With the Eagles securing 4th place in the NFC East and the regular season grinding to a close for one more season, the formula used to determine future opponents has been completed once more. While all eyes are on tonight’s SNF clash against Washington, here’s all you need to know about next year’s opponents.
Eagles 2021 home games
- Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
- New York Giants (6-10)
- Washington Football Team (6-9)*
- New Orleans Saints (11-4)*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
- Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (6-9)*
- San Francisco 49ers (6-9)*
Eagles 2021 road games
- Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
- New York Giants (6-10)
- Washington Football Team (6-9)*
- Atlanta Falcons (4-12)
- Carolina Panthers (5-10)*
- Las Vegas Raiders (7-8)*
- Denver Broncos (5-10)*
- Detroit Lions (5-11)
* final record TBC
Takeaways
Eagles can take a breather
The good news is that the schedule is nowhere near as intimidating as last years’. While the Eagles will still have to face the Saints, Bucs, Chiefs, and Chargers, there’s no Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, or Kyler Murray. It’s subjective, but 2021’s run of opponents should provide a Mountain far less steep. Only five of the sixteen (potentially 17) games next season will come against playoff teams, with two of those games coming against Washington.
It’s time for another Eagles vs Saints grudge match
Talking of the Saints, including the playoffs, this will be the fourth clash between the two since 2018, with the Eagles having won the last in the series so far. They did show real signs of life with Jalen Hurts under center, but they were facing Taysom Hill and I highly doubt that will be the case next year.
Could Wentz haunt the Eagles?
Could the Eagles be facing Carson Wentz in 2021? There are a couple of likely suitors on the schedule. The Denver Broncos seem likely, but all signs are pointing to Matthew Stafford getting away from the sinking ship that is Detroit, so maybe they would take the plunge. You can’t ignore Atlanta, who still need to find Matt Ryan’s heir to the Throne, while there are at least two other teams who could at least send the sniffer dogs in Howie’s direction. Of course, this is all cap-dependent, but the market for Wentz should be sizable.
The empire strikes back
2021 will also mark the second matchup between Jedi and Padwan, with Doug Pederson facing off against Andy Reid. The two first dueled in 2017, with the Chiefs winning 27-20. But back then, they didn’t have the quarterbacking phenom that is Patrick Mahomes.
Week 17?
If the NFL does indeed expand to a 17-game season, it means that the Eagles will play with the team who finished in the corrosponding position in their AFC counterpart. That team was…*drumroll* the New York Jets. The team’s 11-0 unbeaten record has a chance to hit 12 if that’s the case…but the Eagles couldn’t ask for an easier entry into the new league format.
The full regular-season schedule will likely be announced in a few months time but until then, there’s a lot of work to be done for Howie Roseman and the rest of the Eagles in order to prepare.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
