65 Reasons The Birds Will Be Better Than You Think

By Andrew Porter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --There are plenty of doubters, scoffing at Chip Kelly's transactions, ready to attack the third-year head coach and his decision making. From Sam Bradford's health, to an Evan Mathis-less offensive line, back to Sam Bradford's health, Kelly and his (emphasis on his) Philadelphia Eagles are a hot topic heading into the upcoming NFL season.

Me? I'm not worried. Not even a little bit. The Eagles will win a playoff game this winter---at least one.

Here are 65 reasons why:

1. Finally, it's Chip Kelly's team
2. The Eagles have the shortest travel distance in the NFL: 6,818 miles
3. Their farthest trip is to Dallas, Texas (Week 9)
4. Their schedule is the 10th easiest
5. Kiko Alonso is an Eagle
6. #TheLegendOfKikoAlonso is in Philly
7. Byron Maxwell is an Eagle
8. He guarantees a Super Bowl appearance
9. Zach Ertz is entering his third NFL season, a breakout year for the tight end
10. Antonio Gates' third season was the best of his career (89 catches, 1,101 yards, 10 touchdowns)
11. Ronnie Lott told Ertz to reach out to someone, who can help him work on blocking
12. Ertz called respected retired offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who he worked with for two weeks in San Diego
13. Ertz says the Eagles have what it takes
14. Darren Sproles says, Ertz will be a superstar
15. Speaking of Sproles, he's now the Birds' third running back
16. Last year's reigning NFL rushing champion was DeMarco Murray
17. He is now an Eagle
18. Ryan Mathews is 27 years old and was the No. 12 pick in the 2010 draft
19. He made the Pro Bowl in 2011 and has rushed for over 1,000 yards in both seasons where he played at least 14 games (2011, 2013)
20. He is now an Eagle
21. The Eagles' backfield, of Sproles, Murray, and Mathews, is widely regarded as the NFL's most talented
22. Nick Foles was too slow and has never played a full NFL season
23. He is now a Ram
24. Sam Bradford is a former No. 1 overall pick
25. Bradford is now an Eagle
26. Running a quick-decision based spread offense at Oklahoma, Bradford led the Sooners to an 11-3 record as a redshirt freshman
27. The following season, he had a plus-42 touchdown-to-interception differential, won the Heisman and lost to the BCS championship game to Tim Tebow's Florida Gators
28. I bet you like Bradford after reading this article
29. This study says Bradford is a vast improvement
30. Mark Sanchez is still an Eagle
31. The Eagles' backup QB situation is ranked as the NFL's best
32. Chip Kelly's Eagles were the least effected team to injuries in 2013, according to Footballoutsiders.com
33. Chip Kelly's Eagles were the fifth least effected team to injuries in 2014, according to Footballoutsiders.com
34. Linebackers: Brandon Graham-Kiko Alonson-DeMeco Ryans-Mychal Kendricks-Connor Barwin (yum)
35. Vinny Curry had nine sacks last year
36. He's not even a starter
37. Fletcher Cox is just 24 years old
38. 2016 is the final year of his contract, which offers him no guaranteed money
39. Essentially, this is his contract year
40. While Jeremy Maclin is gone, the Eagles added rookie WR Nelson Agholor and veteran Pro Bowl WR Miles Austin
41. Nate Allen is no longer an Eagle
42. Cary Williams is no longer an Eagle
43. Bradley Fletcher is no longer an Eagle
44. The secondary is better
45. The Eagles have a slew of versatile secondary players that could play either safety or corner: Nolan Carroll, Eric Rowe, Walter Thurmond
46. The Eagles hired Broncos defensive backs coach Cory Undlin
47. The Broncos had the 9th best pass defense in the NFL last year
48. The Broncos led the NFL with only 6.0 yards allowed per pass attempt
49. The Eagles allowed 7.8 yards per pass attempt---27th best
50. Malcolm Jenkins: "Cory Undlin is the most important pick up in that room. Even [Byron] Maxwell, who has great technique and knows how to win, but I think getting coach Undelin is the biggest difference....With Coach Undlin it's going to be a lot different.''
51. Quietly, Lane Johnson is entering his third NFL season
52. During the second half of his 2013 rookie year, Pro Football Focus ranked Johnson as the 10th best offensive tackle
53. In 2014, Johnson played in 12 games after being suspended, and PFF named him as one of their two first team all-pro tackles
54. This season, Johnson is not suspended
55. PFF's other 2014 all-pro offensive tackle was Johnson's teammate, Jason Peters
56. Jason Kelce is only 27 years old
57. And he can sing.
58. Chip Kelly is the third most influential person in the NFL, if you ask SI.com
59. First, if you ask me
60. Cody Parkey believes in Chip too
61. And Jon Dorenbos, too
62. The Eagles' roster is the sixth best in the NFL
63. Tim Tebow is God
64. Tim Tebow is on the Eagles
65. God is on the Eagles

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• NFL
• Chip Kelly