Over the next few months, everyone will be examining the Philadelphia Eagles' 2026 schedule and investigating every little aspect of it.
The schedule is a bit tougher than fans expected, but there are moments that suggest the Eagles could go on a run during the season. There may not be many of them in the schedule, but there are some openings they can take advantage of.
These are important to identify, as the Eagles are trying to win the NFC East early. The last four games are very tough matchups for them, so if they can clinch the division before then, that would be ideal. Which stretch of games will be the proper opening for them to take the division a third straight season?
Eagles' stretch of games that will help them cruise to a third straight NFC East title
The first five weeks of the year are also going to be a bit brutal for the Eagles, as they have a Monday night road game against the Chicago Bears in Week 3 and a Week 5 game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their other games in that stretch aren't easy either, with the Washington Commanders to open the season and the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4.
If the Eagles are serious about winning the division early, though, what they do between Week 6 and Week 14 will be where they take advantage of the situation and go on a run.
Pointing to the toughest part of it first: the three-game stretch in which they play all three NFC East teams will be tough, but even winning two of the three would be massive. The rest of the time, though, they have plenty of winnable games to take advantage of.
Philly can easily beat the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts during that stretch. They also won at home against the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants last year, so it should be more of the same.
The Eagles do play the NFC East four times during that stretch, so it will be imperative to walk out with at least three wins in that stretch. If they do that or even win all four, they can pretty much go ahead and put themselves down as division champs.
Read more: Saquon Barkley had the exact same reaction Eagles fans had with a 2-game stretch
It's important for the Eagles to win as many games in that stretch as possible since the last four games will be difficult, but winning from Week 6 through 14 should help them take home an NFC East title.
