The Eagles schedule is officially out. There’s a handful of interesting matchups that we can’t wait to watch once the season rolls around.
The latest Vegas odds have the Eagles win total at and over/under of 9.5, which is pretty reasonable. As always, we have optimistic expectations for our Birds. Let’s get into some initial record predictions.
Week 1 – Sunday, Sept. 13 at Washington Redskins (1 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: For the second year in a row, the Eagles will face off against the Redskins to kickoff the season. This time around it’ll be in Washington, but despite the change in location, expect the same result once the clock hits zero. The Redskins play the Birds tough, but the Eagles always seem to pull through against Washington when it matters most. Wentz and the boys get off to a 1-0 start with a win over their division rival. Win 1-0
Ryan: The Birds open the year in DC against what could be the best D-line in football with Chase Young, Montez Sweat, and Ryan Kerrigan on the edge flanking Jonathan Allen, D’aron Payne, and Matt Ioannidis in the middle—Allen (‘17), Payne (‘18), Sweat (‘19), Young (‘20) are the ‘Skins four most recent 1st round picks; Ioannidis led WAS in sacks last season; and Kerrigan has terrorized us forever (11.5 sacks, 22 QB hits, 6 FF in 17 games). Moving the ball won’t be easy, but a ‘W’ and a clean Wentz is all I ask for out of what should be a tougher-than-expected matchup. Win 1-0
Week 2 – Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Los Angeles Rams (1 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: Doug Pederson has never lost a matchup against Sean McVay, and I don’t think the Rams will buck that trend this time around either. The Rams still have some solid talent on both sides of the ball, but the Eagles have the clear edge at the quarterback position. With the superior coach and quarterback, how can you not roll with the Birds in this one. 2-0, on our way to Cincinnati. Win 2-0
Ryan: This will be the first test for a new-look secondary, as the Rams make the cross-country trip to face an Eagles team that will be motivated to play in front of their home crowd. LA isn’t quite the contender they have been in recent seasons, but they’re still a formidable opponent—nonetheless I expect the Birds to take care of business. Win 2-0
Week 3 – Sunday, Sept. 27 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1 PM, CBS, 94WIP)
Brian: This game feels like it could potentially be a trap game, depending on how well Joe Burrow is playing at this time. But given the fact that it’s still early on in the season, I wouldn’t expect Burrow to have his bearings down just yet. The Bengals defense is also still pretty terrible, so expect Wentz to have a field day in this one. Win 3-0
Ryan: The Linc welcomes number one overall pick Joe Burrow for his first real road test in the NFL, and given the lack of talent/experience on the offense around him I expect he’ll be overwhelmed from the jump. Burrow will have some bright moments in his rookie season, but I don’t imagine any of them coming in Philly this early in the year—Eagles win in a blowout. Win 3-0
Week 4 – Sunday, Oct. 4 at San Francisco 49ers (8:20 PM, NBC, 94WIP)
Brian: At this point, both teams could be 3-0 heading into this prime time matchup. It should certainly be a good game, and I could see Jimmy Garoppolo giving us a fighting chance with an interception or two, but the 49ers are loaded on both sides of the ball, especially along their defensive front. If Andre Dillard is starting at left tackle, just be sure to keep him in your thoughts and prayers leading up to kickoff. He’ll need it trying to contain Nick Bosa off the edge. The Eagles will lose their first game of the season against the Niners. Loss 3-1
Ryan: This will be the first real litmus test for the Eagles, and while I think they’ll hold up well traveling out west to play what could be the most complete team in football, I imagine them taking the long flight back east with their first loss of the season and a handful of moral-victories. Loss 3-1
Week 5 – Sunday, Oct. 11 at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: The last time the Eagles faced off against their in-state rival, Philly absolutely dominated Pittsburgh in a 34-3 demolition. While I wouldn’t expect quite that bad of an ass kicking this time around, but I’ll still be expecting a W. And I think our Birds will pull through. Win 4-1
