The NFL may be a few days away from releasing the dates for the 2023 schedule. However, there are still some aspects of the Eagles’ upcoming season we can take a look at:
- Strength of Schedule
- Divisional Games
There has been no official confirmation for the exact time the schedule will be announced, but Adam Schefter reported that the league is planning the release for May 11th. The 2nd Thursday of May, which lines with 2022’s schedule, is getting released on Thursday, May 12th. That being said, we’ve got 1 more week until we find out where and when the Eagles will be playing football come this fall.
Eagles 2023 Opponents
Home:
- Dallas Cowboys
- Washington Commanders
- New York Giants
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings
Away:
- Dallas Cowboys
- Washington Commanders
- New York Giants
- Kansas City Chiefs
- New York Jets
- New England Patriots
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Strength of Schedule
The Eagles’ 2023 Strength of Schedule is the exact opposite of their 2022 schedule.
2022 SoS: .464
2023 SoS: .566
It’s no surprise that the Eagles’ schedule jumped from 3rd easiest to hardest in one season. That’ll happen when you win the division and nearly have all 3 Division Rivals above a .500 Win percentage.
Not only is the NFC East becoming more competitive since its 2020 disaster, but the AFC East is becoming its own juggernaut.
AFC East
The Miami Dolphins didn’t have the season they expected, but with a healthy Tua Tagovailoa, the competition gets worse. A team that had Super Bowl aspirations will return to the field with that same plan. The only thing that could stop the Dolphins is themselves (and their medical staff).
Finally reaching a trade with the Packers, the Jets’ 7-10 season looks like a blueprint for what they could do without a 4x MVP. With the roster the Jets have this season, the Eagles’ 12-0 all-time record against the Jets could be in jeopardy.
The Bills will continue to be a Super Bowl contender as long as Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs remain the face of the franchise, but will Allen’s questionable play from last season return and give the rest of the AFC East a fighting chance for the division?
Mac Jones’ 2023 season didn’t prove promising from what was seen in 2022. Whether Matt Patricia was the problem for the Patriots’ lackluster offense or not is something we’ll have to wait and find out.
NFC West
The NFC West had a rather unfortunate outcome last year. A Super Bowl hangover and injured QBs. Expect a heavier gauntlet from:
Regardless of who the starting QB is for the 49ers, the rest of the roster is still star-studded. With a taste for vengeance from the 2022 NFC Championship Game, this rematch will be one of many playoff teams the Eagles will see in the regular season.
Kyler Murray’s injury wasn’t the only reason for the Cardinals’ 4-13 season. While they might not plan on competing for a Super Bowl this season, there will be a very heated game against Jonathan Gannon, the now-tampered head coach of the Cardinals.
The Rams’ season was disastrous from the start. Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp all missed extended periods of time. Perhaps the weaker strength of schedule is exactly what the Rams wanted. Or maybe the gas tank is empty after winning Super Bowl 56.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks continued to build on offense. Drafting Jaxon Smith-Njigba will continue to give defenses trouble. With Geno Smith returning as the starting QB., the Seahawks season will be an interesting one to watch.
1st Place Opponents
Finishing 1st in the division means you’ll meet the other NFC Division champions the following season.
The Minnesota Vikings were busted as the mediocre team they were last season. Historic numbers from Justin Jefferson won’t matter if their defense hemorrhages points. With some new additions to both sides of the ball, the Vikings should be looking to repeat as NFC North champs.
Tampa Bay lost Tom Brady in the off-season. With Baker Mayfield the current starter, they won’t be as threatening as seasons past. A team that might be looking to start a rebuild won’t prove as strong as their 2022 record might look, especially if they become sellers at the trade deadline.
Another Super Bowl rematch is in the Eagles’ schedule this season. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Eagles in the regular season. This game could be the season opener if the league wanted to start the year off with a bang. Whether or not that’s the case, we’ll have to wait to find out.
Divisional Opponents
The NFC East STILL hasn’t had a repeat champion since 2005, and this could be the year the Eagles end that streak.
The New York Giants don’t have a lot of cap space remaining if they wished to go all in this season. Signing their big names to extensions like Daniel Jones and Dexter Lawrence might set up a future for the franchise, but if the Eagles and Cowboys continue to hold the reins on the division. Their attempt may need a stroke of luck to make a dent in the division title.
Every year will always be the Dallas Cowboys year. With improvements on defense, the problem now becomes: How well does Dak Prescott play? The Cowboys had numerous opportunities to steal the division from the Eagles last year, but an overtime Pick-6 and one horrendous loss to Sam Howell later, the Cowboys proved once again they couldn’t win when it mattered most. Will this be the year they overcome their self-inflicted woes?
The Commanders look to be comfortable finishing 4th in the division again. Entrusting their season in Jacoby Brissett or Sam Howell doesn’t sound like a recipe for success. A team that barely missed the playoffs last year will be battling several others for the 3 wildcard spots.
Next Thursday, we’ll find out when the Eagles will meet their opponents.
Photo: Philadelphia Eagles Twitter
