How Close Are the Major Philadelphia Sports Teams to Winning a Championship?

How Close Are the Major Philadelphia Sports Teams to Winning a Championship?

Whether a Philadelphia sports team is a championship contender or at the bottom of the barrel of their respective division, Philadelphia fans show up to support their teams. Oftentimes, fans are blinded by their passion to accurately assess the state of their teams. This piece will look at the four major professional sports teams in Philadelphia and gauge how legitimate each one is in terms of being competitive. Each franchise will be given a rating from one to ten; the closer to ten a team is, the closer they are to winning a world championship, with a ten meaning they are guaranteed to win a title this season.

Philadelphia Flyers: 4.0

The Philadelphia Flyers started to excite some fans last season, but their weaknesses were ultimately exposed. This not only cost them a playoff spot, but it also revealed that the team is a long way away from being title contenders.

The team cannot be considered a playoff contender until they acquire a franchise goalie. Among the 20 goalies that played in 50 or more games, Flyers starter Samuel Ersson had the lowest save percentage at 0.890. Ersson is still considered young by many at the age of 24, but with his team being among the league's top 20 in team defense last season, his save percentage being that low is a cause for concern. 

The media has suggested that Matvei Michkov will soon help the franchise start winning games, but with him still being a raw NHL talent and the Flyers still missing several pieces, it is difficult to give the Flyers a rating higher than below average.

Philadelphia 76ers: 7.0

Ever since Joel Embiid started playing full-time NBA minutes, the Philadelphia 76ers have been a playoff team. Unfortunately for the franchise, that has been the extent of their success.

On paper, the 76ers come in to this upcoming season as one of the most well-balanced teams in the NBA. They have a top-ten player in the league, a young co-star to pair with him, a veteran third option, and several talented role players. This should be a team that makes a deep playoff run, but it also mirrors several teams that the 76ers have assembled within the past decade. Should fans expect anything different?

Until Joel Embiid can prove that he can be healthy in the Spring time, the answer to the preceding question is no. With that said, giving the 76ers anything less than an above average rating would discredit the potential that the talent and coaching of the team offer.

Philadelphia Eagles: 8.5

The Philadelphia Eagles should have a higher rating than an 8.5; a couple of seasons ago, there were a good fourth quarter away from winning the Super Bowl. Since then, they have shown flashes of the team that they were in that season, but have also shown lowlights that mirror those of a below .500 team. The irony is that on paper, the 2024-25 Eagles have as strong of a roster that they ever have in the history of the franchise.

The current season is still young and there is a lot of football left to be played. As it stands, the Eagles are 2-1 in with wins over strong opponents. It is too early to consider them anything less than the title contenders that their roster projects them to be.

It is unknown what type of Eagles team fans will get come January. If their quarterback protects the football, their offense cashes in on touchdowns, and the defense can contain opposing quarterbacks, they can run through the NFC to the Super Bowl. Nothing in the NFL is ever guaranteed, though; injuries, a tough playoff matchup, or a complete mental collapse can turn any team's roster into names on a losing box score report.

Philadelphia Phillies: 9.5

The Philadelphia Phillies have been on the brink of winning a World Series for three straight seasons now. Two seasons ago, they were considered overachievers in the playoffs; last season, a NLCS collapse earned them the title of underachievers. Will 2024 be the year that they simply become "achievers"?

The Phillies are the closest professional sports team to winning a world title in Philadelphia. They have the post-season experience, the All-star talent, and the seeding position needed to to get the job done. The Phillies have the chance to be the first team on this list to achieve a 10.0 in the 2020's; however, if they fail, they will join the company of the neighboring 76ers as post-season disappointments.