Beating Packers Results in Eagles’ Being a Top-Five Super Bowl Contender Again
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Updated: April 9, 2020 at 12:06 pm EDTPublished:
- The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers 34-27 on Thursday Night Football
- The Eagles are now 2-2 on the season
- Philadelphia’s odds to win Super Bowl 54 improved from +2333 to +1400
Now that the Philadelphia Eagles landed their biggest victory of the NFL season, where do they go from here?
The sportsbooks think Philly has a much better chance of going to Super Bowl 54.
The average odds of the Eagles winning the Super Bowl this season stood at +2333 ahead of Week 4. Following Thursday’s 34-27 victory over the previously 3-0 Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia improved to +1400 in the 2020 Super Bowl odds.
Super Bowl 54 Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New England Patriots | +400 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +550 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +800 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +1000 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +1400 |
| Green Bay Packers | +1600 |
| Chicago Bears | +1600 |
| New Orleans Saints | +1600 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +2000 |
| Houston Texans | +2500 |
Odds taken on 09/27/19.
Philly’s only prior victory this season was a 32-27 triumph in Week 1 over the 0-3 Washington Redskins.
Eagles Take It To The Limit
Philadelphia became the first team from outside the NFC North to defeat an NFC North team when they beat the Packers. And they did it right in Lambeau Field.
Quarterback Carson Wentz only passed for 160 yards but he made the most of it, hitting for three touchdowns through the air.
Most games with 2+ passing TD In 1st 44 career games (per @pfref):
Dan Marino – 33*
Kurt Warner – 30*
Johnny Unitas – 27*
CARSON WENTZ – 26*Hall of Fame pic.twitter.com/RCQqO1FYkx
— 𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞 (@RochesRWinners) September 27, 2019
Minus wide receiver DeSean Jackson (abdomen), Wentz welcomed back wideout Alshon Jeffery (calf strain), who caught three balls for 38 yards and a TD. Jeffery missed Philly’s 27-24 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Weakened at wide receiver, Wentz shared the wealth in the passing game. Tight end Zach Ertz was his main target, snaring seven passes for 65 yards. Number-two tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Jordan Howard both caught TD passes.
Miles Sanders goes 66 yards on the kick return! @BoobieMilesXXIV #FlyEaglesFly #TNF#PHIvsGB on @NFLNetwork | @NFLonFOX | @PrimeVideo
How to watch: https://t.co/32PKxts362 pic.twitter.com/0tLRf0jKII— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2019
Howard (15 carries, 87 yards, 5.8 yards per carry) and rookie Miles Sanders (11-72, 65 ypc) enjoyed solid games running the ball. Sanders contributed a 66-yard kickoff return when Philly was down 10-0.
Who Will Come To Philly’s Defense?
Putting up points hasn’t been an issue for the Eagles. Philadelphia has scored at least 20 points in all four games this season. Philly is averaging 27.5 points per game. That’s sixth overall in the NFL.
It’s keeping the other team from scoring that’s proven problematic. Thursday was the third time in four games the Eagles surrendered 27 or more points. They’ve allowed 26.2 PPG on the year. That’s 24th in the league.
.@NigelBradham_13 ices the game!#PHIvsGB | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/GGqEaBM7RQ
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 27, 2019
A secondary that was already missing cornerback Ronald Darby (hamstring) also lost his replacement,Sidney Jones, to a hamstring injury on the second series of Thursday’s game.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers lit the Eagles up for 422 passing yards. But the defense made a game-saving play via linebacker Nigel Bradham’s end-zone interception of Rodgers with 20 seconds to play in regulation.
Super Bowl Pattern Doesn’t Fit
If Philadelphia is to be Super Bowl bound, the Eagles will need to channel their 1947 team.
Philly has gone to three Super Bowls and four NFL Championship Games during the pre-Super Bowl era. In six of those seasons, the Eagles lost once during their first four games.
Philadelphia Eagles Championship Starts
| Season | Record After Four Games | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 2-2 | Lost NFL Championship Game |
| 1948 | 2-1-1 | Won NFL Championship Game |
| 1949 | 3-1 | Won NFL Championship Game |
| 1960 | 3-1 | Won NFL Championship Game |
| 1980 | 3-1 | Lost Super Bowl |
| 2004 | 3-1 | Lost Super Bowl |
| 2017 | 3-1 | Won Super Bowl |
Only the 1947 Eagles reached the title game after opening 2-2. But the bad news is they lost the NFL Championship Game 28-21 to the Chicago Cardinals.
Tough Sledding Ahead
A year ago, Philly (9-7) grabbed the second NFC Wild Card. This season, the Eagles face a tough schedule.
Eagles fans interrupting Carson Wentz interview with Dallas Sucks chants 🤣🤣
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 27, 2019
Seven of their remaining 12 opponents currently have winning records – 3-0 New England, 3-0 Dallas (twice), 3-0 Buffalo, 2-1 Minnesota, 2-1 Chicago and 2-1 Seattle.
Making the playoffs will be difficult. Winning the Super Bowl simply isn’t in the cards.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
