The Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) continued their post bye week surge, picking up their seventh consecutive win with a 37-20 rout of the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football.
The only team hotter in the NFL right now? That would be the Detroit Lions (10-1), who gobbled up their ninth straight win by holding off the Indianapolis Colts on the road.
Entering Week 13, it looks like a two-team race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed and first-round bye in the playoffs between Detroit and Philly, with the Minnesota Vikings (9-2) quietly still in the hunt. On Monday morning, NFL analysts should be grappling with this question: Are the Eagles encroaching on Detroit’s universal standing as the best team in the NFL?
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Philly’s still not getting that kind of respect from the national media, but it should be. Both Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley are playing at an MVP level, and the defense hasn’t allowed an opposing offense to score more than 20 points since Week 4.
The Lions will be a scary opponent for anyone down the stretch and in the playoffs, but the Eagles are cut from the same mold. Both teams are tough and physical on both sides of the ball. Both coaches tend to be aggressive with their decision making. Both teams are super efficient on offense and powered by dominant rushing attacks. Both teams are excellent on defense, though, Philly’s ability to smother top receivers is currently unmatched in the league.
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Just about every outlet has Detroit at the top of Monday morning power rankings. Here’s where NFL analysts have the Eagles perched in the pecking order entering Week 13:
Iyer: “The Eagles rode Saquon Barkley to big things in Los Angeles, and their defense keeps improving under Vic Fangio to make sure the NFC stays at least a two-team race with the Lions.”
Cluff: “The Eagles have now won seven straight but somehow seem to be flying under the radar thanks to the Lions’ nine-game streak.”
Johnson: “Thorough domination by the Philadelphia Eagles. Credit for the one-year turnaround starts with Howie Roseman and the work he did this offseason. Philadelphia hired Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator, added Saquon Barkley and Zach Baun all while drafting Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. Everything has worked out perfectly for Philadelphia. Even more remarkable, this win came without DeVonta Smith. The Eagles are unmistakably the second-best team in the NFL right now.”
Wirth: “Saquon Barkley is an absolute maniac. We already knew he had it in him, but running behind this offensive line seriously is a cheat code. It’s a two-horse race between him and Henry for OPOY, in my opinion.”
Dewey: “The Eagles continued their win streak on Sunday night, riding 255 rushing yards from Saquon Barkley to a blowout win over the Los Angeles Rams. Philly is still in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.”
Consensus ranking: No. 4 (no change)
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