/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62175293/usa_today_11353398.0.jpg)
One of the things I like to do during the bye week is to predict the outcome of the remaining games on the Philadelphia Eagles’ schedule. My predictions from last year were shockingly accurate (shocking because I was right about something for once!) Maybe those results bode well for this year’s predictions, but probably not. Anyway, here we go.
WEEK 10 VERSUS DALLAS COWBOYS
Current opponent record: 3-4
Pick: Eagles win, advance to 5-4
The Cowboys are probably going to beat the Titans on Monday, which means both Dallas and Philadelphia will be 4-4 heading into this big matchup. The last two Eagles-Cowboys games at Lincoln Financial Field have had no stakes, so it’ll be nice to see a game that actually matters this time.
The Eagles will certainly have the rest advantage since they’re coming off their bye and the Cowboys will be coming off a short week. More importantly, the Eagles have a big quarterback advantage in this game since Dak Prescott isn’t good and Carson Wentz is great.
Golden Tate went off against the Cowboys earlier this year with eight receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll prove to troublesome for Dallas once again as the Eagles fly to victory.
WEEK 11 AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Current opponent record: 6-1
Pick: Eagles lose, drop to 5-5
This game has felt like the surest loss on the schedule ever since it was first revealed back in April. The Saints are just really good and their home field advantage is significant. This feels similar to when the Eagles traveled to Seattle the past two seasons. You just had a pretty good sense they were going to lose those games.
With Philadelphia defense making Marcus Mariota and Blake Bortles look good at times, I can only imagine what’s going to happen when Drew Brees gets a crack at Jim Schwartz’s unit.
WEEK 12 VERSUS NEW YORK GIANTS
Current opponent record: 1-7
Pick: Eagles win, advance to 6-5
Is Eli Manning still going to be starting for the Giants at this point? Probably, but if I were them I’d like to get a look at Kyle Lauletta.
On paper, this should be the Eagles’ easiest remaining game on the schedule. Manning is just so clearly washed. Saquon Barkley might make some big plays again but the Eagles should ultimately be able to limit the damage he can do.
WEEK 13 VERSUS WASHINGTON
Current opponent record: 5-2
Pick: Eagles win, advance to 7-5
This is a big one. Washington is the biggest obstacle standing in the way of the Eagles repeating as NFC East champions. Washington isn’t some juggernaut of a team. But they’re also definitely not bad. They rank 16th overall in DVOA, which seems right.
The expectation is that this will be a close, hard-fought game. It’s hard not to worry about Ryan Kerrigan potentially going up against a gimpy Lane Johnson or an out of position Isaac Seumalo at right tackle. But I’ll lean with Wentz over Alex Smith here. The latter is also prone to fumbling and taking sacks at a high rate.
WEEK 14 AT DALLAS COWBOYS
Current opponent record: 3-4
Pick: Eagles lose, drop to 7-6
The Eagles will be at a rest disadvantage here given that they’re traveling to Dallas on a short week while the Cowboys will be coming off a Thursday Night Football game.
Part of the reason I’m picking this to be a loss is because I don’t see the Eagles will completely sweep the NFC East. So I’ll stick a division loss here.
WEEK 15 AT LOS ANGELES RAMS
Current opponent record: 8-0
Pick: Eagles win, advance to 8-6
The Rams are really good, sure, but it’s not like playing in LA is like playing in New Orleans. The Eagles will have a lot of support in the crowd for this game, just like they did last year.
Most importantly, this is Wentz’s revenge game. He’s going to come out and absolutely kill it given what happened to him at this stadium last year.
WEEK 16 VERSUS HOUSTON TEXANS
Current opponent record: 5-3
Pick: Eagles win, advance to 9-6
Feels like this could be a spot for a letdown/trap game after the Eagles beat the Rams in LA. I won’t discount that possibility. But I really don’t think the Texans are that good. I know they’ve won five in a row but they haven’t exactly faced stiff competition. Houston’s leaky offensive line figures to struggle against the Eagles’ pass rush.
WEEK 17 VERSUS WASHINGTON
Current opponent record: 5-3
Pick: Eagles win, advance to 10-6
This has the potential to be the NFC East championship game. The pressure will be on the Eagles to be the first team to repeat in this division since 2004.
And I’ll say they do it. Fighting through snowy conditions, the Eagles will find a way to come out on top and make it to the playoffs.
...
RECORD PREDICTIONS FOR REST OF NFC EAST
Washington remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Buccaneers, vs. Texans, at Cowboys, at Eagles, vs. Giants, at Jaguars, at Titans, vs. Eagles — Final record: 9-7
Cowboys remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Eagles, at Falcons, vs. Washington, vs. Saints, vs. Eagles, at Colts, vs. Buccaneers, at Giants — Final record: 7-9
Giants remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Bears, at Washington, vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Cowboys — Final record: 3-13
...
PLAYOFFS
The Eagles will enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed and host the No. 5 seed Vikings. It won’t quite be 38-7 from last year but Philadelphia will get their revenge after losing to Minnesota in Week 5 this season. Then the Eagles will travel to New Orleans in the divisional round. Unfortunately, it’ll be at that point where the season ends for the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Poll
Predict the 2018 Eagles’ final regular season record
This poll is closed
-
0%
4-12
-
0%
5-11
-
0%
6-10
-
0%
7-9
-
5%
8-8
-
30%
9-7
-
35%
10-6
-
20%
11-5
-
5%
12-4