Ranking the top statement games on the Eagles 2024 schedule

It won't be long now. Another 18-week, 17-game grind approaches. Something has been on our minds. This is as excited as we have been about any Philadelphia Eagles team. We haven't seen every game played over their nine-plus decades, but we have seen every game since the 80s. That makes us feel like we have cause to say such.

We don't know if the Birds will win the Super Bowl this season. We don't know if Kellen Moore is the magic elixir for the offense. Heck, we don't know if Vic Fangio will fix the defense, or if we trust Nick Sirianni can out-scheme elite coaches. We guess we'll see. They face quite the challenge.

Philly's 2024-25 NFL schedule is loaded with divisional clashes, grudge matches, revenge games, and QB duels. There is even a game overseas.

Each step in the journey represents opportunity to make statements, some more than others. Here are the top five ranked bottom to top.

Worth mentioning: Week 7 and Week 18 vs the Giants

While there's no way that we can pen a list like this one without mentioning Saquon Barkley's two-game revenge tour, neither game makes our top five.

We expect the Eagles to win both games. Philly always beats the Giants. Yes, seeing Saquon stick it to his former team will be doubly satisfying, but five more games have more bang for our buck.

5. At Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 4)

After a crushing loss in the NFC Championship Game way back when, one that doubled as the final game played at Veterans Stadium, our taste for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had soured. The flavor grew worse after the first loss at Lincoln Financial Field.

We have no qualms about saying this. We absolutely hate the Buccaneers. Three of the past three Eagles seasons ended with Wild Card Round losses in Tampa. Nothing would make us happier or settle us down faster than beating this team in their house. Something tells us the fellas have thought about this one too.

4. Green Bay Packers (Week 1 in Brazil)

The Eagles have never played in Brazil. No NFL team has ever played in Brazil. The Birds and Packers make history in Week 1. This is a Friday night affair. It kicks off in primetime, so all eyes will be on two proud franchises.

Green Bay showed everyone a little something last season, didn't they? The Jordan Love era may be a good one after all.

The Pack is up and coming. The Eagles are expected to contend for a title. If Philly loses right out of the shoot, we promise you that there will be questions.

3. At Cincinnati Bengals (Week 8)

We don't know what it is about those Bengals, but every time they show up on the Eagles' schedule, things tend to go sour. They lead the all-time series versus the Birds by 9-3-2 margin. You remember those ties, don't you? One came in 2008. Another followed in 2020.

Remove those two debacles, and Philly has still dropped three in a row. Joe Burrow is solid when healthy. How will Jalen Hurts fare in a duel? We'll soon see!

This one is on the road. It would be nice to see the losing streak (and/or ties) end. Something tells us Philly finds a way to get it done.

2. At Baltimore Ravens (Week 13)

If Philly battles their way into a Super Bowl appearance as the NFC's representative, there's a chance this team will greet them. Sadly, the Eagles own a losing record versus this franchise too. This time around, our Birds travel to Baltimore.

Once upon a time, the original Cleveland Browns left town, set up shop in B-more, and changed their name to the Ravens. Since then, six head-to-head matchups have resulted in only two Eagles wins. That includes consecutive losses in 2016 and 2020.

There's also another tie on the ledger, one that occurred in the first meeting (1997). This will be a nice litmus test of where Philly is in terms of the elite franchises. The opponent is one of the AFC's best. Their quarterback is the reigning NFL MVP.

We expect fireworks. You probably should too.

1. At Dallas Cowboys (Week 10)

Speaking of losing streaks that we'd like to see end, welcome to our arch-enemy's portion of the discussion. Philly hasn't beaten the Cowboys in Arlington since 2017. AT&T Stadium has been a house of horrors for Jalen Hurts. Rewatch the games and you get a sense that the scores could have been more lopsided.

QB1 has suited up as Philly's starter to play Dallas in a road game three times. The Birds are 0-3 in those games and have been outscored by a 111-51 margin. This has to end... Heck, we hope this ends... It would be nice to conquer that hurdle for this team's psyche.