Why are the Philadelphia Eagles being shown no respect in NFL Power Rankings?
Most fans don’t like NFL Power Rankings. They see them as pointless opinions but I happen to be one of the few who still care where teams are being ranked by writers and fans alike. As I scrolled through the internet I stumbled across a few of the bigger sites and noticed a trend. Most writers placed the Philadelphia Eagles in the bottom half of the Power Rankings. Now, I understand that Training Camp has just stated and their rankings may be based on speculation, however, the Eagles were not that terrible of a team to begin with when the 2016 season ended.
According to Bleacher Report’s Power Rankings, the Eagles are the 22nd best team in the NFL. If that’s not enough to get Eagles fans riled up, ESPN Power Rankings has them ranked as the 21st best team in the NFL.
But how and why? Why are the Eagles ranked so low? What has the media witnessed or heard that can possibly put the Eagles below the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants or even the Washington Redskins? I mean, what NFL Draft were they watching and what offseason moves happened that we didn’t see? The Giants are good but aren’t they pretty much throwing the same team on the field in 2017 that they threw out in 2016? The addition of Brandon Marshall was huge but who will run the ball?
The Redskins are ranked 13th, I mean 13th. How can they be above the Eagles with no wide receivers? Terrelle Pryor had a breakout season with the Cleveland Browns but is he better than Jordan Matthews or Alshon Jeffery? And the Cardinals, that team is one injury away from going 0-16 but yet, a team that will start the season with an aging Quarterback and receiver is better than the Eagles.
The Eagles took care of EACH pressing need this offseason for a team that went 7-9 with a rookie QB, rookie coach, no receivers, a makeshift O-Line and running backs who struggled to make any headway. But yet, the Eagles drafted a QB-sacking DE in Derek Barnett, two receivers in Torrey Smith, Alshon Jeffery and added an 1100 yard rusher in LeGarrette Blount. For all of 2016, the media has said “let’s see what happens if Carson Wentz gets an upgrade at his skilled positions”. Well, by the looks of things– mission accomplished. The defense struggled last season but their upgrades will easily push them over the Redskins, Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and others.
To be ranked 22nd in the league is a slap in the face to all the hard work the Eagles front office did this offseason. Yes, other teams did improve but none so more than the Eagles. I love Power Rankings but Bleacher Report and ESPN got theirs wrong– again.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
