The Eagles' 2019 schedule includes three consecutive games on the road, three consecutive games at home, and a stretch of four straight divisional games to close the season. Here is a game-by-game look:
Week 1 vs. Redskins, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
Record vs. Washington at Lincoln Financial Field: 9-7
Key Stat: 1
Washington won just won game after Alex Smith's season-ending leg injury. Washington started the season 6-3 before Smith was injured against the Houston Texans. Washington lost that game and five more to conclude the year.
Player to watch: G Brandon Scherff
The two-time Pro Bowl interior lineman will have his hands full with All-Pro defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. As much as Alex Smith's injury crippled the offense, Scherff missed the final half of the 2018 season with a torn pectoral muscle.
2018 record: 7-9, third in NFC East
Preview: For the second time in three seasons, the Eagles open their season against the Washington Redskins. The two teams last clashed in the season opener in 2017, which ended in an Eagles Super Bowl victory.
Washington enters 2019 with a lot of questions with the most important being who starts at quarterback? With Alex Smith's return from a 2018 season-ending leg injury uncertain, the reins of the offense will be handed as of now to either Case Keenum or Colt McCoy. Keenum or McCoy should have some support out of the backfield in the form of veteran Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice, who missed the entire 2018 season due to injury. The second-round pick last year was highly touted coming out of LSU.
Week 2 at Falcons, Sept. 15 at 8:20 p.m.
Record at Mercedes-Benz Stadium: First matchup
The Eagles have not played in Atlanta since a 26-24 loss back in 2015. The Eagles have not won in Atlanta since Dec. 6, 2009.
Key stat: 45.3/48.7
The Falcons were fourth in the NFL on third down, converting 45.3 percent of the time on offense. On defense, however, they were 31st in the league, allowing opposing offenses to convert on third down 48.7 percent of their opportunities.
Player to watch: WR Julio Jones
In his last two outings against the Eagles, Jones caught a combined 19 passes for 270 yards. Jones hauled in 10 passes for 169 yards in the 2018 season opener. During the Eagles' playoff win over Atlanta two seasons ago, he had nine receptions for 101 yards.
2018 record: 7-9, second in NFC South
Preview: The Eagles and Falcons will square off for the fifth season in a row (regular season and postseason), and some of the games have produced some dramatic finishes. Unfortunately for the Falcons, they have come out on the short end of the last three outcomes, including the Divisional Round showdown in the 2017 season. The Falcons will attempt to put a stop the Eagles' recent success them with an early primetime game in front of the home fans.
The Falcons have been relatively quiet so far during the offseason. The notable changes were running back Tevin Coleman reuniting with former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, and defensive end Adrian Clayborn returning after spending 2018 in New England. During his one season in Atlanta, Clayborn led the team with 9.5 sacks.
Week 3 vs. Lions, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.
Record vs. Lions at Lincoln Financial Field: 2-1
The last time these two teams played in Philadelphia it was the Snow Bowl, as LeSean McCoy set a franchise single-game rushing record of 217 yards dashing through eight inches of powder in an Eagles victory.
Key stat: 47
The Lions traded for Giants defensive tackle Damon "Snacks" Harrison and reduced the amount of rushing yards allowed per game by an average of 47 over the final 10 games of the season.
Player to watch: DE Trey Flowers
The Lions signed the former Patriots defensive end to a massive contract in free agency. Certainly, the fit makes sense as Flowers played under Lions head coach Matt Patricia when Patricia was the defensive coordinator in New England.
2018 record: 6-10, fourth in NFC North
Preview: Entering his 11th season, can former No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford engineer a win in the postseason? Matt Patricia enters his second season as head coach as he looks to establish a different era in Detroit. Patricia was able to stun his former team last season but couldn't build upon it as the Lions finished 6-10. The Lions scored more than 20 points just once in the final seven games of the season, a 31-0 shutout win over the Packers to end the year.
Week 4 at Packers, Sept. 26, at 8:20 p.m.
Record at Lambeau Field: 5-9
It has been five years since the Eagles played a regular-season game at historic Lambeau Field, and six years since they've won there.
Key stat: 1-5
That is the Eagles' record against the Packers in their last six meetings dating back to 2007.
Player to watch: RB Aaron Jones
Aaron Rodgers is always the biggest threat on the Packers' offense, but Jones could provide the steady ground game the team has lacked in recent years. The Packers finished 2018 22nd in the league in rushing yards.
In limited time, however, Jones has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in each of his two seasons as a pro. He ended last season with 728 yards on the ground and caught 26 passes for another 206 yards.
