Welcome to FanSided’s 2022 NFL preview! It’s time to look into our crystal football and take a glimpse at the Philadelphia Eagles season prediction.
Welcome to year two of the Nick Sirianni experience. Six new head coaches were hired by NFL franchises in 2021. One led his team to the playoffs: Sirianni.
However, there’s more to the story. Six of Philly’s eight losses came against playoff teams, including a pair of defeats to the Dallas Cowboys, albeit only one with starters. Additionally, Philadelphia was without a single win against any postseason team, meaning to get back to the playoffs, the Eagles needed to improve.
This year, the battle for the NFC East’s crown figures to be a two-team race. Dallas and Philadelphia are the favorites. The answers about who has the upper hand vary depending on who you talk to.
Philadelphia Eagles 2021 season in review
- 9-8 record
- 2nd in the NFC East
- Lost in Wild Card to Buccaneers
It was fun for a while. Philadelphia’s unexpected march to the NFC Wild Card Round went up in flames by way of a 31-15 rear-end whooping provided by the defending-champion Buccaneers in Tampa.
The final score doesn’t properly demonstrate how one-sided the game was. Still, the organization has a lot to be proud of, and if the 2021 campaign is any evidence of what everyone can look forward to, the Eagles are headed in the right direction.
Philadelphia Eagles 2022 NFL Draft class
- Round 1, pick 13: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
- Round 2, pick 51: Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
- Round 3, pick 83: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
- Round 6, pick 181: Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas
- Round 6, pick 198: Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU
General manager Howie Roseman is criticized often, and if we’re being honest, the complaints are sometimes valid. Imagining him in a war room can lead to some
sleepless nights, but he deserves acclaim for the two most-recent classes.
In April, Roseman added what might be the draft’s best interior defensive lineman in Davis. Landing a prospect with first-round talent in Round 3, Dean, also has to be seen as a win.
Calcaterra battled head injuries at the collegiate level. Those appear to be behind him, but he’s missed valuable time in training camp as a hamstring issue has cropped up. His spot on the 53-man roster isn’t certain, but if he heals, he could surprise people.
Jurgens will eventually take over for the legend Jason Kelce to anchor the offensive line, but we may not see much of him this season. Still, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding this class, and there’s reason to believe it’s justified.
Previewing Philadelphia Eagles offense for the 2022 season
- Key offseason additions
- Zach Pascal, WR
- A.J. Brown, WR
- Biggest X-Factor: Jalen Hurts
- Squeakiest Wheel: Jalen Hurts
- Key offseason additions
- Haason Reddick, LB
- James Bradberry, CB
- Kyzir White, LB
- Biggest X-Factor: Aging veterans on the defensive line
- Squeakiest Wheel: The safety position
- Head Coach: Nick Sirianni
- Off. Coordinator: Shane Steichen
- Def. Coordinator: Jonathan Gannon
- 11-6 record
- 1st place in the NFC East
- Playoff Prediction: Win in the Wild Card Round and a loss during the Divisional Round
Following an amazing offseason, fans and media members are dealing with something that they haven’t had recently; expectations. Once the regular season begins, Hurts has 17 games to prove he’s the long-term answer at quarterback. Can he do it? Time will tell, but with a loaded roster and a favorable schedule, failure and excuses won’t be tolerated.
Previewing Philadelphia Eagles defense for the 2022 season
The jury is still out on defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
Last season, Gannon’s defense failed in big moments facing elite quarterbacks. This year, Gannon’s talent should be improved. The secondary gets a bump with the additions of Bradberry along with safety Jaquiski Tartt, who comes over from the San Francisco 49ers. Is Tartt enough to replace the departed Rodney McLeod? Big shoes.
As always in Philadelphia, the front seven looks deep. Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox are older but remain quality vets, while Davis and Dean bring youth from the Georgia Bulldogs’ championship squad. Then there’s Haason Reddick, who returns to his stomping grounds after starring with the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers over the past two years.
Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff overview
We criticized Gannon above, so we’ll give him credit. His defense should be better in 2022.
This could be his final run in Philadelphia if he catapults himself back into the conversation of head-coaching candidates. If so, the Birds have a nice in-house candidate to replace him, with defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson.
Shane Steichen is the offensive coordinator, and he’ll handle play-calling duties. Expect some fireworks. This team has some playmakers, and last year, they fielded pro football’s best rushing attack. Make no mistake, though, the Eagles know they need balance.
Philadelphia Eagles Awards Watch
Philadelphia sent five players to the Pro Bowl in 2021: center Jason Kelce, cornerback Darius Slay, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, defensive end Josh Sweat, and kicker Jake Elliott. Kelce and Lane Johnson earned First-Team and Second-Team All-Pro nods respectively.
This team is loaded with talent, and if that leads to double-digit wins, no one should be shocked if the aforementioned stars reach the Pro Bowl or if guys like Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and James Bradberry turn the clock back and make a return appearance.
Jalen Hurts, MVP
Jalen Hurts for MVP? It seems an unlikely scenario, but if Philly’s franchise signal-caller makes huge strides, and if Philadelphia wins the NFC East, who knows? Yes, those are a lot of ifs, but they shouldn’t be seen as huge asks with the roster this organization has pieced together.
Jordan Davis, Defensive Rookie of the Year
Again, this might be the best rookie interior defender. Davis could make a name for himself immediately, but for now, it’s wise to take the one-day-at-a-time approach.
Brandon Graham, Comeback Player of the Year
Graham earned his first Pro Bowl nod at the close of the 2020 NFL season. He probably should have been named to the squad in ‘17 and ‘19, but that’s another story.
Graham’s run in ‘21 ended with an Achilles tear that forced him to miss all but two games. He’s back, and looking to prove he’s far from finished. We would be shocked if this isn’t a monstrous season for No. 55.
Biggest game on Philadelphia Eagles schedule
Philadelphia’s toughest test of the campaign comes late. From Weeks 11-13, they battle the Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, and Tennessee Titans. The first game of that stretch is on the road with the latter two at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philadelphia Eagles season prediction: Best and worst-case scenarios
If everything goes right, this team should win the division. They’ll be favored in most of their games, and an 11-win season might be within reach. We’ll make a guess and state they’ll split with Dallas and lose to Indy, Green Bay, Tennessee, the Arizona Cardinals, and the New Orleans Saints. Of course, there’s another side to this coin. They could fall off of the wagon and miss the playoffs entirely.
A Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a season sweep at the hands of the Cowboys, and unexpected losses can’t be ruled out either. An unexpected injury at one or two key positions can change things in a hurry.
Philadelphia Eagles season prediction for 2022
Read more from FanSided’s 2022 NFL Preview here. For more Philadelphia Eagles coverage, check out Inside The Iggles.