For the past two seasons, the Eagles and New England Patriots have held joint practices prior to meeting in the preseason.
This year, the two sides will battle in a regular season showdown at Gillette Stadium to kick off the month of December in a nationally televised affair. The Eagles will be coming off of their Thanksgiving feast in Detroit with a few extra days to let the stuffing and pie settle before heading to Foxborough.
The Patriots are the defending Super Bowl champions after rallying from behind with 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and relying on Malcolm Butler's storybook interception to capture the franchise's fourth Super Bowl championship.
There are so many savory subplots to this matchup.
The 2015 schedule for the Philadelphia Eagles has been announced. The schedule features six nationally televised games and a second consecutive Thanksgiving Day game ...
Week 1: Monday, September 14, 7:10pm at Atlanta Falcons (Georgia Dome) on ESPN
Week 2: Sunday, September 20, 4:25pm vs. Dallas Cowboys (Lincoln Financial Field) on FOX
Week 3: Sunday, September 27, 1:00pm at New York Jets (MetLife Stadium) on FOX
Week 4: Sunday, October 4, 1:00pm at Washington Redskins (FedEx Field) on FOX
Week 5: Sunday, October 11, 1:00pm vs. New Orleans Saints (Lincoln Financial Field) on FOX
Week 6: Monday, October 19, 8:30pm vs. New York Giants (Lincoln Financial Field) on ESPN
Week 7: Sunday, October 25, 8:30pm at Carolina Panthers (Bank of America Stadium) on NBC
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, November 8, 8:30pm at Dallas Cowboys (AT&T Stadium) on NBC
Week 10: Sunday, November 15, 1:00pm vs. Miami Dolphins (Lincoln Financial Field) on CBS
Week 11: Sunday, November 22, 1:00pm vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Lincoln Financial Field) on FOX
Week 12: Thursday, November 26, 12:30pm at Detroit Lions (Ford Field) on FOX
Week 13: Sunday, December 6, 4:25pm at New England Patriots (Gillette Stadium) on FOX
Week 14: Sunday, December 13, 1:00pm vs. Buffalo Bills (Lincoln Financial Field) on CBS
Week 15: Sunday, December 20, 1:00pm vs. Arizona Cardinals (Lincoln Financial Field) on FOX
Week 16: Saturday, December 26, 8:25pm vs. Washington Redskins (Lincoln Financial Field) on NFLN
Week 17: Sunday, January 3, 1:00pm at New York Giants (MetLife Stadium) on FOX
Head coach Chip Kelly is a native of the New England region and a good friend of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. In fact, Kelly has been compared to Belichick and the Super Bowl champion head coach has lavishly praised the program that is being built in Philadelphia.
The biggest reason why Belichick has won four Super Bowls in New England is Tom Brady, the future Hall of Fame quarterback who at 37 years old remains one of the best in the game.
The challenge for defensive coordinator Bill Davis' defense will be two-fold. First, can the Eagles come up with a way to disrupt Brady's timing? Second, how do the Eagles defend Rob Gronkowski? The 6-6, 265-pound All-Pro tight end is a mismatch nightmare all over the field. He hauled in 82 receptions for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. In fact, Gronkowski has at least 10 touchdowns in four of his first five NFL seasons.
The Patriots will have to come up with some answers of their own after losing both starting cornerbacks - Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis - in free agency. New England signed former Eagle Bradley Fletcher and he is in the mix to be a starter. Belichick is a defensive genius and the battle of wits against Kelly will be fascinating in itself.
