A shortened NFL preseason benefits 2020 Philadelphia Eagles
By Ben Swanger
The shortened preseason gives the Philadelphia Eagles a leg up.
Vice president and general manager Howie Roseman and company came into the 2020 offseason with the plan to make the Philadelphia Eagles roster younger. The plan certainly wasn’t executed to perfection, but looking at how things turned out, that was probably for the best.
According to a July 1st report by ESPN Staff Writer Kevin Seifert, the NFL is interested in cutting the preseason in half, from four games down to two, with teams playing their preseason Week 2 and Week 3 opponents. That was followed by a collaborative report by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero stating that “some members of the NFL Players Association are in favor of playing no preseason games ahead of the 2020 NFL season”.
At the time of this story being published, the NFLPA hasn’t signed off on anything, but how would less preparation help the Eagles? It’s simple. The Eagles don’t necessarily need four preseason games to prepare for the early part of their schedule, but their opponents, especially their division rivals will need the extra time.
Coach Doug Pederson handled the 2019 preseason with extreme caution. The veterans played minimal snaps and Carson Wentz didn’t drop back to pass in a game setting until Week 1 versus the Washington Redskins. The Eagles fell in a 17-0 hole, but in the second half, the offense exploded to a 32-27 victory.
Expect the same sort of personnel handling in a potentially shortened 2020 preseason despite the odd offseason. With the Eagles opening once again versus Washington, the fifth-year head coach, fifth-year starting quarterback, and veteran core should be ready to go. It usually takes two to three weeks for teams to gain traction and momentum, but this could benefit the Eagles in the early part of their schedule. Here’s how.