It’s a Myth…Eagles Have A Tougher Schedule Than The Cowboys

One of the benefits of not winning your division in 2023 is to have a slightly easier schedule in 2024. After the Eagles 10-1 start followed by an epic collapse, you look for silver linings wherever you can find them.

I keep hearing how the Cowboys “have to play a first-place schedule”. While that is technically true the reality is that I find the Eagles schedule more difficult. Let me try and convince you.

You may hear people tout who has the toughest schedule in the pre-season. It’s calculated off of last year's winning percentage.

Since about 40% of the playoff field turns over every season, the statistic isn’t based on trends. More importantly, where you play the opponent isn’t taken into consideration. Is it harder to win on the road? Of course it is! The statistic does not see winning on the road being more difficult than winning at home.

Both teams will face the Giants and the Commanders at home and on the road. They also have their annual home and home series. So 6 of their 17 games are exactly the same.

VERDICT - EVEN

The toughest place to play in the NFC South is typically New Orleans. The Eagles are visiting the Bayou while the Cowboys host the Saints. The next most difficult venue is in Tampa Bay. Once again, the Eagles go to Tampa and Dallas hosts them. Carolina and Atlanta are visiting Philadelphia and Dallas travels to them.

ADVANTAGE - COWBOYS

This one breaks the Eagles' way. While the Eagles visit Los Angeles to play the Rams, the Cowboys travel to San Francisco for a showdown with the 49ers.

ADVANTAGE - EAGLES

The Cowboys will have a difficult home game vs the Detroit Lions while the Eagles host Green Bay. The problem is that Dallas will actually play this game at home while the Eagles have to go to Brazil.

ADVANTAGE - Cowboys

They share the four opponents in common but it’s not the same. The Eagles get the short end of the stick here.

While the Eagles face Pittsburgh and Cleveland at Lincoln Financial Field, the Cowboys travel to them. The Cowboys get to host the Ravens and Bengals, while the Eagles travel to them. Facing the two best teams in that division on the road is harder than hosting them.

ADVANTAGE - COWBOYS

Dallas is hosting the Houston Texans while the Eagles have the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Linc.

ADVANTAGE - EAGLES

(6) DIVISIONAL MATCHUPS - EVEN

(4) NFC SOUTH MATCHUPS - COWBOYS

(4) AFC NORTH MATCHUPS - COWBOYS

(1) NFC NORTH MATCHUP - COWBOYS

(1) AFC SOUTH MATCHUPS - EAGLES

(1) AFC EXTRA GAME - EAGLES

Though everyone will try and convince you they do, it’s actually the Cowboys that have the easier schedule. They get nine home games instead of eight for the Birds and the Cowboys get better home opposition advantage.

The NFL Draft is far and away one of my favorite sports events of the year. As a league, there is a lot of things they do that I don't think. but more than any other league, they have nailed the annual draft. Making it an exciting event. It's the best sports event that does not include an actual game.

Who will my team pick? Where will this guy go? Which team is going to mortgage their future for a QB who wasn't even that good in college? It is theater. But I love it.

But it has not always been a fun night for Eagles fans. Howie Roseman has done better recently. But there was a time when we dreaded what he would do this year. Picks like Jalen Reagor, JJ Arcega Whiteside, Davion Taylor, and Andre Dillard made us hesitant to get excited about any player they took.

But then things turned for the better. In recent years he added players like Devonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Jalen Carter, and Cam Jurgens. All who appeared poised to be starters for a long time.

So how will he do this year? Howie had some work to do. They entered the draft with their offense in decent shape. They had locked up most of their best players on that side of the ball before the draft. Landon Dickerson, Jalen Hurts, Jordan Mailata, and Devonta Smith all got long-term extensions. And just before day 1 of the draft kicked off, they extended AJ brown as well.

But the defense? That was very much still a work in progress. Their defense was among the worst in the league in 2023. While Vic Fangio will steady things a bit, more than anything they needed talent.

Outside the defensive line, there was very little talent on this defense. They spent all offseason adding offensive talent like Saquon Barkley. But they were relying on the draft to fix their defense. Did they do that?

The 1st round could not have gone any better for the Eagles. They got the best player, at their biggest player of need, and didn't need to trade up to get him.

They say you don't draft for need, but if the best player available also is a need, you do it. Quinyon Mitchell has the makings of a star cornerback. He shut down the competition at Toldeo. And while some are concerned about that competition being weaker, he also shut down the competition at the Senior Bowl.

We have been desperate for the Eagles to land a prolific young cornerback, and they finally did it. This could be nothing but an A+.

Grade- A+

What is better than 1 good young corner? Two good young corners. History repeated itself in the 2nd round. The last time the Eagles took a corner was 2002 with Lito Shepard. They followed that pick with Michael Lewies and Sheldon Brown in the 2nd. This time the Eagles paired Mitchell with Cooper Dejean.

Many people had the Eagles taking DeJean at pick. Getting him in the 2nd round, feels like a steal. He held opposing QBs in the Big 10 to a passer rating under 50 in each of the past two seasons, and racked up 7 picks.

DeJean could play outside corner, could play in the slot, or could even play Safety. Hell, he can even be a return man. He did a little of everything at Iowa, and did all of it at a high level. The phrase Jack Of All Trades, Master of None does not apply here. Because in his case, he looked like a Master Of All Trades.

