With news publicly breaking Monday afternoon that 13-year Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce officially announced his retirement from the NFL, Colin Cowherd sees his long-time team regressing in 2024.
Cowherd, with his co-host Jason McIntyre, spoke about their low expectations for the Eagles next season on The Herd.
Colin Cowherd Predicts Eagles Falling Next Season After Jason Kelce News
On Monday, Cowherd made it clear that he isn’t high on the Eagles next season.
.@ColinCowherd and @jasonrmcintyre react to Jason Kelce announcing his retirement from the NFL pic.twitter.com/S0VUo1nEGR
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 4, 2024
“I don’t like the Eagles this year,” said Cowherd, who reminded his audience that he and McIntyre predicted Philadelphia regressing going into last season after their Super Bowl appearance.
One reason for Cowherd’s pessimism is that he expects the NFC East to get better, a division that featured the 4-13 Washington Commanders and 6-11 New York Giants in 2023.
Cowherd’s biggest reason for disliking the Eagles’ outlook next season, however, is their defense.
“They don’t get the pass rush, and they have a bad secondary, and in a passing league, that is a bad combo,” said Cowherd. “They got to do the Kansas City Chiefs and hit on a couple corners in the draft.”
After leading the NFL in sacks and allowing the fewest passing yards in 2022, the Eagles took a major step back in both areas defensively last season. In 2023, Philadelphia recorded 27 fewer sacks than the year prior, and they allowed the second-most amount of passing yards, only ahead of the Commanders.
McIntyre and Cowherd then discussed the ceiling QB Jalen Hurts has without Shane Steichen — Hurts’ offensive coordinator during Philadelphia’s impressive run to the Super Bowl.
Despite an increase in passing yards this past season, Hurts’ interception number reached double digits (15), the highest by far in his four-year career.
It’s worth noting that Hurts took several beatings during specific portions of this past season — including a disclosed finger in Philadelphia’s regular-season finale against the Giants.
The famous “brotherly shove” was brought up soon after, and with the play run mainly by the now-retired Kelce — who had to snap the ball to Hurts to start the play — it could soon be taken out of Philadelphia’s playbook.
“I wouldn’t think it (brotherly shove) would be as effective,” Cowherd said.
At the very end of the conversation, Cowherd, in order, listed the NFC East outlook for 2024, putting the Cowboys and Commanders at the top and saying the Eagles will “battle until the end for second, finishes third.”
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