A weekly examination of the Eagles’ ESPN.com Power Ranking:
Preseason: 25 | Last Week: 27 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002
The Philadelphia Eagles jumped six spots, a bit more than you might think based on a win over a winless New York Giants team that is ranked 31st in this week’s ESPN.com Power Ranking.
The hike can be explained a couple of ways: a sense from the six voters that Chip Kelly will get a handle on this whole NFL thing and get his team on track, as well as the sheer numbers being posted by Kelly’s offense. The Eagles are ranked first in the NFL in rushing offense and second, behind only the Peyton Manning machine in Denver, in total offense. The Eagles' highest ranking, by John Clayton, was 19th, while Ashley Fox had them at No. 24, their lowest ranking.
On Sunday those yards translated into points -- a season-high 36 -- for the first time in three weeks. And there were at least signs of life from the defense. If that unit can be respectable, with this offensive production, the Eagles should be able to start winning some games.
It doesn’t hurt that they play the No. 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.