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In the NFL, memory tends to only extend about a year into the past. The Philadelphia Eagles offer the best example, as league analysts have already written off their recent Super Bowl win in favor of predicting a collapse in 2026.
Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated recently released a list of 14 NFL teams that could realistically win the Super Bowl. While teams that missed last year's playoffs, like the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys, made the cut, the Eagles did not.
Orr defended his Eagles omission, saying, "I am taking the Eagles down a notch for the loss of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. We’re going to be asking two of the best anchor tackles in franchise history to learn a brand-new running scheme in addition to asking Jalen Hurts to operate without A.J. Brown as a major security blanket. That’s a pass for me at this juncture."
The Eagles may not be Super Bowl favorites, but their recent history should at least earn them a spot in the conversation.
Eagles snubbed from Super Bowl contenders list
There are some obvious question marks clouding Philly's 2026 outlook. We don't know how Sean Mannion's offensive scheme will fit with the players on the roster, especially without Brown in the mix. If Hurts fails to adjust, Super Bowl aspirations will vanish.
But it's too early to write off a team with this much talent. Under Vic Fangio, the Eagles' defense has a realistic chance to be the best in the NFL. The unit was already in the top five in scoring defense in 2025 and filled its biggest remaining weakness with the addition of Riq Woolen.
With a healthy Jalen Carter and incremental growth from young stars like Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, and Jihaad Campbell, the defense could carry the team to a deep playoff run.
If the offense does come together, that's a clear Super Bowl contender. The departures of Stoutland and Brown are significant, but the Eagles have made moves to offset those losses. There's even an argument to be made that the additions of Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers make the pass-catching group more complete than it was going into last season.
Read more: Eagles fans were told exactly what they needed to hear about Makai Lemon
The Eagles have a wide range of possible outcomes going into the 2026 season. There's a chance that the season falls apart, but there's an equal chance that the pieces come together to form another Super Bowl contender.
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This article was originally published on insidetheiggles.com as NFL is ready to boot Eagles out of Super Bowl contention before they play a snap.
