The NFL world knows how its teams' schedules look, giving fans a breakdown of what to expect this fall and winter. The Philadelphia Eagles have seen changes on the roster and coaching staff over the last couple of months, but they are looking to win the division for the third straight year.
Taking care of business in the division is the easiest path to getting that done, but the Eagles have their work cut out for them. Philadelphia will play the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, and the New York Giants from Week 7 through Week 9.
That's a brutal gauntlet, and former Eagle Hugh Douglas reacted to it on SportsRadio 94WIP.
"I tell you what, as a former player, having those physical confrontations back to back like that. You gotta get your mind right... I just remember vividly when you had games where you played the Commodores one week, and you had the Cowboys, it was like damn. Cause you knew going into that game that when you started that gauntlet, it was just gonna be tough physically," Douglas said.
Hugh Douglas knows three game stretch against division rivals is brutal
Every time you match up against a division rival, you know it's going to be a tough and physical game, as Douglas alluded to. Playing against the same team twice a year, there's a true feud that builds up. You know their strengths and weaknesses, and it's the same thing vice versa.
And when the season rolls around, there will be some battles had between the Eagles and those teams. Philadelphia has the target on its back, winning the division two consecutive years and securing a Super Bowl title in the process. Dallas, New York, and Washington want to take Philadelphia's place at the top of the standings.
Not only that, but winning those matchups is the key to clinching the division, as that's the pathway to owning tiebreaker advantages. The fact that the NFL made the Eagles have to play three consecutive division games is rough. Those matchups will have some extra juice, but there's no way the Eagles can let up.
That three-week stretch can either give the Eagles an edge over their division foes or it could put them in a difficult spot. They can't afford to come out slow during that period; instead, they need to bring their best foot forward.
The biggest thing Philadelphia will have to do is rest as much as possible during the week leading up to those games. Two of those contests will be at home, giving them home-field advantage, but that doesn't take away from how gritty the games will be.
Seeing that slate on the schedule isn't what any Eagle fan wanted, and that brought the former Philadelphia defensive end back to his days. He understands how hard those games are, which puts an even bigger emphasis on them.
Read more: Saquon Barkley had the exact same reaction Eagles fans had with a 2-game stretch
It's never ideal to play division rivals in consecutive weeks, and the Eagles will have three straight NFC East games on the docket in 2026. It's a brutal stretch, no matter how you slice it, and Philadelphia will certainly have its work cut out.
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