Were the Philadelphia Eagles Healthy?
Continuing our health breakdown in the NFC East, let’s dive into the health of the Super Bowl runner-up Philadelphia Eagles. Philly was one of the healthiest teams all year and it is no surprise when you look at how far they were able to go this past season. In-fact The Predictors Banged-Up Score was a great identifier to the success they would have over the season. After the regular season the Eagles had an average BUS score of 80.9 and an average weekly rank of 5.9 out of 32 teams. This landed them as the 4th healthiest team overall when looking at average rank.
Their Banged-Up Score trend matched their success with their lowest scores coming when QB Jalen Hurts was dealing with his SC Joint Sprain. Examining their trend showed a consistent decline between their regular season and post season bye weeks. Luckily for them, they had very little steep drop offs and more subtle week by week injuries which tends to allow other players to step up and learn to mesh with the other starters even if there is an injury or two that may affect a particular position group.
Who was injured on the Eagles?
In the case of the Eagles those big impact injuries were split amongst the team as opposed to one group sustaining multiple issues (like the Giants had at WR). On offense, the end of the season was the biggest problem. TE Dallas Goedert was sent to the IR with a shoulder issue and OT Lane Johnson was out with a groin injury the last two weeks of the regular season and continued to deal with it through the playoffs (albeit played exceptional despite the injury). As previously mentioned, QB Jalen Hurts was the biggest story for the Eagles sitting out to nurse an SC Joint injury and having to play week 18 to make sure they got their needed win.
On defense they dealt with injuries as well. DT Jordan Davis spent a good portion of the mid-season on IR due to a high ankle injury. An injury mind you that can see about a 5-10% drop in snap percentage upon return for the first three games back meaning that even upon return he wasn’t 100%. CJ Gardner-Johnson also found his way to IR after suffering a lacerated kidney. A big blow to a dominant secondary. Finally, Derek Barnett tore his ACL in week 1 effectively ending his season and limiting some depth on the defensive line.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Philadelphia Eagles Tight End Dallas Goedert (88) spikes the ball to celebrate scoring a touchdown during the first half of the National Football League game between the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles on November 14, 2022, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)
How was the Philadelphia Eagles health in the Super Bowl?
Despite the injuries and adversity, the Eagles when compared to other teams were able to escape the season relatively healthy. Most of the injuries they faced were for a few games and then the athlete was able to recover enough to return and compete. The playoff portion of their season did see a nice up slope in BUS trend which shows a rise in health as they worked for the playoffs. We all know that players do tend to overcome injuries when the stakes are high and take the field regardless of some chronic issues, but it does tell us that most of those issues weren’t severe enough to hold them back.
Ultimately the Eagles played Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII and fell to them 38-35 in an unbelievably close game. Kansas City had the slightest health in edge according to the Banged-Up Score with an 89.3 compared with the Eagles 82.5. Much of that from special teams and defense. The Eagles showed that health gave them a huge advantage all year and as they got into the playoffs, Eagles rode a better BUS health ranking up to the Super Bowl, unfortunately for birds fans that’s where it stopped and Kansas City’s health score proved again that health matters!
