5 reasons Eagles can win the Super Bowl this year

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 11: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) runs after a catch during the first mandatory day of Philadelphia Eagles Minicamp on June 11, 2019 at the Novacare Complex in Philadelphia, PA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 06: Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks across the field in the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2. Rediscovering the big play on defense

While tight end Trey Burton and quarterback Nick Foles combined for a very “Special” moment of Super Bowl LII, you can make a strong case that the most important play of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots at Minneapolis was defensive end Brandon Graham’s fourth-quarter sack and strip of Tom Brady. Teammate Derek Barnett recovered the ball and it led to a field goal with 1:05 to play that gave Doug Pederson’s squad an eight-point advantage.

In 2017, the Birds featured the league’s number one-run defense and put ample pressure on opposing signal callers with a deep defensive front. It led to 31 takeaways by the eventual NFL champions. In the NFC title game win over many Minnesota, the Eagles watched Vikings’ quarterback Case Keenum lead his club right down the field to a first-quarter touchdown. But soon afterwards, cornerback Patrick Robinson picked off the Minnesota quarterback and returned the theft 50 yards for a touchdown. It swung the momentum of the game and Doug Pederson’s team followed that score with an additional 31 unanswered points.

But this past season, the Birds forced only 17 turnovers in 16 regular-season contests. And the club came up with one Drew Brees interception in the playoff split with the Bears and Saints. There’s no doubt that Pederson’s club could use some explosive plays from its defensive unit, which would also make life easier for Carson Wentz and company in giving the offense a shorter field.

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