Philadelphia Eagles: A checklist to make a playoff run

Catch the football

This offseason, Pro Football Focus ranked the Eagles receiving corps as the best in the NFL.

Admittedly, that feels like an eternity ago.

The season, the Philadelphia offense has been plagued by drops. According to stats by the Washington Post, the Eagles are tied for the sixth most drops in the NFL this season with 12.

Philly’s receiving corps has run into immense trouble this year. Desean Jackson is on injured reserve after receiving core muscle surgery. His presence was felt on the Eagles in their Week 1 victory over Washington, and the Eagles offense has missed it ever since.

Further, the Eagles injury report listed wideout Alshon Jeffery as out against the Patriots.  Jeffery is the main feature of the Eagles wide receiving corps. His absence amidst an already struggling wideout group does not bode well for the Eagles.

As potential help, the Eagles announced they signed wide receiver Jordan Matthews on November 11th. In his third stint with the team, Philly hopes Matthews can step right in and provide some quick relief to the Eagles offense.

Obviously, Matthews is only one man, and therefore some Eagles receivers already on the roster are going to have to step up. Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins and JJ Arcega-Whiteside have all yet to get into a groove this season.

Among those three receivers, only one 100-plus yard receiving game has been recorded this season. Both Hollins and Arcega-Whiteside saw their last catch in September.

An elite Patriots defense stands as the next task for this receiving group. The Patriots defense is first in the NFL in yards per game, points per game, pass completion percentage, passing yards per attempt, passing touchdowns, takeaways, and turnover differential.

In simpler terms, the Philadelphia Eagles have their work cut for them.