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Ranking the Redskins’ NFC East opponents: How do they stack up?

By Ian Cummings

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball as Rasul Douglas #32 of the Philadelphia Eagles defends on October 23, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball as Rasul Douglas #32 of the Philadelphia Eagles defends on October 23, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21: Fletcher Cox #91 and Malcolm Jenkins #27 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks out on to the field prior to the NFC Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21: Fletcher Cox #91 and Malcolm Jenkins #27 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks out on to the field prior to the NFC Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

No. 1 – Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles surprised everyone last season. That won’t be the case in 2018, because now everyone knows they’re one of the best.

The Eagles won Super Bowl 52 with two key weapons: Their scheme, and their defense. Doug Pederson’s brilliance helped the offense keep pace with Nick Foles at quarterback, after Carson Wentz was lost to an ACL tear late in the season.

It also helped that the Eagles’ defense was, and remains, one of the most complete units in the entire league. Headed by a defensive front stacked with the likes of Fletcher Cox, Timmy Jernigan, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Chris Long, Vinny Curry, and Beau Allen, the Eagles dominated the trenches, and in the secondary, Malcolm Jenkins and Co. kept offenses honest.

Since their historic Super Bowl run, the Eagles lost Curry and Allen. And they gained Josh Sweat, Michael Bennett, and Haloti Ngata.

dark. Next. 5 Redskins players to watch in Week 2 of training camp

The Eagles’ starting defense is an elite 11-man unit, and the depth in that department is better than it was last year. And if Carson Wentz comes back fully healthy, the offense, with a plethora of competent skill position players, will pick up right where it left off. The Eagles aren’t going anywhere. As much as Redskins fans might hate to hear it, the division is the Eagles’ for the time being. The Redskins are their closest competitors, but until further notice, it’s Philadelphia’s division to lose.

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