Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles' strength of schedule looks much better for 2024

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 5/7/24

The 2024 NFL regular-season schedule hasn’t been released but the Philadelphia Eagles are already in better shape than they were a year ago.

Last year, Philadelphia started the season with the league’s toughest schedule, per NFL research. This year, they’re further down the list thanks to a second-place schedule.

According to Sporting News, Philadelphia finds itself in a three-way tie with the Colts and Titans for the league’s 21st-toughest schedule with opponents holding a combined .491 winning percentage from 2023.

Last year, Eagles opponents opened the season with a shared .566 win percentage with games against the NFC West and AFC East. This year, they’ll get more manageable matchups against the AFC North and NFC South.

Philadelphia Eagles 2024 opponents https://t.co/DduVDZvwvR
— PhillyVoice (@thephillyvoice) December 25, 2023

Compared to the rest of the NFC East, Philadelphia couldn’t ask for an easier schedule. The New York Giants and Buffalo Bills enter the season tied for the league’s sixth-hardest schedule, Dallas owns the 12th-hardest schedule and Washington is tied with the Bengals, Chiefs and Vikings for the 16th-hardest schedule.

Of course, those numbers are based purely on opponents’ win percentage in 2023. Sharp Football Analysis determines the strength of the schedule based on opponents' projected 2024 win total.

In their model, Philadelphia should expect to play the league’s ninth-hardest schedule in 2024, more difficult than any NFC East team. Washington ranks 13th, the Giants rank 20th and the Dallas Cowboys own the 22nd-most-difficult schedule.

Truthfully, the Sharp projections are probably more accurate. The Commanders won four games in 2023. Does anyone not think adding Jayden Daniels will help? Former Cowboy running back Tony Pollard rushed for 1,005 yards last season. Can the team expect the same from a recycled Ezekiel Elliott?

That’s what makes an NFL season fun, the offseason interesting and waiting for the NFL schedule release so agonizing.

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