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2 hours ago
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The Philadelphia Eagles might be the most under-the-radar 8-2 team in NFL history.
Maybe it’s their style. Philly’s winning games behind a pummeling offensive line, the most dynamic rushing attack in football, and a smothering defense. That’s not the sexiest recipe, and it often leads analysts to some misguided takes.
A prime example? Ryan Fitzpatrick shading Jalen Hurts’ performance during the Thursday Night Football postgame show. Hurts led three consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter of Philly’s 26-18 win over the Commanders. The team has won six straight games in impressive fashion. And we’re seriously worried about the quarterback?
Really, though, it’s the head coach. It always comes back to Nick Sirianni. He improved to 42-19 in his three-plus seasons as Eagles HC, but the outside perception is he’s a clown who will ultimately doom this Super Bowl caliber roster assembled by GM Howie Roseman.
The Eagles are now tied for the third-best record in the NFL. They’ve reemerged after last season’s brutal second-half collapse. And there hasn’t even been a whisper about Sirianni’s chances of winning 2024 NFL Coach of the Year. He currently has the 17th-best odds, per BetMGM, which is more a commentary on the public perception than the opinion of the sportsbook.
Adam H. Beasley of Pro Football Network recently released a myriad of midseason awards, naming Quinn Coach of the Year over the first half of the season. Ditto for NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell named three coaches: Quinn, Kevin O’Connell of the Vikings and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers, with Tomlin his frontrunner.
It’s not that these coaches aren’t deserving, or the Commanders’ sudden turnaround with Quinn and rookie Jayden Daniels hasn't been impressive.
It’s just getting a little embarrassing that the head coach in Philly who’s been to the playoffs three consecutive years, made a Super Bowl, and owns a 68.9 career winning percentage is somehow completely off the radar when it comes to national recognition.
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NFL on notice after Eagles stifle Jayden Daniels, Commanders on TNF
Eagles predicted to tap into Georgia Bulldogs pipeline, land star EDGE in NFL Draft
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