Putting the Eagles’ 5-0 start in perspective

Philadelphia is off to a 5-0 begin for the fourth time in franchise historical past. The place does their present report rank with Eagles groups of the previous and what may it imply for the remainder of 2023?

1981

It took the Eagles 49 years to begin a season with 5 straight victories. They really went 6-0 earlier than dropping to the Vikings in Week 7. Of their first 5 video games, Philadelphia outscored opponents 109-53 with a mean of 21.8 factors per recreation. To place that into perspective, that quantity would tie Philadelphia with Baltimore for seventeenth place in 2023.

Extra spectacular was the protection giving up simply 10.6 factors per recreation to begin the season. Marion Campbell was the group’s defensive coordinator again then and he’d finally take over for head coach Dick Vermeil in 1983. 

Of Philadelphia’s 5-0 groups, the 1981 squad is definitely probably the most disappointing. One yr after taking part in in Tremendous Bowl XIV, they completed with a 10-6 report earlier than dropping to the Giants within the NFC wild-card Sport.

2004

Coach Andy Reid’s squad stored their scorching begin entering into 2004 with three extra wins earlier than dropping to Pittsburgh in Week 9. With gamers like Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens on the roster, the Eagles outscored opponents 137-63 by means of their first 5 video games. They completed the season with a 13-3 report and the second NFC Championship in franchise historical past. 

McNabb and Owens apart, the late Jim Johnson’s protection had so much to do with the group’s success. Their 260 factors allowed tied the Patriots for second-fewest within the league in 2004. Sarcastically, New England beat Philadelphia 24-21 in that yr’s Tremendous Bowl.

2022

Philadelphia waited till Week 10 (with a bye week) to get their first loss final yr, ending the season with a 14-3 report and one other NFC Championship. Solely the Chiefs (their Tremendous Bowl opponent) scored extra factors than the Eagles (477) final season, and solely the 49ers allowed fewer yards (301.5) per recreation.

Among the many group’s first 5 opponents, solely the Jaguars went on to make the playoffs final yr. That’s a fairly good schedule, however inferior to 2023.