Eagles to have deep January run

The Philadelphia Eagles finished in last place of the NFC East in 2016. This season, the Eagles are already two games ahead of the Washington Redskins and 2.5 ahead of the Dallas Cowboys. What a difference a year makes.

Philadelphia was able to go on the road, on a short week, and beat the previously 4-1 Carolina Panthers. The Eagles fell behind early but rallied for a 28-23 win behind three interceptions of Cam Newton, who stalled out at midfield on 4th and 1 to end the game.

At this juncture, it’s very hard to see anything but a deep playoff run for the Eagles, who have all the ingredients of a championship contender. Philadelphia has a relatively-unproven head coach in Doug Peterson, but the rest of the crew is rock solid. In his second season, Carson Wentz is turning the corner from league-average to star, already throwing for 1,584 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Around him is a solid core including third-year receiver Nelson Agholor and star wideout Alshon Jeffery, who was signed to a lucrative one-year deal in the offseason. With those two on the outside and tight end Zach Ertz running down the seam, the Eagles are stacked. Philadelphia also has one of the league’s better offensive lines with Jason Peters and Lane Johnson at the tackle spots, and Jason Kelce in the middle.

Yet it is the defense that provides the power of this team’s engine. The front seven might be the best in football with Derek Barnett, Brandon Graham, Chris Long, Timmy Jernigan, Nigel Bradham, Jordan Hicks and Fletcher Cox. No team can bring pressure with a wider array of schemes, something of a staple for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and his wide-nine defense.

Looking at the upcoming schedule, there is little reason to believe the Eagles are going to be exposed. Philadelphia has played a tough schedule to this point which has included road games against the Panthers, Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs (where its only loss came).

Going forward, Wentz and Co. have contests against the Redskins, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos, all at home, over the next three weeks. After a bye, the Eagles then take on the Dallas Cowboys on the road before hosting the Chicago Bears. With Ezekiel Elliott currently set to be suspended that week, Philadelphia could run the table, and will certainly be favored in four of those games.

With a soft schedule ahead and a sizable lead, the Eagles have a chance to make a play for the NFC’s top seed and a chance to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 2004.