The Eagles' Road Back to the Super Bowl is Set

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.