The Eagles currently sit at second place in the NFC East with a poor record of 1-4-1. Now while this season already feels doomed, as if the Eagles are still playing under a black cloud, there’s still some glimmer of possible hope that the team can turn this around.
The Eagles just lost back-to-back matchups against two of the top defenses in the NFL. The Eagles scored 28+ points in back to back games against two defenses that are allowing fewer than 18 points per game. They were two points shy of completing a huge comeback win against the Ravens and some will say the birds left some points on the field. Against the Steelers, the team fell due to a lack of adjusting by the defense as they allowed Nate Gerry to cover Chase Claypool.
It’s been that close for them. They’re several plays away from being 4-2 on the season but the unfortunate truth is that this is their reality right now. A team that’s been riddled with an unlimited amount of injuries once again, and now more than ever they’re feeling the pain from it. Fortunately, the division is still theirs to lose. Their next four games are winnable but they’ll be challenged heavily late in November to late December. Here’s a look at who they’ll be facing the rest of the season and how many points per game the opposing defenses are allowing:
Oct 22nd – Giants – 25 ppg allowed
Nov 1st – Cowboys – 36 ppg allowed (most in the league)
Nov 16th – Giants – 25 ppg allowed
Nov 22nd – Browns – 31 ppg allowed (3rd most in the league}
Nov 30th – Seahawks – 27 ppg allowed
Dec 8th – Packers – 27 ppg allowed
Dec 13th – Saints – 30 ppg allowed
Dec 20th – Cardinals – 18 ppg allowed(2nd least allowed)
Dec 27th – Cowboys – 36 ppg allowed
Jan 3rd – Football team – 27 ppg allowed
Luckily for the Eagles, they’ve already faced the toughest defenses on their schedule with exception of the Arizona Cardinals. Every team on this schedule is more than beatable. Even the three-game slate against the Seahawks, Packers, and Saints. All three of those teams have defenses just like Philly that are keeping the offense out of the game, just ask Aaron Rodgers after he checked out against the Bucs.
While the Eagles defense could be a huge x-factor in all of these games, the truth is that they can’t be much worse than they are now especially with the trade deadline approaching. If the Eagles can add some help at the linebacker position and maybe even at cornerback, the team’s defense could make strides in the right direction. Even so, the team’s defense is allowing 29 points per game which leaves them right in the middle against the teams that they’ll be facing.
The next stanza
There’s a strong opportunity for the team in the next 4 games. They’ll be facing three teams, the Giants twice, right before they host the Seattle Seahawks. The Giants are a beaten team and could be a sure win, the Cowboys have lost their heart in Dak Prescott, and no one knows which Browns team will show up as well as if Baker will even be healthy enough for the matchup due to his ribs. If the team can muster enough confidence for those matchups, they could bring their record to 5-4-1 while burying the Cowboys and Giants deeper into the dirt of the NFC East.
Continued on the page below.
Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire
