By: BOB KENT & CHRIS McPHERSON
The Eagles open in Atlanta on Monday Night Football and finish against Washington on Sunday, January 1 at Lincoln Financial Field.
So the schedule is out and boy does it have a national flavor. For a fifth straight year, the Eagles will play the maximum four prime-time games, including the maximum three on Monday Night Football (at Atlanta, vs. Dallas, and vs. Seattle). The other primetime game is a Sunday Night contest at Washington on ESPN.
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QB Donovan McNabb |
Under head coach Andy Reid, the Eagles are 16-2 in primetime games, including playoffs.
The Eagles open their preseason schedule with a nationally televised primetime game at Pittsburgh (ESPN).
Also on Wednesday, it was announced that the Eagles-Ravens preseason game on Aug. 20 will start at 8 p.m., and that the annual Eagles Carnival is slated for Sunday, Aug. 28, at Lincoln Financial Field.
"It's an exciting day when the schedule comes out," said head coach Andy Reid. "We have a great opportunity ahead of us, playing four primetime games, including two in front of our great fans at Lincoln Financial Field. We look forward to the challenge of facing this competitive schedule and as always, we'll take our one-game-at-a-time approach."
The teams are lined up to be knocked down by the Eagles. But what do we really know about the opponents for 2005? Let's take a look at these teams and how they stack up at this point in time.
at Atlanta Falcons
Monday, Sept. 12, 9 p.m. | Team Site
The Eagles' 2005 regular-season opener will be played under the prime-time lights of Monday Night Football, as Philadelphia travels to Atlanta in a rematch of the NFC Championship Game.
It's a game that is not short on storylines: Donovan McNabb vs. Michael Vick; Ike Reese against his former mates; Atlanta's dynamic rushing duo of Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett versus the Eagles' run defense.
Atlanta spent much of its offseason re-tooling its defense, which statistically ranked 14th in the NFL in 2004. The Falcons added linebackers Ed Hartwell from the Ravens as well as the Eagles' Ike Reese and re-signing some of its young defensive backs, including Allen Rossum, the return specialist.
Atlanta will have revenge on its mind; while Philadelphia will look to make a statement that they indeed are the team to beat in 2005.
The Eagles enter the contest boasting the best road record in the NFL since 2000 with a 31-9 regular season mark (32-11 including playoffs). Also, head coach Andy Reid is 16-2 in prime time with the Eagles (15-2 in the regular season, 1-0 in the postseason).
Including the postseason, the Eagles have won the last four meetings with the Falcons.
San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, Sept. 18, 1 p.m. | Team Site
The Eagles' regular-season home slate opens with Terrell Owens' former team, as the 49ers visit Lincoln Financial Field.
Longtime coordinator Mike Nolan replaced Dennis Erickson as the team's head coach, and the team may draft and go with a rookie quarterback to start the season.
The 49ers are in the rebuilding stage after enduring their second straight losing season and their worst season since Bill Walsh first took over as a head coach in 1979.
Nolan's specialty is defense and he's addressed the 49ers defense with the addition of defensive end Marques Douglas in free agency.
Along the offensive line, he signed tackle Jonas Jennings to protect the team's quarterback. Who will that quarterback be? That question most likely will be answered at the NFL Draft where the 49ers hold the No. 1 overall pick.
Nolan has challenged his team to win the NFC West Division, but this is a team that lost 10 of its games by double digits last year. If you look at the bright side, the 49ers went undefeated (2-0) against the Arizona Cardinals.
Philadelphia has dropped four of the last five meetings with the 49ers, but will be catching San Francisco very early in Nolan's program.
This is the first of four West Coast opponents.
Oakland Raiders
Sunday, Sept. 25, 1 p.m. | Team Site
The return of Randy Moss is enough to make this matchup a must-see.
Moss' 2004 season came to an abrupt end at Lincoln Financial Field in January. That was with the Minnesota Vikings. One year after the Eagles traded for wide receiver Terrell Owens, the Raiders are hoping that a trade for the prolific Moss will pay instant dividends for them. Moss will make Kerry Collins a better quarterback.
As if Moss was not enough, the Raiders added running back LaMont Jordan to provide a punch in the backfield. The Raiders' leading rusher in 2004 was Amos Zereoue with a mere 425 yards.
The Raiders did not put all of the blame for their 5-11 record in 2004, which was last in the AFC West, on the struggling offense. The defense needed retooling as well, so they signed defensive end Derrick Burgess from the Eagles after his superb postseason which was highlighted by a two-sack performance against Michael Vick in the NFC title game.
Let's see if Burgess can get his arms around Donovan McNabb in this one.
at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Oct. 2, 1 p.m. | Team Site
The series history between the two clubs is just four games old. Each has won a pair of contests. Philadelphia won the last meeting in Kansas City back in 2001.
Kansas City addressed its porous defense in free agency, adding linebacker Kendrell Bell from Pittsburgh, defensive end Carlos Hall from Tennessee and safety Sammy Knight from Miami. All three players should significantly upgraded a Chiefs defense that ranked 31st overall in 2004.
On the flip side, Kansas City's No. 1 ranked offense from a year ago will certainly present a formidable challenge for Jim Johnson's unit. The Chiefs' offense features the explosive running of Priest Holmes. Quarterback Trent Green is the triggerman for a group can move the football vertically down the field and he has one of the game's best pass-catching tight ends in Tony Gonzalez.
at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, Oct. 9, 4:15 p.m. | Team Site
Philadelphia has won nine of the last 10 meetings between these NFC East rivals. Will the dominance continue?
Opening the checkbook in the offseason, Dallas reached out and signed, among others, Pro Bowl offensive guard Marco Rivera to a deal that gained headlines and acclaim. A few weeks later, he had surgery to repair a bulging disk in his back.
The team also made a change at quarterback, bringing in another aging veteran in former Bill and Patriot Drew Bledsoe. Will Bledsoe give the Dallas offense some kind of threat in the air? Stay tuned.
Running back Julius Jones finished off '04 strong and could be a force in his second season.
On defense, signing Jason Ferguson to play nose tackle was essential if the Cowboys switch to a 3-4 defense. Cornerback Anthony Henry was also a nice addition. The team has also explored a trade for New Orleans defensive end Darren Howard.
Defensive end, Linebacker and offensive tackle are huge priorities as Dallas enters Draft Weekend with two first-round picks The Cowboys need impact players who can come in and contribute.
Head coach Bill Parcells Parcells lost his patience with his team a year ago as the club struggled after making the playoffs in 2003. Will the team turn the corner this year, Parcells' third in "Big D."?
San Diego Chargers
Sunday, Oct. 23, 1 p.m. | Team Site
A year ago, many thought that the Chargers would have the worst record, not only in the AFC West but in the entire league. That didn't seem so far fetched after a 1-2 start.
But quarterback Drew Brees -- feeling the pressure after the team used its first-round pick last season on quarterback Philip Rivers -- had a Pro Bowl season. Of course, the emergence of tight end Antonio Gates, along with the running of LaDainian Tomlinson powered the Chargers to a 12-4 record and the AFC West Division title in 2004.
However, the offense is lacking a bona fide No. 1 receiver with down field speed. They hope to get a boost from Reche Caldwell or in the Draft.
The Chargers have a good, young defense that plays a 3-4 scheme that will challenge the Eagles. The unit added safety Bhawoh Jue in free agency.
San Diego is out to prove that last season, which ended with a heartbreaking overtime loss in the playoffs to the New York Jets, was not a fluke. To ensure that, head coach Marty Shottenheimer has two first-round picks in this year's draft.
Philadelphia is 3-5 overall against the Chargers.
at Denver Broncos
Sunday, Oct. 30, 4:15 p.m. | Team Site
The Eagles last meeting with the Broncos came back in 1998 at Denver.
In this Mile High meeting, Andy Reid and Co. know all there is to know about Broncos quarterback, Jake "the Snake" Plummer. As a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Plummer orchestrated some late-game heroics and defeated Philadelphia on a number of occasions. Plummer has some playmakers on offense, including running back Tatum Bell. Denver added former Giants back Ron Dayne, who the team believes fits their offense well. Dayne is used to running behind a zone-blocking scheme.
