'Bam!' Philadelphia Eagles soar in Stephen A’s Week 1 NFL power rankings

Ryan OLeary

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'Bam!' Philadelphia Eagles soar in Stephen A’s Week 1 NFL power rankings image

How much did we learn from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil? They’re for real, at least in the eyes of ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith.

Smith announced his Week 1 NFL power rankings during Tuesday’s episode of First Take, and he had a hot take on the Eagles — ranking them No. 3 overall behind only last year’s Super Bowl teams: the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.

Why are the Eagles a top three team in the league? In Smith’s opinion, the impact of running back Saquon Barkley was undeniable. Here’s his full take:

Smith mentioned quarterback Jalen Hurts’ substandard performance and noted some question marks on defense. But to his point, “If your offense is that potent, they’re going to be ahead more than they’re behind.”

It’s nice to see Kellen Moore get his flowers for what was a solid debut as Eagles offensive coordinator. With A.J. Brown primed for another monster season, and DeVonta Smith’s usage as a slot receiver hinting at a breakout year, the Eagles have all the pieces in place to be special on offense in 2024. They scored 34 points on what was essentially an ice skating rink at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, for crying out loud.

Rounding out Smith’s overall top five were the Detroit Lions at No. 4 and the Baltimore Ravens at No. 5. 

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.