A new study from Warren Sharp reveals significant NFL schedule inequality from team to team as it relates to player health, rest and preparation over the last decade.
As it turns out, the Eagles are one of the biggest victims of an unfavorable schedule dating back to 2011.
After talking to coaches and front office personnel, Sharp focused his study on scheduling spots that are the most difficult to deal with and based his analysis off of six categories:
- Opponent Days to Prepare
- More or Less Rest than Opponents
- Short Week Road Games
- Off Road SNF or MNF
- Negated Bye Weeks
- 4 Games in 17 Days
The Eagles suffered the second worst scheduling spots in the NFL over the last decade as it relates to player health, rest and preparation. As detailed by the chart below, there were 43 times the Eagles played a game on less rest than their opponent, the wort in the league by a large margin. They also suffered from short week road games (30th), had less days to prepare for opponents (29th), and had many games after played on a Sunday or Monday night on the road (30th).
Ranking NFL teams via schedule disparities relating to rest and preparationWarren Sharp
Considering the schedule disparities and the Eagles catching the short end of the stick, it makes the last decade look impressive. The team has cumulated a 91-84-1 record since 2010 which ranks 12th in the NFL over that span. Excluding the horrendous 2020 season, the Eagles record ranks 10th overall since 2010.
Every team deals with injuries, rest and preparation issues each season. It just so happens the Eagles have been given, intentionally or unintentionally, the shortest end of the stick year after year.