2018 record: 6-9-1, third in NFC North
Preview: The Eagles have struggled as of late at Lambeau Field, but they fortunately they do not have to travel to the Frozen Tundra when it lives up to its moniker later in the season. Aaron Rodgers is still lining up under center for Green Bay, but there is a new coaching staff in town, headed by Matt LaFleur. He and Rodgers will join forces with the hopes of getting Green Bay back into the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Week 5 vs. Jets, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.
Record vs. Jets at Lincoln Financial Field: 2-0
In fact, the Eagles have never lost to the Jets with a perfect 10-0 regular-season record. The Eagles have also never lost to Houston, boasting a 5-0 mark vs. the Texans.
Key stat: 50
The Jets' leading receiver last season, former Temple standout Robby Anderson, had just 50 catches in 2018. Zach Ertz had more than double (116) that total.
Player to watch: RB Le'Veon Bell
Before sitting out the 2018 campaign as part of a contract dispute, Le'Veon Bell had 1,291 yards rushing and 85 receptions for 655 yards in 2017 for the Steelers. His patience, vision, and versatility make him one of the most dynamic threats in the game.
2018 record: 4-12, fourth in AFC East
Preview: Before his stint as Miami Dolphins head coach, Adam Gase was known as one of the best quarterback coaches in the NFL. The New York Jets are banking on that past experience as they look to develop last year's top pick Sam Darnold, who showed plenty of promise.
Aiding Gase's transition, the Jets went wild in free agency adding the aforementioned Bell along with stud linebacker C.J. Mosley and veteran wideout Jamison Crowder amongst others. Gase might not have been able to dethrone the Patriots with Miami, but he stays in the AFC East for another chance with the Jets.
Week 6 at Vikings, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.
Record at U.S. Bank Stadium: 1-0 (Super Bowl LII)
Although the Eagles have played in U.S. Bank Stadium before, they have yet to play there during a Vikings home game, which has proven to be tough for opposing teams since the venue opened in 2016. The Vikings boast a record of 18-7, including the playoffs, in their new digs.
Key stat: 302.9
That is the average amount of passing yards Kirk Cousins has thrown for in his eight career games against the Eagles. Between his time with the Redskins and Vikings, Cousins has a record of 5-3 against Philadelphia.
Player to watch: RB Dalvin Cook
The Eagles have gotten to know the Vikings quite well in recent years, but they have yet to face the former second-round pick due to injuries. When healthy, Cook has shown flashes of greatness, which makes him a player to keep an eye on.
2018 record: 8-7-1, second in NFC North
Preview: After reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2017, the Vikings took a step back in 2018 after failing to even qualify for the postseason. However, there is still talent on both sides of the ball in Minnesota, including a pair of 1,000-yard receivers on Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
Week 7 at Cowboys, Oct. 20 at 8:20 p.m.
Record at AT&T Stadium: 6-5
The Eagles' last two trips to Arlington, Texas were polar opposites. In 2017, the Eagles cruised to a euphoric 37-9 victory. In 2018, they suffered a heartbreaking 29-23 overtime loss. What will happen in 2019?
Key stat: 132
Ezekiel Elliott averaged 132 yards on the ground in the two games against the Eagles in 2018.
Player to watch: RB Ezekiel Elliott
Dak Prescott may have thrown for 455 yards the last time these two teams met, but Elliott is the engine that makes the Cowboys offense go. The rest of the team feeds off his production.
2018 record: 10-6, first in NFC East
Preview: While Prescott and Elliott get the majority of the headlines, the Cowboys' defense is also not to be trifled with. The unit returns the majority of its stalwarts from 2018 and added Robert Quinn and Christian Covington to make the defensive line even more formidable.
Week 8 at Bills, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m.
Record at New Era Field: 3-4
The Eagles' last visit to Buffalo was not a pleasant one, as they lost, 31-24, back in 2011.
Key stat: 179
That is the average passing yards per game the Bills allowed in 2018, the fewest in the NFL.
Player to watch: CB Micah Hyde
One of the main reasons why the Bills allowed the fewest passing yards in the league was because of the play of Hyde. Opposing quarterbacks only had a 82.6 rating against Hyde and the Bills' defense, and the secondary added depth in the form of former Texans first-round draft pick Kevin Johnson.
2018 record: 6-10, third in AFC East
Preview: Andy Reid's coaching tree will be on full display at New Era Field when Doug Pederson coaches against former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who leads a small contingent of former Eagles in Buffalo that includes running back LeSean McCoy, safety Jordan Poyer, and quarterback Matt Barkley. The game takes place in late October, so the weather shouldn't play that much of a factor, but you never know with Buffalo.
Week 9 vs. Bears, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m.
Record vs. Bears at Lincoln Financial Field: 2-2
The Eagles have won four straight games in the season series, including last year's 16-15 Wild Card round win in the playoffs.
