The 2024 season was a memorable one for the Philadelphia Eagles, not only for how the team bounced back after a rough start, but also for how they dominated their way to the team's second Super Bowl title.
Philadelphia finished the season with a 14-3 record and won the NFC East, but was the second seed of the NFC playoffs behind the Detroit Lions. It wouldn't matter, though, as the Eagles had three home playoff games to host before facing the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Eagles took care of business handedly 40-22 to carry the Lombardi Trophy for only the second time in franchise history.
There were so many historical parts to the season that would put the Eagles in an elite class against the rest of the best NFL teams. At least one Eagles star believes their place should be in the top five all-time.
What Eagles star offensive player said about the 2024 Eagles' legacy against the best NFL teams
On Thursday, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley appeared on teammates Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship's Exciting Mics podcast. Barkley discussed where he believes last year's Eagles team ranks against the all-time best teams in NFL history.
"I firmly believe, when you look at our team that we had last year—and I know we're not looking too far into the past—but our team last year. I think we're a top-five team of all time," Barkley said, transcribed via Bleacher Report.
"If you really look at the season outside of the first four games, it was belt to ass. … People don't realize how great of a team that actually was."
It was not a great start to the season for Philadelphia in 2024 as the Eagles went into the bye week with a 2-2 record and had just taken a brutal 17-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Changes were made during the bye week with former Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore calling more run plays and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio relying on his younger players.
The change of strategy paid off as the Eagles only lost one game the rest of the season, and that was against the Washington Commanders in the second match without Jalen Hurts for most of the game due to injury. Nine of the team's 16 wins the rest of the regular season and playoffs after the bye week were by two or more possessions.
Their playoff run is one for the record books. The Eagles scored the most points in postseason history, 145 in total, an average of 36.2 points per game in four contests. Barkley also used the postseason to help him break the NFL record for most rushing yards in the regular season and playoffs, with 2,504.
History will be kind to this Eagles' team as there is a legitimate argument to be made as to why they were one of the best in NFL history.
