New week, new superlative.
As the weeks have gone on in what's been a magical Eagles season, it's not hard to let the mind wander to big-picture thoughts about this franchise and the characters involved.
In September, it became clear that Jalen Hurts was the best draft pick Howie Roseman ever made and the team was winning in the kind of fashion that looked like the championship Patriots. Soon, Hurts' MVP season and Josh Allen-leap came into focus. Recently, Roseman's likely Hall of Fame future has been too hard to ignore, and Hurts' campaign has opened my eyes to a future that has him atop the franchise's best quarterbacks.
Now (and it's OK to admit): you've probably wondered if we're watching the best Eagles team of all time.I have. Often. It happened again Sunday as the demolition of the Giants took place at MetLife Stadium.
The official score was 48-22, but it could have been worse. For the second consecutive week (and third time this season), the Eagles coaching staff called off the dogs in the fourth quarter. This is what powerhouse college football teams do to inferior opponents. It's not supposed to happen in the NFL, let alone to possible playoff teams in back-to-back weeks.
At 12-1, the Eagles are officially playoff bound. No team in the NFL has a better point differential (+138) or is within two games in the standings. Any power rankings that don't have the Eagles atop the NFL at this moment are foolish.
But what about all-time Eagles power rankings? Has this team soared past the 2017 Super Bowl champions? What about NFC Champions from 2004 and 1980?
Here's how I'd rank the five best Eagles teams of the Super Bowl era.
5. 2002. Perhaps the best Eagles team to not truly come close to winning a title. No Eagles team in the Super Bowl era had a better point differential (+174). The defense was at its peak of that special run. After a Week 6 bye, this group lost only one meaningful game until late January. Finished top five in points scored and points allowed. Favored in 14 of 18 games, including the postseason. Remembered more for losing the final game at The Vet and failing to make the Super Bowl than for a season of dominance.
4. 1980: The first Eagles team in the modern era to capture the city, punctuated by an NFC Championship Game victory over the Cowboys. The plus-162 point differential is tied for second-best in team history (Super Bowl era). Finished sixth in points scored and No. 1 in points allowed. Raced out to an 11-1 start before slowing down in December. Favored in 16 of 19 games played, including the postseason.
3. 2004: Prior to the last six years, this was the gold standard for Eagles teams. Donovan McNabb reached his peak. Terrell Owens was the best wide receiver this city had ever seen. The defense, while not quite as young and dominant as it was a few years earlier, was still excellent. A 13-3 finish and plus-126 point differential may not do this team justice. Through 14 games, this group was 13-1 with a plus-167 point differential. Then Owens got hurt, head coach Andy Reid sat the starters, and dominance was curtailed. Favored in 16 of 19 games, including the postseason. Won both NFC playoff games by double-digits. No shame in losing the Super Bowl to the dynasty Patriots.
2. 2017: The ultimate "team" on this list. If you lined up rosters prior to each season, the 2017 Eagles may have ranked fifth among the top five here. But when the lights went on, this team was outstanding. Perhaps no roster in franchise history was as deep. That depth paid off with a backup quarterback (Nick Foles) outplaying the best quarterback of all-time in the Super Bowl. We can debate if the 2017 team was the best in franchise history, but here's what's not up for debate: Most beloved. From a Lombardi, to a favorite becoming an underdog, to Jason Kelce's Super Bowl speech at the parade, this team will always be remembered most fondly in Philadelphia.
1. 2022: Has there ever been a combination of quarterback play, outstanding skill players, offensive and defensive line excellence and week-to-week consistency from an Eagles team better than we are watching right now? I'd argue no. The current Eagles are 12-1, on pace to outscore opponents by 180 points and lapping the rest of the NFL. They have the favorite to win NFL MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. Thus far, this team has been favored to win every game. They rack up sacks and take the ball away at a ridiculous level on defense. They protect the ball, hold it, and rack up points on offense. It's the most talented roster we've seen in this city since 2004, and a team currently playing as well as any Eagles group of all time.
At their best, the 2004 team felt best. But they didn't win it all. I've believed since training camp that this group is more talented than the 2017 team, and all they've done is back that up and outperform them so far.
On a week-to-week basis, I've wondered how special this group is. When you line it up, it's fair to start calling them the best Eagles team in history. All that's left to do to stay atop the rankings: Clinch the division, take home field and win it all.
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