Philadelphia Eagles can get back in playoff picture after bye week
Offensive Rhythm
The Philadelphia Eagles offense has been showing signs that they are ready to turn the corner during their win streak. The bye week gives them some extra time to revise and formulate a gameplan that will help them have continued success. Jordan Howard has been impressive since his three-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers. He has been the go-to ball carrier ever since, providing a solid rushing attack for the Eagles.
With Philly turning to a heavy dose of ground and pound football, Howard should continue to have a positive impact on the Eagle offense. He averages 4.53 yards a carry since Week 4 and has had 15 carries of ten yards or more (second-most in the league).
Miles Sanders has also improved as the season progressed. He has shown to be an effective receiver and has also run the ball much better than he did earlier in the year. Sanders and Howard can become a two-headed monster in the backfield that the Eagles can ride into the playoffs.
The stats won’t jump off the page, but Carson Wentz has done a very good job at the quarterback spot so far this season. Even though this was supposed to be his MVP season for many people, Wentz has still done his job efficiently and effectively. He has a 69.8 QBR this season which is ranked eighth-best in the league. He also has 15 touchdown passes which is top 10 in the NFL.
Speaking of receivers, that is where the Eagles must see improvement from after the bye. The Eagles are a couple of dropped passes away from having a completely different season, which is unfortunate to say. Alshon Jeffrey and Nelson Agholor haven’t been there normal selves, dropping the ball much more than they did in the past. Philly as a team has had 19 dropped passes this season.
Hopefully, this along with the miscommunications they have with Wentz are remedied during the bye. Tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert have been consistent, and Ertz had his best game of the season against Chicago. Wentz will continue to rely on these two as he gets back in rhythm with the rest of the receiving corps.
The Philadelphia Eagles aren’t where they expected to be coming into the bye, but they still are in a good spot. They are 9th in the NFC, but with their schedule, their team getting healthy, and their offense finding their rhythm, they have a great chance of moving up and getting into the postseason.
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Head coach Doug Pederson definitely knows that his team is going to have to turn it on late if they want to get themselves in the playoffs, and he is taking the bye week to get his guys ready for the latter part of their season. Philly has a history of turning it on late in the season, and it looks like they will have to do it again to qualify for the postseason
If the receivers can fix their issues, the defense continues to play well, and Carson Wentz continues to be efficient, the Eagles could end up being a team nobody wants to face coming January. They should enjoy the week off, but once after the bye, it is time for them to buckle their chin straps, lock-in, and get ready to run the table in their final seven games.