Ryan: The Steelers added weapons around a now healthy Big Ben and quietly have a top-5 defense. If the Eagles secondary/pass rush is still lacking this is where it will get exposed—on the road against an elite QB. I think this game will be close but I like the Steelers to hold strong at home against an Eagles team still beat up from the San Fran game. Loss 3-2
Week 6 – Sunday, Oct. 18 vs. Baltimore Ravens (1 PM, CBS, 94WIP)
Brian: The Lamar V. Wentz Bowl. This one will be fun. This one could easily turn into a track meet with the absurd amount of speed that’ll be on the field. Most analysts will pick the Ravens to take this one, but with the matchup being in Philly, I’ll give the edge to the Birds. Both teams are very talented, it should be a great game regardless of the outcome. Win 5-1
Ryan: Coming off two consecutive losses and heading back home I like the Eagles to shut down reigning league-MVP Lamar Jackson. The Birds’ defensive front relishes these sort of challenges in stopping the running game, and I expect them to force Lamar to win with his arm—something he won’t be able to do in the Linc. With the Eagles running game likely also shut down by Baltimore, I’m predicting 350 yards from Wentz in a game that kicks off an MVP run. Win 4-2
Week 7 – Thursday, Oct. 22 vs. New York Giants (8:20 PM, FOX/NFLN/Amazon, 94WIP)
Brian: I’m not afraid of facing Danny Dimes, whether it’s in New York or in Philly. Our defense dominated the quarterback last season and I’ll expect more of the same this year. Win 6-1
Ryan: The Giants could be somewhat feisty in 2020 as long as Joe Judge and Jason Garrett can get the offense focused behind Saquan Barkley. I think we’ll see a commitment to a running attack that will be tough for the Eagles to handle on a short week after facing San Fran, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore in consecutive weeks. I’ll pick Daniel Jones and company to pull off a low-scoring upset on Thursday Night Football by winning the possession battle and running the ball. Loss 4-3
Week 8 – Sunday, Nov. 1 vs. Dallas Cowboys (8:20 PM, NBC, 94WIP)
Brian: Unfortunately, the Eagles will drop the second game of their season in week 8 against the Cowboys. The Cowboys didn’t improve as much as the main stream sports media would lead you to believe, but they still have a ridiculously talented group of receivers, and the Eagles secondary is still an unknown, even with the addition of Darius Slay. But hey, 6-2 after the first half of the season ain’t half bad. Loss 6-2
Ryan: Extra time to prepare for a home Dallas game on Sunday night? Following a loss? Put me down for a blowout. Win 5-3
Week 9 – BYE
Week 10 – Sunday, Nov. 15 at New York Giants (1 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: Danny Dimes again. This time in Philly. Saquon will probably score once or twice and rush for about 125 yards, but the Eagles will still win by three touchdowns. Win 7-2
Ryan: Now we have two weeks to prepare for a revenge game against the G-men? Put me down for another blowout. Fresh legs on the Eagles defense will be chopping at the bit to get another crack at containing Barkley, and they’ll do just that. Win 6-3
Week 11 – Sunday, Nov. 22 at Cleveland Browns (1 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: I would expect this is around the time the Browns start falling apart. OBJ will probably ask Howie to come and get him after he sees what a real franchise quarterback looks like. Remember when people actually thought Baker Mayfield was better than Carson Wentz? Weird times. Win 8-2
Ryan: This is a prime trap game candidate considering the schedule following this matchup, but I don’t imagine that playing out. I like Kevin Stefanski and think the roster he’s working with is better than we realize, but his quarterback sucks. The Eagles make sure to get the easy win before embarking on the most brutal stretch of the year. Win 7-3
Week 12 – Monday, Nov. 30 vs. Seattle Seahawks (8:15 PM, ESPN, 94WIP)
Brian: Doug Pederson is 0-4 in matchups against Pete Carroll, and Russell Wilson always seems to make the pivotal plays towards the end of those matchups. I’d love to see Wentz and Pederson get over this hurdle, especially on Monday night, but I still think the Seahawks will pull this one out. Loss 8-3
