The NFL Draft is behind us and now all eyes can fully focus on what promises to be an enthralling season of Football. Adding fuel to the fire is the NFL Schedule announcements that took place on Thursday evening. The Eagles were one of the first teams to step up to the plate.
2020 Preseason Schedule
Week 1 @ Indianapolis Colts (TBD)
Week 2 @ Miami Dolphins (TBD)
Week 3 vs New England Patriots (TBD)
Week 4 vs New York Jets (TBD)
2020 Regular season schedule
Week 1 @ Washington Redskins (September 12th, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Week 2 vs. Los Angeles Rams (September 20th, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Week 3 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (September 27th, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Week 4 @ San Francisco 49ers (October 4th, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Sunday Night Football
Week 5 @ Pittsburgh Steelers (October 11th, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Week 6 vs Baltimore Ravens (October 18th, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Week 7 vs New York Giants (October 22nd, 8:20 PM ET, FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime) Thursday Night Football
Week 8 vs Dallas Cowboys (November 1st, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Sunday Night Football
Week 9 – BYE BYE BYE
Week 10 @ New York Giants (November 15th, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Week 11 @ Cleveland Browns (November 22nd, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Week 12 vs Seattle Seahawks (November 30th, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN) Monday Night Football
Week 13 @ Green Bay Packers (December 6th, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)
Week 14 vs New Orleans Saints (December 13th, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
Week 15 @ Arizona Cardinals (December 20th, 4:05 PM ET, FOX)
Week 16 @ Dallas Cowboys (December 27th, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
Week 17 vs Washington Redskins (January 3rd, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Obviously, nobody really knows if the season will go ahead or to what degree due to the current pandemic. However, if we’re to assume the season does somehow go ahead as planned – here’s some analysis.
Four primetime games including ye ol’ faithful MNF showdown against Seattle.
The team will start 2020 as they started 2019 – on the road to the Washington Redskins. They’ll have to ensure they don’t go down 17-0 this time around, but it’s an opponent they know well and will have a good chance to gain some early traction against.
The Rams and Bengals come to town in back-to-back weeks before a trip to San Francisco sees the first quarter come to a close. It’s a tough run, but facing a west coast opponent at home is something that the Eagles haven’t really had too many opportunities to do in recent times, so will take full advantage of the noise to cancel out McVay’s offense. Facing the Super Bowl runners up is no easy task and to do so on the road isn’t exactly ideal, but this is a very friendly opening slate…in comparison to the rest of the schedule.
The Eagles then face two relentless defenses in the way of Pittsburgh and Baltimore. if Philly finds itself unable to start fast as it has in recent years, these will be the teams that will punish them the most, and could do so in a really key part of the season. This is followed by two divisional games, which as we all know, often bring fireworks. If the Eagles can cause an upset against Baltimore (with the help of an old friend in Marty), this could be the signature month of the season where the Eagles really take flight.
The next two games are very winnable. The Giants and Browns pose threats, but very extinguishable ones. Unlike the Seahawks, Packers, and Saints, who follow in a three-game stretch. Ouch. That genuinely may be one of the toughest three-game stretches in the league, with Wentz facing three offensive juggernauts and elite quarterbacks without a moment to breathe.
Much like last year, the season does wind down with a breath of fresh air, but it can’t be taken for granted. Arizona could well be in a playoff hunt and with two divisional games to seal the season, the Eagles will likely have to care of business to secure a playoff berth once more, thanks to the mammoth task that lies ahead.
There won’t be huge margins for error this time round. The Eagles won’t be able to choke away games, surrender leads, and lay eggs against terrible teams. This schedule is punishing, relentless, and will act as a true testament to just how good, or not so good, this team really is.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
