Week 5 Power Rankings Roundup- Eagles Are Still Undefeated
The Eagles are 4-0 heading into week 5. They have beaten every team they have played. Only one other team in the league can say that, the 49ers. The Chiefs…
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 01: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts during the game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on October 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)The Eagles are 4-0 heading into week 5. They have beaten every team they have played. Only one other team in the league can say that, the 49ers. The Chiefs dropped a game to the Lions. Bills lost to Zach Wilson and the Jets. Dolphins just got blown out by the Bills. And the Cowboys blew a game to the Cardinals. For all the talk of ugly wins for the Eagles, they don't have an ugly loss like all of those other teams. And yet, the mood around the team would make you think they have a losing record.
Are there areas of concern? Absolutely. The middle of the defense is getting picked on a lot. And there may be no immediate answer to replace Avonte Maddox. But some of the other issues are a bit overblown. The offense's struggles? They are averaging 31 points per game in the last 3 weeks. They are 5th overall in total yards. Yes, the passing game took a while to get going. But Hurts has nearly 600 yards, and 3 TDs, in the last two games. The offense is still going to be elite.
And while they are struggling to defend the middle of the field, the D-Line is still legit. We are also just a week removed from them holding the Bucs to 11 points. Despite it being Baker Mayfield, the Bucs have actually been surprisingly good, and they do have an elite WR duo. Things could be a lot worse for the Eagles, and they have not hurt themselves, yet, by being slow out of the gate.
But does the National Media see it that way? Do they see the team as talented and ready to break out? Or do they see a collapse coming? Let's look around the NFL to see how the National Media is treating the Eagles.
Here is a roundup of where the Eagles feel in the Week 5 Power Rankings:
ESPN- 3- (Previously 3)
“The Eagles are 27th in passing yards allowed (260.8 per game) and have yielded the third-most passing touchdowns with nine, trailing only the Broncos (13) and Bears (10). Their top two slot corners, Avonte Maddox (torn left pectoral muscle) and Zech McPhearson (torn right Achilles tendon), are expected to miss the remainder of the season, and they are thin at the safety spot as well.”
The injuries in the secondary is something to worry about. Josh Jobe held up well against the Bucs but struggled vs. the Commanders. If he is not closer to who he was in week 3, the Eagles may need to start shopping around for a Corner before the deadline.
NFL Network- 4 (Previously 4)
“The Eagles like to make things harder on themselves than needed, yet they keep winning, even if it took overtime vs. Washington on Sunday. The offense is returning to shades of 2022 form, adding the D’Andre Swift dimension and rekindling the Jalen Hurts-to-A.J. Brown magic.”
If there was any good news to take away from a stressful week 4 win, it was that the pass offense was back. Hurts looked as good as he has all season long, and fans can breathe a sigh of relief that his slow start was just rust and not having much work in the pre-season.
The Athletic- 2 (Previously 4)
“Despite going to overtime with Washington, the Eagles have been one of the steadiest ships in the league so far. The reasons are the offensive and defensive lines. Philadelphia runners are second in the NFL in yards per rush before contact (2.16), according to TruMedia, and four pass rushers had at least six QB pressures Sunday.”
Games are won in the trenches, and the Eagles have the best trenches. As long as that is the case, along with them having an elite QB and Elite WRs, the Eagles can beat literally any team. Secondary issues or not.
Pro Football Talk- 2 (Previously 4)
“Winning games they could have lost is better than losing games they could have won.”
Does not feel good to agree with Mike Florio on something. Him being positive with the Eagles is the first thing that actually makes me worried. Maybe working with someone as unlikeable as Phil Simm's Son is somehow making Florio more likable.
Yahoo Sports- 3 (Previously 3)
“A.J. Brown is up to 18 catches, 206 yards and two touchdowns in the two games since he had his mini-blowup on the sideline. The Eagles aren't quite where they want to be yet despite a 4-0 start, but it'll come. Their main pieces are as good as ever.”
This is the important bit. The Eagles are stacked with talent. The pieces have not all been put together yet, but they are winning despite these struggles, and we know how high the ceiling is.
USA Today- 3 (Previously 2)
“They're the sixth team since 2000 to go 4-0 in successive seasons. Of the previous five, three won the Lombardi Trophy at some point, and all but one appeared in the Super Bowl at least once … which Philadelphia already did last season.”
I did not know that stat, but it certainly makes you feel good about the Eagles. 50% of teams who are in the Eagles situation, eventually win a Super Bowl.
Bleacher Report- 2 (Previously 3)
“At day's end winning is all that matters. And with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets next up, there's an excellent chance the Eagles will be a perfect 6-0 when the Miami Dolphins come calling in Week 7.”
I wonder if they do go 6-0 if people will still be complaining about not looking good doing so. As Bleacher Report pointed out, they have a chance to get there, even if they don't play at their best still for the next two weeks. The Rams are not pushovers, but they are also very beatable. And the Jets have looked bad more than they have looked good this year.
Sports Illustrated- 3 (Previously 5)
“Through four games last year, Philadelphia had an almost 50% success rate against runs and a 43% success rate against the pass. This year? A 45% success rate against the pass, and a meager 34% success rate against the run.”
The pass defense is an issue. But the Eagles are 2nd in rushing yards allowed per game, and 5th in yards allowed per carry. If your stat is telling you they are not a good run defense, your stat is crap. And if you go by that stat, and not the literal success of allowing just 3.3 yards per carry, I have a hard time taking your opinion seriously.
Pro Football Network- 4 (Previously 4)
“The Eagles are still an incredibly talented roster, but there is a clear flaw in their construction, and it will likely force Howie Roseman into aggressive mode before the deadline. Philadelphia needs to improve up the spine of their defense. Although their defensive tackles are outstanding, their linebacker and safety play has been their defense’s Achilles heel.”
Last year it was clear the Eagles needed interior run-stoppers. Howie went out and got Suh and Joseph. This year it is clear they need help at Safety and Nickel Corner. Don’t be shocked if Howie goes out there and finds someone to help.
CBS Sports- 2 (Previously 2)
“It still doesn't look great, but they are finding ways to win games. That's the good news. But they need to pick it up.”
Fair enough, they will eventually need to play better. But their “struggles” are a bit overblown too. The only major concern is the middle of the defense, but this offense is going to be fine. Hopefully Nakobe Dean, Justin Evans, and Sydney Brown getting healthy helps the issues on defense a bit until Howie can make a move.
