If the Philadelphia Eagles were going to restore themselves as Super Bowl contenders, it was going to require new blood. Keegan wasn’t yet an Eagle when the overhaul began a year ago. The lineman was still relishing Michigan’s national championship parade when Philadelphia’s meltdown mercifully reached its end.

The Eagles capped off a 14-3 campaign with a 20-13 win over the New York Giants that featured an impressive performance from Tanner McKee. The Birds, however, have their eyes set on bigger and better things than an essentially meaningless Week 18 win.

Danny Dimes ain't walking through that door. Neither is Josh Johnson nor Case Keenum. But, hey, Malik Willis might be. Now that Week 18 is in the books, we can say two things about the Eagles' pursuit of another Super Bowl ring: — They are a much better team than they were the last two times they advanced to the NFL's biggest stage.

If the Packers are going to make it to the Super Bowl, a lot needs to go right. The NFC is a juggernaut this season and having to face the Eagles first is tough. Green Bay certainly has a shot against Philadelphia, but it's going to be a tough matchup.

The Eagles enter the playoffs with perhaps their best chance to hoist a Lombardi Trophy — and that's saying a lot given the team's success under head coach Nick Sirianni. Why it matters: This Birds team is arguably better — and more balanced — than the one that narrowly lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in 2023.

The Eagles will begin their chase for the Lombardi Trophy the same way they opened the 2024 season: with a matchup against the Packers.