Every fall brings an uproar of excitement and energy to the city of Philadelphia and surrounding towns when the Philadelphia Eagles make their return to NFL football. As the Eagles enter the halfway point of the season, there have been wins and losses, but nothing can beat the exhilarating yet stressful feeling of watching an Eagles football game. 

So far this season, the Eagles games have been fun to watch, but many Mounties are saying they have experienced heart attack moments. The Eagles have been able to add a more stressful outlook to football with most games being very close in score. 

“Stressful. Definitely stressful, but still fun, but stressful.” Ms. West ‘87, Executive Director of Mission and Inclusion, said, explaining her feelings when watching the Eagles take on the field. 

Other Mounties and staff around the school used words like “electrifying”, “sub-optimal,” or “stressful.” The Eagles have exhibited great plays and coordination, but the question still remains; can they maintain it for a full 4 quarter football game?

The Eagles now have six victories under their belts, and two tough losses against the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Atlanta Falcons were able to defeat the eagles 22-21, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added a win under their belts winning 33-16. 

“We manage these wins and we get things done, but the decision making at times by the coaching staff that probably leads some things to be desired.” Mr. Colin Dougherty, learning specialist, said. 

A takeaway from the season so far is that Nick Sirianni cannot make game time decisions that benefit the outcome of a close game. Many Mounties and staff would like to see better play calling coming from the Eagles head coach. 

“I think the Eagles themselves are a great well put together team, but I think that Nick Sirianni, our head coach, is where failures lie and where weak points are,” Liz Gormley ‘26 said, explaining her frustration.

However, these are just small challenges that the team is able to overcome with the use of their key players. A prime example of a player that has taken on the field with a sense of victory and growth is Saquon Barkley. 

Mounties and faculty around the school have all been blown away by Barkley’s athletic skills. In fact, multiple community members shared their favorite moments from the season so far, and all of them, to no surprise, involved the same play that Barkley made. “I just went to the Sunday Eagles game with the Saquon Barkley backwards leap, which is the most incredible thing and could not have been made up even if I wanted to. Best moment I think I have had in a long time,” Ms. West ‘87 explained.

In addition to Saquon Barkley’s excellent play making, two rookies have also recently stepped up to take on significant roles in the defense. Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, have also been an excellent addition to the Eagles, even while making their debut in the NFL. 

“Jalen Hurts, I love him, but I also want him to step up more as a quarterback this year,”  Violet Binczewski ‘26 said.

Another hot topic surrounding the team currently is Jalen Hurts, the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Jalen Hurts has done an acceptable job the past couple of years, providing the Eagles with successful, yet not fulfilling seasons. 

The Eagles have been close to winning a Super Bowl in the last two years, but have not reached the final goal; taking the Vince Lombardi Trophy back home to Philly. Is this the year that Jalen Hurts steps up and secures a Super Bowl win for the city of Philadelphia? 

“The ultimate goal is to win a Super Bowl, right, which this team is capable of doing,”  Mr. Dougherty said, explaining that he believes that this team could possibly win a Super Bowl. 

As the next half of the season begins, the Eagles need to show that they can maintain their energetic and successful plays, improve the play calling the coaching staff makes, and utilize their important and key players to their best ability.

If this happens, there might just be a thrilling Super Bowl victory for Philly, and an exciting month of February filled with celebration and applause for the Philadelphia Eagles football team.