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Soaring In The Wonderland
- DJ Potter - The Founder
- Feb 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 13
Narratives have been broken, new champions have been crowned. For the second time in NFL history, the Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions. Doing so in shocking fashion, Philly stumped the Chiefs' three-peat attempt by puttin’ an out whoppin’ on ‘em in the grandaddy of ‘em all in front of a record 127M people. Straight belt to tail type of whoppin’. One that no person watching had predicted to happen. Only the warriors in the midnight green knew what was going down that night in the SuperDome. Through the surprise, many-many narratives had been broken, and in more surprise than any- the World outside of Chiefs Nation, were actually behind the Eagles every step of the way. Who would have thought!? That’s what happens when you stop two dynasties; and stump two potential three-peats.
This second Super Bowl win is far different than the first one for the Eagles. The 2017 champions came from a Cinderella tale (despite being a 1 seed), whereas these Eagles made up the best team in franchise history- who finished things the right way. Philly finished the season winning 16 of 17 games, put up the most points in playoff history, and smashed the back-to-back defending champions in the Big Game; being up as much as 34-nil in the second half. As different the wins are, both championship tales did have similar plots, as they both stem from revenge. First it was the loss in ‘04 to Brady and Belichick that was revenged in ‘17, now it’s the loss from two years ago to Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid that has now been conquered and revenged. Quite the tidbit, especially when one of the revenge plots spanned over a 13-year time.
Although the two wins were written in different style, one thing is certain- both wins were gritty as ever. Eagles have had to fight and claw in order to reach the mountaintop to hoist the Lombardi. The two rings, the two banners soon to hang side-and-side inside the Linc’s hub, come in victory over two running dynasties, over two of the most dominant QBs in playoff history. The second one also came over the best big game DC in the land. Like all championship wins, it took a full puzzle to complete. What a championship puzzle this team formed. Arguably the best in franchise history all across the board. This win came from the front office, the coaching staff, and from the best overall roster in team history (I'll keep saying it). It all started the moment the team saw the red and yellow confetti fall down from above them in LVII. The anger was set, as the poise turned on. Howie Roseman got to WORK.
A high percentage of the roster from the LVII loss were able to deliver the revenge in LIX, but the revenge wasn’t possible without the additions that came after that loss. Dealing with losing Kelce and Cox, Roseman hit major success in the draft room, as well as in the free agent & trade markets, doing so in little time to get that roster back to the Big Game. The additions of Saquon Barkley, Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, and several young studs made up the missing pieces to the LVII puzzle (among other FA signings). Now it’s championship certified. Howie Roseman gets a big pat on the back. I mean, he gets this more than anything:
Not just for the player acquisition, but also for holding Coach Sirianni accountable & helping him build a money staff. Which ultimately elevated Sirianni in many ways. The coordinator decisions were spot on. Kellen Moore may have had some ups and downs throughout the regular season (Barkley the ultimate flak-jacket), but when it mattered the most- he stepped up in the playoffs to help orchestrate the offense to the most combined points ever in a single playoff. As did the man up in the booth. The man who may have been the best acquisition of them all, along with 26.
Vic Fangio did absolute wonders for the Eagles this season. One of the best hires in recent memory in terms of immediate success. How does Vic finish off a season that saw him turn around a 30/26 defense, to a 2/1 defense (Points/Yards)? Well by coaching one of the greatest defensive performances in Super Bowl history, or any game in history for that matter, against the king of big-game defensive play-calling, Spagz. Fangio’s defense showed up Spagz, against Reid and Mahomes, the back-to-back champs whom have been dominating the league offensively in big games for years. Holy cow what a feat; what a defensive game-call. Pure masterclass in the grandest of fashion.
Philadelphia did not blitz once across 42 dropbacks in Super Bowl LIX, just the 4th defense to not blitz in a game in the NGS era. Relying on their front-four, the Eagles generated 16 pressures and sacked Mahomes six times, his most in a game in his career. This cat Fangio really said, “ayo Spagz, you can go ahead and try and blitz Hurts, I’ll show how to penetrate the QB in the grittiest and most old school way possible: my front-four out-manning your front with perfect drop coverages in the back”. Battle of legends, and Fangio comes out in resounding fashion. What a defensive performance. Don’t let those garbage points fool you; it was 40-6 with 9 mins left in the game. Eagles defense was FLYING. It was quite an impressive performance.
