DISSING THE BIRDS! EAGLES RANK 22ND BEST IN NFL!

Carson Wentz was playing with house money as a rookie, but he won’t be afforded as many excuses this year given his upgraded receiving corps and added experience, says USA Today. He’ll have to take a significant step forward for Philly to keep pace in the NFC East:

RANK	TEAM	RECORD	CHANGE	HI/LOW	NOTES
1	New England Patriots	0-0	—	—	It’s hard to recall another defending champion in recent history that did more to distance itself from the competition. More than ever, this season might be the Patriots vs. the world.
2	Atlanta Falcons	0-0	—	—	The knives will be out for new coordinator Steve Sarkisian if the offense stumbles. But it’s hard to find a vulnerability, especially if the young defense continues to rise.
3	Pittsburgh Steelers	0-0	—	—	Le’Veon Bell didn’t reach a long-term deal before the deadline, leaving his training camp status uncertain. As long as he’s healthy in the fall and winter, Pittsburgh’s attack remains one of the league’s most dangerous.
4	Green Bay Packers	0-0	—	—	Aaron Rodgers delivered on his “run the table” remark, but expecting a repeat is unreasonable. The two-time MVP needs help, especially from an unreliable running game and consistently subpar secondary.
5	Seattle Seahawks	0-0	—	—	Another year, another gamble along the underdeveloped offense line. Russell Wilson will have to work his magic, while Eddie Lacy must find his footing in the rushing attack.
6	Dallas Cowboys	0-0	—	—	It’s been a bumpy summer in Dallas, as a potential suspension for Ezekiel Elliott still hangs over the team. Even if Dak Prescott’s ascension continues, multiple unknowns on defense are cause for concern.
7	Oakland Raiders	0-0	—	—	Derek Carr landed the five-year extension that, at least for the time, makes him the NFL’s highest-paid player. Once the season starts, however, Marshawn Lynch may seize the spotlight in Oakland.
8	Tennessee Titans	0-0	—	—	Tennessee won’t sneak up on anyone in 2017. With an improved receiving corps and Marcus Mariota back in action, the Titans have all the pieces in place to seize the AFC South crown.
9	Kansas City Chiefs	0-0	—	—	Expecting Tyreek Hill to hold down the No. 1 WR job might be a leap after he averaged just 9.7 yards per catch as a rookie. Watch out for third-round rookie RB Kareem Hunt, who could jolt the running game.
10	New York Giants	0-0	—	—	Will Ben McAdoo’s offense take hold this year? Deficiencies at running back and along the offensive line could derail the attack again, but Eli Manning’s receiving corps might afford him ample leeway.
11	Miami Dolphins	0-0	—	—	Miami’s coaching staff has raved about many of its young offensive talents, including WR DeVante Parker and RB Jay Ajayi. Success in this division, however, will be measured by the ability to challenge the Patriots.
12	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	0-0	—	—	Between encouraging additions to their receiving corps and their impending showcase on “Hard Knocks,” the Bucs look ready for their star turn. A steady output from the defense will be needed to meet heightened expectations.
13	Denver Broncos	0-0	—	—	Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch clash for the training camp QB battle with the highest stakes. Offensive improvement will need to be multi-layered, though, as the line and running game still have to make great strides.
14	Arizona Cardinals	0-0	—	—	Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald are back for another go-around, but it’s clear the Cardinals’ core is racing against time. David Johnson will have to do much of the heavy lifting to keep Arizona in contention.
15	Baltimore Ravens	0-0	—	—	Jeremy Maclin’s eleventh-hour arrival invigorates a previously languid receiving corps. Offseason investments indicate that the defense will be expected to set the tone.
16	Houston Texans	0-0	—	—	The Deshaun Watson-as-starter question appears to be a matter of when rather than if. Duplicating the top-ranked defense, which returns J.J. Watt, will be paramount to holding onto the AFC South.
17	Carolina Panthers	0-0	—	—	Firing GM Dave Gettleman eight days before training camp set an odd tone for a team only a season removed from the Super Bowl. Yet this year may ultimately hinge on an all-too-familiar theme: protecting Cam Newton.
18	Minnesota Vikings	0-0	—	—	Injuries washed out the early promise Minnesota showed in 2016, but the Vikings now look to be on solid ground. Establishing a post-Adrian Peterson formula could still take time, but the defense remains imposing.
19	Washington Redskins	0-0	—	—	Few other teams could liven up an otherwise quiet July the way Washington did with its approach to Kirk Cousins, who enters the season on his second consecutive franchise tag. Regardless of how this year pans out, 2018 will hang over the entire campaign.
20	Los Angeles Chargers	0-0	—	—	This year’s top worst-to-first candidate? Tough sledding in the AFC West, but a healthy offense could provide fireworks for Year 1 in Los Angeles.
21	Detroit Lions	0-0	—	—	No playoff team from 2016 faces as much doubt as Detroit, which rode into the postseason on a magical run of fourth-quarter comebacks. Losing OT Taylor Decker for the early part of the season could be a stumbling block for the offense.
22	EAGLES	0-0	—	—	Carson Wentz was playing with house money as a rookie, but he won’t be afforded as many excuses this year given his upgraded receiving corps and added experience. He’ll have to take a significant step forward for Philadelphia to keep pace in the NFC East.
23	New Orleans Saints	0-0	—	—	Drew Brees appears ready to ride into the last year of his contract with little certainty. The burden remains the same, however, as Sean Payton’s group will have to win its share of shootouts to avoid its fourth straight losing season.
24	Indianapolis Colts	0-0	—	—	Anxiety in Indianapolis might be running high given that Andrew Luck is starting training camp on the PUP list. With a supporting cast still under construction, the Colts remain one of the league’s most QB-reliant outfits.
25	Jacksonville Jaguars	0-0	—	—	Jacksonville checked a few boxes this offseason by bolstering its already stout defense and adding RB Leonard Fournette as a potential centerpiece. Those moves may be for naught, though, if Blake Bortles can’t find his equilibrium.
26	Cincinnati Bengals	0-0	—	—	Marvin Lewis enters the final year of his contract after Cincinnati’s disappointing 6-9-1 campaign. Significant losses along the offensive line could prove daunting for Andy Dalton.
27	Buffalo Bills	0-0	—	—	Pairing coach Sean McDermott with his old Carolina cohort in new GM Brandon Beane gives Buffalo a unified approach for its rebuild. There may be some growing pains in Year 1 of the regime change.
28	Los Angeles Rams	0-0	—	—	All eyes will be on Jared Goff’s development as Sean McVay, the NFL’s youngest head coach ever, takes over. But Wade Phillips’ impact on the defense and DT Aaron Donald also bears watching.
29	Chicago Bears	0-0	—	—	Mike Glennon has the reins for now, but No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky looms as the future at QB. Will John Fox still be Chicago’s coach when the transition takes place?
30	Cleveland Browns	0-0	—	—	A formidable offensive line should help Hue Jackson move on from last year’s 1-15 debacle. Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler and DeShone Kizer all offer different paths in the QB competition.
31	San Francisco 49ers	0-0	—	—	Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch bring some long-term stability to a franchise that has been a revolving door in recent years. Their vision, however, likely won’t truly begin to take shape until next offseason.
32	New York Jets	0-0	—	—	It’s always a troubling sign when tanking talk emerges before training camp has commenced. The quarterback battle might be the lone reason to watch Gang Green until the 2018 NFL draft order begins to take shape.