November 28, 2017
Are power rankings completely dumb and meaningless? Yes. Yes, they are. However, personally speaking, whenever I see them, I click. (Check out our version of power rankings here too!)
Here's where people around the country have the Birds ranked. Spoiler: They're No. 1 across the board like they've been for a month.
The Eagles have the best record in the NFL and are the most efficient team, according to FPI -- and that's all thanks to balance. They've thrown for the most touchdowns, rushed for the most yards after contact, allowed the fewest rush yards per game and allowed the second-fewest yards per pass attempt.
#JimmySays: I didn't even realize the "second fewest yards per pass attempt" stat. Throw another gold star on the pile, I suppose.
The Eagles are rolling through the league right now -- or electric sliding, if you happened to catch the late stages of their declawing of the Bears. Carson Wentz continues to be the talk of the league, but as my colleague Steve Mariucci pointed out this weekend, general manager Howie Roseman must be given credit for the depth he's acquired to bolster Doug Pederson's roster. Is this group stronger than the 2004 Philly team that made the Super Bowl with Terrell Owens? Or Dick Vermeil's boys in 1980, the first Super Bowl squad in franchise history? If you're really old school, maybe Wentz can equal Norm Van Brocklin, the last Eagle to win MVP, in 1960 -- then really earn some kudos by winning the championship, like Van Brocklin's team that year. Exciting times in Eastern PA.
#JimmySays: Howie has indeed earned himself plenty of praise.
They just keep right on rolling and Carson Wentz is getting better. They are the class of the NFC - by far.
#JimmySays: There has been a lot of chatter about who the Eagles' biggest threat is heading into the playoffs. The biggest threat to every other team in the rest of the NFC should be unanimous -- the Eagles.
The Jay Ajayi trade looks peculiar three weeks into it. Ajayi has just 22 total touches in three games. He had just six touches on Sunday. It seems that rookie Corey Clement could have handled the role Ajayi has and it wouldn’t have cost the Eagles a draft pick. However, Philadelphia will be playing deep into January, and perhaps Ajayi becomes more of a factor later in the season.
#JimmySays: I'm torn whether to give an actual rebuttal to this analysis, or to just reply with this...
OK, I'll rebut. The Eagles have had the following leads heading into the fourth quarter since Ajayi was acquired:
Ajayi has injury concerns, so the Eagles are wise to preserve him whenever possible. On the carries he has gotten, Ajayi has averaged 9.7 yards per carry, and has had a run of 30-plus yards in each game. I'm sure the Eagles are not second-guessing their decision to give up a fourth round pick for him.
Peaking too soon? They've won past three games by 28 points apiece, which is why NFC East may be wrapped before three-game road trip starts Sunday.
#JimmySays: I feel like there's a subtle undertone nationally in which people are waiting for this all to unravel.
The Eagles are dancing their way to a division title and probable first-round bye in the playoffs.
#JimmySays: The Eagles' dances are charming nationally, for now, but it's only a matter of time before the rest of the country hates them if they have sustained success.
The Eagles’ last three wins have come by 28 points each. They haven’t had a single-digit margin of victory since a five-point triumph at Carolina on Oct. 12. Will their lack of experience in close games come back to plague them at some point? Perhaps. But if that’s your biggest problem, you don’t have many problems.
#JimmySays: Hey, we just wrote that this morning!
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