It's finally here! See who the Eagles will be matching up against each week throughout the 2016 season...
Week 1: September 11, at home against Joe Thomas and the Browns
Week 2: September 19, in Chicago against Jay Cutler and the Bears for Monday Night Football
Week 3: September 25, at home against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers
Week 5: October 9, in Detroit against Ziggy Ansah and the Lions
Week 6: October 16, in Washington against DeSean Jackson and the Redskins
Week 7: October 23, at home against Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings
Week 8: October 30, in Dallas against Tony Romo and the Cowboys
Week 9: November 6, in New York against Eli Manning and the Giants
Week 10: November 13, at home against Devonta Freeman and the Falcons
Week 11: November 20, in Seattle against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks
Week 12: November 28, at home against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers for Monday Night Football
Week 13: December 4, in Cincinnati against A.J. Green and the Bengals
Week 14: December 11, at home against Ryan Kerrigan and the Redskins
Week 15: December 18, in Baltimore against Joe Flacco and the Ravens
Week 16: December 22, at home against Odell Beckham and the Giants for Thursday Night Football
Week 17: January 1, at home against Dez Bryant and the Cowboys
After the regular season opener at home against the Cleveland Browns, the Eagles go prime time for a Week 2 showdown in the Windy City against head coach John Fox and the Chicago Bears.
The second year under Fox has worked out well at his previous stops.
In 2003, Fox led the Carolina Panthers to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII (we don't need a reminder on who they beat to get there). Nine years later, the Denver Broncos won 13 games and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. Both times, Fox's team lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion.
Last year, Fox was dumped by the Broncos, despite winning 38 games in the prior three seasons, and took the helm of the Bears.
The Bears struggled out of the gate, losing their first three contests capped off by a 26-0 loss to Seattle. At the end of the year, Chicago lost four of its final five games to finish 6-10. It should be noted, however, that the Bears lost six games by six points or fewer, including two overtime defeats.
The defense transitioned from a 4-3 to a 3-4 unit under the guide of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in 2015. The Bears continued to add pieces this offseason with defensive end Akiem Hicks and linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerell Freeman. In the draft, five of the first six selections were spent on defense led by No. 9 overall pick edge rusher Leonard Floyd.
Offensively, quarterback Jay Cutler improved greatly from 2014 when he led the league in interceptions. Under offensive coordinator Adam Gase, Cutler threw just 11 picks last year, the fewest in a year when he's played more than 10 games. Cutler also has his best receiving target back in Alshon Jeffrey, who signed a one-year franchise tender. Kevin White, last year's first-round pick, did not get on the field as a rookie due to injury, but could provide Cutler another big-framed target on the outside.
There are some changes worth noting on offense for Chicago. Gase is now running the show in Miami. At running back, Matt Forte is a New York Jet after leading the Bears in rushing in every season since 2008.
Fox has a track record for turning around teams quickly. But in a division with Minnesota on the rise, Green Bay always in contention and Detroit a year removed from a playoff appearance, the Bears have their work cut out for them in 2016.
| Chicago Bears | |
|---|---|
| Key Additions | Key Losses |
| S Omar Bolden | TE Martellus Bennett |
| LB Leonard Floyd | T Jermon Bushrod |
| LB Jerrell Freeman | G Vlad Ducasse |
| DE Akiem Hicks | RB Matt Forte |
| G Ted Larsen | DE Jarvis Jenkins |
| T Bobby Massie | DB Sherrod Martin |
| LB Danny Trevathan | LB Shea McClellin |
| C Will Montgomery | |
| S Ryan Mundy | |
| S Antrel Rolle | |
| G Matt Slauson | |
