Eagles' Surprising Playoff Hopes Rely On Wentz & "Next Man Up"

I hate injuries in sports, as I'm sure anyone else does. There's nothing more devastating to a team's hopes for the season than injuries. That's why there's that saying, "The best ability is durability".






Through 7 games of the 2017 season, here is a list of the notable names on season-ending IR right now for the Philadelphia Eagles:

• Darren Sproles
• Chris Maragos
• Jordan Hicks
• Jason Peters

Just so we're all on the same page, that's the team's most electric offensive weapon they've had the past few seasons, their Special Teams ace, their big play linebacker, and their future HOF left tackle, all gone for the season. And oh yeah, they're all considered important leaders on the team as well.








Sproles has shown time and time again to be a player you can count on to make a big play when needed. Even at his age he was one of the main guys that opposing defenses and special teams focused on.








Maragos might not be a fancy name that gets talked about a lot but make no mistake about it, he has been one of the top Special Teams players in the whole league. There's a reason why he was named a captain and had a designated spot on the team for years, because it sure wasn't because of his skills as a safety.








The Hicks and Peters injuries are the recent ones, and I can argue that they're the most significant ones to hit the team so far. The team has gotten a little bit accustomed to playing without Hicks as the young linebacker has never been able to stay healthy throughout an entire season in his career yet. What makes it tough is that the LB depth was already the biggest weakness on the team. With both Kendricks and Hicks down, the Redskins attacked our LBs using play action and RPO (Run-Pass Option). You have to think that each opponent the Eagles face going forward will do the same.






However, more than anything else, not having Jason Peters for the rest of the season (and maybe ever again) is going to be the toughest challenge for this team. No one can fully replace him. Not only has he been playing at a stellar level this year a usual, but he is arguably the heart and soul of this team, and that's with Wentz included. Peters has a presence about him. When he walks into the locker room or onto the field, the team knows it. When he speaks the players not only listen, but they turn his words into action.






Remember during the Giants game after Jake Elliott missed a kick? Peters was on the sideline telling him "No more misses"! Elliott's been doing pretty well after that.






Even as Peters was getting carted off the field on Monday night, one thing he was adamant about was giving Big V advice. "Just keep your composure and calm down. Take two good kicks, don't over set, you'll be fine." Big V did pretty well after that.






If the Philadelphia Eagles are going to make a run at the Super Bowl this year, a run that almost no one expected, they're going to have to do it without Jason Peters. They're going to have to do it without Darren Sproles. They're going to have to do it without Jordan Hicks. They're going to have to do it without Chris Maragos.






That is no small task.






But they can do it.






The keys to a potential playoff run will rely on 2 things:

1. Carson Wentz
2. The Next Man Up

We already know about the level Wentz has been playing at this season, especially the last 3 games. Right now he's a legitimate MVP candidate, and even the favorite in some people's eyes. His pre-snap reads and adjustments, footwork, mechanics, progressions, pocket presence, accuracy; he's not only improved drastically in all of those areas but he's doing them at an elite level. It might only be his second year, but he's already playing like a top tier QB. The Eagles' season goes as Carson Wentz goes, there's no debating that.






But it's not just on him. Wentz needs the rest of the team to keep playing at a high level, and that includes the players stepping in for the injured ones. The doors might have closed on Sproles, Maragos, Hicks, and Peters, but that just leaves the window open for others to come in and shine. This is an opportunity for them to prove themselves and make an impact on a team that is in position to make a deep playoff run.






The RBs, led by LeGarrette Blount, have done a great job as a unit of providing a really good ground game. Smallwood, Barner, and even Clement have been good receiving options out of the backfield, filling in that role for Sproles. Blount is still the best of the group in pass protection, but Smallwood and Clement have definitely made strides in that area. And Barner has done very well as the team's new punt returner.






Players like Mack Hollins, Kamu Grugier-Hill, and Corey Clement had good games on ST against the Redskins, coming up with some really good tackles and blocks. Did anyone else see the block Clement laid out on Barner's long punt return?!






Even though no one can fully replace Peters, Vaitai has come in and played well when called upon. He's come a long way since his first start last year, and it showed against the Panthers and Redskins. Having him in there at LT isn't the end of the world.






We also can't forget that while players are going down with injuries, there are players that are coming back from injuries too. Ronald Darby is set to return soon, maybe this upcoming game against the 49ers. Getting him back is going to help our secondary drastically and give Schwartz more coverage and blitzing options. Mychal Kendricks, who sat out the Redskins game, should be back for the 49ers game as well. He's been playing like the Kendricks we saw early in his career and if he stays healthy him and Bradham would still give us a very capable LB duo. And even though we have to temper any expectations when it comes to him, Sydney Jones still has a small chance of playing this season. So even though attrition is kicking in, reinforcements are still on the way.






Finally, even though those injured players might not be able to take the field, you can bet that their voices will still be heard. They will still make an impact on this team one way or another.






Super Bowl teams don't win it all simply because everything goes their way. They face adversity during the season, whether it be with injuries or struggles with their level of play. What makes a difference is how they face and get through that adversity; with their resilience, persistence, and never ending fight to achieve the ultimate goal no matter what comes their way.






If this Eagles team wants to become the first in franchise history to accomplish the feat of becoming Super Bowl Champions, then that "Next Man Up" is going to have to earn it, just like everyone else on the roster. No exceptions, no weak links.