The Eagles were among the more unpredictable teams in the NFL last season. After losing to Tampa Bay and Detroit by a combined 59 points last November, the Birds rallied the following week to defeat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 35-28 in Foxborough.
As unforeseeable as NFL seasons often are, here’s a look at Philadelphia’s five toughest matchups.
Week 3: Sept. 25 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown led the Steelers offense to 395 yards-per-game in 2015, and Pittsburgh’s 26.4 points-per-game was fourth among NFL offenses. Fortunately for the Eagles, they’ll only have to gameplan for two-thirds of this dynamic trio if Bell’s four-game suspension is upheld.
It seems unlikely that Bell will win his appeal, given his excuse for a series of missed drug tests is that he changed his phone number. Still, Bell seemed confident in a recent Instagram post: "When I end up missin' no games at all, [people] for sure gonna try to love me again." Pittsburgh’s "bend but don’t break" defense conceded 363 yards-per-game (21st in NFL) but only 19.9 points-per-game (11th in NFL) in 2015.
Matchup to watch: Antonio Brown vs. Leodis McKelvin
Prediction: Steelers win 27-14
Week 6: Oct. 16 at Washington Redskins
Washington swept the season series with the Eagles last season, narrowly edging out Philadelphia 23-20 in week four before wrapping up the division in week 16 when they defeated the Eagles by a score of 38-24 in Philadelphia. Jordan Reed torched the Eagles defense on the day after Christmas, catching nine balls for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Kirk Cousins had one of the best games of his career in the second matchup, throwing for 365 yards and four touchdowns. Cousins and the Redskins will be out to prove that their 2015 success wasn’t an anomaly, while the Eagles will look to avenge their pair of losses at the hands of Washington last fall.
Matchup to watch: Jordan Reed vs. Eagles safeties
Prediction: Eagles win 23-17
Week 12: Nov. 28 vs. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers has been immensely effective against the Eagles defense in the past. Rodgers and Co. obliterated the Eagles, 53-20, at Lambeau Field in November of 2014, with Rodgers throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns along the way. Randall Cobb contributed 10 receptions for 129 yards, while Jordy Nelson caught four balls for 109 yards and one touchdown.
With Rodgers is coming off his worst statistical season in eight years, the Eagles will look to keep Rodgers from having another career day against their secondary. The return of Nelson, who tore his ACL last preseason, will benefit his quarterback greatly. Nelson and Rodgers have tremendous chemistry on the field together. In 2014, the wideout from Kansas State caught 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Matchup to watch: Aaron Rodgers vs. Eagles secondary
Prediction: Packers win 41-14
Week 13: Dec. 4 at Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati won six of their eight contests at home last season, and ranked seventh in the NFL with 24 points-per-game. Additionally, the Bengals were among the league’s stingiest defenses last season, allowing just over 17 points-per-game (second in NFL). The Bengals offense is led by superstar wide receiver, A.J. Green, who caught 86 passes for 1,297 yards and ten touchdowns last season. Green has made the Pro Bowl all five years since coming into the league. The Eagles offensive line will be put to the test by the Bengals Geno Atkins (10 sacks in 2015) and defensive end Carlos Dunlap (13.5 sacks in 2015).
Matchup to watch: Carlos Dunlap vs. Lane Johnson
Prediction: Bengals win 33-27
Week 11: Nov. 20 at Seattle Seahawks
In Marshawn Lynch’s final season with the Seahawks, the Seattle offense scored 26.4 points-per-game (fourth in NFL) and gained 378 yards-per-game (fourth in NFL). The Seahawks have won both games they have played against the Eagles in the past five seasons, the last meeting came in 2014 when Seattle defeated the Birds 24-14.
Thomas Rawls will take over for Lynch in the Seahawks backfield. Rawls averaged 5.6 yards-per-carry and totaled 830 rushing yards while spelling Lynch in 2015. Pete Carroll’s defense was impressive yet again last season, allowing only 17.3 points-per-game (first in NFL). The Week 11 game in Seattle will be the start of a grueling four-game stretch for the Eagles, where they will face the Seahawks, Packers, Bengals and Redskins in a four-week span.
Matchup to watch: Thomas Rawls vs. Eagles front seven
Prediction: Seahawks win 19-10
With most of the heavy lifting coming in the second half of the season, it will be vital for the Eagles to get off to a fast start against their weaker foes, like the Browns, Bears and Lions, in September and October.
Patrick Del Gaone is a staff writer for Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Del_Gaone.
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