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Sizing up the Eagles' schedule down the stretch

A team-by-team look at the Eagles' schedule after their bye week.

Trent Cole celebrates after sacking the Giants' Eli Manning. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Trent Cole celebrates after sacking the Giants' Eli Manning. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more

EACH SPRING when the NFL releases its schedule, football-crazed fans across the Delaware Valley go through and mark down potential wins and losses for each of the Eagles' 16 regular-season games.

It's a fun exercise, but every fall the same thing happens - a few teams we thought would be good aren't, and several we penciled in as sure-thing wins soon no longer appear that way.

So with the 5-1 Eagles on their bye week and all teams five or six games into their seasons, here's a quick look at the statuses of each of the final nine regular-season opponents for Chip Kelly & Co.

At Arizona Cardinals

Record: 4-1

Combined opponents' record: 17-12

Week 7 opponent: at Raiders

In a way, the Cardinals' first 6 weeks have gone similarly to the Eagles, Bruce Arians' squad scrapping its way to wins despite missing several key players. Arizona managed two wins in a three-game stretch without quarterback Carson Palmer (nerve issue) and has gotten by on defense without the suspended Daryl Washington, as well as John Abraham (concussion) and Darnell Dockett (knee), both done for the season. Barring something unforeseen this Sunday, the Cardinals will provide another big test for the Eagles on both sides of the ball.

At Houston Texans

Record: 3-3

Combined opponents' record: 16-19

Week 7 opponent: at Steelers

J.J. Watt has put himself in legitimate contention to become the first defensive player named NFL MVP since Lawrence Taylor in 1986, but Bill O'Brien's team has a lot of question marks elsewhere. Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes and the passing game (208.5 yards per game) ranks 28th in the league. Houston also has the 29th-best passing defense (271.5 yards per game) and is 22nd against the run (125.7 yards per game). As it did before the season, this still looks like a game the Eagles should win.

Vs. Carolina Panthers

Record: 3-2-1

Combined opponents' record: 18-16-1

Week 7 opponent: at Packers

A season after going 12-4 and winning the NFC South, the Panthers have had an up-and-down start. One week, they'll beat a good Lions team by 17, only to lose to a suspect Steelers squad by 18 the following week. They aren't getting production out of their running backs, but quarterback Cam Newton appears to be getting healthier, evidenced by his 107 rushing yards on 17 carries last week. He poses obvious threats, as does Kelvin Benjamin (31 catches, 416 yards, four touchdowns), an early Rookie of the Year candidate. But Carolina's defense has struggled, so this appears to be a good matchup for the Eagles' offense. The Birds will be going for their ninth straight victory at the Linc.

At Green Bay Packers

Record: 4-2

Combined opponents' record: 15-20

Week 7 opponent: Panthers

After a 1-2 start, Aaron Rodgers has the Packers riding a three-game winning streak entering their home game this Sunday. Jordy Nelson leads the NFL with 632 receiving yards and is second among wide receivers with 43 receptions. Randall Cobb leads all wide receivers with seven touchdown catches. Especially considering this game will be at Lambeau, this matchup will be a huge test for the Eagles' secondary and the defense as a whole.

Vs. Tennessee Titans

Record: 2-4

Combined opponents' record: 17-15-1

Week 7 opponent: at Redskins

Following an impressive win at KC, the Titans dropped four consecutive games, including one in which they blew a 25-point lead against the Browns. They beat the winless Jaguars last week by only two points. With Jake Locker banged up, Charlie Whitehurst has been playing under center, though by the time this game comes around, it's anyone's guess as to who will be quarterbacking this team. Coach Ken Whisenhunt could be on to sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger by then. This might amount to the easiest game left on the Eagles' schedule.

At Dallas Cowboys

Record: 5-1

Combined opponents' record: 15-18

Week 7 opponent: Giants

Though it's kind of a shame these teams don't meet once earlier in the season before their December clash, Thanksgiving is shaping up to be quite a day. Somehow, the Cowboys' defense has held up much better than expected, while their offense, behind maybe the league's best front five, has produced the NFL's No. 1 running attack. Tony Romo & Co. play the Giants, Redskins and Cardinals before a layup at Jacksonville and a Week 11 bye. A 9-1 or 8-2 start is not out of the question, which is amazing, considering the preseason predictions regarding this team.

Vs. Seattle Seahawks

Record: 3-2

Combined opponents' record: 19-10

Week 7 opponent: at Rams

The defending Super Bowl champs have shown they are beatable, though they've played a gantlet of a schedule. The Seahawks' defense ranks sixth against the run, but only 19th against the pass, though keep in mind that so far it has played against guys with the last names of Rodgers, Manning and Rivers. Its only sub-.500 opponent thus far has been the Redskins. Despite the Hawks' two early losses, the vaunted Seattle "D" vs. Chip Kelly's uptempo offense will be a must-watch for football junkies.

Vs. Dallas Cowboys

Record: 5-1

Combined opponents' record: 15-18

Week 7 opponent: Giants

So much can happen between now and December that it's impossible to predict what this game will look like. One thing to keep an eye on, though, is whether DeMarco Murray continues to carry such a heavy workload. Right now, with a league-leading 785 rushing yards and six touchdowns, he's an MVP candidate. But he's on pace for an astounding 424 carries and has yet to play a full season since entering the league in 2011. The only certainty is that the Eagles' home finale will be another huge game.

At Washington Redskins

Record: 1-5

Combined opponents' record: 18-16

Week 7 opponent: Titans

Based off their Week 3 performance in South Philly, it feels like the Redskins should have more than only one win. But since their three-point loss to the Eagles, they've lost to the Giants, Seahawks and Cardinals, and Kirk Cousins twice has thrown three interceptions in a quarter. Overall, since the Week 3 game in which Cousins threw for 427 yards and three touchdowns to one interception, he has five touchdowns to seven interceptions.

At New York Giants

Record: 3-3

Combined opponents' record: 19-16

Week 7 opponent: at Cowboys

The Giants opened the season with a pair of losses, looked great while reeling off three straight wins, then were dominated last week by the Eagles. It's way too early to predict how either team will be playing in Week 17, relative to their first meeting, but this will still more than likely be an important divisional game for both teams.