NFL · 8 months ago

5 Things We Learned About the Eagles in the NFC Championship

Grant White

Host · Writer

The Eagles Are Undeserving Underdogs in Super Bowl LIX
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Knocking the Chiefs off their pedestal is no easy feat. Still, the Eagles have sharpened their talons against the best in the NFL this season. Objectively, they have superior metrics and are undeserving of their underdog status ahead of the championship game.

Philadelphia ended the season with the top-ranked defense and the seventh-ranked scoring offense, but objectively better positions than the Chiefs. Moreover, they've been operating at peak efficiency throughout the playoffs, as evidenced by their 55-23 shellacking of the Commanders.

Because of their public adoration, books are obviously weary of putting the Chiefs as underdogs. Still, that leaves a more exploitable position for bettors looking to get a piece of the better team at an underdog price.
Saquon Barkley is The Real MVP
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A lot has been made of this year's MVP race, but all that talk is just timorous banter without including Saquon Barkley. On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles running back showed once more that he's the most valuable player in the NFL right now.

For the fifth straight game, Barkley eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards. Against the Washington Commanders, the All-Pro went off for 118 yards on just 15 carries. He set the standard for the Eagles' opening offensive play, taking the ball 60 yards to the house and flashing his typical speed and elusiveness.

In doing so, Barkley put himself within 29 yards of Terrell Davis for the most rushing yards in a season, including the playoffs. Astute NFL historians will recall that's the year TD won the MVP award. It's time to start putting the respect on Barkley's name that he deserves. He is the real MVP.
Jalen Hurts's Passing Game is on Point
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The Eagles' passing attack looked out of sync and ineffectual through the first two playoff games. But after Jalen Hurts's most recent performance, confidence has been renewed in their ability to move the ball through the air.

On Sunday, Hurts completed 20-of-28 pass attempts for 246 yards and a touchdown. Through three playoff games, that bumps his completion percentage up to 69.6% with 7.3 yards per pass attempt.

The more important factor is that it adds the missing dimension from the Eagles' attack. If they can maintain this momentum into Super Bowl LIX, there may be no stopping the Eagles from claiming their second championship.
A.J. Brown is Operating at Full Capacity
The lingering knee injury slowing down A.J. Brown appears to be resolved. The Eagles' standout wide receiver had totaled just 24 yards on three catches through the first two playoff games but broke out in a big way in the NFC Championship Game.

Brown was an unstoppable force against the Commanders. The second-team All-Pro pulled down six of his eight targets for 96 yards and a score. Moreover, he was able to stretch the field and leverage his size and speed over his opponents, characteristics missing from his recent performances.

Undoubtedly, Brown is the catalyst that helped transform the Eagles' passing attack. With two weeks to prepare, Brown could look even better in the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia's Defense is the Real Deal
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Not that there was ever any doubt, but Sunday's effort against the Commanders validated a long-held position -- the Philadelphia Eagles defense is the real deal.

Philadelphia was able to do something that few other teams have done: slow down Washington's unrelenting offense. The Eagles forced four turnovers in the victory while holding the Commanders to 350 yards of total offense. Washington mustered just 4.5 yards per play on offense and 7-for-17 on third-down conversions.

The Eagles' consistent pressure on Jayden Daniels and seemingly impenetrable secondary made it impossible for the Commanders to gain offensive momentum. Surely, that gives them an edge over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
The Eagles Are Undeserving Underdogs in Super Bowl LIX
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

Knocking the Chiefs off their pedestal is no easy feat. Still, the Eagles have sharpened their talons against the best in the NFL this season. Objectively, they have superior metrics and are undeserving of their underdog status ahead of the championship game.

Philadelphia ended the season with the top-ranked defense and the seventh-ranked scoring offense, but objectively better positions than the Chiefs. Moreover, they've been operating at peak efficiency throughout the playoffs, as evidenced by their 55-23 shellacking of the Commanders.

Because of their public adoration, books are obviously weary of putting the Chiefs as underdogs. Still, that leaves a more exploitable position for bettors looking to get a piece of the better team at an underdog price.
Saquon Barkley is The Real MVP
Tackle the Odds with SportsGrid’s Expert NFL Game Picks and NFL Player Prop Picks.

A lot has been made of this year's MVP race, but all that talk is just timorous banter without including Saquon Barkley. On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles running back showed once more that he's the most valuable player in the NFL right now.

For the fifth straight game, Barkley eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards. Against the Washington Commanders, the All-Pro went off for 118 yards on just 15 carries. He set the standard for the Eagles' opening offensive play, taking the ball 60 yards to the house and flashing his typical speed and elusiveness.

In doing so, Barkley put himself within 29 yards of Terrell Davis for the most rushing yards in a season, including the playoffs. Astute NFL historians will recall that's the year TD won the MVP award. It's time to start putting the respect on Barkley's name that he deserves. He is the real MVP.

5 Things We Learned About the Eagles in the NFC Championship

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