Barkley Reveals Key to Eagles Repeating As Champs
Barkley Reveals Key to Eagles Repeating As Champs originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Philadelphia Eagles have every right to be confident. After stampeding through the season, they made light work of the NFC playoff picture and put an end to the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl streak before halftime. The best roster in football might have gotten better after the fact, and they'll be favored to run the conference again in 2025.
Advertisement
Nothing about the Eagles' offseason workouts, though, suggests that their well-deserved ego is going to get in the way of next season's success.
Philadelphia is still the biggest and baddest team in the league. With an elite offensive line, two stars on the perimeter, a 2,000-yard running back, and a quarterback that completes the puzzle, star power alone could earn this team a playoff spot.
But merely making the playoffs isn't good enough for a team with such high expectations. The bar has been set, and clearing it ends in Santa Clara next February. Saquon Barkley, coming off his historic season, revealed the Eagles' key to repeating as Super Bowl champions.
"It's been great," Barkley said, via NFL Network's 'The Insiders.' "We've got guys coming in and buying in, training really hard, competing at a high level. The young guys that we drafted and the people we brought in, they're buying into the culture right from the beginning.
Advertisement
"The best way I can answer that question is success is not an accident. We know the recipe. We know what it takes. We can't skip any steps to get to where we want to get to. Last OTAs, it was the same thing, and we already know how training camp's gonna be and we know how it's gonna be during the season. We know the recipe, and we just got to stick to it and a little bit of luck when that comes in with staying healthy. We do that, with the talent that we have and the coaches that we have, we'll be in a good position."
Mastering the details is part of why Philadelphia was so good when it mattered most. From elite coaching on the tush push to impressive player development and in-sync in the biggest moments, the Eagles are detail-oriented and have nearly as much coaching talent as they do between the sidelines.
That process starts during organized team activities (OTAs), regardless of how rudimentary it may seem.
Philadelphia's path back to playoff success is similar to last season's. A Super Bowl might add to the hype – and the expectations – but blocking out the noise to focus on winning the next day is paramount.
Advertisement
Losing a Super Bowl laid waste to the Eagles' 2023 season. Ensuring another trip to the sport's biggest stage doesn't carry over into 2025 could keep Philadelphia on the championship track.
Related: New Details Emerge About Eagles Bryce Huff Trade
Related: Eagles Legend Speaks Out On Jalen Carter In Stunning Revelation
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3 Baltimore Ravens hidden gems on 2025 roster you need to know
The post 3 Baltimore Ravens hidden gems on 2025 roster you need to know appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Baltimore Ravens have yet to get over the hump that is stopping them from returning to the Super Bowl. Since winning the Lombardi trophy in 2012, the Ravens have made it to the AFC Championship game just one time, and they lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Last season, the Ravens fell short against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round. Advertisement Despite their playoff shortcomings, the Ravens have been one of the best teams in the NFL. Lamar Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and Derrick Henry has proven to be ageless as he continues to run through defenders. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Nate Wiggins, and Marlon Humphrey have led Baltimore to be one of the best defensive teams in football. Heading into the new season, the Ravens are looking to not only win their division and make the playoffs, but also get back to the Super Bowl. Baltimore could have a few more moves to make, but as it stands right now, the team is just as good as it was last season. Below are three hidden gems on the Ravens roster right now that a lot of football fans may not know about. Defensive Lineman Travis Jones Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Travis Jones is one of the better interior defensive linemen in the NFL. He was drafted back in 2022 in the third round of the NFL draft out of the University of Connecticut. He quickly made an impact for Baltimore, but he has yet to make a Pro Bowl. Advertisement Jones had a breakout year in 2024, though. He finished with a career-best 42 total tackles and a PFF grade of 69.9. The 6-foot-4 338 338-pound interior lineman had the 27th-best interior lineman PFF grade and the 13th-best run defense grade (72.0). He is going to stuff runners at the line and create chaos in the middle. The 25-year-old is entering his fourth season in the NFL, and he is poised for another great season. He has a lot of competition from other teams when it comes to the awards at the end of the year, but he is more than capable of becoming a top defensive lineman in football. Edge Rusher Odafe Oweh Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Oweh is coming off the best season of his young career. The 26-year-old was a first-round pick in 2021, but there he was not living up to the expectations. Before 2024, the most sacks he had in a season were five, and he was just not very consistent. Advertisement Last year, though, Oweh was able to show why he was such an early pick in the draft. The edge rusher had 10 sacks, 39 total tackles, a forced fumble, and 9.5 stuffs. Those stats gave him a PFF grade of 71.5, which ranked 31st among all edge rushers. With that, Oweh had the 25th-best pass rush PFF grade among all edge rushers. He seems to have found his stride as a pass rusher, and the Ravens are going to need him to have a repeat