The NFL have announced the opponents all teams will face in the 2018 season. While the scheduling is still some way off and we won’t find out much information on who plays in London etc until February, this still at least provides us some insight into who the Eagles will face.

DIVISIONAL:

The Eagles were undefeated at home this season until the 6-0 loss to Dallas, but next season could prove to be much more difficult to defend the Linc. The Giants may have themselves a new quarterback by the time the season begins and although both Dallas and Washington have significant questions to answer after the end of this campaign, divisional opponents should be the least of the Eagles concerns.

HOME:

Red-circle game:
The marquee matchup here will be against the Minnesota Vikings. A game that could well become an NFC Championship rematch, two of the league’s best defenses will justle it out. The main difference here is Carson Wentz will be at the helm for the Eagles. The Eagles were able to dethrone Minnesota last season as they sent former Eagles QB Sam Bradford home packing after a sloppy victory, but a lot has changed from that fateful day and the Vikings could have yet another new quarterback by the time the season rolls around.

Two young bucks:
The most exciting game may well be the Texans coming to town. Deshaun Watson facing off against Carson Wentz will provide fans with a matchup that will showcase two of the most explosive young arms in the league. The Texans were completely deflated after the injury to the Clemson product and with J.J Watt among the many injured players returning, this could be a game that has two perennial playoff contenders battling it out.

The best of the rest:
The final three games have potential to cause problems too. If Andrew Luck and the Colts are ‘lucky’ enough to draft Saquon Barkley, that’s going to be a really enthralling matchup in the trenches. The Eagles went into Carolina in a primetime game this season and came away with a win, but that hasn’t stopped the Panthers from pushing back against the odds and rescuing a wobbly year. Then of course there’s the high-flying Falcons offense that has been without its star running back for most of the season.

AWAY:

Ello mate:
There is a large possibility that the Eagles travel across the pond to play in the International series this year. With road games against the Rams and the Jaguars, the Jags have almost been adopted as the “UK’s team to root for”  and the journey to London would be a very interesting addition to what is already shaping up to be a season like no other. For me at least, living in the UK means I will actually have the opportunity to attend the game and really provide the coverage I know that we can, should the schedule fall into place as I hope.

The good news is that this won’t detract a home game from the Eagles, so fans won’t be losing out as much so to speak. This is still up in the air, but according to a source there has been a heavy push in the last two years to get the Eagles to London as the final NFC East team year to play a game there. Where the trouble falls is if like Miami this year, that road game is in a three-week stretch like the recent run out on the West-Coast. Going across the pond, then potentially back to L.A against the Rams and then home again, it can take a lot out of a team…and it will pose a very, very interesting challenge for Doug Pederson and company.

Ouch:
The Rams, Jags and Saints will all be tough games…especially on the road. The Rams may not have that much of a home field advantage and it remains to be seen whether or not the Jags continue to ride with Blake Bortles, but two hostile defenses and a Saints offense that has TWO running backs who both have over 1,000 scrimmage yards this season will force the absolute best out of this Eagles team.

Meh:
The Bucs and the Titans will act as two very winnable road games for the Eagles, at least with the current rosters. The Titans have been inconsistent and Mariota has had his worst year yet, while the Bucs continue to hurt themselves while suffering with injuries this year. A 6-11 record has left fans disappointed and they will need some strong offseason changes to right the ship. The Eagles should have a sizable advantage, at least at this point going into these games.

What do you think of the schedule? Let us know in the comments!