Chip Kelly’s first season as an NFL head coach has been every bit the roller coaster many expected, but his Eagles are riding high and could be ready to roll right into the playoffs.
Philadelphia moves up four spots to No. 14 in The Post’s NFL Power Rankings on the strength of back-to-back victories led by the spotless Nick Foles that brought the Eagles back to .500 and have their confidence soaring.
The Birds looked like roadkill just three weeks ago after an ugly, 15-7 home loss to the Giants with the overmatched Matt Barkley at quarterback dropped them to 3-5.
But Michael Vick’s various injuries now look like a blessing in disguise because they allowed Foles to assume the starting job without having to worry about looking over his shoulder once he returned from a concussion.
Foles’ record-tying seven-TD game against the Raiders might have been a bolt from the blue, but he showed it was no fluke this Sunday at Green Bay with three more scoring passes. He now has thrown 16 for the season without a single interception.
If Foles can stay healthy — always a big if for the quarterback in Kelly’s read-option attack — the schedule and an NFC East where no team is above .500 tilt heavily in Philly’s favor. But if the first 10 games of Kelly’s tenure are any indication, just don’t expect it to be smooth or easy.
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. Seahawks (1): The schedule is still setting up nicely for a 15-1 finish.
2. Chiefs (2): Good timing with the arrest, Dwayne Bowe.
3. Broncos (3): It’s getting colder in Denver and Peyton’s ankles aren’t getting any better.
4. Saints (9): Warning: Facing Drew Brees in the Superdome is guaranteed to be hazardous to your health.
5. Patriots (6): Tom Brady vs. the Carolina defense this week is pretty darn intriguing.
6. Lions (10): With the Steelers, Buccaneers and Rodgers-less Packers up next, they could start pulling away in the NFC North.
7. Panthers (11): This defense — which hasn’t given up more than 15 points in five straight games — is no joke, people.
8. 49ers (4): Read into this what you will, but they’re 1-3 with Aldon Smith this season and 5-0 without him.
9. Colts (5): Getting their doors blown off at home by the Rams shows this team still isn’t ready for prime time.
10. Bengals (7): Back-to-back OT losses are tough, but they have the Browns and the bye week next.
11. Cardinals (14): Nobody’s winning uglier, but at 5-4, at least they’re winning.
12. Packers (8): About the only thing they haven’t endured this season is an MRSA outbreak.
13. Cowboys (12): It’s not the defensive scheme or the coordinator, Jerry. You need better players.
14. Eagles (18): A spotless Nick Foles suddenly makes them the NFC East favorite.
15. Chargers (13): And you thought the Jets were unpredictable …
16. Jets (16): Their first two games coming out of the bye week — on the road in Buffalo and Baltimore — look pivotal.
17. Bears (15): Josh McCown is legit, so don’t count them out just yet.
18. Ravens (21): Winning a game in which they allowed a Hail Mary could be a season-changer.
19. Titans (17): From the owner dying to Jake Locker’s injuries to losing to the Jaguars, this season is turning into a calamity.
20. Dolphins (19): A season — and a franchise — on the brink.
21. Browns (20): For all of their woes this season, they’re still just 1 1/2 games out of first place in the AFC North.
22. Rams (28): Nice of you to finally show up, Tavon Austin.
23. Giants (25): “Eli Manning: Game Manager” might sound strange, but it’s working.
24. Redskins (22): Coming back from 3-6 to make the playoffs two years in a row is a big longshot, but stranger things have happened.
25. Raiders (24): Terrelle Pryor or no Terrelle Pryor, they won’t be contenders until the defense gets fixed.
26. Steelers (26): Not buying the Ben Roethlisberger trade reports. That would be a stupid move, and this franchise doesn’t do stupid.
27. Bills (23): Already reduced to spoilers, and it’s only Week 11. Same as it ever was.
28. Vikings (30): A trip to Seattle should bring them back to very quickly.
29. Falcons (27): It’s mind-blowing how far this team has fallen in such a short time.
30. Texans (29): Enjoy the final seven weeks of your Houston coaching career, Gary Kubiak.
31. Buccaneers (31): Too little, too late, Greg Schiano.
32. Jaguars (32): The 2008 Lions can rest easy now.