Tough road ahead for Eagles
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Tough road ahead for Eagles
Joe Banner has said the NFC East will be the toughest division in football next season. Andy Reid often refers to division games being knockdown, drag-out fights.
The NFL strength of schedule ratings for 2010 seems to bear out just how difficult the road might be for the Eagles and their division rivals.
The four NFC East teams have the four most difficult schedules in the NFC and are in the top 9 overall, based on the 2009 regular-season records of next season’s opponents.
Dallas has the most difficult schedule in the NFC and third overall with an opponents’ winning percentage of .543. The Giants are seventh overall (.527), Washington is eighth overall (.523) and the Eagles are ninth (.520).
The Eagles’ home schedule is particularly brutal. Only Washington (4-12) had a losing record last year and four of the eight opponents won at least 11 games.
Tennessee and Houston are tied atop the rankings at .547. AFC teams have six of the top 10 spots.
Super Bowl champion New Orleans, largely because of the NFC South, has the 27th toughest schedule at .469.
Here are the Eagles’ opponents with records:
Home: Dallas (11-5), Giants (8-8), Washington (4-12), Green Bay (11-5), Minnesota (12-4), Atlanta (9-7), Houston (9-7), Indianapolis (14-2).
Road: Dallas (11-5), Giants (8-8), Washington (4-12), Chicago (7-9), Detroit (2-14), San Francisco (8-8), Jacksonville (7-9), Tennessee (8-8)
What did you say Kevin? Keep McNabb because you don't want to face that schedule and don't want to take the heat?— tpizza
wow, they go 0-5 against playoff teams last season, and next year almost every game will be against a playoff team or a good team. If McNabb is back they are gonna go like 6-10. Reids horrible playcalling wont win more then 7 games during that schedule. trading McNabb and getting some good D players in the draft and Kolbs accuracy gives a slim chance for a playoff spot but I doubt it. McNabb wont even stay healthy more then 8 games against that schedule.
Cool, we get to be embarrassed at home by Indy next year.— philly_in_DC- who cares about the schedule... I really believe this is the year eagles make the big leap to the superbowl... after years of failure, mgmt has finally realized they need to make changes.... exhibit A - for years we have been complaining about not having any WR or a solid FB - the team then gets Maclin, McCoy, Jackson, and Weaver. I really believe they will continue along that path by upgrading the D-line and secondary... call me crazy, but I believe they will make positive moves this offseason despite what the Les and the other negative writers of Philly have to say. Birds in '10/11!!— therev
- And if Kolb's at the helm, reaching six wins would be just short of a miracle.— birdseed
- I'm not trying to damper the dismay with optimism here, but really this schedule looks like a 10-6 or 9-7 season to me. You throw out Green Bay, Minnesota, Indy, and Dallas twice, and the rest of these teams are mediocre non-contenders. Not too mention the tough games are at home, so the Eagles might get lucky and win one of those. So I see the Eagles making the playoffs and losing in the first round again. Another "successful" year, accorrding to Banner, Lurie, Reid and McNabb.— Rombo
- Hahahhaha reallllly Garner?? What fantasyland are you people living in that think Kolb is going to be this stud QB during his career, let alone immediately? To say McNabb is going to be 6-10 and Kolb gives us a playoff hope is just ridiculous. And as a apparent McNabb hater shouldn't you at least stand by your group motto of him doing well in the regular season and failing in the playoffs??— Phillies1120
- Looks like 6-10 would be a stretch. Sure losses: Jacksonville (never beaten them) Indy, Tennessee (never beaten them) Dallas (maybe twice) Giants (at least once) Pick any 4 or 5 from Texans, 49ers, Vikings , Packers , Redskins, Falcons.
- To beat Indy next year, we just need to have some long, sustained drives that eat up the clock, and keeps Manning off the field.... Like that would ever happen with the Andy and Marty show.— DerbyBound
- To beat Indy next year, we just need to have some long, sustained drives that eat up the clock, and keeps Manning off the field.... Like that would ever happen with the Andy and Marty show.— DerbyBound
- Rombo, you probably thought they would win the SB or something this year too. If all they could do is 11-5 this year, then next year is like 6-10 or 7-9. The poinst is they need to go in a new direction. Trade McNabb and get some D players and Kolbs accuracy will give them a better chance in 2011. Keeping McNabb you might win like 2 more games and then I gurantee he gets injured and Kolb would play anyway. Tennessee is the team that McNabb screwed up his knee against a couple years ago. He struggles against tough defenses and almost every one of those teams has a good D. McNabb and Reid against that schedule is a joke. I dont want to see it. I know it will be bad. It will be like the dallas games like every week. McNabb will probably get traded though and 2011 would be looking like a possible SB run if they do the right things. No changes = no SB.
- McNabb will be gone, so will Vick....and unless REID does somthing great with the OL Kolb will be a broken and bruised man by game 7... thank you Jeffery for giving us 4 more years of nothing (oh by your standards making the playoffs is your only goal) and NO Super Bowl....The lean years are coming because YOU (Jeffery) have not made "winning it all" "the only goal" you are interested in. Jeff , You have failed as an owner...oh yes you make money....but if that is why you bought this team then you are a true fraud......— nuggett
- If Eagles O-line stay healthy and defense learns to stop run game, they will be in good shape. Cows are good, but not as good as the Eagles made them look at the end of the season. Skins don't have a QB, and Giants are getting old. Who cares about non-conference game until playoff?— Seed
- How do the Redskins and Giants have a tougher schedule based on 2009 records?? 14 of the opponents for the NFC East teams are exactly the same. 2 NFC games against the division you don't play, based on order of finish. For Eagles, that is the Atlanta and San Fran games next year. Those games for Giants and Skins are SEA and CAR, and STL and TB. Doesn't make any sense, these #s are wrong. Anyway- home schedule looks rough, but you never know until the season starts.— terryhoage
- Actually- since Giants and Skins play us- these do make sense.— terryhoage
