The beauty of football is that everyone sees the same game and somehow walks away with a different conclusion. Some watched the Philadelphia Eagles escape with a 24-22 victory over the Washington Commanders and saw a flawed contender fortunate to survive. Others saw a team that won despite offensive struggles, protected the football, and found a way to close out a divisional game against a dangerous opponent.
That’s why power rankings are so fascinating this time of year. One week into the season, plenty of projection still comes into play. The Eagles entered the campaign viewed as one of the NFC’s better teams. After an uneven but successful opener, opinions remain all over the map. Here’s how several national outlets rank Philadelphia heading into Week 2.
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USA TODAY isn’t impressed by the 1-0 start and remains one of the most skeptical outlets. They place the Eagles in the bottom half of the league’s teams at number 18.
18. Philadelphia Eagles (17): They’re 6-0 in openers under HC Nick Sirianni and QB Jalen Hurts. And whatever the skeptics − hand raised − might think, Philly has yet to miss the playoffs with that duo, either. — Nate Davis
The National Football League’s official site stacks the Eagles just outside the top ten at number 11. That’s a drop of five spots from their previous ranking.
11. Philadelphia Eagles
“The Eagles didn’t start the season like a well-oiled machine, but they were able to rely on their defense for a good portion of Sunday’s opener and received some timely contributions from Jalen Hurts and Co. to outlast the Commanders. Philadelphia can be proud of starting 1-0, but the Eagles likely understand they’ll need to be better over the long haul to achieve their goals.” — Nick Shook
The Eagles fall one spot from their preseason ranking of 5th to land in the sixth slot on ESPN.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Non-QB newcomer debut: WR Dontayvion Wicks
Wicks had two catches for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Commanders. His 64-yard catch-and-run in the first half marked the longest reception of his career, providing a much-needed spark to the Eagles’ new-look offense. Wicks, acquired via trade from the Packers in April, has assumed the role of WR2 behind DeVonta Smith. Hurts and Wicks built a rapport over the spring and summer, and it translated to Week 1. — Tim McManus
FOX Sports previously ranked the Eagles third. They fell six spots after Week 1 to number nine.
#9 Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl odds: +1700
Jalen Hurts did what he had to do to win, but I’ve got the same feeling about the Eagles that I had last year: That offense really should be better. Why is it always such a struggle for them? — Ralph Vacciano
The takeaway is fairly simple. Nobody seems ready to bury the Eagles after one game, but nobody appears eager to crown them either. The rankings range from No. 6 to No. 18, which tells the story better than anything else could. Philadelphia earned the most important thing available in Week 1, a victory.
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Still, the performance left enough questions to fuel debate across the national media landscape. The good news is the Eagles won’t need to convince pollsters of anything. They’ll get another opportunity Sunday against the Titans. If the offense looks sharper and the offensive line settles in, expect Philadelphia to climb quickly. If the same issues resurface, the skepticism surrounding this team will only grow louder.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Power Rankings Roundup: Where do the Eagles stand after Week 1?
