The Magic Number for the Eagles is 10
July 27, 2025
When I have lost confidence in forming a valid opinion about the Eagles, I turn to a foolproof system for unlocking the truth, which I will reveal shortly.
You may recall what has caused my reluctance to rely on my own instincts. Last season, at the start of training camp, I boldly predicted that 2024-25 would be an unmitigated disaster.
Coming off a collapse the previous season, the Birds and head coach Nick Sirianni were about to crash and burn. I was sure about it, right up until the Eagles roared past the bye week and reeled off 10 straight wins.
If predicting a five-victory season the year your team wins the Super Bowl doesn’t give you pause, you are a blockhead. I am not a blockhead. Just senile, I guess.
That’s why it’s time, right now, to make public my system for understanding better the Eagles. It’s very simple. I consult someone who is smarter than me, more rational than me, and is a walking Eagles encyclopedia. Literally.
Ray Didinger is the author of two different versions of the Eagles Encyclopedia, and it’s like everything else he has done in his Hall of Fame journalism career – brilliant.
At a lull in the conversation at lunch last week, I asked Ray if the Eagles would – not could – repeat as Super Bowl champions this season.
As usual, Ray paused. Most people pause when they don’t know what to say. Ray pauses to process the extraordinary amount of information in his head. It takes some time, so it’s best to just sit there and wait for the magic.
The first thing he said was very encouraging. He proclaimed that the Eagles have the most talented roster in the NFL. No question. Yes, even with all of the defections on defense. The Eagles have the best players.
Unfortunately, the best teams don’t always win. In fact, they often struggle mightily the year after a parade. Ray supported this point by providing a quick history lesson on what has happened after the Eagles appeared in previous Super Bowls.
I’ll spare you the ugly details. Suffice to say, the Birds have never performed near their potential the season after they made it to the big game.
Next, I ran by Ray my theory that the Eagles were doomed this season because they are back to relying on a totally unproven offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, after Kellen Moore got the head-coaching job in New Orleans.
Unlike me, Ray is not prone to knee-jerk reactions. He said there’s no way of knowing whether Patullo will be a good play-caller because the longtime assistant (and Sirianni bobo) has never done the job. He did concede it will be something to watch closely.
Didinger also expressed concern about how difficult the schedule is – with no notes, he broke down the most challenging parts – and especially how it ends with two games against the new NFC East power, Washington, sandwiching a trip to snowy Buffalo. Yuck.
But remember, the Eagles have the best players – a savvy quarterback, terrific receivers, the best running back, a killer offensive line and some amazing young kids on defense. Most of the players on that roster smoked Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, so I returned to the original question.
Will the Eagles repeat?
Another pause.
“Not likely,” he said.
I was not so bold to ask Ray how many games the Eagles will win this season. I did it many times when I was working the morning shift at WIP, and I never got the feeling Ray enjoyed the question.
Instead, you’re stuck with me for that.
My number is 10 – good enough to make the playoffs, but not so good that they will be back in the Super Bowl.
Sorry. Hey, at least I’m predicting twice as many wins as I did a year ago.
That’s progress, no?
Here’s a quick sports equation: If a team really needs to fill a key position and there’s a familiar player out there who can do it better than anyone else available, does one and one equal two?
Will the Flyers sign Carter Hart to return as their franchise goaltender now that he has finally been cleared of sexual-assault charges in Ontario?
Here’s an even tougher question: Should they?
Despite his legal exoneration, it’s harder to shake the stain of a two-year legal battle that revealed some unsavory stories about Hart and his young junior Team Canada teammates during a party that got out of control in 2018.
There will be many dissenters to this opinion – especially in an environment where zero-tolerance is the safest path when it comes to sexual assault – but I will offer it here anyway.
Yes, the Flyers should try hard – very hard – to bring Hart back. Other than the potential public backlash, there is no good reason not to try.
The NHL, after an investigation of its own, has cleared Hart and the other four defendants to return. The courts say they are not guilty.
Innocent until proven guilty.
Hart was found not guilty.
He has earned another chance.
Sign him.
It’s just a few days until the MLB trade deadline, but I need to jump ahead a bit and anticipate a major moment that is building for the Phillies once the current season ends.
At that point, Kyle Schwarber – in many ways the Jason Kelce of the Phillies – is scheduled to reach free agency. He has 36 home runs and 84 RBI so far in his walk year.
The first question I would have for GM Dave Dombrowski is why he allowed his biggest slugger to get this close to freedom. How could he commit $172 million to a mediocrity like Aaron Nola and not focus even more of his time and money on a stud like Schwarber?
I often point out here that I learned how to anticipate problems during my 33 years at WIP. Well, Schwarber leaving Philadelphia after this season would not just be a problem. It would be a catastrophe.
You could argue the Phils have better contributors, long-term, than Schwarber – Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler leading that list. You could even talk yourself out of a long new contract because Schwarber is 32 and looks more like a beer-league softball player than an NL All-Star.
But make no mistake. Schwarber has the love of the fans like no one else on a roster that has fallen short every season since the last championship in 2008.
Sign Schwarber, Dave.
If you don’t, good luck.
You will find out, the hard way, what happens when you fail your loyal fans.
Finally, a story that shocked me over the past week.
The Eagles are canvassing their fans about building a new stadium to replace the 22-year-old Lincoln Financial Field.
Huh?
One report has the decision already made, with a target date of opening the new facility in 2032.
I can remember getting a tour of the brand-new Linc in 2003 from a beaming team president Joe Banner. He and his then-pal, owner Jeff Lurie, were thrilled by the upgrade from decrepit Veterans Stadium to this sparkling, state-of-the-art building.
Now, a generation later, the Birds are not so smitten, obviously. They need a dome to lure the ultimate event, the Super Bowl, to Philadelphia, and Lurie usually gets what he wants.
I say yes, fine, let’s replace the Linc after a shockingly short time, but with one major proviso: Under no circumstances – none! – does a dollar of public money go to Lurie’s new toy.
Jeff Lurie is a billionaire, many times over.
If he has a new dream, that’s OK.
As long as he pays for it.