INDIANAPOLIS -- The Eagles are focused on the 2019 season, one that will begin with a different quarterback than their last season ended with.
Speaking Wednesday at the NFL Combine, however, head coach Doug Pederson didn't hold back when asked how close he felt his team was last season to repeating as Super Bowl champions.
"We were a play away. I can't predict if we were going to score, but we make that play, maybe you get the first down, at least it is 3rd-and-4 or 5 at the time with a lot of time left to score," Pederson said. "We felt we didn't do everything perfect in that game against New Orleans, but we at least gave ourselves a chance at the end to be there. If we would have got past that, which was a good football team, it does give you a lot of confidence going into the next game."
That play, of course, was the dropped pass by receiver Alshon Jeffery that went through his hands and into the arms of New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The interception by quarterback Nick Foles ended a drive with the Eagles down just six and the ball on the Saints' 27-yard line. Considering the Eagles were coming off of last-second win vs. the Chicago Bears, it appeared Foles was in the process of leading another miraculous last-second win.
What would have happened if Jeffery caught that bell might never be known.
With how unimpressive both the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots looked, however, Pederson might not be wrong about the Eagles' chances of finishing their season with another parade as opposed to heartbreak.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
