After a steamy practice session in July, Jordan Mailata said publicly what many at the NovaCare complex had only been muttering in their heads.

“I’m damn tired of talking about last year,” the left tackle said at the time.

The Philadelphia Eagles were a newly formed team trying to distance themselves from their dysfunctional past. In 2023, the score was 8-1 at halftime. Her finish included a 1-for-5 slap. An irritated Mailata insisted, “The direction we’re going in now is forward.” He admitted, “Talk is cheap.” But he had a “really good feeling about our offense this year and our defense.”

So far, Mailata has been right. The 2024 Eagles are 6-2. At the middle of the season, they are on a four-game winning streak. And they do it, despite Mailata being sidelined on injured reserve. It is indeed a different team that is making 2023 increasingly a distant memory. Only stability ensures that it is forgotten. As November begins, let’s take a look at six second-half predictions.

Saquon Barkley will break at least two team records in a single season

This prediction is not based on an arbitrary number. In a way it’s almost conservative. Barkley is already on pace to break LeSean McCoy’s 2013 single-season records for rushing yards (1,607) and scrimmage yards (2,146). No player other than Barkley in team history has had more rushing yards (925) or scrimmage yards (1,071) in eight games. His production was efficient. His 5.9 yards per carry are the highest among the Eagles since 2000 (minimum 100 attempts), according to TruMedia. So there’s no need for Barkley to surpass Ricky Watters’ total of 404 touches in 1996.

Barkley is at the center of every Eagles game plan. This at least ensures that Barkley has a chance to break those running records. His consistent excellence also suggests that others are within reach. He will tie Steve Van Buren (1948) if he reaches 100 yards for the fourth straight game on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Barkley is the first since McCoy to record five 100-yard games in the first eight games. He will surpass Wilbert Montgomery (1981) if he reaches nine.

Go deeper

‘It was the best game I’ve ever seen’: Saquon Barkley’s impact on Eagles win

The remaining schedule is favorable. They play twice against the NFL’s two worst defenses in terms of EPA per rush: the Cowboys (32nd) and the Washington Commanders (31st). The Los Angeles Rams (20th), Carolina Panthers (27th) and New York Giants (25th) were also terrible at defending the run.

Single game records could be toppled. Barkley, who has rushed for 147, 159 and 176 yards in various games this season, needs 218 yards to surpass McCoy’s victory over the Detroit Lions in 2013. Barkley also ran twice and scored two touchdowns. If the problems from Sunday’s Brotherly Shove persist, perhaps he will surpass the other players, including Jalen Hurts, who shares the single-game record with three rushing touchdowns.

Barkley will be in the OPOY conversation but won’t win

In a league whose popularity is measured primarily by its quarterbacks, the two best offensive players in 2024 are running backs who provide highlights in stadiums just 100 miles apart.

Derrick Henry simply destroys the defense. After eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans (where he was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2020), the four-time Pro Bowler has bolstered the already talented Baltimore Ravens roster and leads the NFL in both rushing yards (1,052) and rushing touchdowns ( 11). The 30-year-old slugger hasn’t regressed at all after teaming up with two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson – the leading candidate to win the honor again.

The race between Barkley and Henry will provide high drama when the Ravens visit Lincoln Financial Field on December 1st. Both defenders are having success in their first years with their new teams. No, Henry is not the dual-threat pass-catcher who leaps backwards over jumping defensive backs. But he’s a steamroller to keep an eye on. And touchdowns matter. Unfortunately for Barkley, the nuance that the Brotherly Shove kills goal-line scoring chances will likely be lost on voters.

With the Eagles having a real chance of winning the division, Nick Sirianni’s job is probably safe. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)

The Eagles win the NFC East for the second time in the Nick Sirianni era

The Washington Commanders (7-2) are undoubtedly hot. But based on the aforementioned woeful run defense, I just don’t think they can compete well against the Eagles. They give up the fourth-most rushing yards per game (143). Their seventh-most 3.2 yards after contact per rush suggests plausible hitting from Barkley and Hurts.

