Philadelphia Eagles Schedule Release: Reaction & Prediction

 Eagles Schedule Release: 

Reaction & Predictions

    For the 2024 season, the Philadelphia Eagles open up their season with a *Home* game in Brazil against the Green Bay Packers. This will be a Friday Night primetime game to kick off what should be an incredible opening weekend of NFL football. In this brief blog, I'm going to touch on the things that I love and hate about the Eagles schedule and a quick prediction.

Things to Love:

    First, love it or hate it, primetime games are AWESOME. The Eagles only have *6* 1pm games on this years schedule, with only two of these being home games. This will leave plenty of time for the football junkies to take in the joys of NFL Redzone. Having lots of late nights struggling to sleep after stressful Eagles games is a lovely thought in the month of May. 

    Second, the absolute best part of this seasons schedule is the last five games of the season. In order, these games go: Panthers (H), Steelers (H), Commanders (A), Cowboys (H), and Giants (H). These five games will likely shape the result of the Eagles season in what is likely to be another year of a hyper-competitive NFC East. What's so great about these games? Well, four of the five at at home, where the Jalen Hurts has a career winning percentage of almost 65%. And other than Dallas (unless these teams over-perform), four of the five should be as "winnable" as an NFL game can be. 

    Lastly, the Eagles have a few "Prove-It" games on the schedule. Other than the two Dallas games, the Eagles have a couple other top tier teams on their schedule. Such as week one, with the up and coming Jordan Love lead Packers. This will be an immediate test for the new and improved Eagles Secondary right off the rip. The Eagles get the joy of playing the AFC North this season, with the Bengals and Ravens on the road and the Steelers and Browns at home. All of these games are sure to be slugfests. In my opinion, the Eagles most important game will be to avenge the playoff dismantling they suffered last season at the hands of the Buccaneers. This game will be at the top of my list this season, labeled as a must win. 

Things to Hate:

    There is not going to be much to hamper the sight of an NFL season from the lens of an Eagles fan, but there are a couple things about this schedule that do stink. First, looking at the first couple weeks of the season, the Brazil game tied together with a Monday night game and two road games before a week five bye. Is, well, undesirable...hopefully the Eagles are able to battle through what is sure to be a tough travel start to the season. 

    These last two issues, are pretty petty. As talked about before, the Eagles have tons of primetime games this season. But, where is the classic Eagles v. Cowboys SNF game? Instead we have SNF games against the Jaguars (I get it, Trevor Lawrence) and the Rams? The Rams had a terrible year last season with brutal injuries everywhere and the emergence of Puka Nacua. But aren't there more desirable games on the schedule to put in the illustrious Sunday Night Football slot? Buccaneers? Bengals? Ravens? Steelers? Dallas? I am just rather perplexed about this decision.

    Lastly, ending the season with divisional games is the best, but this is the third consecutive season with the Eagles ending with the New York Giants. I understand you don't want to gamble having a meaningless Eagles Cowboys game like we did in 2021, but it is frustrating knowing that we're stuck with the Giants week 18. 

Prediction: (12-5)

Week One: (H*) *Friday Brazil Game: Green Bay Packers: Loss 27-21 (0-1)

Week Two: (H) MNF: Atlanta Falcons: Win 24-10 (1-1)

Week Three: (A) 1pm: New Orleans Saints: Win 31-24 (2-1)

Week Four: (A) 1pm: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Win 21-20 (3-1)

Week Five: Bye (3-1)

Week Six: (H) 1pm: Cleveland Browns: Loss 24-21 (3-2)

Week Seven: (A) 1pm: New York Giants: Win 38-14 (4-2)

Week Eight: (A) 4:25pm: Cincinnati Bengals: Loss 30-27 (4-3)

Week Nine: (H) SNF: Jacksonville Jaguars: Win 34-24 (5-3)

Week Ten: (A) 4:25pm: Dallas Cowboys: Loss 27-21 (5-4)

Week Eleven: (H) TNF: Washington Commanders: Win 27-20 (6-4)

Week Twelve: (A) SNF: Los Angeles Rams: Win 31-20 (7-4)

Week Thirteen: (A) 4:25pm: Baltimore Ravens: Win 28-27 (8-4) *Game of the Year*

Week Fourteen: (H) 1pm: Carolina Panthers: Win 35-10 (9-4)

Week Fifteen: (H) 4:25pm: Pittsburgh Steelers: Loss 24-23 (9-5)

Week Sixteen: (A) 1pm: Washington Commanders: Win 35-20 (10-5)

Week Seventeen: (H) 4:25pm: Dallas Cowboys: Win 45-38 (11-5)

Week Eighteen: (H) New York Giants: Win 24-14 (12-5)