untung99.biz: 5 Bold Eagles Predictions for the 2023 NFL Season

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The Eagles exceeded expectations last season when they ran the gauntlet to Super Bowl LVII. Although a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs wasn’t exactly the desired outcome, the Philly faithful are feeling as confident as ever regarding their team’s trajectory.

The 2023 NFL season is quickly approaching, resulting in Eagles fans doing their best to predict how the season will unfold. While some predictions are more conservative, others truly believe that the sky is the limit for the Birds.

Here’s a look at five bold Eagles predictions for the 2023 campaign.

Eagles Bold Predictions for 2023 NFL Season

1. Eagles Sweep NFC East

The 2022 season saw the Eagles win the NFC East for the third time since 2017. Although they got the better of their division for the most part, it wasn’t a perfect run as they only went 4-2 against divisional rivals.

What’s frustrating is that those two losses were avoidable. The Eagles were embarrassed at home in a 32-21 Week 10 loss to the Washington Commanders followed by a 40-34 loss to the Cowboys just six weeks later after Dallas scored two field goals in the final two minutes and 19 seconds of the game.

Even though the Eagles lost key players in the offseason (Miles Sanders, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Javon Hargrave, etc.), they did a good job at reinforcing the roster to challenge for another NFC East title.

D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny give an immediate boost to the backfield while Greedy Williams and Terrell Edmunds are poised to be key pieces of the secondary. That’s not even to mention how rookies Nolan Smith and Jalen Carter are as NFL-ready as they come.

The Cowboys are the biggest hurdle when it comes to the Eagles sweeping the division, but Dallas isn’t unbeatable. That’s especially true if Dak Prescott’s training camp hiccups don’t go away once the regular season begins.

As long as Philly’s offseason moves look as good on the field as they do on paper, sweeping the division isn’t unfathomable.

believe that the sky is the limit for the Birds.

Here’s a look at five bold Eagles predictions for the 2023 campaign.

Eagles Bold Predictions for 2023 NFL Season

1. Eagles Sweep NFC East

The 2022 season saw the Eagles win the NFC East for the third time since 2017. Although they got the better of their division for the most part, it wasn’t a perfect run as they only went 4-2 against divisional rivals.

What’s frustrating is that those two losses were avoidable. The Eagles were embarrassed at home in a 32-21 Week 10 loss to the Washington Commanders followed by a 40-34 loss to the Cowboys just six weeks later after Dallas scored two field goals in the final two minutes and 19 seconds of the game.

Even though the Eagles lost key players in the offseason (Miles Sanders, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Javon Hargrave, etc.), they did a good job at reinforcing the roster to challenge for another NFC East title.

D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny give an immediate boost to the backfield while Greedy Williams and Terrell Edmunds are poised to be key pieces of the secondary. That’s not even to mention how rookies Nolan Smith and Jalen Carter are as NFL-ready as they come.

The Cowboys are the biggest hurdle when it comes to the Eagles sweeping the division, but Dallas isn’t unbeatable. That’s especially true if Dak Prescott’s training camp hiccups don’t go away once the regular season begins.

As long as Philly’s offseason moves look as good on the field as they do on paper, sweeping the division isn’t unfathomable.

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2. Nolan Smith Challenges for DROY

Eagles fans were overwhelmed with euphoria when Nolan Smith fell to the team at No. 30 during April’s draft. After all, several mock drafts had the former Bulldog going much earlier in the opening round.

But a good chunk of the post-draft spotlight was put on ex-Georgia teammate Jalen Carter, whom the Eagles drafted at No. 9. It isn’t shocking given that Carter was one of the top defensive prospects in the draft class and is expected to be a top defender for years to come.

But sometimes all a player like Smith needs is the perfect opportunity to showcase their true potential.

That’s exactly what he got when sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean injured his ankle during training camp. Although Dean is expected to make a full recovery sooner than later, the extra reps allowed Smith to prove that he’s capable of fitting in with the starters.

