Philadelphia Eagles: 5 X-factors to making shocking Super Bowl run

3. Coaching and Coaching Decisions

The Eagles not only had one of the better rosters on paper heading into this year but they also have one of the better head coaches and coaching staffs in the league as well. Doug Pederson has proven his worth as a head coach in the NFL. However, this team has been his greatest challenge to date.

Pederson has made a name for himself not only for his successes but as an analytically driven coach. Often times when the Eagles have the ball on fourth down, Peterson will go for it because that’s what the analytics dictate he should do. If Pederson keeps on using his more analytical approach to the game, it may help his weakened roster gain an advantage

Decision-making on fourth downs will help this team succeed when the playoffs arrive but it won’t single-handedly change their fortunes. Pederson and his coaching staff are going to have to find a way to help a depleted receiving corps and weakened offensive line succeed.

Greg Ward Jr., Deontay Burnett and Arcega-Whiteside aren’t going to get open on their own very often, especially when they are playing against higher-level defensive back groups in the playoffs. That’s where Pederson and his staff are going to have to do their best at finding mismatches where they can and help try to scheme the receivers open.

Pederson is more than adept as a head coach. However, his biggest challenge will be taking a downtrodden roster and using his talents as a designer, decision-maker and play-caller to succeed.