ESPN Ranks The Eagles 3rd(!) In The NFL (In Their Power Index Rankings, Whatever That Is)

ESPN – The Eagles rose 0.5 point in FPI and one spot in the rankings after Monday’s 27-7 victory over the New York Giants. The Eagles’ FPI rating is 5.3, compared with the No. 1-ranked New England Patriots’ 8.7. That means that FPI judges the Patriots to be about 3½ points better than the Eagles on a neutral field. In Monday’s game, the Eagles registered a defensive efficiency of 91.3 (0-to-100 scale), their second-best performance of the season. The Eagles’ defensive component of FPI is 5.3 (second in the NFL to the New York Jets’ 5.4).

Still don’t understand whatever the fuck “Power Rankings Index” means, but I’ll take it.

You know why I’ve never believed like the rest of the universe the Eagles were a Titanic with AIDS after going 0-2 and 1-3? Is it because I’m an whose vulnerability from a shitty life has given blind faith under Chip’s Reich? Probably. But it’s also because there are people a hell of a lot smarter than I am No, I’m not talking about the blowhards in the media like Angelo Cataldi and Skip Bayless who start digging the Eagles grave after one 3-and-out. I’m talking about the nerds. Stat guys and, just as important, Vegas people. These are the behind the scene football geniuses who live, breathe, and piss numbers, projections, and the future – And I’d take their side over a, say, Merril Hoge who is another tap on the head and/or tight necktie away from his brain finally morphing into its final form as liquid.

The numbers nerds and Vegas haven’t waved from the Eagles overall projection all year long. You can see that everywhere. Here with a 3-3 team being “ranked” over the undefeated Packers, Broncos, Bengals, and Panters. The Birds being technically favored entering into 5-0 Carolina this week. Hell, their tied with the Steelers at +1800 as the 6th most favored team to win the whole damn thing. I’ll put both of my balls in the palm of one of these nerds any day of the week.