Tim Tebow is not the reason why the Philadelphia Eagles are attracting the attention of the media this offseason. Chip Kelly is. With one big move after another, Kelly has made himself among the most polarizing figures in the NFL. Kelly, however, only cares about one thing, and that’s winning.
With high-value offseason acquisitions and a favorable schedule, will this be the season Kelly leads the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory? Read on for an overview of Philadelphia’s key player this coming season along with the team’s key game, best/worst scenarios and a complete list of the Eagles’ 2015 schedule.
For more about the 2015 NFL season, click on the following team names for their respective previews: St. Louis Rams| Seattle Seahawks |Arizona Cardinals
[sc:Football ]2015-2016 Philadelphia Eagles Preview
Overview
[sc:NFL240banner ]In 2014, the Eagles failed to make it to the playoffs despite a 9-3 start to their season. But if the Eagles are looking for something to blame, the defense is not a bad place to start. Philly’s defense allowed opposing teams to put up 375.6 yards per game and score 400 points, negating whatever success the Eagles were having on the other side of the field.
That year, Chip Kelly had the Eagles’ offense going, ranking sixth in passing (272.2 yards per game), ninth in rushing (124.5), and third in scoring (29.6) in the NFL. The offseason hasn’t stopped Kelly from bending the minds of football experts and fans, as he orchestrated quite a number of headline-grabbing transactions.
The Eagles are hoping that all of Kelly’s wheeling and dealing would translate to a better defense and contribute more to the offense. This coming season, the Eagles are priced +155 to win the NFC East and +2,500 to win Super Bowl 50.
Offseason Review
When it comes to assembling a team, Kelly knows no boundaries. Just ask LeSean McCoy, Nick Foles, and the people who absolutely believe that the head coach would trade anything for a chance to land former protégé Marcus Mariota in the recent NFL Draft. Kelly had the football world abuzz in a series of moves this offseason, mainly the ones that involved McCoy and Foles.
First, Kelly sent McCoy to the Bills in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso. McCoy had a relatively down year in 2014, rushing for 1,319 yards and scoring just five rushing TDs, which was one reason why Kelly chopped the running back off the Eagles’ roster.
Alonso, meanwhile, is a young linebacker who should help the Eagles’ defense against the pass. He missed the 2014 season with an ACL injury, but showed lots of promise in his rookie year in 2013. Kelly then softened the blow of losing McCoy by signing DeMarco Murray, who led the league last season in rushing yards (1,845) and touchdowns (13—tied with Marshawn Lynch) while playing for the Cowboys. In another noteworthy transaction, Kelly traded Foles to the Rams for quarterback Sam Bradford.
The Eagles also saw their top receiver Jeremy Maclin leave in free agency. Maclin’s departure means that Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper, and rookie Nelson Agholor will battle it out for the starting roles in the wide receiver position.
Speaking of rookies, the Eagles partly addressed their secondary issues by drafting three cornerbacks after taking Agholor in the first round. That group includes Eric Rowe, JaCorey Sheperd, and Randall Evans. But the biggest defensive upgrade for the Eagles is Byron Maxwell, who is coming to Philly looking to bring some of that Legion of Boom pizazz he got from playing in Seattle.
Key Player – DeMarco Murray
Kelly likes his team to run as if they’re participants in the Kentucky Derby. With that said, it’s not hard to imagine that DeMarco Murray would be the center of the Eagles’ offense—even if Sam Bradford’s body magically stays healthy throughout the season. However, there are worries of decline for Murray, who is coming off a record-setting season.
Murray was an absolute workhorse for the Cowboys in 2014, as he carried the ball 392 (!) times, which reinforces the assumption that the running back will be in for a dramatic regression. If Murray fails to live up to expectations and does indeed come way short of his 2014 numbers, then there’s a big possibility that Kelly gets a pie on his face while McCoy giggles as he watches Philly’s boat sink from Buffalo.
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Key Game – vs. Dallas (September 20)
Dallas and Philadelphia are expected to be the top dogs in the NFC East with the Cowboys (+125) labelled as chalks to win the division. With that said, the winner of this Week 2 matchup would likely be the clear No. 1 in the division early in the season. This is also the Eagles’ home opener and the game that pits Murray against his former team for the first time since leaving Arlington.
Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case Scenario
DeMarco Murray avoids being another example of the Curse of 370 and comes up with another spectacular season, rushing for at least 1,500 yards and scoring no less than 12 touchdowns. Maxwell plays both sides of the field and leads a young secondary into becoming one of the most improved in the league. Bradford, meanwhile, stays healthy and does an admirable job of making Matthews, Agholor, and Cooper look passable downfield. The Eagles make the playoffs and win the NFC East with an 11-5 record.
Worst Case Scenario
Philadelphia beats so-so teams but looks nothing like a playoff contender when matched up against legitimate squads. Bradford’s body breaks down anew, no thanks to a bad offensive line that obviously misses the services of Evan Mathis. Murray plays like a damaged good after a tiring season in Dallas. The defense improves a bit but not enough to keep in step with the Eagles’ division rivals. In the end, the Eagles take a step back and finish with a 9-7 record.
Complete Schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon, Sep 13 | @Atlanta | 7:10 PM |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | vs Dallas | 4:25 PM |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | @New York Jets | 1:00 PM |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | @Washington | 1:00 PM |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | vs New Orleans | 1:00 PM |
| 6 | Mon, Oct 18 | vs New York Giants | 8:30 PM |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 19 | @Carolina | 8:30 PM |
| 8 | Bye Week | ||
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | @Dallas | 8:30 PM |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | vs Miami | 1:00 PM |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs Tampa Bay | 1:00 PM |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | @Detroit | 12:30 PM |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @New England | 1:00 PM |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | vs Buffalo | 1:00 PM |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | vs Arizona | 1:00 PM |
| 16 | Sat, Dec 26 | vs Washington | 8:25 PM |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | @New York Giants | 1:00 PM |
Writer’s Prediction
Philadelphia finishes the regular season with an 11-5 record.
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