Philadelphia Eagles ceiling and floor for 2023
After going 14-3 and representing the NFC in Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles set a high bar for 2023. But after losing key players and both coordinators from 2022, repeating last year’s success won’t be easy. Here's our best guess at the best- and worst-case scenarios for the Eagles in 2023:
Ceiling: 12-5
With the league’s toughest schedule, per NFL research, Philadelphia will struggle to match last season's success. But four of the team’s first five games come against non-playoff teams from 2022, with the other game against defending NFC South champ Tampa Bay (8-9 in 2022), so the Eagles could start 5-0. The Vikings made the playoffs last season, but they’ll have their hands full in Week 2 with a primetime home opener in Philadelphia.
The middle portion of the schedule could be a problem, but the Eagles couldn’t ask for an easier finish. Two of the team’s final three games come against the New York Giants, with Arizona in between. Philadelphia ended New York’s playoff run last season with a 38-7 walloping, and after busting the Cardinals for tampering with former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, now Arizona head coach, you know the team will send a message in Week 17. (Complete schedule analysis here).
Floor: 7-10
Games within the NFC East are never easy. Philadelphia rarely wins both games against its division rivals and 2023 should be no exception. Per OddsChecker, Dallas has the sixth-best odds to win Super Bowl LVIII — Philadelphia has the second-best odds — while New York and Washington have made substantial improvements to their rosters.
Matchups with the Chiefs, Bills and 49ers in Weeks 11-14 won’t be easy either. QB Jalen Hurts had the game of his life against Kansas City in the Super Bowl and still came up short. Buffalo is 53-28 with QB Josh Allen, who could give new defensive coordinator Sean Desai fits. San Francisco still believes it should have won last year’s NFC Championship Game if it had an actual starting QB playing instead of a backup, so the Niners could also be a problem.
Unlike 2022, the Eagles aren’t sneaking up on anyone in 2023. With at least five games on national television, they’re going to get every team’s best shot. Seven wins would be disappointing, but with a few bad breaks, it’s possible.
More must-reads: