By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Eagles are 3-0 on the preseason and the third preseason game was a solid showing of a team with potential to succeed this season.
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
Yes, just one year ago, Eagles fans looked at Chip Kelly's team, also 3-0 in preseason, with sights set on a playoff run. That team finished the season 7-9.
A 3-0 start to the preseason means virtually nothing. But for a team that carried low expectations, this 3-0 start can provide optimism for fans heading into the season. But proceed with caution.
Sam Bradford was not perfect last Saturday like he was in Week 3 of the preseason the year before, but 17-for-20 with none of the three incompletion really being his fault is close enough.
Bradford has done nothing flashy. More times than not, it's the safe play that Bradford goes with. But he's been comfortable in the pocket, in total control out of the huddle and quick and effective with his release.
But Bradford's health will always be a concern. So too will be his success against much better defenses and secondaries, and the potential that his receivers will fail him again as they did last season.
Proceed with caution.
Ryan Mathews has shown his potential as a go-to back. But again, health is the issue, and if he goes down, the Eagles are relying on Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner to lead the way.
Proceed with caution.
In Saturday's game, you got the highlight reel for the Eagles receivers. Sure, Nelson Agholor has been a disappointment in preseason and Jordan Matthews hasn't played yet, but you saw the full potential of Josh Huff and Dorial Green-Beckham in the lineup. But can they sustain that and be consistent, especially if Agholor and Matthews struggle?
Proceed with caution.
The secondary looks far and away better off than it was a year ago. Nolan Carroll is back and healthy and has proved the be the Eagles second most valuable member of the group behind Malcolm Jenkins. Rodney McLeod has also had an excellent preseason, giving the Eagles two quality safeties. But we've seen this unit look good in preseason and get burned by the top dogs at the receiver position in the regular season. Time will tell if this group is for real or if the preseason was just the result of facing lesser talent.
Proceed with caution.
Why is the secondary looking as good as it is? Probably because of a pass rush and defensive line that could rank right up there with the best in the NFL. This group has been attacking the passer, and it's resulted in 10 turnovers in three games. But again, this is the preseason, and teams aren't throwing their best out there. The line may still be poised for great success this season, but a lot of things can alter a season.
Proceed with caution.
Doug Pederson, dare I say, has not looked like a rookie on the sidelines. Pederson garnered deserved praise for the coaching staff hired behind him, led by offensive coordinator Frank Reich and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
We've seen the impact Schwartz has had on the defense, and Pederson's combined experience on offense with Reich has proven to work so far, even if it goes back to a more vanilla, Andy Reid kind of style. So far, it's worked.
That said, we haven't seen Pederson get into a real jam yet. He hasn't had to deal with clock management, a two-minute drill or having to go out of the box on a play call. Those things aren't really experimented in the preseason. But consider that Reid did this for 13 seasons with the Eagles, and never seemed to learn from the time management blunders that happened year in and year out.
It's bound to happen with Pederson at some point. But how often will it happen?
Proceed with caution.
Despite keeping these cautious thoughts in mind, be optimistic as well.
The Eagles have the potential to have a Top 10 defense, one certainly capable of making a bid for the playoffs if the offense plays with consistency.
Be optimistic that Bradford's strong second half of last season is what he is capable of when fully healthy and that if he can have the support of a good ground game and reliable receivers and tight ends, the offense may just do a good enough job to push the Eagles into he playoff picture.
It is only the preseason, and the fans have been fooled once already. But when Week 1 comes, it's a clean slate for everybody and the Eagles either take the momentum of a strong preseason and run with it, or slowly and painfully let the air out of the balloon as the season goes spiraling into the ground before it starts.
Don't be surprised if either scenario plays itself out. Anything's possible with the unpredictable. Proceed with caution.