They had to give up assets to trade up for him. They packaged both their 2nds to get up to 40, but got a 3rd back. They also swapped 5th round picks. It cost them a second chance at a player with a 2nd round grade. But to get a guy they would have taken at 22, it is worth it.

Grade- A+

I am going to be honest and say I had never heard of Houston Christian, let alone watched one of their games. I was only vaguely aware of Hunt from what a few draft experts said. And they seem to like him.

He is a project, but one with a lot of upside. Since most of us have never watched him play, we kind of just have to take the word of people who did. It seems like he can play a bit, but we will find out when he takes the field.

They traded down twice before taking him, adding 2 4th round picks. So that factors in a bit. But if he doesn't pan out, and one of the guys who went between when they were supposed to pick, and where they took him, it won’t be a great look.

On the other hand, if they take someone with one of those 4th round picks who pans out, it makes it look like a great move.

This one is harder to grade, but I'll give it a decent one for now.

Grade- B

The Eagles have a lot of picks today, and not many picks in the 2025 draft. So why not trade one away from today, and gain what next year? That is exactly what they did. Howie turned Pick 120 into a 2025 3rd round pick. we don't know where in the 3rd that pick will be. its the Dolphins pick, so it could be later in the draft. But at worst, it is at least 30 picks higher than 120.

Great move.

The Eagles traded down, again, adding a 2025 5th-round pick. That part I like. As far the pick. eh. Shipley has skills that we should like. He can catch, he is fast, and he can contribute on Special teams. But many say the upside is limited. He isn't ever going to be a 3 down back. He's a backup.

They don't need that right now with Saquon Barkley, but there are higher-upside RBs available, and there will be RBs of Shipley's caliber later in the draft. Not a bad pick. He wi;ll find ways to help the team. Just not a needle mover.

Grade- C

We were shocked when Howie didn't trade up in the 1st and stayed at 22. That worked out. But clearly not trading made Howie uncomfortable, because he then made trades with every other pick. The latest, trading pick 132 and 210, for 164, 201, and a 2025 4th-round pick.

Oddly enough that 2025 pick, is the one they gave up to get D'Andre Swift this time last year.

Howie is stockpiling picks for next year. Thats the 3rd pick he added to his 2025 haul, which makes you think he is prepping for whatever the bogus tampering charges will be because James Franklin couldn't keep his mouth shut.

This one isn't as clear as a win as trading for the 2025 3rd round pick was. Their 4th moved down to the 5th, and they moved their 6th up 9 picks. We will have to see where that 4th round pick falls. But it's probably a smart move.

Grade- B

The Eagles needed another WR. Their depth behind AJ Brown and Devonta Smith was terrible. Enter Ainais Smith. Smith drew some comparisons to Deebo Samuel, in that he can kind of do it all as a WR. They used him as a standard pass catcher, but also found other ways to get him the ball in space, including with rushes out of the backfield.

Add on that he is a return specialist, and it seems like good value in the 5th round.

Grade- A

They did it. They took the Ax Man's son. The Eagles got a guy many Eagles fans would have been happy to see with their 3rd round pick.

If you are expecting him to be his dad, don't. he is a different kind of LB. For one, he is much smaller. One of the big knocks on trotter Jr, and why he fell to the 5th round, is is slender build. Will he hold up as a LB at this level? we will find out. But he is a smart, dependable LB, who can riush the passer as easily as he drops back into coverage.

Dont expect him to be a Super Star, but he can stabilize a position of need for the Eagles. And in the 5th round, it is amazing value.

Grade- A

If its an O-Lineman that Jeff Stoutland singled out, I love the pick. Keegan gave up 0 sacks last season. That is despite playing in the BIG 10 and going up against prolific competition. Keegan might be able to push for the starting RG job this year. If not, he is at the very least a solid backup plan. Dickerson has missed time here and there, so having solid backups is smart. Either way, great pick in the 5th round.

Grade- A

The Eagles double-dip at WR. First, they get their blazing deep threat, now they get a 6ft 7 giant in Johnny Wilson. I don't know too much about him., but the ESPN crew gushed about him., Saying he can run any route, has an unreal work ethic, and that mistakes never phase him. They even compared him to Brandon Marshall as a player.

If he is half as good as the player they described, they got a steal. I also saw Andrew Dicecco, who I trust with day 3 players more than anyone, sing his praises and say it was a steal. So I guess it was a good pick.

Grade- A

With their final pick, they went with a center. They drafted Jason Kelce 191st overall. The year he retires, they take McMahon 190th.

McMahon does have some similarities. both were considered great athletes coming out of college but had knocks for physical limitations. for Kelce, it was his size. For McMahon, it is short arms.

They aren't relying on this guy to replace Kelce. they will ask him to back up Jason Kelce. And by all regards, he should be a good backup. They needed OL depth and got it.

Grade- B

Overall, it was a great draft. But you can never address every need. We talked about them needing a TE, and they never got one. More importantly, they didn't get the future replacement for Lane Johnson. Luckily Lane still has a couple years left at least, so they have time. Otherwise, they hit most of their needs. They got two DBs, a 3rd RB, two more WRs and OL depth.

Depending on how they plan to use Cooper DeJean, they may still need a Safety. But they addressed their needs about as well as we could hope.

Overall Grade- A