Eagles will need a repeat performance of 2018 by Lane Johnson

By now, the Philadelphia Eagles know what they have in Lane Johnson. They’ll need him to be at his best in 2019. Have you seen their schedule?

This could actually wind up being part of some really cool trivia question one day, depending on how you spin it, but Lane Johnson was one of those things that former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly actually got right.

It was the Kelly regime that actually took Johnson with the fourth-overall selection of the 2013 NFL Draft. There have been ups and downs and suspensions, but any NFL pundit or Eagles fan can all agree on one thing. This team is definitely better with him than they are without him.

It’s mo wonder ’65’ makes the type of money a left tackle makes while playing the right tackle position.

Once upon a time, we all thought that Johnson’s destiny was to, one day, take over for Jason Peters, but Philly’s drafted linemen (and a rugby star) with the intent of molding them into a solid bookend on the opposite side of Philly’s two-time Pro Bowler at right tackle.

In 2019’s first round of the NFL Draft, ‘The Birds’ took Andre Dillard. Now, the theory is he’ll be the guy on the other side of the line. That means, for once and for all, Johnson will stay on the right. Philly will need ’65’ to be at his best in 2019. Have you seen the Eagles’ schedule? You may want to take a look.

Be of good cheer though Eagles fans. Judging by what we saw a season ago, there’s plenty of tread left on the tire. Take a look.

Here’s just some of what Johnson will see in 2019. We’re talking the usual two confrontations with Ryan Kerrigan of the Washington Redskins and two chess matches between the Eagles offense and what’s becoming a stingy Dallas Cowboys defense.

That means a mix of DeMarcus Lawrence, Taco Charlton, and, maybe, an occasional blitz by Sean Lee or Leighton Vander Esch.

In Week 2, he’ll see Vic Beasley Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons. Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings figures to be a tough test in Week 6, but here’s the thing. A lot of that goes down before the Eagles even get a bye week.

After Week 10, it doesn’t get an easier. Philly draws Ezekiel Ansah of the Seattle Seahawks and Deatrich Wise Jr. of the New England Patriots before closing things out with four divisional games.

2019 won’t be an easy road, but if you’re an Eagles fan and you know Johnson, you know there isn’t anyone you’d rather go into battle with.