Power Rankings Aftermath: Eagles' Decision Sparks Debate
The Philadelphia Eagles, still reeling from their Week 18 decision to rest starters and potentially miss out on the second seed in the NFC playoffs, have garnered widespread attention from power rankings around the country. While some analysts praise the team's strategic move, others are left scratching their heads.
For USA Today, this year's Eagles team is not as good as its Super Bowl-winning squad of 2019. However, over the past month, they've regained confidence and made notable improvements, particularly in the run game. The return of key players like DT Jalen Carter and OL Lane Johnson has bolstered their chances, and coach Nick Sirianni's decision to rest starters last season appears to have paid off.
In contrast, Yahoo! views the Eagles' strategy as misguided, suggesting that they would've been better off playing for the second seed. The difference in seed may not make a significant impact on their postseason run, especially if they face the more favorable Packers or Bears in the first round.
The Athletic takes a more neutral stance, emphasizing that many will be second-guessing the Eagles' decision. With their starters resting, they'll have to play the 49ers in the first round and potentially face the Bears in Chicago instead of hosting them at home.
CBS Sports is less optimistic, stating that while the defense has been stellar, the offense still struggles. To achieve another Super Bowl, the team needs to see significant improvement from their struggling offense.
ESPN, meanwhile, surprisingly skipped publishing power rankings for the Eagles at the end of the season, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering if they're simply done with the PhillyVoice's opinion.
As one outlet notes, the average power ranking for the six major media outlets has shown a steady decline in recent weeks. While some may view this as a reflection of the Eagles' performance, it could also be seen as a result of their decision to rest starters last week.
Ultimately, opinions on the Eagles' strategy and potential postseason run are divided. One thing is certain: with a solid defense and a rejuvenated offense, the team has a good chance at making another deep playoff run.
The Philadelphia Eagles, still reeling from their Week 18 decision to rest starters and potentially miss out on the second seed in the NFC playoffs, have garnered widespread attention from power rankings around the country. While some analysts praise the team's strategic move, others are left scratching their heads.
For USA Today, this year's Eagles team is not as good as its Super Bowl-winning squad of 2019. However, over the past month, they've regained confidence and made notable improvements, particularly in the run game. The return of key players like DT Jalen Carter and OL Lane Johnson has bolstered their chances, and coach Nick Sirianni's decision to rest starters last season appears to have paid off.
In contrast, Yahoo! views the Eagles' strategy as misguided, suggesting that they would've been better off playing for the second seed. The difference in seed may not make a significant impact on their postseason run, especially if they face the more favorable Packers or Bears in the first round.
The Athletic takes a more neutral stance, emphasizing that many will be second-guessing the Eagles' decision. With their starters resting, they'll have to play the 49ers in the first round and potentially face the Bears in Chicago instead of hosting them at home.
CBS Sports is less optimistic, stating that while the defense has been stellar, the offense still struggles. To achieve another Super Bowl, the team needs to see significant improvement from their struggling offense.
ESPN, meanwhile, surprisingly skipped publishing power rankings for the Eagles at the end of the season, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering if they're simply done with the PhillyVoice's opinion.
As one outlet notes, the average power ranking for the six major media outlets has shown a steady decline in recent weeks. While some may view this as a reflection of the Eagles' performance, it could also be seen as a result of their decision to rest starters last week.
Ultimately, opinions on the Eagles' strategy and potential postseason run are divided. One thing is certain: with a solid defense and a rejuvenated offense, the team has a good chance at making another deep playoff run.
. On one hand, it's cool that they got their guys rested up and looked fire in practice lately 
. And Nick Sirianni's gotta be doin' somethin' right if his decision paid off like that 
.
. The defense has been ballin', but offense still gotta step it up if they wanna take it to the next level 
.
, from USA Today to ESPN not even botherin' with a ranking for us Philly fans 
. I guess that's just part of the game, though - opinions are like jerseys, you can wear 'em all and still be wrong about who's really best 
.
. If they do that, watch out NFL! 
I'm surprised by how much of a mixed bag the power rankings are for the Eagles! I think it's cool that Yahoo! thinks resting starters was a bad move, but others seem to agree with Nick Sirianni's strategy 
. One thing I do think is interesting is that ESPN skipped publishing power rankings for the Eagles... are they trying to avoid controversy? 
. Can't say I'm surprised by ESPN skipping power rankings though 
. Still think 49ers in the first round is a tough draw for Philly, but we'll see how it plays out! 
, it's all about the timing lol! Resting starters was a bold move, but I think it paid off in the long run 
. The return of key players like Carter and Johnson was huge, and now they're gaining confidence again 
, so let's not count them out yet! And yeah, maybe the 49ers in the first round wasn't ideal, but that's football man 
. At the end of the day, I think Philly will make a deep run and prove everyone wrong 
. I mean, can't we just enjoy watching our Eagles play without all the extra analysis? 
. I think coach Sirianni made a solid decision to rest his starters and now they're looking stronger than ever 
.