Key stat: 12
The Bears won 12 games in Matt Nagy's first year as head coach.
Player to watch: LB Khalil Mack
Acquired just prior to the start of last season in a mega-deal, the four-time Pro Bowl and three-time first-team All-Pro selection has registered double-digit sack totals in four of his first five NFL seasons.
2017 record: 12-4, first in NFC North
Preview: What will Matt Nagy, a member of the Andy Reid coaching tree like Doug Pederson, do after an outstanding rookie season as head coach? Mitchell Trubisky showcased why he was chosen No. 2 overall in 2017 as Chicago scored 24 or more points in 11 games, the most since 1995. Leading rusher Jordan Howard is now with the Eagles. In three seasons, Howard amassed 3,370 yards on the ground, good for seventh in franchise history.
Will the defense, a unit bolstered by the Khalil Mack trade, be as good in 2019? Chicago allowed just 1,280 rushing yards last season, a team record. However, vaunted defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is now the head coach in Denver. Former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano will keep the Bears in a 3-4 system as the new defensive mastermind.
After a tough test against the defending NFC North champions, the Eagles will receive some rest before the final stretch of the season.
Week 11 vs. New England, Nov. 17 at 4:25 p.m.
Record vs. Patriots at Lincoln Financial Field: 0-2
The Eagles won the last time these two teams met in Super Bowl LII.
Key stat: 10
The Patriots have won the AFC East in 10 consecutive seasons.
Player to watch: DE Michael Bennett
After a productive season with the Eagles, Philadelphia traded Bennett to New England as part of a swap of draft picks. Bennett was a key cog in the Eagles' defensive line rotation down the stretch in 2018 and could prove to be a valuable piece of a veteran-laden team with an eye on sustaining success.
2018 record: 11-5, first in AFC East
Preview: The Eagles will not have a chance to ease their way into the final stages of the season, as they go against the defending champs off the bye week.
Will it be 17? No, the Patriots haven't won THAT many Super Bowl titles, but they have posted at least 10 victories in each of the past 16 seasons. That's simply absurd.
Carson Wentz goes against the future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, but head coach Doug Pederson knows everything that his counterpart in Bill Belichick will present from a challenge standpoint. This is a great litmus test as the Eagles look to be the ones hoisting the Lombardi Trophy again at the end of the season, instead of the Patriots.
Week 12 vs. Seahawks, Nov. 24 at 8:20 p.m.
Record vs. Seahawks at Lincoln Financial Field: 0-3
Seattle has dominated this rivalry of late, as the Seahawks have won six of the past seven meetings. In fact, the Eagles have played better against the Seahawks on the road (5-5) than at home (2-4) in the history of the series.
Key stat: 160
The Seahawks, largely behind Chris Carson's 1,151 rushing yards, averaged 160 yards on the ground per contest to lead the NFL in 2018.
Player to watch: QB Russell Wilson
Not because he just signed the richest contract in NFL history. The five-time Pro Bowl is 3-0 against the Eagles and has killed Philadelphia not just with his arm, but his legs as well amassing 98 yards on the ground in those contests. Another thing to note, Wilson has had a winning record each year since taking over as the Seahawks' quarterback with at least 10 victories in every season but one.
2018 record: 10-6, second in NFC West
Preview: Having the Patriots and Seahawks in back-to-back weeks is probably as tough a pair of games any team has to face in the league in 2019.
It appeared at times as if 2018 was a transition year for the Seattle Seahawks with cornerstone pieces of the 2013 Super Bowl team like Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett playing for new teams and safety Earl Thomas likely on his way out the door after suffering a season-ending injury.
However, the Seahawks rallied behind Russell Wilson and win six of their final seven regular-season games to get into the postseason before stumbling against the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round.
When Wilson made his contract ultimatum, there was buzz around the league that Seattle didn't want to pay him a big contract and instead build up the rest of the team. Nonsense. The Seahawks have missed the playoffs just once since Wilson took over as the starting quarterback in 2012 and that's due in large part to the franchise quarterback.
Now, this team isn't a one-man show. The run game is outstanding and will present plenty of challenges for the Eagles, while the defense has an outstanding pass rusher in Frank Clark and one of the most underrated players in the game in linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Week 13 at Dolphins, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m.
Record at Hard Rock Stadium: 2-2
The Eagles have not played at Hard Rock Stadium since 2011, when they defeated the Dolphins, 26-10.
Key stat: 7
That is the number of interceptions cornerback Xavien Howard racked up in 2018, tying him for the league lead.
