Challenges ahead on the Eagles' schedule

ALMOST ALL of the patsies have passed.

No more teams on the Eagles' schedule are of the criminally poor caliber of the Jaguars and Rams.

The Titans are a cut above that lot, and, coming into Philadelphia on Nov. 23 off a short week - well, from this distance, that's a game the Eagles cannot lose.

Besides the Titans, there are no more clubs that the Eagles can beat if their pass rush is toothless, as it was the first three games; if their running game is weak, as it was for five games; if their cornerbacks don't make plays all four quarters, for a change; if their quarterback is careless, as he has been all season.

Special-teams excellence might keep the Eagles competitive in their final 10 weeks, but special teams cannot carry the Birds to the level of the elite.

To reach that level, they must outplay a gantlet of legitimate teams in a 2 1/2-month stretch.

Football franchises get good by beating bad teams, which Chip Kelly's Birds have done this season and last.

They become significant by beating other good ones.

That begins Sunday in Arizona, 5-1 and deservedly so; the first tough test down a defining stretch.

"I see the next 10 games as the opportunity to continue our dominance," nose tackle Bennie Logan said. "Show teams what we are capable of doing, once we play well in every phase of the game: special teams, offense and defense.

"It's going to be a challenge for us, but it's one we're prepared for."

Along with the Eagles, the Cowboys, Packers and Cardinals are among the cream of the conference. Despite their recent struggles, the Seahawks are still the defending Super Bowl champions and have plenty of time to better the bunch.

Washington probably will have franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III back for the Dec. 20 game in Landover, Md.

The Giants are a real team. Without star receiver Victor Cruz, the Giants played the Cowboys tough in Dallas, a week after being shut out in Philadelphia. They might not reach the playoffs - they have a hard road, too - but, at 3-4, the Giants will not fold; not in Tom Coughlin's possible swan-song season.

The Eagles play the Texans in Houston on Nov. 2, which adds a degree of difficulty. They host the Panthers the next week, and have the happy expectation that guard Evan Mathis and center Jason Kelce will return for that game; Kelce, perhaps before that. Expect neither to be anywhere near 100 percent.

Expect both to be much better than replacements Matt Tobin at left guard and David Molk at center. It is those two undrafted backups upon whom Sunday's result largely lies.

Can they open holes for LeSean McCoy and maximize the presence of left tackle Jason Peters? Can they protect Nick Foles, who hasn't been able to step up in the pocket all season?

Tobin and Molk are important, but they are not the only issues.

McCoy needs to dance less and run more; he followed that formula against the Giants and compiled more yards (149) than in the three previous games combined (120).

Foles needs to realize his limitations. He can neither avoid nor withstand pressure, and he lacks the arm strength to make the last-second, off-balance throws that have defined some of his contemporaries, such as Colin Kaepernick and Andrew Luck. Most of Foles' seven interceptions have been the product of poor decisions.

Starting cornerbacks Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams cannot continue to soften their coverage as the games progress; and, to that point, defensive coordinator Bill Davis cannot call off his dogs.

And, finally, outside linebackers Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin need to be used more in concert, even at the expense of playing time for Trent Cole. Both Barwin and Graham are more explosive edge rushers, and using Graham more will keep Cole fresher late in games and late in the season.

The matchup Sunday will go far in determining exactly what the Eagles can be.

The Cardinals rank first against the run and second-to-last against the pass, but, considering the team's defensive reputation, is that valid?

"The Cardinals' offense is so good, they've been up in almost every game they've played, so the people at the end of the game have to throw the ball more than they have to run the ball," Eagles coach Chip Kelly said.

That statement was voiced with more force than it merited. Actually, most of the Cardinals' games were close throughout.

More accurately, they can blame their statistical status against the pass on the level of their competition. They have faced both Peyton and Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Kaepernick. They beat them all but Peyton . . . who threw for 479 yards, four touchdowns and was sacked only once.

In fact, the Cards have only seven sacks in their six games.

Foles has been sacked only twice in his last five games.

The Cards haven't been hitting quarterbacks, even when they know the pass is coming. This could be a big advantage for the Birds and Foles.

If the Eagles prove they can take advantage, they will take another step toward proving they are more than just a playoff team.

They could be a contender.

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