It’s only another example of Smith putting in hard work at practice. He already dazzled teammates and coaches alike back in July with his ability to get past the offensive line.

Opposing offenses are going to have their hands full with Philly’s defense this year. The plethora of elite talent up front means that Smith will have his opportunities to create havoc, whether those are self-created chances or because offensive lines can’t keep up with all the moving pieces.

As it stands, the 22-year-old has the ninth-best odds (+2000) to win the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year trophy, per FanDuel Sportsbook. Those odds could change quickly, though, if Smith lives up to the hype.

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3. Quez Watkins Takes a Big Step

There was a lot of positivity regarding Quez Watkins’ progression when he turned 43 receptions into 647 yards and a touchdown in 2022. He didn’t come close to replicating those results last year, finishing with a 33-354-3 stat line despite playing the same number of games (17).

It didn’t help that the ex-Souther Miss product dropped three passes when he only had a trio of drops in his first two seasons combined.

Nevertheless, it’s not time to give up on the 25-year-old just yet. While he won’t overtake A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith for the top wide receiver spots, he does have the tools to cement himself as the team’s WR3 this fall.

For starters, Watkins’ 2022 campaign wasn’t all bad. After recording an 8-113-1 stat line in the first eight games, he went on to tally 25 catches, 241 yards, and two TDs in the final nine outings.

Assuming that he can build off that second-half performance, I wouldn’t be shocked if he finished with somewhere between 50-60 catches, 650-750 yards, and about four or five touchdowns.

After barely being used in the postseason, I expect Watkins to begin the new season like a man on a mission before producing his best season to date.

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4. Swift and Penny Make Up for Sanders’ Departure

One of the biggest blows this offseason was when Miles Sanders left in free agency to join the Carolina Panthers. After all, he was coming off a career year that saw him rack up nearly 1,300 rushing yards while scoring 11 TDs on the ground.

Instead of finding just one running back to replicate Sanders’ production, general manager Howie Roseman opted to trade for D’Andre Swift before signing Rashaad Penny as a free agent.

Neither man is better than Sanders on their own, but together, they can fill the hole he left in the backfield.

Swift is due to bounce back after turning 147 total touches into 931 yards from scrimmage with eight TDs over 14 games. Injuries played a role in his lack of consistent production. With another offseason to heal, I see him getting back to the 2021 form that saw him average 82.2 yards from scrimmage per game (on pace for 1,397 in a 17-game season).

Penny could be a difference-maker too if he can stay on the field. Injuries have kept him off the field more often than not throughout his career, but his 6.2 yards per carry with five 135-yard-plus performances over the last two seasons can’t be ignored.

Sharing the backfield duties — along with RBs like Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott — will help keep Swift and Penny healthy. As long as the newly-arrived duo plays the majority of games, Eagles fans will forget that Sanders even exists.

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5. Eagles Return to the Super Bowl

Earning back-to-back Super Bowl appearances is no easy feat. Since 2005, the Chiefs, New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks are the only teams to appear in consecutive Super Bowls with none of those instances occurring in the last four seasons.

But that doesn’t mean that the Eagles can’t buck that trend.

For starters, Philadelphia managed to bring back the majority of last season’s roster. Even after key names departed in the offseason, management did well at filling in the gaps as required. Assuming that the incomings rookies also deliver, it’s not hard to imagine the Birds finding similar success on the gridiron.

On top of that, the NFC is relatively weak. Aside from the Eagles, Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers, there aren’t any other NFC teams that look like immediate championship threats.

The 49ers are a well-rounded team, but their success hinges on Brock Purdy solidifying himself as a true starting QB. Meanwhile, the Cowboys haven’t even played in the NFC Championship Game since Prescott was two years old.

The Eagles, on the other hand, are backed by the experience that comes with playing in the Super Bowl. Hell, they would’ve had a chance to win the game in overtime had Harrison Butker kicked a field goal with eight seconds remaining.

If they can harness that experience while remaining elite on every side of the ball, there’s no reason why the Eagles won’t be competing for the Lombardi Trophy come February.

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