NFL Betting Online: A sour finish to the 2014 season forced Chip Kelly to alter his roster considerably and the changes may just push the Eagles over the top in 2015.
2014 Season Record: 10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS, 11-5 O/U
2015 Regular Season Wins Total: 9.5, +112 O, -132 U
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +2450
Odds to Win NFC: +1101
Odds to Win Division: +166
You have to hand it to Chip Kelly. After a second straight 10-6 season, the evil genius, now in control of all personnel moves, is wheeling and dealing as if he was playing fantasy football for the first time.
Kelly dealt quarterback Nick Foles, who regressed in his second season in the team’s offense, for oft-injured Sam Bradford. The Eagles are confident Bradford can lead the team better than Foles or Mark Sanchez or anyone else the team has.
That trade was nothing compared to the one that sent star running back LaSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso, who’s coming off an ACL injury, but should certainly be an upgrade at the position if he can get back to form.
Following the McCoy deal, Kelly dipped into the free agent market to sign rushing leader DeMarco Murray from the division rival Cowboys to a big deal and added his backup Ryan Matthews to a substantial deal also.
The Eagles used their first round pick to get receiver Nelson Agholor from USC after losing their leading receiver for a second straight season when Jeremy Maclin signed with the Chiefs in March. Agholor may develop into a big-play threat, but in the meantime the Eagles will use their backfield in typical Chip Kelly style. Darren Sproles and former Oregon Duck Kenjon Barner are also in the mix and can be used in a variety of sets out of the backfield.
The offense will work behind a strong offensive line even after Kelly released All-Pro guard Evan Mathis. Jason Peters is one of the best left tackles in the game and Jason Kelce anchors the middle. Mathis was let go in an obvious power struggle with the head coach and, of course, the coach will win those battles.
But lost in all the sexy headlines is Philly’s obvious improvement on defense with cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Eric Rowe, safety Walter Thurmond and Alonso.
As wild as the offseason has been, the Eagles do seem to be better and younger on paper. Whether some of those key pieces can stay healthy, now, is another matter entirely.
KEY ADDITIONS: QB Sam Bradford, RB DeMarco Murray, CB Byron Maxwell, LB Brad Jones, LB Kiko Alonso, RB Ryan Matthews, OL Jared Wheeler.
KEY LOSSES: QB Nick Foles, RB LeSean McCoy, LB Casey Matthews, LB Trent Cole, WR Jeremy Maclin, CB Bradley Fletcher, TE James Casey, CB Cary Williams, OG Evan Mathis.
Missing the playoffs in 2014 didn’t sit well with coach Kelly and the Eagles and the team actively tried to rectify the problem. Philadelphia lost the division and a playoff spot to the Cowboys in the final weeks of 2014 and BookMaker has them pegged just behind the ‘Boys at +166 to win the NFC East in 2015.
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