year if they want to beat the Bills or Chiefs in the playoffs. Linebacker Jake Hummel Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Hummel is one of those players who has not received a lot of playing time, but he has the talent. He went undrafted in 2022, but the Los Angeles Rams picked him up, and he was able to stick a little bit there. Advertisement Baltimore signed Hummel back in March, and they are hoping he can make an impact as a backup linebacker. Hummel will not get starting reps over Smith, but he could have a chance to get more playing time over Trenton Simpson. Hummel played in all 17 games last year, but he averaged just one tackle per game. Still, the 26-year-old finished with a PFF grade of 77.1. He did not get enough snaps to be ranked among linebackers, but it shows how well he played when given the chance. The linebacker is much better on run defense, but he is a capable pass defender. Hummel is definitely someone worth keeping an eye on as the season approaches.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
DeAndre Hopkins shows Ravens something new in his game at OTAs
The post DeAndre Hopkins shows Ravens something new in his game at OTAs appeared first on ClutchPoints. When the Baltimore Ravens signed DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year, $5 million contract during the offseason, it felt like a classic buy-low move from a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Advertisement On paper, the pairing made sense for both sides; while Hopkins is no longer the player he once was in Arizona or with the Houston Texans, he was still a productive player with the Tennessee Titans and helped out the Kansas City Chiefs in their Super Bowl pursuits too, even if they ultimately came up short to the Philadelphia Eagles. Considering the Ravens want to challenge the Eagles for the Lombardi Trophy next February, why not bring in Hopkins to see what he can and can't still do? Well, though it's still technically the spring, the Ravens have reportedly found out something new about the 12-year vet, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec: Hopkins doesn't mind getting down and dirty as a blocker. 'Hopkins has 984 receptions over 12 NFL regular seasons, establishing himself as one of the best receivers of his generation. When the Ravens signed Hopkins to a one-year, $5 million deal in March, they praised his reliable hands and ability to make spectacular catches look routine. But they've learned more about Hopkins since OTAs began last week,' Zrebiec wrote. 'Coach John Harbaugh took note of Hopkins' willingness as a blocker during an OTA practice. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken spoke Tuesday about the impact the five-time Pro Bowler has had on the younger players. Wide receiver Zay Flowers has been impressed by how methodical Hopkins is on the field.' Advertisement One of the defining wide receivers of his generation, Hopkins has spent over a decade impacting games as a pass catcher, making circus grabs and turning nothing into something with his impressive YAC abilities. But in the Ravens' offense, receivers need to block, too, as any given play can become a massive gain if Lamar Jackson decides to start running. When that happens, John Harbaugh needs all hands on deck, which, if Hopkins is able to hang, could make his chances of making the roster and making an impact all the more likely. Related: Ravens RB Derrick Henry drops bold speed claim over Lamar Jackson Related: 3 Baltimore Ravens hidden gems on 2025 roster you need to know
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Dan Campbell's emotional reaction to Frank Ragnow's shocking retirement at age 29
Dan Campbell lauded Frank Ragnow on Thursday with an emotional tribute days after the Lions center's shocking retirement at the age of 29. 'Frank's been unbelievable. Teammate, football player, man of the community. He's done it all,' the Detroit head coach said at a press conference, his voice cracking with emotion. 'He will be sorely missed.' Advertisement 4 Lions center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement in June 2025. NurPhoto via Getty Images Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Lions, announced his retirement Monday on Instagram. 'I've tried to convince myself that I'm feeling good but I'm not and it's time to prioritize my health and my families [sic] future,' he wrote in the post. Advertisement 'I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't. I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life.' As he spoke about Ragnow on Thursday, Campbell referenced one play from Detroit's 31-23 win over the Buccaneers in the 2024 NFC Divisional Round. With the Lions facing a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line and the game knotted at 10-10, Detroit ran it up the gut with running back Craig Reynolds for the go-ahead touchdown. Advertisement 4 Lions center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement from the NFL Monday after seven seasons. AP 4 Frank Ragnow (77) during the Lions' NFC Divisional Round matchup against the Bucs in January 2024. Getty Images The play was a success due in large part to Ragnow, who managed to block one of Tampa Bay's biggest defensive linemen after a painful collision with the lineman's knee. 'It was huge,' Campbell said. 'That's the type of player he was.' Advertisement 4 Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that retiring center Frank Ragnow will be 'sorely missed.' AP The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Ragnow played seven seasons with Detroit, sticking by the franchise through its rise from NFC North bottom-dweller to Super Bowl contender. He dealt with a recurring toe problem during his career, which caused him to miss 13 games in 2021, and it flared up in 2022 as well. Ragnow was a Pro Bowl selection in each of the last three seasons leading up to his retirement, and leaves a void for Detroit to fill on the offensive line as the team looks to contend for a championship this season.
