Comparing the 2022 and 2023 Philadelphia Eagles Seasons

Nothing makes sense about the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles.

Up is down. Down is never too down. They dig holes and climb out. They consistently start out slow and then find a way to escape disastrous losses. It's 11 games into the season, and they enjoy a two-game lead over every other NFL team.

More importantly, they are unbeaten in the NFC. That also takes a little stress out of the next two weekends. How are they doing it? It makes little sense, and if you tell me that you never have lost faith in them in a given week, I’ll gladly assume you are lying. Let's compare them against the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles!

Last year, they were also 10-1. During that stretch, they led at halftime in eight of the games and after three quarters in another eight. This year seems very different, right? WRONG.

Through 11 games in 2023, they have led at halftime in seven games and led after the third quarter in eight games. It’s almost exactly the same! I’m completely confused.

The Eagles are averaging 28.2 points per game (PPG). That leaves them with the third-best scoring offense in the NFL. We watch week after week as Brian Johnson seems to have to pull a rabbit out of his hat because of confusing decisions to attack the opponent.

The Eagles are actually BETTER in 2023! They averaged 28.1 in 2022. It doesn’t seem possible, but it’s true.

This one has no punch line of shocking numbers. The Eagles defense has now sunk to 20th in points per game at 22.4. They are one of the worst pass defenses, and they're terrible when the opponent faces third-and-7 or longer. Those results need to change quickly as the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys will look to exploit their weaknesses.

Statistics will tell you that this season is not the 2022 version of Jalen Hurts. If you just focus on turnovers, you can certainly make the case. You need to look deeper. His confidence and ability to shrug off adversity (self-inflicted or not) is growing by the week. Jalen looks every bit the assassin we all hoped he could be. Is he better? I’m not going to doubt him.

Well, the six-game “schedule gauntlet” has the Eagles sitting at 3-0. When you played the “win/loss game” this past summer, did you have them 3-0 in the stretch against the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Bills? I didn’t. I figure you didn’t either.

I’ve got more HOWs now than when I started writing this piece! Keep it rolling Eagles!

The Philadelphia Eagles pulled off an incredible overtime win in Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season. They own the best record in the NFL at 10-1 after the thriller against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

They have suffered a few recent injuries to key players, especially along the offensive and defensive lines. Will Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox, Milton Williams, and Zach Cunningham return for the Eagles as Week 13 starters?

The Bills took a 10-point lead into halftime, and the Eagles were fortunate that the deficit wasn't worse. It looked eerily similar to the Super Bowl LVII rematch on Monday Night Football six days before. However, the result was the same. The Eagles pulled off yet another double-digit comeback.

Jalen Hurts played poorly in the first half. He shook off the struggles and led four touchdown drives after halftime, the last coming in overtime. The Philadelphia defense held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs scoreless on six second half possessions.

Nick Sirianni has improved to 33-12 as a head coach in NFL regular-season games. The Eagles are 24-2 in games started by Jalen Hurts since the beginning of the 2022 season.

The San Francisco 49ers loom for an NFC Championship Game rematch at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 13.

The Eagles have leaned on strength in the trenches in the most recent era of franchise history. Two of their foundational pieces didn't finish the game against the Bills. Lane Johnson missed the game with groin soreness, and Fletcher Cox also left the game with a groin injury.

Dallas Goedert and Nakobe Dean will likely remain out with injuries in Week 13. Jack Stoll started at tight end in Weeks 11 and 12, and he'll likely fill in against the 49ers once again. Cunningham has been the best linebacker on the team in 2023. He left the game with a hamstring injury and didn't return.

Nicholas Morrow has played an elevated role, and Christian Elliss also stepped into the regular rotation as a linebacker. The Eagles will get an update on Milton Williams, who missed the game against Buffalo with a concussion.

With arguably the toughest opponent on the schedule ahead, Nick Sirianni needs good news about some of his best players heading into Week 13. 

Quarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020

Running Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)

Wide Receiver, #11
Ole Miss
5th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Tennessee Titans (April 2022)

Wide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021

Wide Receiver, #80
University of Alabama
13th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)

Tight End, #89
University of Nebraska
3rd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2021)

Left Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018

Left Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021

Center, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011

Right Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022

Left Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013

Defensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018

Defensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022

Defensive Tackle, #98
University of Georgia
1st NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (9th overall) in 2023

Edge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)

Linebacker, #41
Greensville University
6th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2023)

Linebacker, #53
University of Idaho
3rd NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (September 2021)

Cornerback, #2
Mississippi State
11th NFL Season- Acquired in trade from Detroit Lions (March 2020)

Cornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)

Cornerback, #33
Ohio State University
10th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)

Safety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)

Safety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)

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