The 2023 NFL Season is here, and the Music City Drive In is getting you ready. Check back each day from now until September 3 as we look at each team and make award and playoff predictions. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments.

It was nearly a dream season for the Eagles. In his second full year as a starter, Jalen Hurts bloomed. The addition of A.J. Brown lifted the offense. And the stout defense made the Eagles the best team in the NFC. The Eagles breezed through the regular season, finished as the No. 1 seed and advanced to the Super Bowl. In that big game, the Chiefs came out on top, leaving the Eagles hungry to complete the journey in 2023.

Off-Season Changes

As often happens when you succeed, the Eagles saw Offensive Coordinator Shane Steichen leave to take the Head Coach position at Indianapolis and Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon left to take the Head Coach position for the Cardinals. In addition, starting running back Miles Sanders signed with the Panthers. A few other players, like defensive tackle Jason Hargraves, safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, quarterback Gardner Minshew and receiver Zach Pascal also left via free agency.

The Eagles also re-loaded this off-season, bringing in quarterback Marcus Mariota, cornerback Greedy Williams, safety Terrell Edmunds and linebacker Myles Jack. The team also re-loaded in the backfield, first bringing in Rashaad Penny from the Seahawks and then trading for D’Andre Swift from the Lions. Swift has rushed for 1,680 yards and 18 touchdowns, catching 156 passes in his three years. He’s an explosive player and a weapon for the team.

In the draft, the focus was on defense—specifically defenders from Georgia. The Eagles snagged Georgia defenders Jalen Carter (DT) and Nolan Smith (OLB) with a pair of First Round picks. The team later grabbed Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo in the Fourth Round. In the Third Round, the team snagged Illinois safety Sydney Brown. In the Second Round, the team grabbed an offensive tackle in Tyler Steen from Alabama.

Fantasy Impact

Hurts has been a stud on the field and in fantasy. He finished as QB3 despite missing two games. He’s a lock as a Top 5 option. In the backfield, Swift and Penny will mix with veteran Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell. All figure to contribute but I like Swift the best for fantasy. I think his rushing and receiving upside will have him in the RB2 range in this offense.

In the passing game, it’s about three players—receivers Brown and DeVonta Smith, and tight end Dallas Goedert. In 2022, Brown finished as WR6 and Smith was WR9. I like Brown as a WR1 and Smith as a fringe WR1 again in 2023. Goedert was TE12 in 2022, limited to just 12 games. I like him as a TE1.

Prediction

The Eagles were the best team in the NFC in 2022 and not much has changed going into 2023. I suspect they’ll win the NFC East and be a top seed again. They are one of the strongest Super Bowl contenders in the NFC once again.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.