NEW ORLEANS -- History isn't looking kindly on the 2024 Eagles ahead of their matchup with the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
It's a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, a thrilling game that ended with the Chiefs emerging as victors. In six of eight Super Bowl rematches, the winner of the first game has triumphed in the second iteration. And in the only Super Bowl rematch to occur in a shorter span of time than these Chiefs and Eagles, the Cowboys won their second straight over the Bills.
But history is often nothing more than a guide of what could happen. After all, we study it to avoid repeating past mistakes. And if any team has done some soul-searching since Super Bowl LVII, it's the Eagles.
Philadelphia appeared to be a leading contender to return to the Super Bowl a year ago, running out to a 10-1 start that included a road win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. As the season shifted to December, though, the wheels fell off for the Eagles, who ended the campaign as losers of five of their final six games. They limped through their Super Wild Card Weekend contest in Tampa, falling to the Buccaneers in a 32-9 blowout that was so one-sided it nearly cost coach Nick Sirianni his job.
A year later, the Eagles have rediscovered their form as an elite club and are back in the Super Bowl, meeting the same team that ended their dreams 24 months ago. They know they wouldn't have reached this stage if not for the struggles of 2023.
"This team's embraced adversity," Sirianni said Tuesday. "Even going back to the 2023 season, which we haven't talked a lot about since the beginning of the year, we're grateful for that. We're thankful for that.
"As bad as it sucked at the time, I know I'm grateful for that because it shaped us into who we are now and a big reason why we're back here. ... Embracing adversity is huge for your development as a person, as a player, as a coach."
The Eagles' 2023 collapse was so dramatic and inexplicable, folks still don't know what quite happened. Eagles players wouldn't divulge much in the way of specifics during the first two days in New Orleans, either, other than pointing to a general lack of fun being had by all involved.
It certainly didn't look very enjoyable from the outside. Philadelphia's games appeared more like a chore than grown men playing a kid's game, and by the time they were emphatically dispatched in Tampa, it almost seemed as if the defeat was a relief.
That's not the 2024 Eagles. This group seems to have very much enjoyed the journey to Super Bowl LIX and are also appreciating the opportunity.
Perhaps the Eagles needed to taste rock bottom in order to value the spoils of success.
"After a year like last year, heading into the new year, you don't want to repeat that," tackle Jordan Mailata said Tuesday. "It lit a lot of fire under a lot of guys on this team that are still here and part of this team now. I agree with what Nick said and what (quarterback) Jalen (Hurts) said because you have to want to get to the highest stage you can, but you can only do that if you learn from your mistakes.
"With the guys who were here last year, yes, absolutely. We became closer because of that. We're all professionals. We all want to win. Last year just wasn't up to the standard and we're not going to let that happen again. So the guys who were here last year, definitely, we're all a little bit closer just going through that adversity, somebody who understands your circumstances."
The Eagles' pivot back toward the Super Bowl didn't occur simply with the passage of time.
General manager Howie Roseman completed another highly productive offseason in 2024, restocking the defense with a collection of young talent while adding the gem of the free agent class, running back Saquon Barkley, to the offensive side (as well as former first-rounder Mekhi Becton, who has thrived at guard). Their return to prominence was as much the product of roster upgrades -- and key hires at offensive and defensive coordinator -- as it was flipping the calendar over to a new year.
Still, motivation matters. As Hurts said during Super Bowl LIX Opening Night and Mailata repeated Tuesday, their previous Super Bowl defeat lit a fire beneath them. So too did their meltdown in 2023.
Another important element: enjoyment of the game, something the Eagles have reclaimed this season.
"I just think we're just playing together, having fun again," cornerback Darius Slay said Monday. "I think the '23 year, a lot of guys were not having as much fun as they need to. But the '22 year and the '24 year, I think we're having fun with the game."
Forged in the fires of adversity, the Eagles have emerged as an alloy.
They're stronger than their 2022 version and are built better for what awaits them on Sunday in New Orleans.
If they play their game, perhaps they'll leave Louisiana with the most coveted piece of metal of all: a Lombardi Trophy.
