ESPN calls Philadelphia Eagles’ remaining schedule NFL’s most difficult
Following Sunday’s loss, we already knew that, if the Philadelphia Eagles were going to make the playoffs in 2018, it wouldn’t be easy. According to the experts, that task might be even more difficult than some imagined.
Well, hope has dimmed, but it hasn’t flickered out entirely. For the next few days, and possibly weeks, expect to hear a lot about how the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t mathematically eliminated from the rapidly approaching NFL Playoffs.
As true as that statement is, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult not to develop a negative attitude when you look at the injuries, you think about that Sunday night loss to the Dallas Cowboys and you look at Philly’s remaining seven games.
In addition to four remaining divisional games, there are two road games. They are, perhaps, Philly’s toughest two games of the season. We’re talking about the upcoming tilt with the New Orleans Saints in ‘The Big Easy’ and a December clash with the Rams. That one’s in Los Angeles.
The experts weigh in.
According to ‘The Worldwide Leader in Sports’, ESPN, the Eagles’ final seven-game slate is the most difficult gauntlet in the NFL.
Tim McManus was the writer of this one, and here’s some of what he had to say:
"Philly’s remaining opponents have a combined record of 40-23. That .635 win percentage is tops in the NFL, per ESPN Stats & Information research, ahead of the remaining schedule of the Raiders (.592) and Jets (.570)."
In addition to Philly’s in-conference issues (four of their five losses were against NFC opponents), there’s also another big game on the schedule that no one’s mentioning.
Has anyone given that Houston Texans game any thought? They’re the leaders of what’s an improving AFC South. Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz are having excellent seasons, but unfortunately, that’s been lost in the shuffle of a very disappointing campaign.
They’ll need to continue their torrid pace. They’ll need help from their defense. Then, there are all of those injuries. The Eagles will have to go the rest of the way without a lot of the most important young players on their roster.
The new guys and reserves better get really good really quickly. Otherwise, we’ll all be discussing how high this team will be selecting in the 2019 NFL Draft, and we’ll be doing so sooner than we originally imagined.