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5 reasons Philadelphia Eagles can win the Super Bowl this year

By Russell S. Baxter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 05: Fletcher Cox #91 and Brandon Graham #55 of the Philadelphia Eagles look on during the NFC Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lincoln Financial Field on January 5, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 05: Fletcher Cox #91 and Brandon Graham #55 of the Philadelphia Eagles look on during the NFC Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lincoln Financial Field on January 5, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 13: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball for a 62 yard touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 13: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball for a 62 yard touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

The Eagles hope to reach the Super Bowl for the second time in four years.

In this supposed age of parity, getting to the playoffs on a consistent basis is obviously a lot easier said than done. That is unless you are the New England Patriots, who own the NFL record for consecutive postseason trips with 11 and counting. The Kansas City Chiefs are well behind with five straight appearances in the playoffs. And then there are two other teams that have been there three consecutive years: The New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Doug Pederson’s club won Super Bowl LII in 2017. But the Birds have been less-than-sensational these past two seasons despite getting to the playoffs. A pair of consecutive 9-7 finishes have earned them a wild card berth and NFC East title, respectively. But Pederson’s squad has yet to even get back to the NFC title game. Still, this is one of the better organizations in the league and possesses a roster as talented as any. So how can the team from the City of Brotherly Love get back to the “Big Game” and win it in 2020?

5. Consistency at the cornerback position

The Eagles’ defensive backfield, most notably the cornerback position, has been an area of concern for quite a few years. That includes the 2017 season when Philadelphia captured Super Bowl LII over New England, 41-33. In that game, Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady wound up throwing for a Super Bowl record 505 yards in a losing effort.

That year, the Eagles finished 17th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. One season later, the Birds gave up the third-most aerial yards in the league. This past year, Philadelphia ranked 10th in the NFL in total yards allowed per outing but were 19th in pass defense and surrendered 27 scores through the air. And that’s why general manager Howie Roseman gave up a third- and fifth-round draft choice this year to acquire three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay from the Lions (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

The heady defender has played in 45 games the past three seasons and has totaled 13 interceptions and 56 passes defensed. He figures to make a difference on Jim Schwartz’s unit. But will the Eagles miss veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins?

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