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2014 Philadelphia Eagles Odds | Season Preview | NFL Predictions

2014 Eagles NFL Handicapping

Eagles Look To Build On Strong Foundation Heading In To Year Two Under Kelly

Chip Kelly’s highly anticipated NFL debut lived up to expectations as the Philadelphia Eagles went from 4-12 in 2012 to 10-6 in 2013. That was enough to secure an NFC East crown and return to the postseason for the first time since 2010.

2014 Philadelphia Eagles Team Preview/Predictions

  • 2013 Record: 10-6
  • ATS Record: 8-8

2014 Eagles Futures

  • Super Bowl Odds: +2500
  • Conference Odds: +1200
  • NFC East Odds: +140
  • 2014 NFL Regular Season Wins: 9

Expectations are higher heading in to 2014 as the Eagles look to build on the foundation that was set in Kelly’s first season and challenge for an NFC title.

Third-year quarterback Nick Foles enjoyed a breakthrough performance under Kelly as he completed 64-percent of his passes and threw for 27 touchdowns compared to two interceptions.

Foles will have a tough time matching that ratio in 2014, but if he can at least come close over the course of a full season then the Philadelphia offense will once again rank near the top of the NFL. One potential setback is the loss of Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who had a team-high 82 catches for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

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Kelly believes the return of Jeremy Maclin from a torn ACL and the development of Riley Cooper will help offset the loss of Jackson. The Eagles also added an absolute burner in rookie second-round pick Jordan Matthews and he is a sleeper pick to dominate in this offense.

Tight end Brent Celek isn’t elite but he is still a capable security blanket for Foles and Zach Ertz is already capable of taking over the starting job. LeSean McCoy is one of the league’s elite running backs and there is no reason to think he won’t thrive again this season.

Philadelphia added speedy Darren Sproles to help carry the load and Kelly has confirmed the team has plans to have both he and McCoy on the field at the same time in a number of sets.

Left tackle Jason Peters anchors a solid offensive line that also features an underrated center in Jason Kelce and a future star in second-year right tackle Lane Johnson.

One of the problems that the league’s 29th-ranked defense dealt with last season was the inability to keep up with the pace the offense scored at. A full year of preparation will help in that regard and the Eagles made a couple of quality personnel additions in veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins and rookie first-round pick Marcus Smith.
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It will take some time before Smith becomes a complete linebacker but he will see time as a pass rusher off the edge behind Trent Cole and Connor Barwin on the outside, while DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks are back at the inside linebacker spots.

Jenkins immediately upgrades the free safety position and will pair with strong safety Nate Allen. Philadelphia signed Nolan Carroll to push Bradley Fletcher and Brandon Boykin for the starting cornerback spot opposite Cary Williams but none of those players is elite in coverage.

Defensive ends Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton are excellent against the run but struggle to get up field and disrupt the opposing passing games. Bennie Logan will once again start at the nose tackle spot but the depth behind him is thin with undrafted free agent Damion Square the primary backup.

There is plenty of intrigue heading in to Kelly’s second season as the head coach in Philadelphia and the potential is there for this team to improve on the foundation that was laid a year ago.

A crowded NFC that features the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers makes it unlikely this team will go far in the postseason but a second-straight NFC East title and playoff berth is likely as long as the Eagles can stay healthy.

2014 Eagles Predictions

  • Place they’ll finish in NFC East: 1st
  • Place they’ll finish in NFC Conference: 4th
  • Over/Under Wins Prediction: OVER

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Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"