What They’re Saying About the Eagles

Here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles this week.

The Eagles jump up one spot to second in NFL.com‘s power rankings:

Do you realize the Eagles are averaging 24.7 points per game this season — in the second half alone? Here’s an even more remarkable stat: Philadelphia is the first team in NFL history to start a season 3-0 after being down 10-plus points in all three games. Impressive that this team also seems to win when Nick Foles doesn’t play at his best, the secondary falters (which happens often) or the run game fails (which almost never happens, but did Sunday, when Philly averaged 2.2 yards per carry against the Redskins).

Although they received some first-place votes this week, the Eagles remain in the fourth spot in ESPN’s power rankings:

The Eagles have a takeaway in 15 consecutive games, the longest active streak. Philadelphia is the first team in NFL history to start 3-0 after trailing by double digits in all three.

FoxSports.com drops the Birds from fifth to sixth in its most recent rankings:

Once again the defense started out slowly and, once again, closed with a couple key plays and an interception. Nick Foles played admirably despite little help from his banged-up offensive line, but LeSean McCoy didn’t fare as well. McCoy took a blow to the head, and struggled behind the patchwork unit. There was also another multi-week injury to one of their better remaining lineman (Jason Kelce). This will be a major issue going forward.

Brett Smiley of FoxSports.com writes about the ‘chip on his shoulder’ epidemic he sees in American sports focusing on DeSean Jackson’s return to the Linc on Sunday:

On Sunday in Philadelphia, speedy Washington receiver DeSean Jackson returned to Lincoln Financial Field to face his former team in an NFC East showdown . . . with a chip on his shoulder.

After a 81-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Kirk Cousins, Jackson seized the opportunity to taunt the team that cut him two years after signing him to a lucrative five-year deal.

Jackson’s Rockettes-style celebration kicks in the end zone made it clear that he was not looking to get chummy.
Jackson is but one of thousands of athletes across the sports world with a chip on his shoulder — a ubiquitous and frequently diagnosed, but little-understood condition.

Philadelphia moves up two spots to fourth in the CBSSports.com power rankings:

Nick Foles and the offense are flying high, but that defense needs to tighten up a bit. They have a tough trip to San Francisco this week.

Eagles nose tackle Beau Allen tweeted out a picture of himself in a team hot tub with linebacker Connor Barwin:

The team that bathes together, stays together @ConnorBarwin98 #farmerstan pic.twitter.com/lPYpFAJd9S

— Beau Allen (@Beau_Allen) September 23, 2014

The Birds climbed up three spots to fourth in Pro Football Talk’s power rankings:

How long until Cary Williams is doing shirtless situps in his driveway?

Behind only the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos, the Eagles have the third highest chance to make the playoffs (82.2%) according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA Playoff Odds Report.

The Birds were bumped up one spot to fifth in the SB Nation power rankings:

Philly moved to 3-0 after winning a wild one over Washington, leaning on Chip Kelly’s brilliant offense to carry the day. The Eagles are now second in the NFL in scoring with 33.7 points per game, second in passing yards with over 310 per game, and it doesn’t even feel like they’ve hit their stride.

The Eagles stand pat in the fifth position of Yahoo Sports’ power rankings:

Nick Foles leads the NFL in passing yards, but yet, am I the only one who doesn’t feel like he’s playing that great?

Matt Cassidy is a journalism student at Temple and an intern at Birds 24/7.