I love the NFL schedule release day.
Downplay it all you want. Pretend it doesn't matter because we already knew who the Eagles would be playing this season. Lie to yourself as you listen to friends and everyone on WIP play the win-loss, win-loss game (now with 17 games to go back-and-forth on) all week long. But I know fun when I see it, and projecting the upcoming NFL season qualifies.
And what a year to try to guess. The Eagles will have a new head coach, a different (and very young) staff and will try to start a new era with Jalen Hurts as the quarterback. The lack of prime time games (just two) and small Vegas over/under (6.5) win total don't point to big things, but let's not rule out a surprisingly competitive season in May.
Here are my game-by-game Eagles predictions for the 2021 season.
Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons
I'm excited to see what Jonathan Gannon evolves this defense into over time. But a Week 1 date vs. Matt Ryan, Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones (assuming he's not traded away) and Kyle Pitts is a big chore. The Nick Siranni era starts with disappointment in a shootout.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 0-1
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Eagles are not losing in front of the first packed house at The Linc since the playoff game vs. Seattle. San Francisco gets tripped up coming east to west for a 1 p.m. ET start. The Sirianni-Hurts era gets its first win.
Prediction: Win
Record: 1-1
Week 3: at Dallas Cowboys
Dallas is the NFC East favorite, and with good reason. But I need to see Dak Prescott come all the way back looking himself before conceding the division. Micah Parsons makes a game-changing play late to save Dallas and Prescott from blowing the game, and we're left debating DeVonta Smith vs. Parsons all week on WIP.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 1-2
Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
We could try to talk ourselves into the Chiefs sleepwalking into Philly and overlooking a scrappy Eagles team. Or we could live in reality. Andy Reid's Chiefs roll, and true concern sets in around the city for a 1-3 team.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 1-3
Week 5: at Carolina Panthers
That concern doesn't last long. The Eagles pass rush takes advantage of a suspect Panthers offensive line, Sam Darnold turns the ball over and Hurts has his first true breakout game of the season. Don't bury these Eagles yet.
Prediction: Win
Record: 2-3
Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Here's where the story of the 2021 Eagles flips, and it happens thanks to the schedule makers. Tampa Bay will be coming off a grueling three-game stretch (at Rams, at Patriots, home vs. Miami) and could be battered on a short-week road game. Take the points with the home dogs, and don't be surprised when the Eagles upset the defending champions.
Prediction: Win
Record: 3-3
Week 7: at Las Vegas Raiders
The schedule helps once again. A must-needed mini bye gives the Eagles extra time to prepare for a trip to Las Vegas. The combination of Eagles fans taking over Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium (man, that's going to be great to see and hear again) and an undisciplined Raiders team leads to another surprise victory.
Prediction: Win
Record: 4-3
Week 8: at Detroit Lions
Let's call this the anti-Panthers game. Most think Detroit will be terrible. I see a really good offensive line, emerging young running back, good coaching staff and quarterback that can deliver the ball well when he has time. This won't be easy, and feels like a letdown spot.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 4-4
Week 9: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Two big disadvantages here:
-This game is a 4:05 ET start, so the west-to-east travel doesn't factor in quite as much as it will in Week 2.
-Brandon Staley, who has experience coaching against the Eagles last season during his time as the Rams defensive coordinator last year, could remold big-time Chargers talent into a dominant unit.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 4-5
Week 10: at Denver Broncos
Young team. Pressure mounting. A trip to the high altitude of Denver. Tired as they wait for a late bye. Another matchup vs. a defensive coach worries me. This feels like a litmus test game, and I feel like it's a loss.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 4-6
Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints
Don't go writing this team off yet, though. If Hurts can beat the 2020 Saints at home in his first start, he can beat the 2021 shell of that group. In fact, this one is a rout and the biggest win of the season.
Prediction: Win
Record: 5-6
Week 12: at New York Giants
The rivalry that has been brewing back up for nearly a year finally starts to get settled again on the field. New York, rested off a bye in Week 10, is fresher down the stretch in a tight one. DeVonta Smith's two touchdowns ignite the crowd, and set the scene for the second matchup between these teams in a few weeks.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 5-7
Week 13: at New York Jets
Normally, a third road game in four weeks would be a recipe for disaster. But this is barely a trip up the turnpike, and the Eagles defense sees the light with Gannon's scheme by forcing five turnovers leading into a much-needed bye.
Prediction: Win
Record: 6-7
Week 15: vs. Washington Football Team
Rested and off the Week 14 bye. There's a late-season push to be made, and Hurts avenges last year's 7-for-20 performance and benching (tanking) at the end of the 2020 season by running over and through the stout Washington defense.
Prediction: Win
Record: 7-7
Week 16: vs. New York Giants
This will be the game that convinces many that Hurts is the guy in Philly and convinces even more Daniel Jones isn't the guy in New York. The Eagles are alive in the NFC playoff race and a division crown is not out of reach.
Prediction: Win
Record: 8-7
Week 17: at Washington Football Team
Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen can get the best of Ron Rivera, but doing it twice in a three-week span is too much to ask.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 8-8
Week 18: vs. Dallas
The 9-7 Cowboys vs. the 8-8 Eagles: Football Night in America! The division crown on the line in primetime. Hurts leads the Eagles down the field for a late touchdown to Smith, but a healthier and improving Prescott responds with a drive to set up a field goal as time expires. Dallas wins the NFC East. The Eagles go home, but somehow the entire city feels good about a team way closer to the postseason than anyone imagined. Now it's on Howie Roseman to add a pass rusher and star corner in the NFL Draft.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 8-9
