Living in Korea over the past seven years, I haven't been able to keep up with Philly teams as much as I'd like. But now that I'm in grad school out here I can manage my time a little bit more freely and haven't missed an Eagles game all season.
I haven't followed an Eagles team this closely since the McNabb era and I'm just so lucky that it was this season that I came to restore my fandom. Following the sport has changed so much since I was in highschool and still checking stats and reading articles in the copies of the Inquirer I'd bring to French Class. I feel like thanks to youtube channels providing analyses and breakdowns of the sport, strategy, coaching styles, play calling, etc. the game has become a lot more accessible.
This season was a wild ride. To be honest, I thought this team was Super Bowl bound around week 9 or 10, and while the Wentz injury was certainly a morale killer and the team (not only Foles but the secondary) looked like they couldn't find their footing. Though I never gave up on them, I thought, "Well it was a nice ride, lets see how far they can take it, but don't get your hopes up."
That all changed come playoff time. The Falcons were the first real test and the team that would eventually bring the Lombardi Trophy to Philly began to take shape. The D was lights out. Secondary began to correct some of its flaws, and of course Foles found his confidence and started playing like the QB that would match wits with Brady in the big dance. The fact that this team could rebound from the Wentz (and so many other) injuries without getting down on each other, retool, and reinvent itself in the playoffs is a testament not only to this TEAM, but also to brilliance and leadership of Pederson as a head Coach. Pederson's coaching will serve as an example to students of the game for a long time, and it goes without saying that this bunch will be remembered as one of the greatest Philly teams of all time.
Words can't express the elation millions of fans including myself must be feeling after this thrilling, hard fought, and well deserved Super Bowl championship! What a great season its been, and here's to the next!!
