The 2019 Eagles: A Season in Review

The 2019 season is officially in the books, and despite winning the NFC East for the second time in three years, the Philadelphia Eagles fell short of expectations. A team that many expected to be championship-caliber dragged its way to the finish line, only to lose in the first round of the playoffs after an excruciating hit to Carson Wentz’s helmet knocked him out of the game. As we review the Birds’ season’s outcome, keep in mind that another important season will be starting soon; seal coating season. As the experts in asphalt driveway crack repair in Montgomery County, PA at Superior Seal Coating prep for our new season, let’s look at how the 2019 season turned out for Philadelphia’s favorite team.

The Highs

Despite some serious concerns at various points in the season, the Eagles managed to squeak out a 9-7 record and steal the NFC East crown away from the Dallas Cowboys. The most significant part of this stretch came in the final four games of the season, as they beat Dallas, Washington, and the New York Giants to clinch their division title. They were down their top three receivers and their lead running back, but thanks to Wentz, phenom rookie running back Miles Sanders, and some unlikely heroes in Boston Scott and Greg Ward, they were able to power through. The most encouraging signs through this stretch? Wentz is ready to play at an MVP-caliber yet again, the RB tandem of Sanders and Scott will be a potent one for years to come, and the same can be said of the TE tandem of Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.

The Lows

The Eagles may have finished with a winning record and a playoff berth, but the season wasn’t as glamorous as that might sound. For the third year in a row, the team suffered injury after injury after injury, with key players such as DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, Malik Jackson, and Kamu Grugier-Hill all missing significant time. The defense fell short of expectations, as Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills again weren’t enough to cut it in the secondary, and defensive linemen such as Derek Barnett and even Fletcher Cox underachieved throughout a majority of the season. The biggest concern here, however, was the offense. DeSean Jackson played one full game, while Jeffery and (especially) Agholor took significant steps back. Rookie WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside was a non-factor on the field, which was especially disheartening considering other rookie receivers such as Tennessee's AJ Brown, Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf, and Washington’s Terry McLaurin enjoyed explosive NFL debuts. The result of this was the firing of both offensive coordinator Mike Groh and wide receivers coach Carson Walch, leaving plenty of questions going into next season.

What to Expect in 2020

The biggest keys to the offseason will be getting younger, improving the cornerback position, and possibly overhauling their wide receivers. The team was the second-oldest team in the league last year with an average age of just over 26 years old, and aging veterans such as Jason Peters, Rodney McLeod, and Nigel Bradham could all be on their way out. Darby and Mills are both expected to be free agents, and while they have young CBs in Avonte Maddox, Sidney Jones, and Rasul Douglas, the team hasn’t shown enough confidence in them to play them at the position. The wide receiver position is going to be the most interesting one to watch in the offseason. The team likely wants to change as much as possible, but right now, the only sure thing is Agholor leaving in free agency. Unlike Agholor, however, Jeffery and DeSean Jackson are still under team control for 2020. Many expect Jackson to stick around with a potential restructuring, but many think the Eagles should look to cut ties with Jeffery. While moving on seems obvious with his play regressing and speculation that he was the anonymous source criticizing Wentz to the media, his contract for this final year is guaranteed. Unless there is a team willing to take on his salary via trade, they are stuck with him. Looking ahead to 2020, look for them to be once again active in free agency and go heavy on wide receivers and cornerbacks in the draft. Even so, the 2020 season will remain a total question mark. The roster could have the talent for another 13-3 run like in 2017, but the chances of them coasting to 9-7 for a third straight year are just as likely. Whatever happens, the team at Superior Seal Coating will be watching our Eagles fly and pulling for their success! While the Eagles’ offseason is just beginning, ours is coming to an end very soon! The time for residents of Montgomery County, PA to inquire about parking lot seal coating maintenance is now, so contact us today to request your quote and get your appointment set up well in advance!