Inside the Iggles
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Just how good can the Philadelphia Eagles be in 2016?

By Geoffrey Knox

Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry (75) celebrates a sack in the second quarter with linebacker Connor Barwin (98) against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry (75) celebrates a sack in the second quarter with linebacker Connor Barwin (98) against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Depending on who you talk to, the Philadelphia Eagles can win their division and dive into the playoffs, or they can finish at the bottom of the NFC East.

Figuring out what to expect from the Philadelphia Eagles is and, for the last few years, has been one of the biggest mysteries of the NFL off-season. Las Vegas recently released their predictions for the first 16 weeks of the season. At this point, they have them winning right around five games. Here on Inside The Iggles, an article was published not too long ago on the subject, and it can be accessed by clicking here.

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Due to the rotating NFL schedule, the NFC East will play both the AFC North and the NFC North this year. The Eagles’ second place finish in their division also ensures they’ll see the other teams in the NFC that finished second in their division as well. Add it all up, and you have late-season road trips to Cincinnati and Seattle. Then, there are home games against the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings. Throw in a few contests that can go either way, as well as the perennial six games against the other members of the division, and this could be a recipe for disaster.

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This is the Eagles though, and if you’re a fan of this team, you know how this works. Regardless of record, they’ll always find a way to win a couple of games they weren’t favored in. They’ll lose one or two, and there won’t be any explanation as to why it happened. To make long stories short, it will be a roller coaster ride of a season.

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Here’s the other thing. Their division rivals have to play the same schedule for the most part. They’ll miss the Seattle Seahawks (pencil that one in as a loss), but 14 of their 16 games are against common opponents. One thing that can be said about the most current versions we’ve seen of “The Birds” has been their losses have typically been self-inflicted. They haven’t been beaten very often. They just find ways to lose and do it in dramatic fashion. They just don’t go out and take control.

The addition of new head coach Doug Pederson means the opposite. This team will be fundamentally sound. Yes, they still may lose in the play-calling department and in terms of personnel, but don’t expect the implosion. When it’s all said and done, expect the Eagles to win those extra couple of games that they didn’t win in years prior, pick up those extra couple of wins in the division (the rest of the NFC East is bad too) and make the playoffs with a record that’s barely above .500.

Then after all of that has happened, expect them to host a Wildcard game, and they’ll lose in the first round of the playoffs.

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