Eagles edge closer to back-to-back NFC East titles with dominant win
PHILADELPHIA — After weathering critics, snapping a skid, and steadying a wavering season, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are hovering on the brink of another championship appearance.
A shot at the Super Bowl? Not guaranteed, but a second straight berth is very much within reach, especially since their opponent this time around isn’t Kansas City. Following a convincing 31-0 triumph over the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia sits one victory from clinching the NFC East for a second consecutive year. The 9-5 Eagles only need either a win of their own or a Cowboys defeat to become the first team to repeat as NFC East champions since the division’s four-title streak ended in 2004.
And yet, this isn’t a flawless story. The season featured a three-game skid and renewed calls to bench Hurts or reassess offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. Complicating matters, the division-wide struggles in the NFC East had previously given Philadelphia a manageable runway through rough patches. The recent maturation against the Raiders — especially with a softer December slate and a late-season showdown in Washington — provides a clearer path forward.
Current outlooks suggest the Eagles are the No. 3 seed in the NFC and in line to host a playoff game during wildcard weekend. While a No. 1 seed remains theoretically possible, it would require a three-game sweep and a web of unfavorable results for teams ahead of them, making the road to the Super Bowl go through Philadelphia a remote, though not impossible, scenario.
Sustaining performances like the one versus Las Vegas could accelerate their momentum. Hurts delivered three touchdown passes, and the defense secured its first shutout since 2018, limiting the Raiders to a mere 75 yards of total offense.
“We couldn’t ask for more,” Hurts commented.
What’s clicking for the Eagles
The defense has carried the weight. The shutout marked Philadelphia’s largest margin of victory in a shutout since a 31-0 win over Green Bay back in 1990, and Las Vegas’s 75 total yards were the fewest allowed by the Eagles since December 1955.
Brandon Graham contributed two sacks — the first since returning from a brief retirement — boosting his legacy as the oldest Eagles defender to record a sack at 37 years, 255 days. That milestone edges out the previous record holder, Richard Dent, who logged a sack at 37 years, 1 day in 1997.
What’s still challenging
It’s hard to critique a shutout, but there are always areas to refine. With Hurts back on track and the defense humming, the focus shifts to keeping the offense clicking consistently, especially in supporting role players who stepped up when needed.
Stock up
Hurts rebounded from a rough three-turnover game against the Chargers to post three passing touchdowns, 175 passing yards on 12-of-15 completions, and an additional 39 rushing yards with zero turnovers. He’s now tied for the league lead in passing TDs of 25-plus yards (nine this season), a mark only matched by Josh Allen and Drake Maye, and second only to his 2022 total in his career margins for those big plays.
Even when backups played, Hurts showed resilience and leadership, insisting he’s prepared to handle criticism and keep moving forward.
Stock down
A.J. Brown’s role in the offense drew scrutiny after a stretch featuring three straight 100-yard receiving games (all in losses). Against the Raiders, Brown had only two catches for 41 yards, including a 27-yard TD. Nevertheless, the Eagles won, underscoring the need to blend Brown’s big-play ability with a more consistent contribution from the rest of the receiving corps to sustain success.
Injuries and returns
There’s optimism that Lane Johnson, a two-time All-Pro, could return from a foot injury in time for the trip to Washington, marking a potential reinforcement for the line that protects Hurts.
Key milestone
Dallas Goedert reached nine touchdown receptions this season with two scores against Las Vegas — the second-most in a single season by a tight end in Eagles history, trailing only Pete Retzlaff’s ten in 1965. Goedert also has three games this year with two-plus TD receptions, a mark that puts him behind Mike Quick (four in 1987) and Harold Carmichael (four in 1979) for the franchise record, but still carving out a remarkable season.
What’s next
The Eagles will face the Washington Commanders twice in the final three weeks, bookended by a December 28 trip to Buffalo. A sweep of the NFC East foes would strengthen their claim to the No. 1 seed and bolster the chances of hosting multiple playoff games.
Bottom line
Philadelphia stands one win away from sealing a second straight NFC East title and securing home-field playoff relevance. The team has shown what they’re capable of when their defense locks in and Hurts leads with poise — but the journey to another deep postseason run still requires consistency, smart adjustments, and execution across the roster.
What do you think about the Eagles’ current trajectory? Is Hurts truly back to form, or is there more volatility ahead? And should the team’s playoff seeding depend more on performance in January than past records? Share your thoughts below.