Ryan: These matchups with Seattle are usually heartbreaking—the Eagles are 0-5 vs Russell Wilson (0-3 at Home)—and until we actually pull-through I don’t think I can envision the Eagles beating Seattle, no matter the state of their roster. It’s definitely a plus that we get this draw at home, but late magic from Russ will give Seattle a third road win at the Linc in two years, and fourth of his career. Loss 7-4
Week 13 – Sunday, Dec. 6 at Green Bay Packers (4:25 PM, CBS, 94WIP)
Brian: The Eagles pulled off a major upset in Lambeau last season, beating the 3-0 Packers on a Thursday night road trip. This time we’ll head to Green Bay much later in the season, so the weather could be a factor in this one. Coming off a tough loss to Seattle, heading to a frigid Green Bay to face Aaron Rodgers is not ideal, and I think it’ll end in back-to-back losses for the Birds. Loss 8-4
Ryan: The Birds get to travel to Lambeau in back-to-back seasons and won’t be as fortunate this time around. In my eyes the Packers have had a pretty bad offseason, but Aaron Rodgers at home fighting for a playoff spot will be too much to overcome in December. Two straight losses drop them to 7-5. Loss 7-5
Week 14 – Sunday, Dec. 13 vs. New Orleans Saints (4:25 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: Like the Seahawks, the Eagles have had their recent issues with Sean Payton and his New Orleans Saints. But, unlike the matchup with the Seahawks this season, the Eagles will prevail against New Orleans this time around. Having them at home is huge and while Drew Brees is still elite, his play late in seasons as faltered in recent years. But the obvious and most pivotal key to this game is Jalen Hurts outplaying Taysom Hill as the Eagles’ version of Taysom Hill. Win 9-4
Ryan: Welcome back Malcolm! This will be the third leg of three consecutive road games for the Saints, and I like Wentz outside in mid-December (a week after enduring the Lambeau-cold) over Brees as the difference in a tightly contested game. The Saints might be the best team in the NFC, but I have a feeling this game will mean more to Philly at this point in the year than it does to New Orleans in terms of locking down a playoff spot. Late 4th quarter win for the Birds. Win 8-5
Week 15 – Sunday, Dec. 20 at Arizona Cardinals (4:05 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: DeAndre Hopkins could be a problem for the Eagles secondary, and Kyler Murray is no pushover either, but the Cardinals defense is still pretty abysmal. Wentz and Pederson should be able to outscore Kliff Kingsbury and Murray. Win 10-4
Ryan: Traveling to Arizona a week after a huge home win is dangerous, but I expect them to handle a Cardinal offense that could really be humming by the end of the season—Eagles win by single-digits in a high-scoring affair. Win 9-5
Week 16 – Sunday, Dec. 27 at Dallas Cowboys (4:25 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: This game could very well be for the division title. Like last season, I believe the Eagles will split their matchups with Dallas, meaning they’ll walk away from this week 16 contest victorious. With the Linc rocking, I can’t imagine the Birds falling to Dak and the Boys. Win 11-4
Ryan: Dallas is too weak in the trenches, and Dak is too average at quarterback to hang with this Eagles team. The only way they steal a game like this is if Cooper and Lamb run buck wild over the secondary, but that should be less likely in this season than it has been in past years given the upgrades made this offseason. The Cowboys will have a better chance in Jerry World than they did at the Linc, but I can’t see this Dallas team beating us. Eagles in another blowout. Win 10-5
Week 17 – Sunday, Jan. 3 vs. Washington Redskins (1 PM, FOX, 94WIP)
Brian: This game all depends on how the rest of the NFC playoff picture looks entering the week. My guess is the first seed will be locked up and the Eagles won’t be able to affect their seeding too much with a win, so the team will rest their starters, leading to a loss. Loss 11-5
Ryan: The ‘Skins bring their revamped defense to Philly to try ending our three-game win streak, and while I think Ron Rivera could really have that group playing inspired football, there’s just not enough juice in that offense yet to win on the road. A tighter-than-expected divisional win for the Birds, but they end their season strong for a third straight year by winning four in a row. Win 11-5