Why I’m excited about the Eagles this season

Each week, the SB Nation NFL team sites take some time to explore a special theme. This week’s theme is about looking ahead to the 2018 NFL season: “Why you are you excited about your team?”

The answer to this question normally would’ve be something like “I’m excited about the Eagles this year because maybe it’s finally their turn to win the Super Bowl.”

But that actually happened. The Eagles DID win the Super Bowl earlier this year.

So ... what now?

I’d be lying (and I think you might be, too) if I said I wasn’t feeling ANY sort of complacency. Really, it’s difficult not to. I legitimately believed the Eagles would NEVER win the Super Bowl in my lifetime. I was fully prepared for that. Now that they did, it feels like a weight has been lifted. I’m satisfied.

At the same time, I can’t help but feel like this Eagles team has unfinished business. And I don’t think that’s a normal thing for a team coming off a title win.

The thing that makes the Eagles’ situation different, of course, is that so many key players weren’t able to play in the Super Bowl. Carson Wentz, Jason Peters, Darren Sproles, Jordan Hicks, and Chris Maragos figure to be super hungry to get back to the big game. Even though it was awesome to see the Eagles overcome adversity and beat the Patriots despite not having those guys, we all know it’d be even better with those players on the field.

It feels especially important for the Eagles to win a Super Bowl with Wentz starting and playing the whole game. He came close to doing so before he got hurt and Nick Foles took over. It would really be a bummer if his career ends without HIM hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy and being named the Super Bowl MVP one day.

Another reason why it’s so important for the Eagles to go back and win another title is because they have a window to do so right now. And those windows don’t just last forever. Watching the Phillies win the World Series in 2008 was awesome. But it’s hard not to feel at least some level of disappointment after they failed to capitalize on chances to win more than one title.

The reality is the Eagles have a chance to become the NFL’s next dynasty. Now, it won’t be easy. As cliche as it sounds, the NFL is truly a year-to-year league. There are some exceptions, though, such as the Patriots. The Eagles may have what it takes to sustain success given that they arguably have the best people in the league at three key positons: quarterback (Wentz), head coach (Doug Pederson), and personnel decision maker (Howie Roseman).

The Eagles have a chance to do something really special this year. They can become the second team to ever repeat as Super Bowl champions in the salary cap era. History shows the odds are stacked against them. But boy will it be this fun-loving cast of talented characters them try to defy expectations once again.