Over the past couple of years, the Philadelphia Eagles have been the team to beat in the NFC East, but that dynamic is about to change. They lost a star wide receiver like A.J. Brown, and the Dallas Cowboys' defensive overhaul should help them restore balance.
The Eagles have made the rounds for all the wrong reasons this offseason. First, no one wanted to replace Kevin Patullo as Nick Sirianni's offensive coordinator, and then, incendiary reports about Jalen Hurts showed a terrible side of their quarterback.
To add insult to injury, Hurts still hasn't gotten a contract extension, and he may not be much of a favorite in the locker room. He tried to downplay the situation (h/t Zach Berman) when asked about it, but the writing is already on the wall. Here's what Hurts said about being as focused as he can be.
"For me, I'm truly focused on being the best I can be right now. That's where my energy is. There's a lot of change, as is. I'm focused on this offense. I'm focused on building with Sean and being at my best."
The Cowboys can only laugh at the Eagles' Jalen Hurts conundrum
Hurts has gone 5-4 against the Cowboys, though he's 1-4 on the road. As such, the Cowboys should only hope to keep him in the division for much longer, as he's one of the most evidently limited quarterbacks in the game, and they shouldn't want the Eagles to get an upgrade.
While the Eagles look strong, they might actually be closer to a full-scale overhaul than they want to admit. Sirianni's locker rooms have been dysfunctional for years, and even with Brown gone, all the reports surrounding Hurts hint at trouble brewing in the City of Brotherly Love.
Sirianni has failed to shut down the outside noise more often than not. The Eagles always let outside narratives interfere with the product on the field, and watching them get into a staring contest with their overrated, overpaid quarterback is just the kind of entertainment Cowboys fans love. That distraction is the last thing the Eagles need, but they won't do anything about it.
The Cowboys now have the better passing game, better quarterback, and better offense. They may have Saquon Barkley, but Javonte Williams is coming off the best season of his career, and Dak Prescott doesn't need the Tush Push to put up points on the scoreboard.
The Eagles hold bragging rights in the NFC East for now, but they're just another bad season away from blowing things up. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion might be able to scheme around Hurts' many weaknesses here and there, but he'll have to earn his new contract by making plays, and putting a game in his hands has rarely worked out for the Eagles.
We look forward to watching that.
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