Defense was the real priority during the offseason, as the Broncos added ends Courtney Brown and Ebenezer Ekuban, defensive tackles Michael Myers and Gerard Warren, as well as linebackers Keith Burns and Ian Gold.
The Broncos lost cornerback Kelly Herndon to Seattle and now are thin behind starters Lenny Walls and Champ Bailey. They will likely add via the Draft.
at Washington Redskins
Sunday, Nov. 6, 8:30 p.m. | Team Site
Once again, the Eagles play in Washington in a prime-time game. This time it's an ESPN broadcast. It is the fourth straight season in which the Eagles and Redskins have played in prime time on Washington's home turf.
Joe Gibbs' 6-10 campaign was due in part to an injury-riddled defense and an antiquated offense which failed to perform.
How much did Gibbs learn in his first year back in the NFL? What type of adjustments -- if any -- will he make in 2005?
Those answers may ultimately determine the fate of Washington this season.
Washington's offense was brutal last season, scoring a total of 240 points all season, second-worst in the league.
Patrick Ramsey appears to have the starting quarterback job. A capable veteran, the success of the offense in 2005 will be predicated on generating big plays.
The Redskins have playmakers. The receiving corps features a pair of new receivers in former Jets wideout Santana Moss -- acquired in a trade for Laveranues Coles -- and former Patriots receiver David Patten. Clinton Portis has had a year in Gibbs' scheme. Washington is better at center with Casey Rabach.
On defense, the team lost middle linebacker Antonio Pierce and cornerback Fred Smoot. Still, they are a solid young group.
Dallas Cowboys
Monday, Nov. 14, 9 p.m. | Team Site
Last year the Eagles went into Dallas and tore apart the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Apparently, ABC thinks it will be a more competitive game this time around as the Eagles host Dallas for a prime-time game.
This is the second game of three critical games against NFC East opponents for the Eagles.
at New York Giants
Sunday, Nov. 20, 1 p.m. | Team Site
How much better will Eli Manning be in his second season? No one knows for sure. He went through the typical growing pains during his rookie season, but he's still young.
The Giants used free agency to address glaring needs at receiver and along the offensive line.
The addition of playmaking receiver Plaxico Burress significantly upgrades New York's receiving corps, which failed to haul in a touchdown in '04. Burress has 261 receptions for 4,166 yards and 20 touchdowns. His best season was in '01, when Burress had 66 catches for 1,008 yards and six scores.
Up front, the offensive line was aided dramatically by the signing of Kareem McKenzie from the New York Jets. However, there is talk New York may try to package offensive left tackle Luke Petitgout in a deal to move into the first round of this year's draft. If that happens, the line loses an experienced player.
Jeremy Shockey should be healthy this season and Tiki Barber has had success against the Birds in the past.
On defense, head coach Tom Coughlin is considering moving to a 3-4 scheme, which the Eagles have struggled against at times in the past. The addition of middle linebacker Antonio Pierce from Washington was a boost to the linebacking corps, but he will find life difficult if the Giants don't improve the line in front of him.
Michael Strahan figures to be back healthy, but he is really the only impact player up front. The team parted ways with defensive tackle Norman Hand.
Philadelphia has swept the season series the last two years.
Green Bay Packers
Sunday, Nov. 27, 4:15 p.m. | Team Site
Lincoln Financial Field has been a house of horrors for the Green Bay Packers, the 2004 NFC North champions, the last two seasons. First, it was the famed "4th-and-26" in the 2003 playoffs. Last season, it was a 47-17 blowout thanks to a career game from Donovan McNabb (464 passing yards, five touchdowns).
The Packers will be a much different team after losing two of their key offensive linemen in Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. On defense, the Packers lost two veteran members of their secondary in Bhawoh Jue and Darren Sharper.
One veteran who will be around is quarterback Brett Favre. But for how much longer? This could very well be Favre's swan song in Philadelphia.
