This year the injuries were too much to overcome

Football is a game of attrition. The best teams usually have relatively healthy rosters, which is one of the things that made the 2017 Eagles so special. That team was able to overcome a injuries to key players and win the Super Bowl. The 2018 Eagles also dealt with injuries, but theirs were both high quality and high quantity, and while they didn’t win the Super Bowl, they did pretty damn good for a defending champion. As we go through the Eagles post-mortem and look at the injuries that kept starters or major role players out for significant stretches, it’s impressive that the Eagles were so close to playing this weekend.

16 Games (and playoffs)

Mack Hollins

Paul Worrilow

14 Games

Mike Wallace (and playoffs)

13 Games

Rodney McLeod (and playoffs)

Timmy Jernigan

12 Games

Jay Ajayi (and playoffs)

10 Games

Darren Sproles

Derek Barnett (and playoffs)

8 Games

Jalen Mills (and playoffs)

7 Games

Ronald Darby (and playoffs)

Sidney Jones (and playoffs)

5 Games

Carson Wentz (and playoffs)

Corey Clement (and playoffs)

At no point this season did the Eagles field a full strength team. Thirteen players who were or were expected to be starters or key contributors missed at least a third of the season (and that’s not counting Chris Maragos, who’s timetable was always up in the air until it was determined he needed a second surgery). Eleven of them missed the playoffs. Only seven players on offense played in every game, on defense only six. Continuity is just about the last word you’d use to describe the 2018 Eagles.

And yet only four teams had a better season. That’s a huge testament to the rest of the talent on the roster, the front office, and the coaching staff.