Jalen Hurts won’t be enjoying towards the Saints on Sunday, however we gained’t let that deny us the chance to look again at two years in the past when he obtained his first begin towards the Saints. (Is {that a} Batman origin story?) Whereas each groups are very totally different than they had been that season, there’s a well-recognized really feel to this sport.
Simply as they’re at this time, in 2020 the Saints and Eagles met late within the season with the franchises having dramatically totally different seasons. The Saints had been 10-2, using a 9 sport successful streak. The Eagles had been a 3 win crew and had simply benched Carson Wentz for Jalen Hurts. The Eagles would win that sport, ending the season 4-11-1. The Saints would finish the season because the 2nd seed, shedding to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Buccaneers within the second spherical.
One rises, one falls
Regardless of the fully totally different common seasons, these groups had been kind of in the identical place within the offseason. After 20 seasons Drew Brees unsurprisingly retired, whereas Carson Wentz requested a commerce, which additionally wasn’t stunning. Even with out these strikes, each groups had been watching crippling wage cap conditions. The construction of the NFL all however dictates there is just one path a crew on this state of affairs can take: rebuild round a brand new, younger QB. It’s merely the character of the NFL proper now and for the foreseeable future, for those who don’t have the QB your crew is only a tomato can for different groups to pad their report towards. And in at this time’s NFL there’s a blueprint that works: have a younger QB on an affordable contract; pair him with an offensive minded coach; and use the cap financial savings from QB to construct a excessive flooring crew round him.
The Eagles, not solely as supposed, took this route. They’d been there earlier than in 2016, and it gained them the Tremendous Bowl the following season partially as a result of their beginning QB had solely the twenty eighth highest cap hit amongst QBs that season, and their offensive minded coach pushed all the proper buttons on a crew that surrounded its younger QB with veterans. They’re repeating that components once more this season, Jalen Hurts has the 53rd highest cap hit amongst QBs and their offensive minded coach is pushing all the proper buttons on a crew that surrounded its younger QB with veterans.
The Saints didn’t do that even when offered with the choice twice.
When Drew Brees retired they changed him from inside with Jameis Winston. When Sean Payton retired a 12 months later they changed him from inside with Dennis Allen, whose 8-28 report in Oakland was the worst successful share of any coach employed by Al Davis. These will not be viable alternative plans. For 2021 and 2022 they pushed over $110 million in cap house mixed to future years, and should push over $50 million this offseason. Relatively than accumulate draft picks to construct an affordable roster, they traded up for a non-QB and made solely 11 draft picks up to now two drafts. In August alone they signed six gamers over the age of 30. For what? At finest a primary spherical exit that kicks the can down the highway one other 12 months? The Saints have nowhere to go subsequent 12 months. Possibly the Eagles might supply them their 2023 1st spherical decide in trade for his or her 2024 1st spherical decide (the Eagles mustn’t do that).
It ought to have been staring the Saints within the face {that a} rebuild was the popular choice, as a result of just like the Eagles that is how they gained the Tremendous Bowl. In 2006 they employed an offensive minded coach in Sean Payton, and paired him with , low cost QB in Drew Brees. The QB compensation market was a very totally different world at the moment however the state of affairs wasn’t fully dissimilar to a rookie contract QB, Brees made half of what the highest compensated QBs made when the Saints gained the Tremendous Bowl in 2009.
On Sunday the Eagles and Saints meet once more late within the season with the 2 groups having dramatically totally different seasons. The Saints, as a result of they selected the incorrect path two years in the past, are on the verge of a double digit loss season, the worst cap state of affairs within the league, and their finest draft capital within the palms of one other crew. Their opponent this week doesn’t simply have their 1st spherical decide, they’re the perfect crew within the league as a result of they took the proper path.
Stat Truth of the Week That Might Solely Curiosity Me
Taysom Hill, the Saints ever creating gadget participant, is 32. He can be the seventh oldest participant on the Eagles. He’s older than Fletcher Cox.
High 5 Brothers Who Have been On The Eagles
Kyzir White and Christian Elliss each have brothers on the Saints, WR Kevin White (sure, the first spherical bust Kevin White) and LB Kaden Ellis. They’re the newest in a protracted line of gamers and coaches who referred to as the Metropolis of Brotherly Love dwelling whereas having a soccer brother. Generally they’ve had the lesser brother, typically it’s been pretty even, and typically they’ve had the higher one.
1. Jason Kelce
Who else might it probably be
2. Randall Cunningham
Older brother Sam, a fullback, is within the Patriots’ Corridor of Fame
3. Brent Celek
The very best tight finish in his household, however not the one or the primary to play within the Tremendous Bowl, Garrett performed 8 years with the 49ers
4. Steve Van Buren
Shared a backfield together with his brother Ebert throughout his closing season in 1951
5. John Harbaugh
A saner and extra profitable coach than Jim
