Can the Philadelphia Eagles Finally Take That Next Step?

In 2008 the Eagles fell to the Arizona Cardinals in one of the more entertaining NFC Championship games in recent history, now the question is can this team make the next step and get into the Super Bowl this year after a very busy offseason.

The Eagles lost several key veterans in the offseason, starting with the heart and soul of this team Brian Dawkins.

The Eagles did not want to match the offer that Denver gave to Dawk and he decided to leave. Denver also plucked away Correll Buckhalter from Philly to make the running back position very thin for the Eagles.

On the offensive line, gone is Tra Thomas, and John Runyan but in is pro bowlers Peters and Andrews from the Bills and Bengals respectively. The Eagles bolstered their defense by getting in a draft day trade Ellis Hobbs from New England. Hobbs finished 2008 with 47 tackles, and three interceptions.

He joins a very stacked secondary which features Quintin Mikell who finished 2008 with 93 tackles and two sacks and three interceptions, Sheldon Brown (51 tackles, one sack and one pick), Asante Samuel (35 tackles, four interception), and finally Joselio Hanson (39 tackles, and one pick).

It will be interesting to see which two corners get the starting jobs here.

The Eagles went out and got depth, and the eventually replacement of Westbrook in the draft by selecting LeSean McCoy out of Pittsburgh. McCoy reached the end zone 36 times in only 25 total games in college.

He has a nose for the end zone and will provide the Eagles with a tough running back who will be able to get those tough short yards in which the Eagles couldn't last year. He runs down hill, so he is able to get to the hole fast and can still make the cutback very quickly. He will eventually be a very nice replacement for Westbrook.

The Eagles needed one huge thing the past couple years, a receiver. In 2008 they grabbed Jackson out of Cal and he made a huge impact last year scoring six scores, and the team high in receptions. This year the Eagles took Jeremy Maclin with their first pick.

He should be a great target for McNabb as he is very physical and will make those tough grabs over the middle of the field. He found paydirt 32 times in only 28 college games so he knows how to make a huge impact, and again the receiving battle this year should be one to watch in camp.

The Eagles have a tough road back to the NFC Championship Game in 2009. Philly has to open with a much improved Carolina Panthers and then New Orleans Saints in weeks one and two. Going into Week Three against the Chiefs, the Eagles should be 1-1 and then 2-1 after a easy win over Kansas City.

After the bye week, Philly hosts Tampa Bay which the Eagles should 3-1 after a win over a very tough team trying to get their footing under a new coaching staff. Week six has the Eagles starting a two game road trip, first to Oakland and then to Washington for their first divisional game.

Going into the Washington game, the Eagles should be 4-1, and then have to face the Redskins who will be a very tough team defensively. I do believe that the Eagles offense will outlast Washington and move them to 5-1. Week eight and nine has the Eagles facing divisional teams again in the Giants and Dallas.

The Giants will be looking to avenge the playoff lost last year and i do believe that the Giants will pull out a last second win over Philly making them fall to 5-2. Week nine has the Eagles hosting a Dallas team in flux.

I really believe that the Dallas offense will struggle with out Owens and they will not be able to score enough to keep up with Philly, Philly climbs to 6-2. After the Dallas game, Philly has a very tough stretch.

They first travel to the Chargers, the to the Cutler lead Bears, before a week 12 home game against the Redskins once again. Going into the Washington game the Eagles should be 7-3 and then 8-3 after sweeping the Redskins.

After Washington, the Eagles have to travel to Atlanta in a very tough game and the back to Giants stadium to take on the Giants. The Eagles should be 11-3 going into their Week 16 showdown with the Dawkins lead Broncos. For Denver it's easy, no Cutler = a tough season.

I do believe that this game will be close for most of the game, but in the end Philly wins and moves to 12-3 going into the season finale vs Dallas. Dallas could be fighting for a playoff berth like last year, but I do believe that the Eagles will beat them again to finish 13-3.

The Eagles should get back into the NFC Championship Game and we will see if this team has enough to make a trip to Miami. 

The Eagles will need to make sure that their offense can match the defense. Last year the defense really lifted this team the last seven games and they got tired in the Championship game and finally broke.

If the offense can match, and give the defense some relief this team can make a huge impact this season. However, if they cant, those 13 wins I predicted could be much less for this team.