A new quarterback. A new running back. A new wide receiver. A new right guard. Two new cornerbacks. A new safety. A new inside linebacker. A new outside linebacker.

The Eagles will have at least nine – count 'em, nine – new starters when they face the Falcons in their season-opener on September 14. When a team has that kind of turnover, it usually signals the beginning of a painful rebuilding process.

But that's not the case with the Eagles. Most of the changes they're making involve veterans, not crawl-before-they-can-walk rookies.

On paper, they are a better team right now than they were at the end of last season when they failed to make the playoffs despite winning 10 games.

Their biggest liability last year was their pass defense. Gave up a league-worst 72 pass plays of 20 yards or more. Allowed 30 TD passes, the fourth most in the NFL.

Their secondary should be much better this season with the additions of cornerbacks Byron Maxwell, Walter Thurmond and rookie Eric Rowe. The 6-1, 205-pound Rowe gives them somebody who is capable of matching up in coverage against some of the bigger tight ends and wide receivers that they'll face.

The big question is injuries. Many/most of the new faces Chip Kelly brought in have spent a lot of time with orthopedic surgeons. Four of the nine new starters missed all of last season with injuries, including quarterback Sam Bradford, who suffered his second ACL tear in as many years.

Bradford's ability to stay healthy this season is the key to everything. He is a better quarterback than Nick Foles. He is a better fit for Chip Kelly's offense.

He's decisive and accurate, and with him at quarterback, you're going to see a big spike in the Eagles' yards-after-catch average this season because he will get the ball to the receivers quickly and in stride so that they can run with the ball after they get it.

If Bradford can stay in one piece, there is no doubt in my mind that the Eagles are closer to winning a Super Bowl than they were at the end of last season. If he can't, well, all bets are off.

There still are some areas of concern. They released right guard Todd Herremans, and Chip Kelly doesn't act like he really wants 33-year-old Pro Bowl left guard Evan Mathis around. We'll see how linebacker Brandon Graham does as a 50-snap-a-game starter.

But they've got a manageable schedule and will get both of their games against the Cowboys in before Greg Hardy's 10-game suspension is up.

So, yes, the Super Bowl is closer today for the Eagles than it was following their season-ending win over the Giants in late December.