Saquon Barkley makes a bold assertion about 2024 Eagles

"I firmly believe when you look at our team that we had last year — I know we're not looking too far into the past — but our team last year, I think we're a top-five team of all time," Barkley said in an episode that was published on Thursday. "I tell my boys this all the time. We started off 2-2, and we lost to Washington. Jalen [Hurts] got hurt that game. But if you really look at the season outside the first four games, it was belt to ass. How dominant you guys were on defense and how dominant we were on offense and special teams, people don't realize how great of a team that actually was."

While Barkley's bold take will ruffle a few feathers, it isn't entirely without merit.

Despite a lukewarm 2-2 start, the Eagles tied a franchise-record 14 wins last season. From Weeks 8-18, the Eagles outscored their opponents, 329-188, going 10-1 to close the regular season.

Philly continued to batter opponents in the postseason. After eliminating the Packers and Rams to begin its playoff run, the Eagles put on a 55-23 beatdown of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game before drubbing the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles are the first 18-win team to win a championship since the 1985 Chicago Bears.

"I think we all just bought in," Barkley said. "We didn't care how it looked. The only thing we cared about was winning football games. When you have the talent and skill that we have on our team mixed with the coaches, we all play together like how we played, teams really stood no chance. You've seen that in the playoffs. You've seen that in the Super Bowl. The score finished 40 to 20-something, but in reality, it wasn't even really a game."

Boasting elite talent on both sides of the ball, the Eagles have the talent worthy of Barkley's top-five all-time billing. However, a few other teams throughout the NFL's storied history could contend with the 2024 Eagles for top five honors, too.

Frankly, it's hard to form a top five all-time NFL teams list that satisfies the masses. Almost every list will be different and rooted in the biases of its creator. Objectively speaking, the 2024 Eagles are one of the most dominant teams to grace a gridiron. 

Top five, though? That's a tougher conversation. 

The 1972 Miami Dolphins, the NFL's only undefeated championship team, are a lock for any potential top-five listing. The defensive-minded 1985 Bears and 1992 Dallas Cowboys — led by Hall of Famers Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin — belong in the conversation, too. 

While its fun to compare legends and championship teams from different eras, its also an exercise with no end result. 

Perhaps Barkley is telling the truth, and the 2024 Eagles should be memorialized as a top-five all-time team. Or, maybe the thrill of a championship victory is fueling his bold declaration.

Either way, one truth remains — the 2024 Eagles were a dominant team that punished teams en route to dethroning the Chiefs and capturing their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.