The Eagles are on a franchise document 10 sport successful streak, and with the remaining three common season video games towards groups they’ve already overwhelmed, it may proceed for some time. Does it even imply something?
In a phrase: sure. In two phrases: sure, however. In additional than two phrases: A ten+ sport successful streak normally, however not all the time, leads to a deep playoff run. And when that successful streak happens doesn’t matter.
There isn’t a lot proof that groups which can be scorching late usually tend to win the Tremendous Bowl. Taking part in nicely on the finish of the season is sweet, however the greater optimistic {that a} group is able to occurring such a run in any respect.
Within the Tremendous Bowl period there have been 44 groups which have had a ten+ sport successful streak throughout a season. Two are this 12 months’s Eagles and Lions. Of the opposite 42 groups, 26, 62% of them, went to a minimum of their convention championship sport.
TABLE
That’s a scary quantity of 1 and accomplished groups, although the 2015 Chiefs performed one other group on the checklist, the 2015 Patriots, so one among them was assured to be out instantly. (And the 1990 49ers have been the one different group on this checklist to lose to a different group on this checklist.) However most of the time a group that goes on a successful streak just like the Eagles are on are a last 4 group.
Additional proof that it doesn’t matter the way you end: 13 groups ended the season on a successful streak, however almost half didn’t win a playoff sport. In the meantime 15 groups began scorching then cooled off, half of them made the Tremendous Bowl.
Right here’s what does matter, and could be very a lot within the Eagles’ favor.
The group is comparatively wholesome
There’s a quite simple formulation within the NFL: expertise + well being = success. Simpler stated than accomplished, however the Eagles are doing it. Not everybody can say the identical.
The Lions are disintegrating because the season progresses. The 49ers began falling aside earlier than it even started. The Chiefs have been beginning to get wholesome after which Patrick Mahomes sprained his ankle.
The Eagles aren’t in good well being, not with Dallas Goedert as soon as once more out. However their damage report is skinny for this time of 12 months.
Nobody else seems to be unstoppable
For the time being the Eagles have pretty much as good of a declare to being the perfect group within the league as anybody. Of their 10 sport streak the Eagles haven’t wanted a last sport successful drive by the offense, they’ve had the lead late within the 4th in each sport. They’ve the perfect 4th quarter level differential.
The Lions, as famous earlier, are falling aside, all of the sudden going from coasting to the 1 seed to in peril of not successful the NFC North. The Vikings are scorching however not dominant, their seven sport win streak consists of going to time beyond regulation towards the Bears, not scoring a TD towards the Jaguars, and trailing the Cardinals late. The Packers have struggled on the highway, needing a final second FG in Jacksonville, trailing in Chicago late, and shedding in Detroit. Since beating the Eagles means again in Week 4, the Bucs are 1-5 towards groups with a .500 or higher document. Within the AFC the Chiefs are enjoying with fireplace, the Payments protection is enjoying with fireplace, and the Ravens are fairly beatable.
The Eagles have flaws. However so does everybody this 12 months. This isn’t like final 12 months the place the Chiefs and 49ers have been clearly the perfect two groups all season, or the 12 months earlier than when the Chiefs and Eagles have been. The Eagles have a powerful protection and run sport, so long as the cross sport exhibits up in some capability, they will beat anybody, wherever, as they’ve proven of their successful streak. And that’s what issues.