Time of possession is the Eagles’ winning formula
Time of possession became a big strength in Philadelphia this season. The last few seasons under Chip Kelly, time of possession was not a thing. He had this notion that it did not matter how long you had the ball. This season, the Eagles are taking time of possession seriously and they are reaping the benefits.
Through two games, the Eagles are first in the NFL in time of possession. They are controlling the ball for about 37.42 minutes each game. That is about 12 minutes longer than last season, which had the Eagles last in time of possession. Keeping the ball for longer has really helped this team.
Firstly, the defense has been seeing a lot of benefits from this new strategy. When the offense is holding the ball longer, the defense has a chance to recover. Last season alone, the defense had to have set a record for most snaps in a single season. In these first two games, the defense has been very solid and a lot has to do with the time of possession the offense has. The defense can finally recover and adjust to anything that went wrong on their last drive. As long as the offense is holding the ball, this defense will not get tired. They will be a nightmare to go against all game. If the offense continues their success, the defense will be able to claim their stake as a top defense and get the respect they deserve.
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On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles are controlling the tempo of the game. They will go no huddle and make it a faster pace game or they will slow it down. A lot of it has to do with getting down the field and exposing the opportunities the defense gives them. However, by controlling the tempo, the Eagles are breaking down the other team. Think about it like this, the Eagles are essentially an animal playing with its prey. When the time is right, they will pounce. In the last two games, we have seen the Eagles capitalized on a tired and lazy defense. All of that is done by, controlling the game and beating down the defense.
This new era is Philadelphia is already off to a great start. Time of possession was the little outcast in Philadelphia. Now, it is a huge presence and it is a huge strength. This week the Eagles will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. If they continue to control the ball, they will have a good chance of winning.
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