The Philadelphia Eagles are finding out how much more difficult their schedule is in the second-half of the season.
The Philadelphia Eagles suffered their very first loss of the season this past Monday when they fell to the Washington Commanders. There’s something about the Commanders when they face an undefeated team from Pennsylvania, they always win. Going undefeated for a full NFL season is tough, so it was not all doom and gloom or the Eagles. They had the chance to get back to form in Week 11, when they took on the Jeff Saturday-coached Indianapolis Colts.
Instead, the Eagles had to scratch and claw against the Colts. Luckily for them, they were able to secure a narrow 17-16 win after a late rushing touchdown by quarterback Jalen Hurts with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. This was the only time that the Eagles actually held a lead against the Colts.
If this game proved anything, it’s that fans and the NFL world may have overestimated their run early on in the season against inferior opponents.
Eagles learning that their schedule is only getting tougher
Here is how the season began for Philadelphia prior to Week 11:
- Week 1: def. Detroit Lions 38-35
- Week 2: def. Minnesota Vikings 24-7
- Week 3: def. Washington Commanders 24-8
- Week 4: def. Jacksonville Jaguars 29-21
- Week 5: def. Arizona Cardinals 20-17
- Week 6: def. Dallas Cowboys 26-17
- Week 7: Bye
- Week 8: def. Pittsburgh Steelers 35-13
- Week 9: def. Houston Texans 29-17
- Week 10: lost to Commanders 32-21
When looking at that schedule, only two wins came against teams with winning records entering Week 11. Those teams are the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys, who are 8-1 and 6-3 entering their head-to-head matchup on Sunday.
Philadelphia’s schedule is only going to get tougher, as you can see below (records entering Sunday):
- Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers (4-7)
- Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans (7-3)
- Week 14: at New York Giants (7-2)
- Week 15: at Chicago Bears (3-8)
- Week 16: at Cowboys (6-3)
- Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints (3-7)
- Week 18: vs. Giants (7-2)
That’s four out of seven games remaining against teams with a winning record. The Titans have shown that they can win with running back Derrick Henry gashing opposing defenses and Ryan Tannehill playing safe, mistake-free football. The Cowboys could e a major threat, especially with Dak Prescott back at 100-percent and their defense. Let’s not forget that Prescott wasn’t active for their meeting back in Week 6. They play the Giants, who shocked the world securing seven wins in their first nine games, twice down the stretch.
The Eagles’ roster is talented to get these wins, but they need to get it together, especially with how wide open it is in the conference. A win over the Colts is a win, but it raised some eyebrows considering how badly they had to fight for it.