| Andrew Perna. 8th April, 2009 - 3:45 pm
 Record: 9-6-1
Trench Counter: +5.6 (4th)
Point differential per game: 7.9 (4th)
Payroll: $109.6M
Cost Per Win: $12.2M (12th)
Passing offense: 244.4 (6th)
Rushing offense: 106.1 (22nd)
Passing defense: 182.1 (3rd)
Rushing defense: 92.3 (4th)
Turnover differential: +0.2 (14th)
Strength of schedule: 15th
If their season were a song: Hate That I Love You - Rihanna
Game-by-Game (Score, Trench Counter)
Week 1: STL, 38-0 Win, +25.7
Week 2: @ DAL, 37-41 Loss, +4.8
Week 3: PIT, 15-6 Win, +1.5
Week 4: @ CHI, 20-24 Loss, +9.7
Week 5: WSH, 17-23 Loss, -6.5
Week 6: @ SF, 40-26 Win, +17.3
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: ATL, 27-14 Win, +13.6
Week 9: @ SEA, 26-7 Win, +6.4
Week 10: NYG, 31-36 Loss, -6.8
Week 11: @ CIN, 13-13 Tie, -6.7
Week 12: @ BAL, 7-36 Loss, -18.6
Week 13: ARI, 48-20 Win, +16.8
Week 14: @ NYG, 20-14 Win, +4.8
Week 15: CLE, 30-10 Win, +11.8
Week 16: @ WSH, 3-10 Loss, -1.2
Week 17: DAL, 44-6 Win, +17.1
Season Summary
It was a roller coaster ride for the Eagles, who made the playoffs despite appearing dead after a controversial loss to the Ravens in Week 12. After coming out of nowhere to make the postseason, they came within a few minutes of the Super Bowl.
Reina Value and FIC Rank
Quarterback
- Donovan McNabb (7th, 878, +6%)
It was an eventual season for McNabb, who was benched at halftime of a loss to Baltimore that appeared to derail not only Philadelphia's season, but also the quarterback's time with the Eagles. He put the controversy behind him and helped lead the team to the playoffs, going 345-for-571 with 3,916 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions over the season.
Running Backs
- Brian Westbrook (12th, [617 rushing, 324 receiving], +18%)
Once again, Westbrook struggled with injuries in 2008, playing in fourteen games and battling through issues in a number of others. He tallied 936 rushing yards, less than 1,000 for the first time in three seasons. He also averaged 4.0 yards per carry, a career low. He did, however, score nine touchdowns, a career mark. His receiving stats, 54 catches for 402 yards, was a five-year low.
- Correll Buckhalter (38th, [350 rushing, 137 receiving], +56%)
Buckhalter fulfilled his typical role with the Eagles in 2008, spelling Westbrook and filling in when B-West was out with injuries. He was more of a threat in the passing game than Philadelphia had become used to, while his rushing stats were on par with his career numbers. His best performance came in Week 6 against the 49ers when he tallied 93 yards and a touchdown on eighteen carries.
Wide Receivers
- DeSean Jackson (29th, 566, +505%)
Jackson came right out of college and became Philadelphia's top target. He accumulated 62 receptions for 912 yards and two touchdowns, posting back-to-back 100-yard games in his first two games as a professional. He showed his age at times, like against Dallas in Week 2, but could turn into the No. 1 receiver the team has been missing.
- Hank Baskett (70th, 285, +262%)
As usual, the Eagles spread the ball around in 2008. Baskett caught 33 balls for 440 yards and three touchdowns. He became a reliable target for McNabb in clutch situations, and received more looks at the beginning of the season with Curtis out due to injury. He had 197 yards and a score in the season's first three weeks, meaning that he posted a paltry 243 yards over the final fourteen weeks of the season.
- Kevin Curtis (73rd, 257, -63%)
He didn't make his debut until Week 8 against the Falcons because of a hernia, and soon after established himself as the team's clear No. 2 receiver. He has a knack for creating space in the secondary and had four catches for 122 yards in January's playoff loss to Arizona. That game, however, marked his only 100-yard game of the season. He tallied 390 yards and two scores on 33 receptions in the regular season.
- Jason Avant (76th, 253, +137%)
Avant stepped in whenever any of the three receivers ahead of him were ineffective. His best game came in Week 15 against the Browns, when he posted 101 yards on five receptions. Aside from that effort, he didn't top 45 yards in any other game in 2008.
Tight End
- L.J. Smith (29th, 217, -67%)
Smith, who signed with the Ravens, has played his final game with the Eagles, but he certainly didn't go out with a bang. He posted 37 receptions for 298 yards and three touchdowns in his sixth professional season. He has missed nine games over the last two seasons, during which he accumulated a total of 534 yards (lower than his individual tallies in both 2005 and 2006).
- Brent Celek (30th, 207, 241%)
Celek moved ahead of Smith in just his second season in the league, catching 27 balls for 318 yards and a touchdown. A majority of those statistics came in the second half of the season, including six catches for 131 yards against the Seahawks in Week 9. He continued to improve in the playoffs, tallying 19 receptions for 151 yards and three scores in Philadelphia's three games.
Defensive Summary
The Eagles were strong defensively once again, ranking near the top of the league in most statistics. The defense helped carry the team towards the end of the season and into the playoffs, but struggled a step against the Cardinals and surrendered 32 points in their season-ending loss. The loss of veteran safety Brian Dawkins will place some doubt over the team's unit heading into 2009.
Biggest draft needs
The Eagles could look for help in a variety of places, including (but not limited to) tight end, safety, running back and on both lines. That's a pretty hefty shopping list, but Philadelphia does have a surplus of picks to try and fill holes.
Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM’s Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com. |
