At some point, we have to just acknowledge this team is a group of winners. For the 9th time this season, this team won “ugly.” The Chiefs game nearly gave all of us heart attacks. At times they were getting completely outplayed. The O-Line was getting demolished, and the Chiefs scored 17 points in the first half. Things were going as poorly as they could go. But by the end of the game, the Eagles were victorious. They won 21-7 in the Super Bowl rematch. This team just finds ways to win, and something has to be said for that.

They improve to 9-1, the best record in the NFL, and at least 2 games of every other team in the NFL besides the Lions who have just 2 losses. They have now beaten the Dolphins, Cowboys, and Chiefs. No other team in the league is undefeated vs playoff teams. So much for the gauntlet of tough games.

Things aren’t perfect. Far from it. But look around the league and you will see no one is perfect. The Ravens have at times looked great. But they also have multiple late-game collapses including a few weeks ago against the Browns. We saw all of the Chiefs’ flaws on full display. The 49ers lost 3 games in a row earlier in the season. And the Eagles have beaten the Cowboys. The truth is the Eagles don’t have to be perfect, and they don’t have to be as great as they were last year. They just need to be better than the 31 other teams this year. At least so far, that has been the case.

But how exactly did the Eagles pull off another ugly win? How do they keep winning despite their many issues? Let’s take a deeper look at the numbers.

Here are 6 numbers that tell the story of the Eagles win against the Chiefs:

• 0

  Last year in the Super Bowl, the Eagles got 0 stops in the second half. In the rematch, they gave up 0 points. Did they get some help from the Chiefs in that regard? Sure. But it is becoming a trend for the Eagles. They held the Dolphins to 0 points in the second half too. The Cowboys scored just 6 points. They shut out the Rams too. Things with the defense have not been perfect under Sean Desai. But he has been an expert at second-half adjustments. A thing the Eagles struggled at under Jonathan Gannon. Desai has less talent than Gannon did but is doing a much better job. And now we have seen his defense shut down both Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa.

  Jimmy Kempski on Twitter: "Chiefs drives, second half of the Super Bowl:- TD- TD- TD- Walkoff FGChiefs drives, second half Monday night: - Punt- Punt- Fumble- Punt- Punt- Turnover on downs / Twitter"

  Chiefs drives, second half of the Super Bowl:- TD- TD- TD- Walkoff FGChiefs drives, second half Monday night: - Punt- Punt- Fumble- Punt- Punt- Turnover on downs

• 3

  A lot is being said today about how the Eagles offense didn’t look good in that game. And that is mostly true. They struggled to move the ball and their O-Line was a mess in the first half. But some perspective is needed. This Chiefs’ defense is fantastic. Going into the game, they gave up on average 15.9 pts per game. The most points anyone had scored on them before last night was when the Lions scored 21 in week 1, and 7 of those points came on a pick-six. The Eagles are the first team all season to score 3 TDs against them. So yes, there were issues. The play calling at times was frustrating. But they still performed better against this Chiefs offense than anyone else has this season.

  Tyrone Johnson on Twitter: "The Chiefs defense has given up 21 or more just 2 times in 10 games. (Lions got a defensive TD week 1, offense scored 14) The Eagles found a way against a very good defense. / Twitter"

  The Chiefs defense has given up 21 or more just 2 times in 10 games. (Lions got a defensive TD week 1, offense scored 14) The Eagles found a way against a very good defense.

• 13

  Last year we heard constantly that the Eagles schedule was easy. Well, you can’t say that this year. They have already played the Chiefs, Dolphins, and Cowboys, and beat them all. They also beat the Vikings who are currently 6-5 and are looking like a Wild Card team. Oh, and Jalen Hurts has beaten 13 straight teams with a winning record. The longest streak by any QB ever. Obviously, that excludes playoff games since they lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. But still, it shows that Jalen Hurts finds ways to win against good teams.

• 2nd

  One of the Eagles’ biggest issues all season long has been their pass defense. But last night, with some help from Chiefs players dropping balls, they held Patrick Mahomes to 177 yards. It is only the 2nd time Mahomes has failed to eclipse 200 passing yards all season long. Kevin Byard made a mistake early letting Justin Watson get past him for a TD, but he was otherwise pretty great against Travis Kelce. Holding the All-Pro TE to 44 yards on 7 catches.

  The Chiefs averaged just 5.6 yards per pass attempt. Getting Bradley Roby back, and having Byard a little for comfortable in the scheme paid huge dividends. Both came up and forced big Red Zone turnovers in the game. They also held Tua under 200 yards. It feels like this pass defense has it in them to step up and have great games.

  Philadelphia Eagles on Twitter: "You know what's going on, @KevinByard! pic.twitter.com/8qgHQsCpsZ / Twitter"

  You know what's going on, @KevinByard! pic.twitter.com/8qgHQsCpsZ

• 4

  The Eagles are 9-1. It is the 5th time in their history they have started a season 9-1. And all 4 other times they were 9-1, they made it to the Super Bowl. In 1980 they made it there to lose to the Raiders. 2004, they started 9-1, but then lost to the Patriots. In 2017 they were 9-1 and finally won a Super Bowl. And last year they were 9-1 and then lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

  Does it mean they are a lock to make it? Of course not. But it’s a trend that certainly gets you excited for their chances. And it is more than just coincidence. Starting 9-1 gives you a great chance to have a top seed in the playoffs. Meaning home-field advantage and a bye week. And the Eagles are in great shape to have both advantages again. They have a 2-game lead over the Niners and Cowboys and a 1 game lead over the Lions. And as we are about to get into, apart from the Lions, the Eagles actually have it easier the rest of the way than those other teams.

  StatMuse on Twitter: "Each time the Eagles started a season 9-1:1980 - Reached Super Bowl2004 - Reached Super Bowl2017 - Reached Super Bowl (won)2022 - Reached Super Bowl2023 - ??? pic.twitter.com/h4wf9s6oRW / Twitter"

  Each time the Eagles started a season 9-1:1980 - Reached Super Bowl2004 - Reached Super Bowl2017 - Reached Super Bowl (won)2022 - Reached Super Bowl2023 - ??? pic.twitter.com/h4wf9s6oRW

• .459

  So much has been made about this gauntlet in the Eagles’ schedule. Dolphins, Cowboys, Chiefs, Bills, Niners, Cowboys, Seahawks. Well, they are almost halfway through it and are 3-0. And now the Eagles’ remaining schedule gets easier every week. Their opponents the rest of the season are a combined 34-40 (.459).

  Meanwhile, the Cowboys and 49ers schedules both get harder the rest of the way. The Cowboys still have to play the Seahawks, Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, and Lions in their final 7 games. The Niners, have the Seahawks twice, the Eagles, and the Ravens. And even the Lions have the Cowboys, and the Vikings twice.

  The Eagles remaining SOS is the easiest of all the NFC contenders. And they are also the team with the best record vs winning teams. Pair that with the buffer they have built for themselves, and it is easy to be confident about their place in the NFC. The biggest issue might be the Lions.

  Dylan MacKinnon on Twitter: "Updated Strength Of Schedule the rest of the way for NFC Contenders Eagles- .459 Cowboys- .603 49ers- .534 Lions- .492 Seahawks- .577 Eagles and Niners l have 4 more games against winning teams. Lions have just 3. But the Cowboys and Seahawks each have 5. / Twitter"

  Updated Strength Of Schedule the rest of the way for NFC Contenders Eagles- .459 Cowboys- .603 49ers- .534 Lions- .492 Seahawks- .577 Eagles and Niners l have 4 more games against winning teams. Lions have just 3. But the Cowboys and Seahawks each have 5.

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