The Eagles (6-2), whose young defense continues to improve, continue to play their best football. As long as they learn to stay out of their own way, an attack on the commanders is possible. Philadelphia still has to play against the suddenly dangerous Rams (4:4) and the Baltimore Ravens (6:3), but Washington also still has open games against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6:2) and the Atlanta Falcons (6:3). ). The Commanders needed a Hail Mary to beat the Chicago Bears (4-4). I’m betting on the Eagles, who managed to win games despite bad luck and bad decisions.

The Eagles will secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC

If the Eagles win the NFC East, they will have at least some home field advantage in the playoffs because of their good schedule (or lack thereof). Philadelphia’s remaining opponents have a combined winning percentage of .519 – the 15th highest in the NFL. They play the Cowboys (3-5) and Dak Prescott-less Commanders twice, as well as the Rams, Ravens, Panthers (2-7), Steelers and Giants (2-7).

Meanwhile, the first-place Detroit Lions (7-1) have the eighth-highest remaining schedule in the league (.558), which includes the Bills (7-2), Vikings (6-2), Packers (6-3), Texans (6- 3) and 49ers (4-4). I predicted the Eagles would finish 12-5. The potential bloodbath that awaits in the NFC North could mean a five-loss record is enough to secure second place in the conference.

But there could be a dark team standing in the way. The NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons (6-3) have the sixth-cheapest remaining schedule in the league (.443).

Two Eagles players will make All-Rookie teams

Of course, this is based on the performances of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Of the two, Mitchell represents the safer choice. He has been targeted 36 times (more than all but five other rookie cornerbacks) and leads the 2024 class with six passes defended. Only the Lions and New Orleans Saints play more man coverage than the Eagles (32.9 percent, according to TruMedia), and Mitchell, who has multiple tests in one-on-one coverage near (or in) the end zone won, is shaping up to be a reliable matchup in Vic Fangio’s defense. It should be noted that No. 22 has earned a reputation without securing an interception. He came close twice. His first will already secures him due respect.

DeJean makes up for lost time. He’s a threat in men’s coverage. He’s smarter than his age suggests. He made crucial four-down stops in back-to-back games against veteran Pro Bowlers (Ja’Marr Chase, Evan Engram). He also leads all rookies with 11.3 yards per punt return (minimum 3 attempts). And he had only held the starting role for four games. The No. 40 pick’s playmaking ability, already a game-changer, suggests major success is imminent. Technically a platoon player, DeJean will need such explosive plays to keep up with rookie defenders like Pittsburgh’s Beanie Bishop (three interceptions).

Go deeper

NFL Week 9 Takeaways: Is Eagles’ Game Management a Big Issue? Who is the second best team in the AFC?

The Eagles are keeping Sirianni

Given my predictions so far, this just makes sense. This may still not be popular with some in the Eagles fan base. But Sirianni has so far corrected the mistakes that doomed the team during its season-ending collapse in 2023.

After adding offensive lineman Kellen Moore to his team, the Eagles’ offense is no longer stale. They have a top-10 offense in EPA per play (0.05). They have adopted a physical style of play that has seen them average the most snaps under center per game (10.13) in Sirianni’s four seasons. They produce an explosive run of more than 12 yards or an explosive pass of more than 16 yards at a clip of 12.4 percent, which ranks 10th in the NFL according to TruMedia.

Meanwhile, the hiring of Fangio, the founder of the organization’s preferred defensive style of play, has provided the developmental impetus that a mature roster of high-impact draft picks needs. They have allowed three offensive touchdowns in the last four games. They have forced five turnovers in the last two games. No team has more sacks than the Eagles (16) since their bye in Week 5.

Of course, Sirianni’s whereabouts depends on this sequel. He can’t afford another breakdown. But this isn’t a team with constant fatal flaws yet. Bugs appeared, but they were quickly ironed out. Such solutions to problems are likely to please owner Jeffrie Lurie the most.

At the conclusion of league meetings in late March, Lurie said Philadelphia’s failure to recover from its mistakes in 2023 was “the central focus” of his postseason analysis. He noted the resilience of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on their separate paths to Super Bowl LVIII. He said Sirianni has “shown all the ingredients to have outstanding success” in his three seasons. Among them: Sirianni’s proactivity in his desire to improve the team. So far he has.

(Top photo of Saquon Barkley: Emilee Chinn/AP Photo)