Player to watch: RB Kenyan Drake
With Frank Gore now in Buffalo, Drake seems poised to become the main cog in the Dolphins' offense in 2019. In 2018, Drake average 4.5 yards per carry and was second on the team in receptions with 53. He scored nine total touchdowns.
2018 record: 7-9, second in AFC East
Preview: There have been a lot of changes in Miami, namely with new head coach Brian Flores and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The veteran's last game against the Eagles was quite memorable, as he threw for more than 400 yards and four touchdowns as a member of the Buccaneers in Week 2 of the 2018 campaign. The Eagles obviously look to have a different outcome this time around.
Week 14 vs. Giants, Dec. 9 at 8:15 p.m.
Record vs. Giants at Lincoln Financial Field: 11-6
The Eagles have won five straight at home against the Giants, a streak that was kicked off by a 27-0 shutout in 2014.
Key Stat: 28
Despite having rookie phenom Saquon Barkley, who led the team with 1,307 yards on the ground and 91 receptions in the air, the Giants ranked 28th in the league in time of possession in 2018.
Player to watch: WR Golden Tate
Fair or not, Tate will be compared to Odell Beckham, Jr., who the Giants sent to Cleveland in a blockbuster trade this offseason. Tate spent the final 10 games (regular season and playoffs) of 2018 with the Eagles. He posted 278 yards and a touchdown on 30 catches in the regular season with Philadelphia before delivering the game-winning touchdown grab in the Wild Card round win over Chicago. How will Tate fit in with Sterling Shepard, a slot receiver who was recently rewarded with a long-term contract.
2018 record: 5-11, fourth in NFC East
Preview: If you love the Eagles-Giants rivalry, you have to wait all the way until Week 14 to see its latest chapter. For the Eagles, the first meeting with the Giants is the first of four consecutive division games to end the season.
Head coach Pat Shurmur enters his second season in New York with the hopes of breaking the Giants out of the slump of two straight losing seasons. The departure of star wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. is by far the biggest change on the roster. Eli Manning remains the mainstay on offense, as he is entering his 16th season.
Manning will be throwing passes to former Eagle Golden Tate, who is teaming up with Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram as the team's top pass catchers. Defensively, Markus Golden replaces Olivier Vernon as the team's top pass rusher.
Week 15 at Redskins, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.
Record at FedEx Field: 13-9
The Eagles have played quite well at FedEx Field since it opened back in 1997, holding a record of 13-9.
Key stat: 4
After losing five straight to Washington from 2014-16, the Eagles have rattled off four consecutive wins of their own in the series. In fact, the Eagles-Redskins rivalry has been a series of streaks recently. The last time the two teams have split a season series was 2014.
Player to watch: LB Ryan Kerrigan
Kerrigan has made a career of feasting on opposing NFC East offenses. Since he entered the league in 2011, Kerrigan has recorded precisely 11.5 sacks against each of Washington's NFC East foes.
2018 record: 7-9, third in NFC East
Preview: The Eagles' late-season journey doesn't get any easier with a trip to Landover, Md. to face the Redskins.
Week 16 vs. Cowboys, Dec. 22 at 4:25 p.m.
Record at Lincoln Financial Field: 6-10
Of course, one of those losses was the 2017 regular-season finale when the Eagles were resting their starters for the playoffs.
Key stat: 13
Dak Prescott has only thrown 12 interceptions in the two seasons in which Ezekiel Elliott played all season. In the season Elliott was suspended for an off-field incident Prescott threw 13 picks in that year alone.
Player to watch: DE Demarcus Lawrence
The Cowboys paid Lawrence to keep him off the franchise tag for a second year in a row. Smart move on their part. Lawrence has 24.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
2018 record: 10-6, first in NFC East
Preview: The NFC East could very well be decided in this game. Fortunately for the Eagles, it will take place in front of the home fans.
Week 17 at Giants, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m.
Record against Giants at MetLife Stadium: 7-2
No one knew it at the time, but the Eagles' first foray into MetLife Stadium in 2010 was an indication that they would like to play there.
That's because that day ended with the Eagles staging another Miracle at the Meadowlands, capped off by DeSean Jackson's historic walk-off punt return touchdowns, and they have enjoyed great success there ever since.
Of the seven wins the Eagles have collected at MetLife Stadium against the Giants, six have ended with the Eagles racking up at least 30 points.
Key stat: 5
The Eagles have won five in a row over the Giants dating back to 2016.
Player to watch: RB Saquon Barkley
Barkley gained more than 100 yards on the ground in both of his outings against the Eagles last season.
2018 record: 5-11, fourth in NFC East
Preview: Eagles vs. Giants always means something no matter what time of the year the game is played. The Eagles are expected to be playing important games this time of the year. The Giants hope to be in that position again by the season finale.
