Road to the Super Bowl: Reformatted Champions

PHILADELPHIA | In February 2018, the Eagles won the first Super Bowl in their history. They’re back near the top of the mountain, after a purge that left only five active champion players in the roster.

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In the NFL, glory can come back as quickly as it left. The team that hosts the 49ers on Sunday in Philadelphia for the National Conference Finals displays the same traits as it did five years ago, but with new faces.

Only center Jason Kelce, tackle Lane Johnson, tackle Fletcher Cox, defensive end Brandon Graham and kicker Jake Elliott are still on board.

After their championship, the Eagles quickly realized that they were taking wrinkles. In 2019, their average age was the second highest in the league. This season, they are betting on the ninth youngest roster.

“You can’t bet only on veterans, otherwise the energy may be lacking on the pitch. You can’t just have young people either, otherwise this energy will be badly channeled. We have a good depth in our line-up and that’s what makes us confident,” mentioned the great bearded sage Jason Kelce, during his press briefing yesterday.

An alert CEO

At the Eagles, the architect of the profound changes that have been made in recent years is general manager Howie Roseman.

He reshaped the offensive line (Landon Dickerson, Jordan Mailata), the backfield (Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell) and the defensive line (Josh Sweat, Jordan Davis) with good draft picks.

He has also been active in the free agent market and trades by spending smart.

In recent months, his smash hits have been numerous, whether it’s receiver AJ Brown (11 touchdowns), quarterback rusher Haason Reddick (16 sacks), cornerback James Bradberry (17 knockdowns) or safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (6 interceptions).

He also maintained the Eagles’ trademark depth on their defensive line by adding veterans like Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh along the way.

“Howie has done a good job bringing in impact players. Here, there are no starters and reservists. We are talking more about players 1A and 1B. We know that we can all count on each other,” summed up Fletcher Cox.

hard core

Nevertheless, despite the arrival of all these newcomers in recent years, the hard core remains. The distinguished members of the League of the Old Stove serve as mentors more than ever.

“I want to make sure that the younger guys, who haven’t tasted such an important game, raise their game. I enjoy my role in this team and I’m looking forward to making a big impact in this game” , raised Brandon Graham.

The latter, after suffering a torn Achilles tendon last season, made a remarkable comeback at 34, with 11 quarterback sacks.

Kelce, 35, is a respected voice in the locker room, having made his home in Philadelphia in 2011. Cox followed in 2012 and Lane Johnson a year later.

“In the NFL, I’ve never been with such a complete team,” said second-year head coach Nick Sirianni.

“I was taught very young in football that what matters more than anything is the offensive line and the defensive line. These are the guys who win games. We know we have great players up front and we know it’s the same in San Francisco. That’s what will make this conference final special. »

Brown denies being a ‘diva’

Across the NFL, the best wide receivers have a habit of throwing tantrums when things aren’t going their way. Despite his obvious displeasure in the Eagles’ win last Saturday, AJ Brown rejects the diva label.

Brown, who was picked up from the Titans in the last draft for first- and third-round picks, has more than lived up to the Eagles’ expectations this season.

He completed his first campaign in Philadelphia with 88 receptions, 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns. These are personal highs for the wide end who is only 25 years old.

Brown produces at a breakneck pace, the Eagles win and everyone spins blissfully. Still, with just over five minutes to go and a crushing 24-point lead, images of a crestfallen Brown on the bench with head coach Nick Sirianni trying to appease him have been the talk of the town.

The receiver had caught only three passes for 22 yards and despite the convincing victory, he did not hide that he was unhappy with his use.

“If they throw the ball at me 100 times, I’m going to want it 101 times,” he summed up to the media in the city of brotherly love.

Impact Player

That Brown wants to have the ball, nothing more normal. It’s the context that surprises, knowing that the Eagles dominated and that the ground game worked at full speed.

In this scenario, the Eagles hammered their rivals by 44 carries, compared to just 24 assists.

“Having the ball helps you stay on the pace. Of course I want the ball. I’m a receiver and I can change the course of a game in a moment, ”Brown continued to plead, with a smile, at his locker.

No bickering

Last week, Stefon Diggs acted up in Buffalo by garlanding Josh Allen on the bench. The receiver is just one of many who have repeatedly exploded when not central to the game plan. It’s become a habit, but Brown doesn’t see himself that way.

“I can do my job if I’m asked to block, it’s not a problem,” added the one who also opened a breach with a superb block on the touchdown of another Eagles receiver, DeVonta Smith. , last Saturday.

“I’m not the kind of receiver that’s going to go to the sidelines and create problems. She’s what you might describe as a diva, but I’m not that kind of person. »

In the city of brotherly love

GREAT ART…

It was foreseeable that one day, Tom Brady would be immortalized. The surprise is that it is already in the streets of Philadelphia. On Bainbridge Street, a huge mural refers to the Eagles’ victory over the Patriots in the Super Bowl five years ago, in a rather original way. We see an eagle in flight that grabs Brady in its claws. This flash of genius by artist Meg Saliman, made in 2018, has been attracting curious people ever since. Philadelphia’s fiery supporters are often misrepresented as bullies. Everyone should however know that they are highly sensitive to the nobility of great art!

A LITTLE THIRST

If you are passing through Philadelphia and thirst catches up with you, a stop in a small bar dedicated to the Eagles will charm you. The Tinsel, on the 12^e Street, is usually decorated in Halloween or Christmas mode. Since the beginning of the series, the place has become the Tinsel Takes Flight and takes on the air of a small Eagles museum with several artifacts from the past and photos from the present. For thirst, it is possible to satiate with a Philly Specialand Hurts so Goodin honor of the Eagles quarterback, or even with a Graham Sacker, to celebrate the defensive end of the same name. It’s green for a long time, but it’s worth the detour!

GO BIRDS !

A tourist who lands in Philadelphia and is unaware that it is the week of the final of the national conference will quickly realize that the city has nothing but its Eagles. A walk around the area of ​​the magnificent town hall shows this, with the posters “ Go Birds ! “, which flock everywhere. In the evening, some historic buildings are also illuminated in green. The Town Hall has been ranked 21^e rank on the 150 most beautiful structures of the list of the American Institute of Architects and has become one of the emblems of Philadelphia.