The Eagles will enter the 2023 season with one goal in mind: winning the Super Bowl. Anything other than a top finish during the regular season followed by a lengthy playoff run will be considered a failure.
For most teams, that’s some serious pressure. But we, and the rest of the league, know exactly what this squad is capable of. Just look at last year, which featured a franchise record for regular-season wins (14) and a legitimate chance to win the title.
Despite some offseason drama, general manager Howie Roseman managed to retain most of Philadelphia’s key free agents, keeping much of this core intact. He even added some exciting names to the mix, making some parts of this roster even better on paper than the memorable 2022 campaign.
As a result, it’s no surprise the Eagles are one of the top picks to win it all in 2023. In fact, they’re the consensus No. 2 in Super Bowl odds, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs at most sportsbooks.
And you know what? I still think they’re a great bet to make right now.
Why the Eagles are a great preseason Super Bowl bet
A World-Beating Offense
Philadelphia has everything you want out of a Super Bowl contender, starting with the quarterback.
Jalen Hurts put together a truly sensational 2022 season that made his case as an elite talent at the position. He made serious strides as a passer, registering career-highs in completions (460), yards (3,701) and touchdowns (22) while throwing just 6 interceptions. Meanwhile, the former second-round pick was stellar on the ground once again, racking up another 760 yards and 13 scores.
It’s no coincidence that Hurts’ rise came with an improved skill-position group that saw A.J. Brown arrive last offseason. The Brown trade paid immediate dividends, as the former Tennessee Titan went on to make Second Team All-Pro while enjoying a career year. DeVonta Smith put together a personal-best campaign of his own in his second season as a pro, and those two are back to form one of the league’s best WR duos.
They, along with tight end Dallas Goedert, give Hurts a deadly trio that can get create holes all over the field. I can’t go without mentioning the additions of Rashaad Penny and D’Andre Swift as well to replace Miles Sanders. Both backs are electric with the ball in their hands, and their big-play potential could make the Eagles’ already-strong run game even better in 2023. They’ll also benefit from playing behind an offensive line that’s regarded by many as the best in the league.
A Championship-Level Defense
For all of Philadelphia’s strengths on offense, its staunch defense is the key piece to the championship puzzle. There are plenty of teams around the league that can move the ball with ease, but that is all for naught if you don’t have a unit on the other side that can stop anybody.
The Eagles’ defense was one of the NFL’s best in 2022, which helped lead this team to the Super Bowl. In fact, this unit ranked No. 6 overall in Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA metric, including a No. 1 placement in pass-defense DVOA. They also held opponents to the second-fewest yards per game and nabbed another top-10 finish in PPG allowed.
Philly’s ball-hawking secondary was at serious risk of losing several contributors to free agency this offseason. However, thanks to Roseman’s magic, Darius Slay and James Bradberry have both returned with new deals. Yes, the loss of C.J. Gardner-Johnson hurts, but Terrell Edmunds is a very suitable replacement who could thrive playing alongside this team’s coverage talent.
There were more departures among the frontlines, with linebackers T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White along with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave finding new homes. But as we know with the Eagles, they’re just as prepared for the present as they are for the future.
Two early picks in last year’s draft — Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis — are primed to fill the shoes of those lost. Philadelphia also doubled down on defense in this year’s draft, selecting both stud DT Jalen Carter and nabbing EDGE Nolan Smith at the end of the first round. Those youngsters will line up for a defense that returns the likes of Brandon Graham, Haason Reddick, Fletcher Cox and Josh Sweat.
Simply put, getting the Eagles around +600 to +800 in the preseason is too attractive to pass up. Looking at Philly’s regular-season schedule, there’s a good chance these odds will quickly shorten as the wins come in.
Just take a gander at Weeks 1-5. We face the New England Patriots (mediocre offense), Minnesota Vikings (we saw what happened last year), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (no Tom Brady), Washington Commanders (starting Sam Howell most likely) and Los Angeles Rams (two aging stars coming back from major injuries). There’s a real possibility the Eagles start the year 5-0.
Jumping on Philly’s Super Bowl odds now is all about being proactive. We can’t deny the possibility that this number is as good as it’s going to get.
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