Reminder: Power rankings are dumb. But hey, the Eagles are No. 1 on everyone’s power rankings! Power rankings are awesome!
The 8-1 Eagles head into their bye week atop the NFL standings. If the playoffs started today, as the ol’ sportswriter trope goes, the Eagles would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But the playoffs don’t start today. First off, that would be weird because it’s the middle of the week and NFL playoffs are always on the weekend. Second, we’re nine weeks into the season, so there’s still a lot of football left to play.
As good as the Eagles have looked through nine weeks — note: very, very good — they’re still just one game up in the loss column on the Rams, Vikings and Saints. What’s more, two of the Eagles’ upcoming opponents are 5-3 through eight games: The Birds will come off their bye to face Dallas on Sunday Night Football then, after hosting the Bears, head to Seattle. Then they face the Rams.
After getting this week off, the schedule gets really tough for Philly. But for now — IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY — the Eagles are top of the heap. Kings of the NFL hill. Just look at all the power rankings that have the Eagles first.
Yahoo Sports
Frank Schwab handles the power rankings at Yahoo and has the Eagles ahead of Patriots, Steelers and Saints, with the Rams fifth and Kansas City — the only team to beat the Eagles — sixth after their loss to Dallas.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1, LW: 1)
They put up 51 points without Zach Ertz, who has been their most reliable receiver. Against a Broncos defense that is still among the best in the NFL. They’re deep on offense, especially with Alshon Jeffery heating up and Jay Ajayi in the mix. The Eagles have a bye week and then a fun Sunday night matchup at Dallas on Nov. 19. Win that and they’re running downhill to a division title.
Bleacher Report
Chris Simms, yep Phil Simms’ son, does the weekly power rankings over at B/R and he writes sentences like this: “One thing all of these top teams have in common is at least one facet of the game that is elite.” Chip off the ol’ apple tree, that Simms. Anyway, he has the Eagles tops too. His Eagles write up, in part:
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
If the Patriots are the best team in the AFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the NFL. Adding running back Jay Ajayi to help balance out the offense puts an already elite team over the top.
What’s elite about Philadelphia? Well, quarterback Carson Wentz for one. His play in year two has been incredible. He can attack downfield, buy time in the pocket, make plays with his legs and create offense on his own. There isn’t anything he cannot do, and when the Eagles need to rely on him, he delivers.
The fact Wentz and the Eagles offense just dropped 51 points on Denver should tell you all you need to know about how dangerous this unit is.
Simms also noted that the defensive line is elite and that they don’t have many weaknesses, after calling the cornerbacks below average.
CBS Sports
NFL guru Pete Prisco handles the power ranking process at CBS Sports. He has the Eagles No.1.
The schedule is about to get a lot tougher the next month. We will know a lot more about them come December.
ESPN
The Worldwide Leader has a group of 80 — EIGHTY — writers, editors and on-air talking heads who vote in their weekly power rankings (take THAT, Prisco!) and that group has the Eagles at No. 1.
2017 record: 8-1
Week 9 ranking: No. 1
Preseason ranking: 15. Carson Wentz leads the NFL in touchdown passes (23) and is the primary reason the Eagles jumped from 15th heading into the season to first in our midseason edition. Thanks to the great start, Philadelphia is the FPI favorite to win the Super Bowl (20.8 percent chance).
NBC Sports/PFT
NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk has the Eagles on top and, spoiler alert, they’re going to be on top next week too.
NFL.com
Elliot Harrison at NFL.com handles their power rankings and has the Birds soaring above the rest of the NFL. (All of the links below are video highlights, so get clicking if you want to relive Sunday’s blowout.)
The first quarter of Sunday’s blowout of the Broncos told you all you needed to know about these Eagles. Carson Wentz led them on three scoring drives in three possessions. The third was set up by a mid-tier free-agent acquisition who has proven himself to be another contributor, if not star, for Doug Pederson’s team: Patrick Robinson, whose interception of Brock Osweiler in Denver territory made that scoring march rather short. It was paid off by another unheralded player in running back Corey Clement. The dot on the previous Eagles possession was provided by kicker Jake Elliott, who has been absolutely huge for Philly this season. Can’t imagine anyone would argue with this ranking.
SB Nation
Adam Stites led his SB Nation power ranking column with an ode to the Eagles, saying, “there’s really no reason why Philadelphia shouldn’t feel really good about its chances at a division crown and so much more.”
SI.com
The Sports Illustrated MMQB power rankings have 15 voters and if you read their rankings they spend more time talking about themselves than football, with zero mention of the Eagles outside of their top ranking.
Worth noting: Only 11 of the 15 voters chose the Eagles. And someone picked them fourth.
Last Week’s Rank: 1
Points in MMQB Power Poll: 474
First-Place Votes: 11 (Baskin, Brandt, DePetro, Duerson, Feldman, Kahler, Marston, Mravic, Orr, Rohan, Vrentas)
Lowest-Place Vote: Fourth
Last Week’s Result: Win vs. Denver, 51-23
Week 10 Opponent: bye week
Fox Sports
Fox Sports has pivoted to video, and there is no way in the world I will subject our readers to what Skip Bayless has to say about the Eagles. Just know he’s picking the Patriots over the Eagles in the Super Bowl. So we’re officially jinxed.
Pro Football Focus
PFF puts out their power rankings a day later than everyone else, because of course they do, but last week they had the Eagles third. After scoring 51 points on Denver and seeing Kansas City lose to Dallas, surely the Eagles will move up to at least second and perhaps pass the Patriots at No. 1.
Alas, until their rankings come out, enjoy this in-depth breakdown of Carson Wentz and Jared Goff. Let’s not even get started on what the talking heads think about MVP race yet.
