Nearing the end of the NFL's regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles, led by standout quarterback Jalen Hurts, were 13-1 and looked to be easily the league's finest team.
Every other ballclub had at least three defeats.
All Philadelphia had to do was win one of their three remaining contests and they would clinch the NFC's top seed.
This would give the Eagles a first-round postseason bye and guarantee them home field advantage throughout the play-offs.
The Eagles' only loss had come late in their game with Washington when a receiver had snared a Hurts pass and ran into position for a game winning field goal -- only to fumble the ball and game away.
If not for that untimely gaffe, the Eagles would be undefeated and people would still be talking up their chances of being the only NFL team to go without a loss besides the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
But in their 14th game win over the Chicago Bears, Hurts injured his non-throwing shoulder.
He would miss the next two games -- both of them Eagles lost.
Hurts probably won't win the Most Valuable Player award -- that honour should go to the Kansas City Chiefs' amazing QB Patrick Mahomes.
But if there was an MIP (Most Important Player) award, it would have to go to Hurts, whose running and passing had been scintillating.
Jalen, still not at 100 percent, would come back just in the nick of time for the Eagles' final game of the regular season -- a contest versus the New York Giants.
The G-Men had already clinched a play-off spot the week before and would be resting most of their regulars.
Philadelphia managed to wobble to a 22-16 win over the Giants. Hurts appeared rusty but managed to drive the Eagles into the red zone six times.
However, Philadelphia had to settle for field goals on five of those trips.
Philly had gotten their critical win to finish an NFC-best 14-3 but left themselves open for a lot of doubt as to whether they were still the NFL's best outfit.
All of a sudden, the Super Bowl appears up for grabs.
Entering the postseason, the San Francisco 49ers had won their last 10 games in a row behind the play of a strong defence and, for the last five contests, a rookie quarterback in Brock Purdy.
If you're a big believer in momentum, then the 13-4 Niners are your ballclub in this year's play-offs.
Also riding Big Mo are the AFC's Kansas City Chiefs who closed the regular season by winning four of their last five contests to finish 14-3 and tie the Eagles for best NFL regular season record.
The AFC also boasts two of the league's other top contenders in the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bills behind quarterback Josh Allen finished just behind the Chiefs with a 13-3 mark.
The Bengals, paced by QB Joe Burrow, came on strong after a sluggish 3-4 start to win their last eight in a row.
Cincy's 2022 season has gone pretty much the same route as last campaign when they rode late-season momentum all the way to the Super Bowl (where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams).
From the NFC, there are also the 13-4 Minnesota Vikings who copped a bunch of one-touchdown-or-less victories but also suffered two severe thumpings where foes scored 40-plus points on them.
Then there are the extremely talented but inconsistent Dallas Cowboys. The 'Boys look like world beaters one week only to become stumblebums the next.
If Dallas somehow become consistently great, they are capable of going all the way. BUT that is a big IF.
For most of this century, the Cowboys have always seemed to find a way to blow it.
Which brings us back to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Should Hurts be able put his ample running skills to use (which he didn't in that final game win over the Giants), the Eagles could very quickly return to their top team status -- and win Philly's second ever Super Bowl title.
Contact Wiggins' World at davwigg@gmail.com.