Breaking down the third quarter of the Eagles’ 2018 schedule

When the Eagles return from their London road trip, they’ll have an extra week of rest before getting back on the field. In the third quarter of the 2018 season, the Super Bowl champs will face each of the NFC East teams and a tough New Orleans Saints squad.

Here’s the next set of four games, to start the back half the season:

Week 10: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Nov. 11, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Eagles win.

(shouts) NEXT!

Week 11: at New Orleans Saints (Nov. 18, 1:00 p.m. ET)

One of the teams who have been up-and-coming the past few seasons has been the Saints, and last year their team featured the Offensive AND Defensive Rookies of the Year with running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

New Orleans offense has steadily improved after the addition of wideout Michael Thomas in 2016, who quickly became one of QB Drew Brees’ favorite targets, and is a first-down threat every time he gets the ball. From veterans like rusher Mark Ingram and WR Ted Ginn Jr. to the young guys already winning awards, the Saints are loaded on both sides of the ball.

I was worried that the Eagles would have been forced to face the Saints in last year’s postseason, fortunately the Vikings claimed a win over the New Orleans team in the divisional round, and Philadelphia was spared the close contest.

They aren’t so lucky during the 2018 regular season and have a hard time keeping up with an offense that can attack from all angles.

Week 12: vs. New York Giants (Nov. 25, 1:00 p.m. ET)

As I mentioned in yesterday’s second quarter breakdown, the Giants have a lot of work to do despite some top-tier talent added to their roster this offseason. Even with a new coach and new front office, there are going to be some growing pains as they get back to “business as usual”.

I think the Week 12 matchup will be a much closer game than the one earlier in the season, but ultimately, unless there is some movement at the quarterback position or significant improvement to their defense, I don’t see the Eagles losing this one.

The Eagles have a really good opportunity to dominate the NFC East this season, and with the momentum they’ve been building since 2017, have a good chance of pulling it off.

Week 13: vs. Washington (Dec. 3, 8:15 p.m. ET)

I think Washington is going to be the toughest competition within the division next season — yes, that’s as big a shock to me as it might be to you. After years of dealing with Kirk Cousins and mediocrity from front office to the sidelines, the team nabbed veteran QB Alex Smith this offseason who still has some miles left on him before calling it a career.

Smith will serve as a good bridge for the team as they attempt to change their culture and shift toward a young, new roster. They could still use some depth at the QB position, with Colt McCoy and Kevin Hogan as the No. 2 and 3 on the roster, but they’ve started building, what should be, a decent offense to eventually help a franchise-caliber quarterback.

Notable rookies include running back Derrius Guice — who was long projected to be an Eagle pick in the 2018 before miscommunication/some BS got in the way — and wideout Simmie Cobbs.

Even with some of their promising personnel moves this offseason, Washington still has a long way to go before their back at the top of the NFC East division, and the Eagles are still able to manage a win on the road to close out Week 13.