5 Reasons The Eagles Can Win The NFC East
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Playoffs? Playoffs?!
Thanks to Carson Wentz's historic 278 yard, two touchdown, no interception regular season debut, Eagles fans are dreaming. And why not? The NFC East is wide open.
Here are five reasons the Eagles can win the NFC East.
5. The schedule
The Eagles play three division home games in the final four weeks of the season:
Week 14: vs WAS
Week 16: vs NYG
Week 17: vs DAL
So as long as they stay competitive throughout the season, the Eagles should have a legitimate chance to do some divisional damage late in the season. CBS's Boomer Esiason agrees.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see if all of these are in two games of each other and still having to play other," Esiason told the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show on Friday. "The Eagles have a chance. If they stay healthy, they'll have as good a chance as any in the NFC East to win the division."
4. The decline of Tony Romo
The Dallas Cowboys are a really, really good football team...with a healthy Tony Romo. Probably the clear favorites to win the NFC East. But the reality is, at 36-years-old, a healthy Tony Romo doesn't exist anymore. Romo is currently out indefinitely with a back injury and the Cowboys are 0-1. Dak Prescott is a talented rookie, but he's no Romo.
3. Jalen Mills might be good
Cornerback is expected to be one of the Eagles' weak spots in 2016. Jalen Mills might be able to improve that unit.
Mills will likely make his first career start at corner on Monday night against Alshon Jeffery and the Chicago Bears, with Leodis McKelvin expected to be out with a hamstring injury.
Mills, a seventh-round pick, fell in the draft because of off-the-field issues. However, the four-year starter at LSU has shown flashes during training camp and preseason and came away with a couple of big hits in the Eagles' Week 1. McKelvin, 30, is not the answer for the Eagles at corner. But Mills might be.
2. Jim Schwartz's defense
We knew the Eagles have talent on defense, especially up-front and at safety with guys like Malcolm Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan, Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, and Jordan Hicks.
Maybe Bill Davis' system was just holding them back?
The Eagles led the NFL in interceptions in the preseason with nine and was tied for seventh with 11 sacks. Against the Browns, the Eagles allowed just 10 points and the Browns never had a drive last longer than seven plays. They recorded three sacks (Cox, Graham, Barwin) and one interception (McLeod).
1. Carson Wentz
Sam Bradford was supposed to start. Wentz was supposed to be inactive. Let's not get carried away after one home game against the Browns, but...what if he is that good?