The defense showed out and then some; allowing the offense to take the energy to run away with the game. The best roster in franchise history (4th time saying?), logging in their best game of the campaign. Led by the man himself, the Super Bowl MVP, Jalen Hurts. The man who never gives up. Who never caves into the critics & doubters (myself included). The man who breaks the narratives, and leads by example through faith and integrity. Hurts continues to shine in the clutch, delivering another classic Super Bowl performance. I knew that Barkley would be to over game-planned. The focus was on 26; everyone knew Hurts was going to be tested.. and he passed with flying colors to get his flowers, and his (first) ring. Hurts was LOCKED in:
video via NFL//X
You can doubt Hurts all you want, but the guy is stone-cold in the clutch. He has continued to evolve and evolve, getting better after each failure or obstacle. It’s quite inspirational. His story has epic ESPN 30-For-30 writing. From all the drama and plot in his college days, to now. Anytime he has failed, he has found a way to come back stronger and better- in more ways than one. Seeing Hurts become the QB he is today is wowing. His leadership has always been there; but the skill gets better and better when he has confidence and the right people around him. A lesson for everyone to quest. That’s why this week has been a camera roll of legendary sports flicks with 1 as the main subject matter. None as raw as this:
Nor as legendary as this epic before and after of a historic revenge:
I am one of many who have doubted Jalen Hurts’ skill, but never have I doubted his work ethic; his performance ends several of the doubts I ever had regarding his skill. Hurts is a winner; and he is clutch. The guy has NEVER had the same play-caller in consecutive seasons since he began his college years; a trend that unfortunately continues. Yet, he somehow evolves as a QB. When he is confident and locked-in; he actually has top of his position-group skill. The Super Bowl performances prove it. As dynamic as ever, changing the tone of the game with his feet, arm, and precision. I won’t be doubting him again. Hurts is a proven winner, and one of the best players on the planet when his team needs him. When he is confident, and in a quest. Rather it's with his voice, legs, or arm; the cat is a baller. A trusted franchise QB. The truth hurts; keep on hatin', or recognize:
Sirianni is another cat that has stirred my views. I don’t necessarily rave about the guy, but one thing is certain: he can motivate men, and now a championship team. The players ride for him. That says ENOUGH. His performance this year was impressive, and inspiring. Coach Sirianni took accountability, and improved. The playoff run was marvelous. He was active on the sidelines, intuitive, and energetic. The guy continues to be a winner, even through adversity. This 4-year coaching stretch is unlike few before him, which has put him in some impressive company. Only three coaches in NFL history currently have a .700 career winning percentage and a Super Bowl Championship: Sirianni, John Madden, and Vince Lombardi. Sirianni also has the second-most wins (54) by any head coach through four seasons in NFL history. The guy is slowly paving one of the more underrated roads of greatness we have seen.
Hopefully, Sirianni can get another high level OC in the fray to replace Kellen Moore, and that Fangio will stay in Philly until retirement (which hopefully isn’t anytime soon). The roster is still loaded, with some moves to be made this offseason- in Howie you trust! Looks like no curse was formed in 2017, nor after with Doug Pedersen. Sirianni is proving to be one heck of a head coach when everything around him is aligned (as it is for all great HCs). Get a strong OC, and get back to business.
Shoutout to the Philadelphia Eagles. What a team; what a staff. From Vic Fangio, to Jeff Stoutland, and through Roseman’s chef kiss of a roster- this championship puzzle was perfection. Fangio delivers a number-one defense with just some rookie additions, and some covered up gems buried in the free agent market. Saquon Barkley puts up the greatest rushing season of all-time. Zack Baun should have won Defensive Player of the Year. Jalen Carter evolves into the next coming of Aaron Donald. Just pure magic all around. Now that magic enters the wonderland in NFL galore. Needing to get another OC is a hurdle, but this team has all the makings of returning to the Big One very-very soon. Fly Eagles Fly.
GO BIRDS! E-A-G-L-E-S... until the next one!
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