Let’s pretend that we’re back in August of 2017. The Philadelphia Eagles just completed their final preseason game against the New York Jets. Final cuts were soon to come, as the team and fans eagerly awaited the opening day of the 2017 season against the Washington Redskins. Expectations among the city, and nationally were low for the Eagles. Most experts were projecting them to be a mediocre 7-9 or 8-8.
Many analysts and fans were unsure how second-year quarterback Carson Wentz would transition into his sophomore season. Also in his second year, head coach Doug Pederson was being heavily criticized for being so-called “unqualified.