Tough road ahead for Eagles
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Tough road ahead for Eagles
Daily News staff
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)
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All the more reason to fire and replace McTurdmott now, The defense is terrible and showing no signs of improvement.— citysims
Whether Don goes or stays, this team will be fortunate to be 7-9. That is how I view it and if the OL is not fixed and the D made as solid as the old Eagles were with Brown et al, they could be 5-10. I think McNabb should go and let it fly and trade Vick too if the draft choice is fairly high. Hey, they can always pick up a vet QB by training camp. And who knows, the young kids with some draft picks could jell enough to go 8-8.— KGKoons- 2010 has 6-10 written all over it--unless Reid gets his act together. Pass/Run ratio is out of whack. Time of Possession is out of whack. Long Yardage: 2nd or 3rd and long situation have been too frequent. Reid is addicted to "big plays" as opposed to consistent offense and improvement in field position. Defense was riddled with injured and coaching went backwards with McDermott and defensive staff. Running game with an aging Westbrook is grade "C"...and McNabb isn't Steve Young and shows no signs of becoming a Steve Young type player aftre 11 seasons. GREAT TIME to trade McNabb and let Kolb and Vick compete to decide who is the starter in 2010.— Smashmouth
- If the Eagles had to play Minn., GB, and Atlanta on the road, their schedule would be tough. The Eagles' success will be based more on their offseason moves than on the schedule.— 76erfn
- tombo...NO ran the ball? What SB did you watch?— JamesJ
- I've been a Mcnabb supporter since day one, and have always found reasons to spread the blame around (lack of recievers, injuries, clock management, whatever), but now, I think it's time. But only if the deal is with Rams, Cleveland, Buffalo or Denver so we get a stud lineman or DE with there first pick. Then concentrate on the o-line to protect Kolb. With the league QB-starved, Vick should be worth at least a second rounder as well.— Pimander33
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