There is no getting around it — this Eagles' season has not been what everyone expected.
At least yet.
With five games left, and four against teams with a 2-9 record, however, anything is possible. A second-half run starts with a win this Sunday in Miami against the Dolphins.
Even with the season being a disappointment so far, however, there are still things Eagles' fans should feel thankful for:
Brandon Graham: Graham is on pace for 10.5 sacks, which would be the first time in his career he has reached double-digit sacks. The pass rush has been pretty inconsistent, but Graham has been playing his best football as of late, dominating in both the pass rush and against the run. The decision to bring back Graham is one of the few right ones Howie Roseman made this offseason.
Jason Garrett: The top reason the Eagles are still in the playoff hunt might be standing on the sidelines for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have more talent, and a better quarterback, but are just one game over .500 because of poor coaching by Jason Garrett. Garrett is directly responsible for losses against both the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots, and if the Eagles win the division, those two losses by the Cowboys will likely be the reason why. As long as Garrett is coaching the Cowboys the Eagles have a great chance to win the division each year.
The NFC East: It isn't just the Cowboys that the Eagles should be thankful — it is the whole division. The Giants are a mess, and if a recent report is true, they might replace Pat Shurmur with Jason Garrett this offseason — the definition of a lateral move that will bring them nowhere. As for Washington? They don't even have an analytics department. The Eagles have their flaws, but there is no question they have the best head coach, owner and general manager in the division.
Jalen Mills: Mills is one of the main reasons the defense has been dominant over the last month, as his return has improved the secondary dramatically. The consistent quality play Mills brings to the team each week should not be over looked. As the final five games begin, the play of the defense is one of the top reasons to feel encouraged that the Eagles could make a run, and Mills has helped to make that possible.
Miles Sanders: Howie Roseman using a second-round pick on a running back was out of character, but so far, the rookie has not disappointed. Sanders is on pace for 1,125 yards-from-scrimmage, and has been arguably the Eagles most explosive player on offense this season with DeSean Jackson sidelined. Sanders has room to grow, but if this is his floor, it is exciting to think what his ceiling might be.
The remaining schedule: The Eagles have four opponents remaining on their schedule. Three of them are 2-9, and the other is the division-leading Dallas Cowboys -- who are currently a mess and have to come to Philadelphia for a game that will likely decide the NFC East. As flawed as the Eagles might be, the schedule makes it very possible for them to make a run into the playoffs.
Doug Pederson: The offense has not been great this season, but the issues have been execution as opposed to poor play design or play calling. Pederson remains one of the better offensive-head coaches in the NFL, and even with his team going through a rough patch, the fact the players haven't quit on him or shown any signs of questionable effort is a testament to how much they enjoy playing for their head coach.
Carson Wentz's health: His play has been mostly a disappointment, but it shouldn't be overlooked that Wentz has managed to stay healthy this season and has started all 11 games. The fear of Wentz suffering an injury will always be there, but for a player that is injury prone, Wentz has done a good job staying healthy and battling through the minor injuries he has had this year.
Jason Kelce and the offensive line: There is little doubt that the Eagles' offensive line has been the best unit on the team this season, even though they are dealing with a few injuries currently. Still, they are ranked as one of the best pass-blocking units in the league, and have allowed the run game to be dominant at times as well. The offensive line is really the personality of the offense, lead by Jason Kelce, Jason Peters, Lane Johnson and Brandon Brooks. The Eagles are currently an offensive line filled with some of the best players at their positions in the history of the franchise.
The Super Bowl win: Yes, Eagles fans are thankful for this every day. Since the team captured their first Lombardi trophy, however, just how special that win was becomes more-and-more clear. The Eagles are 14-13 since Week 1 of the 2018 season, and 10-12 with Carson Wentz at quarterback. The wins have been hard to come by, and this team hasn't looked anything like the one that dominated 2017. Another Super Bowl is certainly possible, but there is no denying the struggles of this team since 2017 just highlights how special that season was.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
