The complete 2018 NFL regular season schedule was released earlier this week so we now know the path the Eagles will have to navigate to get back to the playoffs for a chance to defend their 2017 Super Bowl title.
It all starts on Thursday, Sept.6 at the Linc with a rematch of last season's Divisional Round game against Atlanta that started Philly's Super Bowl run. The Eagles have already been opened as home favorites in that game by more than a field goal and I like their chances to win that game by a couple of touchdowns. Carson Wentz makes a successful return to the starting lineup by throwing for three touchdowns and running for one more in that opening day romp.
Week 2 features a road game against Tampa Bay followed by a home game against Indianapolis in Week 3. When you add in a Week 4 road game against Tennessee, I have Philly sporting a nifty 4-0 record when it faces another playoff opponent from last season in a scheduled 4:25 p.m. start at home against Minnesota on Sunday, Oct. 7. The matchup in the NFC title game was never close and, while the Vikings will be a much tougher out this time around, I have the Eagles once again coming out on top.
With a road game against the New York Giants in Week 6 followed by home games against Carolina, Jacksonville and Dallas (the game against the Jaguars is in London), I have the Eagles going on the road the face New Orleans in Week 11 with a record of 8-1. I am not sure when that one loss will occur, by my guess would be when the Eagles are out of the country. I am going to give the benefit of the doubt that the Saints are still playing like they were last season to hand the Eagles their second loss of the season.
Looking ahead to the stretch run of the regular season, I have the Birds stumbling one more time (possibly on the road against the Los Angeles Rams) to match last season's mark of 13-3. This was obviously a very quick look at the 2018 schedule since we still have five months to go before Atlanta comes to town, but I am pretty confident that Philadelphia is going be one of the top two teams in the NFC to give itself a legitimate shot to successfully defend its NFL title.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Eagles Lincs NFL Mock Draft 1.0
In an effort to expedite my first mock draft ahead of the actual 2018 NFL Draft in Dallas on April 26-28, I have decided to jump to the last pick of the first round which is normally reserved for the previous season's Super Bowl Champion.
I have to be honest when it comes to this year's draft. I am woefully behind the curve since the Eagles are picking last in the first round. In previous years, I would normally be immersed in charting all the top prospects, breaking down Philly's biggest needs and grading the players that might be on the board when Howie Roseman and Co. go on the clock. This year, I am still busy watching the replay of Super Bowl LII and pinching myself to let me know that the final score was in the Eagles' favor.
Two years ago, it was classic Roseman wheelin' and dealin' to land Carson Wentz with the second overall pick. If you would go back over my draft posts on this blog for the 2016 proceedings, you would find that I was not too keen on what the Birds gave up to get their franchise quarterback. You would also realize why I am doing what I do and Roseman does what he does.
Last year's draft filled a big hole in the defensive line with the addition of Derek Barnett. He did not win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, but he was instrumental in helping the Eagles win their first Super Bowl title in 52 years. I had Philly taking running back Dalvin Cook with that pick, but he ended up going to Minnesota early in the second round.
Looking ahead to this year's draft, the buzz in town is that the Eagles are taking a very close look at LSU running back Derrius Guise at No. 32. There is a chance he will be off the board by then given that quite a few mock drafts have him going earlier in the round. However, if is is on the board when Philly goes on the clock in Big D with the last pick of the first round, Guise would be my top pick as well.
Last year's amazing Super Bowl run through the top teams in the league proved that you can never have too many backs running the ball. I love Jay Ajayi as the lead back and Corey Clement proved he can play at the next level. We might even see long-time veteran Darren Sproles using his soon-to-be 35-year old legs to make some more plays for the Birds.
The addition of Guise would make an already potent running game that much better considering that Philly was ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards per game last season. Building a team from the inside out on both sides of the ball and churning up the clock with the run are two of the main reasons why Philadelphia is the current NFL Super Bowl Champion. From what I have seen from Guise during his playing days for LSU, he could go a long way towards helping the Eagles stay at the top of the heap in their title defense.
I have to be honest when it comes to this year's draft. I am woefully behind the curve since the Eagles are picking last in the first round. In previous years, I would normally be immersed in charting all the top prospects, breaking down Philly's biggest needs and grading the players that might be on the board when Howie Roseman and Co. go on the clock. This year, I am still busy watching the replay of Super Bowl LII and pinching myself to let me know that the final score was in the Eagles' favor.
Two years ago, it was classic Roseman wheelin' and dealin' to land Carson Wentz with the second overall pick. If you would go back over my draft posts on this blog for the 2016 proceedings, you would find that I was not too keen on what the Birds gave up to get their franchise quarterback. You would also realize why I am doing what I do and Roseman does what he does.
Last year's draft filled a big hole in the defensive line with the addition of Derek Barnett. He did not win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, but he was instrumental in helping the Eagles win their first Super Bowl title in 52 years. I had Philly taking running back Dalvin Cook with that pick, but he ended up going to Minnesota early in the second round.
Looking ahead to this year's draft, the buzz in town is that the Eagles are taking a very close look at LSU running back Derrius Guise at No. 32. There is a chance he will be off the board by then given that quite a few mock drafts have him going earlier in the round. However, if is is on the board when Philly goes on the clock in Big D with the last pick of the first round, Guise would be my top pick as well.
Last year's amazing Super Bowl run through the top teams in the league proved that you can never have too many backs running the ball. I love Jay Ajayi as the lead back and Corey Clement proved he can play at the next level. We might even see long-time veteran Darren Sproles using his soon-to-be 35-year old legs to make some more plays for the Birds.
The addition of Guise would make an already potent running game that much better considering that Philly was ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards per game last season. Building a team from the inside out on both sides of the ball and churning up the clock with the run are two of the main reasons why Philadelphia is the current NFL Super Bowl Champion. From what I have seen from Guise during his playing days for LSU, he could go a long way towards helping the Eagles stay at the top of the heap in their title defense.
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