagles player and coaching descendant of Andy Reid. While most in the City of Brotherly Love were skeptical about the move, Peterson ignored the talk and put the work in on the field to turn this team around.
Roseman was the man behind the scenes, wheeling and dealing to make changes that helped with both talent and cap space, removing bad players and contracts while masterfully putting together a winning roster. The piece de resistance was moving up in the 2016 draft and taking Carson Wentz out of North Dakota State. Following an inspiring rookie year, fans in Philly felt that a playoff run was in the future for 2017 with their new franchise quarterback. The Eagles jumped out to a great start, going 10-2 before the unthinkable happened. In a mid-December game against the Los Angeles Rams, Wentz suffered a season-ending injury while diving into the end zone. Thrust into the starting role was the familiar face of Nick Foles. After bouncing around the league for the last few years, Foles found himself again in Philadelphia, this time as the backup quarterback. He was about to get his chance to start again.
While the media was tough on Foles’s performance down the stretch in the regular season, the team managed to keep their record afloat, ending up as a 13-3 NFC East Division winner. Credit was spread around the roster to players like Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and Zach Ertz. The running game, featuring LaGarrette Blount and Jay Ajai, was also praised. So, too, was the offensive line with Jason Kelce, Chris Long, and Lane Johnson. The Eagles defense was a tremendous source of pride, featuring the likes of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Malcolm Jenkins.
Foles was considered to be the weak link. However, he rose above the noise and played lights out football in the playoffs. His remarkable play led the Eagles to their 3rd Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Matching up against the defending champion New England Patriots, Eagles fans knew that the team had their work cut out for them. They relished their underdog status, complete with dog masks. Going up against this perennial championship contender, they would have to play the game of their lives – and that’s just what they did. Going toe to toe with Tom Brady, the Eagles played their hearts out. Foles was electric, outplaying the Canton-bound Brady, and making history with the “Philly Special”, a trick play which resulted in Foles being the first quarterback in NFL history to catch a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia won the game by a score of 41-33 and got their first taste of championship status. As the confetti fell, the Eagles were finally Super Bowl champions. For his heroics, Nick Foles was named the Super Bowl MVP.
The Philadelphia Eagles will be back in 2018 with a renewed determination to stomp out their opponents and defend their title. They got right to work in the offseason, signing DE Michael Bennett and trading away receiver Torrey Smith. Signing veteran defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will continue to bolster their smothering defense. Wentz is looking to lead his team onto the field and retake the starting role. More information about the history of the Philadelphia Eagles as well as the current squad can be found by clicking here.
