What If the Philadelphia Eagles Never Won Super Bowl LII?

By Jason Bolton August 09, 2024 01:35

Photo by Patrick Semansky/AP

In the grand tapestry of NFL history, certain victories stand out not just for the triumphs they represent on the field, but for the profound impact they have off it. Super Bowl LII, where the Philadelphia Eagles claimed their first NFL championship in franchise history by defeating the New England Patriots, is one such moment—a turning point that not only celebrated the culmination of an underdog story but also fundamentally altered the course for a team, a city, and its fervent fanbase. But what if history had taken a different path?

This thought experiment delves into the heart of a Philadelphia that never basked in the glory of Super Bowl LII, exploring the ripple effects on the team's dynamics, the careers of its key players, and the very fabric of its community.

2017 Minus the Super Bowl Win

If the Eagles hadn't won Super Bowl LII, it would be an entirely different story. The Eagles were 13-3 during the regular season and did it with a defense that could play its game against anybody in the NFL coupled up with an offense as versatile around their young quarterback Carson Wentz, who was having an MVP-worthy year before he went down. Wentz, though, was lost for the season after an injury in Week 14 pushed Nick Foles into the starting lineup.

Playoff Dynamics:

Had they failed to seal the deal by winning Super Bowl 52, it's unlikely this postseason would have been seen as anything but iffy for these Eagles. Had they landed at No. 2, well, making the playoffs still would have put incredible pressure on them. Foles would have gone from "hero" to temporary solution.

The Eagles rode a similar wave of momentum and confidence to their Super Bowl victory, which boosted them into this season, where they went from potential NFC favorite again in January to crashing out early come home with a 9-7 record. The simple fact is that without having won it all, there's a real case to be made these great teams would have bowed out early and disappointed, either in the NFC Divisional or Conference Round, exiting quicker than they should've not because of their prowess but due largely to questions about their mettle an inability to translate regular season success into postseason victories.

Involvement Of Key Players & Their Legacy

Carson Wentz: If Wentz had been playing at an MVP level before his injury, he would have been put under the microscope even more. Had he not gotten a ring, the critics would have dinged him for failure in leading his squad to ultimate glory, and it most likely would have halted his growth and brutally affected his confidence. Instead, Wentz might have been considered too big of a slinger to be the face of the franchise quarterback he was drafted as, but with reasons other than his throwing arm.

Nick Foles: His future in the NFL may have even been put at risk as he could've gone on to become a career journeyman quarterback rather than just becoming one of Philly's most cherished figures.

The Roster Moves & Coaching Staff Changes

The Eagles were infused with an abundance of confidence following their Super Bowl win, and this confidence influenced how the team approached roster building going forward and strategy on game day.

Doug Pederson would certainly not be the coach if it was without a championship. Sure, he showed his tactical craftsmanship and leadership, but without a championship under his belt, the pressure from ownership that then rolls onto fans would skyrocket more than it has started this year. It also may have cost him either being sacked or potentially submitting some changes in coaching philosophy.

Much of the Eagles' aggressive approach to free agency and the draft can be traced back to how that Super Bowl win encouraged everyone in the building. Without the title, perhaps the front office would have been more conservative and re-signed key cogs rather than going all-in with high-risk, high-reward signings. That could have set the team back and kept it from being competitive in future seasons.

Shifts in the NFL Landscape

Philadelphia's Super Bowl had overriding effects on NFL decision-makers as the offseason became a chessboard filled with ripple risks in coaching philosophies and player evaluations.

Analytics and Decision Making: Like a few others, the Eagles are running a Super Bowl-winning team. They are using game data to their advantage, even if it means going for it on fourth down.

Power Dynamics: The Eagle's victory gave the NFC a power shift, as other teams would have taken notice of their success and followed suit. Had the Eagles not won the game, they might have continued as a middle-tier team, and the win would not have presented the same risk to established teams such as the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Thinking of a world where the Philadelphia Eagles did not win Super Bowl LII is a convoluted story. The 2017 season was filled with similar uncertainty: the accomplishment of some players would be less than in reality, while the heartbreak of a city that bleeds green over many years would only continue as the status quo. The NFL would be largely changed, with the Eagle's original ideas and play-calling perhaps taking a backseat to more traditional schemes. The Eagles' first triumph in the Super Bowl was not only a win for the franchise but also a victory for the NFL narrative.