The 2022 NFL season is officially a wrap. And what a season it was.
After a series of unbelievable playoff games, the season culminated with another great contest on the biggest stage between the Rams and Bengals. Not to mention the halftime show was pretty sweet as well.
As always, there are a few things the Eagles can learn from this game. If they’re able to apply these lessons moving forward, the Eagles will undoubtedly be in a better position to contend next season.
Make the Pass Rush Great Again
Remember when the Eagles defensive line was the most vaunted unit in the NFL? I couldn’t help but reminisce watching both defensive lines wreak havoc all throughout Super Bowl LVI.
For all the needs facing this Eagles team, the defensive line doesn’t get mentioned nearly as much as it should. The defense in general needs serious attention this offseason, but it goes without saying that the defensive line is the most valuable piece to the defensive puzzle. Not only does getting after the passer with four help the coverage on the backend, we saw what a great defensive line can do against a stout running game. The Bengals contained Sean McVay’s rushing attack to just 42 yards on 23 attempts (1.9 YPC), due in large part to their defensive lineman consistently creating disruption along the line of scrimmage.
Howie Roseman is going to address the Eagles defensive line this offseason, it’s just a question of how many assets is he going to pour into the unit. With three first-round picks, I wouldn’t be shocked if two of them are used to bolster the defensive line. It’s a deep class for EDGE rushers and a solid class for interior lineman as well.
We know Roseman prides himself in building his team through the trenches. Shoring up his defensive line is the first step in getting this Eagles defense back into elite territory.
Don’t Shy Away From Feeding Your Playmakers
Far too often this season, Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts would shy away from getting DeVonta Smith involved. Smith still finished his rookie campaign as the leading receiver for the Eagles in every major category, but his absence in big moments was always perplexing.
Once the Rams lost Odell Beckham Jr. last night, everyone in the country knew who they’d target the rest of the way. Cooper Kupp delivered, hauling in eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, one of them being the game winner, en route to a Super Bowl MVP. Kupp is on a different level as far as playmakers are concerned, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the Eagles should learn from this.
Smith is far and away their best receiving option on the outside and their most exciting playmaker. When in doubt, go to your best players. Football doesn’t have to be so complicated all the time. For all the mistakes Matthew Stafford made during the Super Bowl, he knew what he had to do in crunch time, and it won him a Super Bowl.
Smith can be the Eagles’ Cooper Kupp if they allow it. Just feed him the rock and let him do the rest. I promise, it will payoff in the end.
Keep The Offensive Line Intact as Long as Possible
While both defensive lines played out of their minds during the Super Bowl, it was also apparent that neither offensive line was equipped to overcome the vaunted fronts. If the Bengals had a better offensive line, they probably would have won that game.
Joe Burrow got sacked seven times, tying a Super Bowl record. He has all the weapons any quarterback could ever ask for, but the offensive line has consistently been their kryptonite. The Eagles are on the opposite side of that coin. They don’t have a treasure trove of weapons to work with, but they have a top-3 offensive line in football and it helped pave the way for their playoff run.
Finding that sweet spot between having a great offensive line and a solid group of skill players is key, and very few NFL teams have both. But the Eagles are closer than some may think. They already have the guys up front, they just need one more stout receiver to really bring it all together.
Having guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon is obviously great, but at the end of the day, Cincy only averaged 23 points per game during the postseason. The weapons are meaningless when the quarterback barely has two seconds to get rid of the ball.
Keeping this offensive line intact will be pivotal for the Eagles moving forward. Thankfully, all of their guys are under contract and Jason Kelce is reportedly coming back for another season.