Including playoffs, the Eagles have won three straight over the Packers.
Seattle Seahawks
Monday, Dec. 5, 9 p.m. | Team Site
This is a team that was considered a Super Bowl contender a year ago. So what now for a team that still has not won a playoff game during the tenure of head coach Mike Holmgren?
The 2004 NFC West Division champion Seahawks addressed their defense in free agency by signing six free agents from other teams, most recently former Houston linebacker Jamie Sharper.
The Seahawks' powerful offense was kept intact. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was given a long-term extension, running back Shaun Alexander was given the franchise tag after finishing one yard short of the NFL's rushing title in 2004, and tackle Walter Jones was handsomely paid to return. Hasselbeck still has his top target in wideout Darrell Jackson.
The defense, meanwhile, was overhauled in the offseason. Sharper became the sixth free agent defender to hop on the Seahawks wagon. If Seattle can put the pieces together on defense, those high expectations could be attainable.
Holmgren knows Andy Reid very well and the Eagles know him very well. The offensive schemes are similar and the approach to the game is similar. This will be an excellent football game.
Philadelphia has won two straight against the Seahawks.
New York Giants
Sunday, Dec. 11, 4:05 p.m. | Team Site
This figures to be a critical game for both teams late in the season at Lincoln Financial Field. Just three weeks after their first meeting, the Eagles and Giants tangle again and something will certainly be at stake in the NFC East.
at St. Louis Rams
Sunday, Dec. 18, 4:15 p.m. | Team Site
What kind of team is the Rams? We know they have an explosive offense. We know the head coach Mike Martz is as unpredictable as they come.
Quarterback Marc Bulger is the heart of the St. Louis offense. Given time, he is as dangerous as anybody in the league. He throws a terrific deep ball, has a good feel for the pocket and is an intelligent guy. The Rams have a plentiful supply of weapons, led by the dynamic duo of receiving talent in Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.
St. Louis also utilizes the talents of running back Marshall Faulk in many ways and has the explosive Steven Jackson in his second season. In 2004, Jackson tore up the Eagles for 148 rushing yards on 24 carries. Granted, the Eagles played the contest without many of their key players.
Bottom line: This is an explosive offense that will challenge the Eagles "D."
On defense, the Rams rely on defensive end Leonard Little (Jon Runyan's assignment) to generate pressure and then they feed off of that. In free agency, they added linebackers Chris Claiborne and Dexter Coakley, as well as defensive back Michael Hawthorne.
at Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, Dec. 24, 4:05 p.m. | Team Site
Philadelphia returns to the desert for the first time since 2001, as the former NFC East rivals renew acquaintances. The teams last met in Philadelphia on 2002.
Arizona made great strides in its first season under head coach Dennis Green, finishing 6-10.
Emmitt Smith is out. Kurt Warner is in and he will challenge Josh McCown for the starting quarterback job. The Eagles are familiar with what Warner is all about. McCown made strides last season. Because McCown was on the run much of last season, the team added former Eagles lineman Oliver Ross.
But the Cardinals have playmakers at the skill positions, especially at receiver with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Both are legitimate threats that will challenge second-year starters Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown.
The team rushing leader in 2002-03, Marcel Shipp, is coming off a surgically repaired leg fracture and his status is unknown. So Arizona may dip into the Draft for a running back. Right now, they have Damien Anderson and Troy Hambrick
On defense, the team added end Chike Okeafor via free agency; but the Cardinals secondary is suspect after losing capable guys in Duane Starks and Renaldo Hill.
Washington Redskins
Sunday, Jan. 1, 4:15 p.m. | Team Site
Happy New Year! Is there a better way to ring in 2006 than to sleep in -- yea! -- and host Washington in the regular-season finale? The Redskins and Joe Gibbs march into Philadelphia in a game that figures to be nationally televised on FOX.
Will the division title or playoff positioning be at stake here or could this be another meaningless finale like 2004?
Philadelphia beat Washington in the regular season finale of the 2003 season to clinch the NFC East. That game was played at FedEx Field.
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