Tag: ESPN power rankings

Eagles land at No. 12 in ESPN’s 2020 post free agency Power Rankings

Philadelphia Eagles No. 12 team in ESPN’s NFL 2020 Power Rankings

The Philadelphia Eagles are preparing for the NFL and looking ahead to some semblance of an NFL season amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Even with everything going on, ESPN Insiders have been paying attention to the offseason transactions and the Birds just landed a favorable ranking in the post-free agency power rankings.

Carson Wentz and company landed right outside the top-10, coming in at No. 12.

12. Philadelphia Eagles

Way-too-early ranking: 14

Three words: Send receivers, STAT! The Eagles did not address wide receiver during the main wave of free agency, even with Nelson Agholor departing for the Raiders and Alshon Jeffery still recovering from Lisfranc surgery. The plan is clear: to address the need in the draft by drawing early and often from what has been dubbed a historic wide receiver class. That approach leaves little room for error. The pressure is on to get it right come April. — Tim McManus

The Cowboys and Buccaneers landed in front of the Birds at 11 and 10 respectively.

While the Eagles wait to load up on receivers via the draft, Howie Roseman restocked the talent pool, acquiring Darius Slay via trade, and signing Javon Hargrave, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Jatavis Brown, Will Parks.

The team also re-signed Jalen Mills and Rodney McLeod at the safety position.

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Oklahoma City holding steady in latest ESPN Power Rankings

For the second-straight week, the Thunder are at No. 13 in the ESPN Power Rankings after wins over Houston, Orlando, Atlanta, and Minnesota.

For the second-straight week, the Oklahoma City Thunder are holding steady in the power rankings.

The Thunder went a perfect 4-0 last week, with road wins over Houston, Orlando, and Minnesota, with a home victory over the Hawks on Friday night.

In at No. 13 again this week in the latest ESPN rankings, Royce Young points out that OKC has consistently defied expectations, especially with a recent rash of injuries that have threatened to derail their success.

It seems each week raises the question, “Wait, are the Thunder actually this good?” And the answer has consistently been, “Yes, the Thunder are this good.” They are 22-8 in their past 30 games — that is a 60-win pace — and have won nine of their past 10 road games. And they’ve done it with plenty of adversity too, relying on their suddenly impressive depth. As long as Dennis Schroder, Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play — that trio has a net rating of plus-29.3 in 311 minutes — they’re good.

Also for the second-straight week, the Thunder will also face off against the team immediately above them in the rankings. The Dallas Mavericks dropped to No. 12 this week, sliding three spots down from No. 9.

As noted by Tim MacMahon, the Mavs’ fall is due largely to their struggles in the fourth quarter.

The Mavericks continue to search for solutions for their late-game offensive struggles, as the league’s most efficient offense ranks 28th in the clutch (93.6 points per 100 possessions). Luka Doncic is shooting only 34.6% when the score is within five points in the final five minutes.

Oklahoma City will put its five-game win streak on the line tonight against the Mavericks.

The Thunder beat Dallas, 106-101, inside Chesapeake Energy Arena on Dec. 31. Dennis Schroder and Danilo Gallinari scored 20 apiece to lead OKC with 20 in the win.