The Inquirer's 2014 Eagles Predictions

The Inquirer's Eagles beat reporters make their predictions:

Jeff McLane: 10-6.
Zach Berman: 9-7.

Week 1: Jaguars
Sunday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m.

JM: Win – The Jags are on the upward, but they plan to sit rookie quarterback Blake Bortles, and the Eagles hit this opening drive down the middle.

ZB: Win -- The Eagles are fortunate they play Jacksonville in September and not December, and a dominating performance excites the home crowd.

Week 2: at Colts
Monday, Sept. 15, 8:30 p.m.

JM: Win – Indianapolis has the better quarterback and is coming off a 6-2 home record, but the Colts will also be without pass rushing specialist -- the suspended Robert Mathis.

ZB: Loss -- Colts quarterback Andrew Luck went 1-2 against Chip Kelly-coached teams at Oregon, but he wins his first game against the Eagles on Monday Night Football.

Week 3: Redskins
Sunday, Sept. 21, 1 p.m. 

JM : Loss – After a 2-0 start, the Eagles lay an egg upon DeSean Jackson's return. Nick Foles struggles against the Redskins pass rush and his receivers can't bail him out.

ZB: Win -- DeSean Jackson will find the end zone in his return to Philadelphia, even in an Eagles victory.

Week 4: at 49ers
Sunday, Sept. 28, 4:25 p.m.

JM: Win – The 49ers defense, still reeling from the losses of Aldon Smith and Navorro Bowman, can't slow Chip Kelly's hair-on-fire offense that avenges the Redskins upset.

ZB: Loss -- A win on the road in San Francisco would prove the Eagles are contenders. The 49ers are a heavyweight, and the Eagles are not yet there.

Week 5: Rams
Sunday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m.

JM: Win – The marquee matchup will pit left tackle Jason Peters vs. defensive end Robert Quinn. But it will be the Birds that tee off on Rams quarterback Shaun Hill.

ZB: Win -- St. Louis' pass rush will be one of the toughest the Eagles see all the season. Without Sam Bradford, the Rams don't have the firepower to stay with the Eagles.

Week 6: N.Y. Giants
Sunday, Oct. 12, 8:30 p.m.

JM: Win – The Eagles survive a nationally televised scare to go to 5-1 – their best first six games start since 2004's 6-0 start.

ZB: Win -- The Eagles move to 4-0 at home against an NFC East rival that has problems on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: at Cardinals
Sunday, Oct. 26, 4:05 p.m.

JM: Loss – Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles shut down the Eagles offense in the second half of a loss last season. He has better success over the entire 60 minutes this year.

ZB: Loss -- The Eagles were fortunate to escape the Cardinals games last season with a win. They won't be able to do it this season against one of the NFL's most underrated teams.

Week 9: at Texans
Sunday, Nov. 2, 1 p.m.

JM: Win – Kelly and Bill O'Brien have often been mentioned in the same breath, but the former Penn State coach will have a harder time turning his program around in his first year.

ZB: Win -- This game is tougher than it appears. The Texans have a formidable defense, but Kelly gets the win over former Penn State coach Bill O'Brien.

Week 10: Panthers
Monday, Nov. 10, 8:30 p.m.

JM: Loss – Mychal Kendricks spies Cam Newton and keeps the Carolina quarterback in the pocket, but the Eagles offense sputters against Sean McDermott's scheme.

ZB: Win -- Sean McDermott's Panthers defense looks formidable, although Carolina lacks offensive firepower. You can count on Jason Avant making a few third-down catches, though.

Week 11: at Packers
Sunday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m.

JM: Loss – Aaron Rodgers picks apart a pass defense that still hasn't completely adapted to the enforcement of contact downfield.

ZB: Loss -- The Eagles escaped Lambeau Field with a win last season when Aaron Rodgers was sidelined. Rodgers makes the difference this season.

Week 12: Titans
Sunday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m.

JM: Win – The Eagles stop a two-game skid as Foles and budding tight end Zach Ertz hook up for two passing touchdowns.

ZB: Win -- If the Titans get production at quarterback, this game will be tougher than it appears. The Eagles should be able to hold them off at home.

Week 13: at Cowboys
Thursday, Nov. 27, 4:30 p.m.

JM: Win – LeSean McCoy owns the Cowboys once again and one of league's worst defenses is stuffing for Kelly's explosive unit.

ZB: Loss -- It won't be a happy Thanksgiving for the Eagles, who lose to the Cowboys on a short week.

Week 14: Seahawks
Sunday, Dec. 7, 4:25 p.m.

JM: Loss – Seattle won't win all 16, and the Eagles have enough firepower to top the Seahawks' vaunted defense. But Kelly's troops lose a close one at the Linc.

ZB: Loss -- Ten days might not be enough to prepare for the Seahawks defense, which hands the Eagles their first losing streak since October 2013.

Week 15: Cowboys
Sunday, Dec. 14, 8:30 p.m.

JM: Win – Tony Romo and Dez Bryant give Bill Davis' unit fits, but the Eagles sweep the season series and move Dallas coach Jason Garrett one step closer to his end.

ZB: Win -- The game plan will still be fresh from two weeks earlier. LeSean McCoy's best game of the season will come against the Cowboys' porous defense.

Week 16: at Washington
Saturday, Dec. 20, 4:30 p.m.

JM: Win – The Eagles shake off the September loss, stifle quarterback Kirk Cousins, and clinch the weak NFC East with a week to spare.

ZB: Loss -- Washington might be the Eagles' biggest challenge for the NFC East crown, meaning this game could have playoff implications.

Week 17: at N.Y. Giants
Sunday, Dec. 28, 1 p.m.

JM: Loss – The Eagles have the opportunity to secure a first-round bye, but can't get it done in the Meadowlands against an Eli Manning-led offense that needed four months to click.

ZB: Win -- For the second consecutive season, the Eagles must win their final game to secure a playoff bid. They do it in the Meadowlands and lock up the NFC East at 9-7.