NFL 2010 Preview: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles enter 2010 with a new man under center after a decade-long relationship with Donovan McNabb.

Off-season changes
There are 13 reasons for Philadelphia fans to be hopeful about the future; that’s how many players the Eagles drafted in 2010. Crucially the Eagles had seven picks in the first four rounds, picking up talents such as Brandon Graham from Michigan, Nathaniel Allen of South Florida, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim from Washington, and Keenan Clayton from Oklahoma. The Eagles also drafted former Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka but he isn’t the signal-caller NFL betting fans are watching in Philadelphia.

Kevin Kolb replaces Donovan McNabb as starting quarterback in 2010. After showing some promise in relief of McNabb since joining the Eagles in 2007. McNabb’s relationship with Eagles fans was mixed, despite bringing Philadelphia to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl appearance. For Kolb there is one simple way to win over supporters; win a Super Bowl.

Mark your calendar
At 4.15pm EST on Sunday October 3 in week 4 of the 2010 NFL season, Donovan McNabb comes home. Now that McNabb is a Redskin we can look forward to two hostile encounters between Philadelphia and its former signal caller this season. The return game, in Washington, takes place in week 10 and will also prove compelling viewing.

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The Eagles will need to show plenty of muscle on the road in 2010 with trips to San Francisco, Tennessee, and Chicago in addition to its three divisional road games this season. Green Bay, Indianapolis, and Houston will all prove challenging opponents at Lincoln Financial Field in 2010.

The verdict
The defense is young but talented, there are plenty of weapons on offense but in the end it all comes down to Kolb. While McNabb is a Hall-of-Fame talent, the Eagles clearly stalled under his stewardship in 2009. If Kolb can get more out of this offense in 2010 then this is a potential Super Bowl contender. This is a tough ask for a first year starter, especially one replacing a veteran like McNabb.

It took Aaron Rodgers a year after he replaced Brett Favre to iron out the kinks and turn Green Bay into a playoff team. Kolb has a lot more to work with in the passing game and more meaningful snaps than Rodgers did when he took over for the Packers. It’s going to be tough for Philadelphia to make the post-season but in a flawed division it’s not impossible. I like the Eagles to go 9-7 and 10-6, contending for the NFC East title in 2010.