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Philadelphia Eagles starting to look like a one-year wonder

By Erik Lambert

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 18: Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles on the sidelines during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 18, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Eagles 48-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 18: Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles on the sidelines during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 18, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Eagles 48-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia Eagles looked like a team that was ready to stay on top after rampaging their way to their first Super Bowl title in 2017.

They had a talented offense with weapons everywhere and an aggressive, physical defense that got after people. Best of all they had their prized quarterback Carson Wentz returning from his ACL injury. Everything seemed to be pointed in their direction going into 2018. Then, slowly, game by game it started to become clear they weren’t the same team they were a year ago.

Something is missing. They have the majority of the same players. Doug Pederson is still the head coach. Jim Schwartz is still the defensive coordinator. Yet for whatever reason they’ve looked soft against mediocre to bad teams and completely outmatched against top teams. The blowout in New Orleans was the biggest wakeup call yet. A reminder that last season is long over.

The NFL doesn’t give out respect for past accomplishments. Several players are starting to worry that the team has lost their edge. They aren’t playing with the same fire as in the past.

https://twitter.com/gmfb/status/1066337977436127232

Philadelphia Eagles are learning the difference between chasing and defending

Winning the Super Bowl when you haven’t before is comparatively easy. Players are always hungry to get that first ring. To have a taste of what the glory is like. Time has shown that it’s far more difficult than people can imagine to defend a crown than it is to take it. The Middle Ages taught us that. There has not been a back-to-back champion in the NFL since the Patriots did it way back in 2003 and 2004. So a span of 13 years going into this season and it’s looking like that will move ahead to 14 and counting.

Part of the reason why is it takes so much energy to summon the discipline and intensity required to win one Super Bowl and it takes even more to win another. Most teams find out that they don’t have the reserves in either department to pull it off. It would seem the Eagles are just another in a long line of such teams. Brilliant for one season and pulled back to the pack the next.

It’s not that they should be thought of any less for what they accomplished, but it’s a reminder not to bring up the word “dynasty” every time a new team wins a championship. One has to prove they can win two before even thinking about three or four.

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