The news of the 2017 NFL season was dominated by the Philadelphia Eagles and Carson Wentz. The Eagles fans rejoiced as their team went from a 4-12 season in 2016 to a playoff berth in one year. But the joy was somewhat diminished when it was revealed that Wentz damaged his knee in the process of making the amazing comeback. It was a disappointing turn of events for Eagles fans who had waited so long to finally see their quarterback healthy and effective.
The Basics
To make the perfect sheet for NFL playoff picks, you will need to have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer. You will also need to have an active NFL account with WorldSeries.com to log in and create the sheet. Finally, you will need a U.S. Bank Quick-Check® debit card (for use with U.S. Bank Online Banking) to make the wager. The odds, moneyline, and total (points) for each game will need to be entered manually.
For those who don’t have Excel, you can download the free Office 365™ program which comes with Excel. You will also need to have Microsoft Windows® installed on your computer to use the software.
The Eagles Offense
Before the season started, many predicted that the Eagles would struggle this year after losing many of their offensive stars from last year. That turned out to be true as the team only managed to score 14.5 points per game this year. That’s nearly a full point below their 2016 average (14.9 PPG). Even worse, the offense only converted 6.2% of their third down situations into first downs this year, which is the second worst rate in the league.
The Defense
On the other side of the coin, the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense was pretty good this year, especially considering how many injuries they suffered. The team only surrendered 23.4 points per game, which was a full point below their 2016 average. The Eagles defense also didn’t give up many big plays as they forced teams into a 5.3 yards per play average, which is the best rate in the NFL. In fact, only four teams scored more than 20 points against the Eagles this year.
The Verdict
Based on the performances of the Eagles this year, it’s hard to not be at least a little bit surprised by their playoff performance. They were one of the best teams in the league this year and it’s easy to see why. Despite their offensive woes, the defense carried the Eagles to the playoffs and in the first round they beat the Falcons 28-21. In the second round, they eliminated the Rams in a very close game 27-25. That means that, for the second year in a row, the Eagles will be playing in the postseason. Thanks to some very sneaky play by the oddsmakers at WorldSeries.com, who got them involved in a high-scoring thriller against the Patriots in the last game of the year. Hopefully, for the sake of the game, Wentz will be healthy enough to lead the team in the playoffs.