Let\u2019s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links \u2026<\/p>\n
2026 NFL Schedule Rest Disparity: Teams Helped & Hurt \u2013 Sharp Football Analysis<\/a> Advertisement<\/p>\n What teams will be most rested in the 2026 NFL season? \u2013 SB Nation<\/a> Eagles Mailbag: International expansion, the plan for Cole Payton and more \u2013 BGN<\/a> Schedule Talk \u2013 Iggles Blitz<\/a> Roob\u2019s annual annotated Eagles schedule \u2013 NBCSP<\/a> Advertisement<\/p>\n 2026 NFL rookie quarterbacks: Team fits, roles, projections \u2013 ESPN<\/a> Drake just dropped the Jalen Hurts reference Eagles fans will love hearing \u2013 Inside The Iggles<\/a> A.J. Brown Trade Still Expected Next Month: Which Teams Are in the Mix? \u2013 SportsBoom<\/a> The most brutal section of the Cowboys\u2019 2026 schedule \u2013 Blogging The Boys<\/a> Advertisement<\/p>\n Commanders schedule release: Pros, cons of Washington 2026 season slate \u2013 Hogs Haven<\/a> POLL: How many games do you think the NY Giants will win in the 2026-27 season? \u2013 Big Blue View<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n Social Media Information:<\/p>\n BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen<\/a><\/p>\n BGN BlueSky: Follow @bleedgreennation.bsky.social<\/a><\/p>\n BGN Instagram: Follow @BleedingGreenInsta<\/a><\/p>\n BGN Manager: Follow Brandon Lee Gowton on Twitter<\/a> | BlueSky<\/a> | Threads<\/a><\/p>\n BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio<\/a><\/p>\n The Feed post of the day<\/p>\n Each day, we highlight a BGN community post here in this space. Head over to The Feed<\/a> to submit your entry and have a chance to be featured in The Linc!<\/p>\n
This year, SEVEN teams play 5+ games with a rest disadvantage: 7 \u2013 Chargers<\/a>, 5 \u2013 Eagles, Rams<\/a>, Packers<\/a>, Chiefs<\/a>, Steelers<\/a>, Dolphins. Seven teams with 5+ games of less rest than their opponent in a season is the #2 most in NFL history. Meanwhile, one team plays ZERO games with a rest disadvantage. And we have three total teams playing one or fewer games with a rest disadvantage all season: 1 \u2013 Commanders<\/a>, Cowboys, 0 \u2013 Titans. To have both the Commanders and Cowboys competing against the Eagles in the NFC East, while the Eagles have five games with a rest disadvantage, and both the Commanders and Cowboys have just one such game? That seems unfair. [\u2026] The teams hurt by the NFL schedule makers most in 2026: 1) Los Angeles Chargers, 2)Philadelphia Eagles, 3) Miami Dolphins<\/a>, 4) Pittsburgh Steelers, 5) Kansas City Chiefs. [\u2026] The teams helped by the NFL schedule makers most in 2026: 1) Chicago Bears<\/a>, 2) Dallas Cowboys<\/a>, 3) Tennessee Titans<\/a>, 4) Arizona Cardinals<\/a>, 5) Seattle Seahawks<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Under this analysis, the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills<\/a> have the best \u201crest differentials\u201d in the league this year, while the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Chargers are at the bottom. Will this matter? According to one recent study, not as much as it used to. After the 2025 schedule release, Sumer Sports looked into the rest differential and found that prior to 2011, the more-rested team enjoyed a swing of 2.2 points in their direction. As they described that advantage, it was \u201clike benching a league average quarterback and putting Kyler Murray<\/a>, who led the sixth-ranked offense in terms of success rate, in 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n
A larger issue to me that goes under the radar when it comes to international expansion across the four major sports leagues is how it affects the players themselves. It was only 25 years ago that the NBA moved the Grizzlies, less than a decade into their existence, from Vancouver to Memphis because of low local interest and some players\u2019 displeasure with playing out of their U.S. That would only be heightened if players had to live for a while in the U.K. I\u2019m against the wild increase in overseas games that take away home games from the teams\u2019 core fan bases, but it\u2019s ultimately preferable to me to a colossal international expansion plan that would leave the league unable to put the toothpaste back into the tube, so to speak, if things go sideways.<\/p>\n
If the Eagles stay healthy, I see a 12-5 team. The overall slate is seventh easiest in the league. But there is a lot of travel and the tough games are bunched up. The league did what it could to make things tough. The Eagles face four teams coming off a bye. That\u2019s no bueno. My annual reminder\u2026it isn\u2019t just who you play, but when you play them and where you play them.<\/p>\n
The Eagles have struggled at home vs. Washington<\/a> lately, going 6-5 in 11 regular-season matchups in Philly since 2015 and sweeping them just once under Nick Sirianni, back in 2023. They are 13-5 overall vs. Washington since 2017 but three games under .500 all-time vs. Washington at 88-91-6 and also below .500 at home at 43-45-3. Jalen Hurts is 8-2 vs. Washington, and his 103.6 passer rating is 3rd-highest all-time vs. Washington, behind only Dak Prescott<\/a> and Aaron Rodgers<\/a>. This is the first Eagles-Commanders opener since 2020, when Washington won 27-17 in Landover. The Eagles are 6-7 all-time in openers vs. Washington. The Eagles are 5-0 in openers under Nick Sirianni and an NFL-best 15-3 since 2008.<\/p>\n
Cole Payton, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 5, No. 178). Why he fits in Philadelphia: Payton made a huge surge during the predraft process and ended up making the middle rounds. Even though he started only one season in college, Payton is a true dual-threat passer who has plenty of intriguing tools. He\u2019s an excellent deep thrower but needs to develop more consistency on short-to-intermediate throws. The Eagles have done well with passers with similar skill sets in the past (see: Jalen Hurts) and Payton is a versatile passer who can be used in the designed QB run game. When he could get on the field: The Eagles\u2019 QB room is crowded, with Payton joining Hurts, Tanner McKee<\/a> and Andy Dalton<\/a>. General manager Howie Roseman has suggested he\u2019s not opposed to keeping four quarterbacks on the active roster. If that\u2019s the case, Payton will start out well down the depth chart. He has drawn some Taysom Hill<\/a> comparisons and in theory could be deployed in short-yardage situations (tush push?) or as part of a play-design wrinkle to keep defenses off-balance. That\u2019s Payton\u2019s quickest route to playing. Otherwise, his time will be dedicated to developing behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
Rapper Drake released his new album \u201cIceman\u201d along with two other albums, with Eagles fans paying a bit more attention to a new song called \u201cMake Them Pay.\u201d That\u2019s because Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts was mentioned in the song, as Drake referenced him. \u201cIndustry is really evil, and I\u2019ll face the way they paint me but it Hurts just like the Philly Eagles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another personnel exec mentioned Jacksonville<\/a> as a potential fit for Brown. Jags receiver Brian Thomas, Jr. has regressed and been subject of trade rumors and 2025 top pick Travis Hunter<\/a> is going to be playing way more cornerback than receiver moving forward and a vet like Brown could help fill a void there.<\/p>\n
And the road games in between there are no joke, either. Starting the season off with John Harbaugh\u2019s debut as the Giants head coach gets followed up with the aforementioned Texans<\/a>. Then it\u2019s back-to-back games against the Packers and Eagles, two franchises that have delivered plenty of heartbreak to this fan base over the years. And the ninth game is against the Colts<\/a>, who started 8-2 last year before injuries derailed their season. Going 3-6 over that span is entirely possible. It may not be probable \u2013 one would venture to guess the Cowboys will be favored in four or five of these contests \u2013 but a couple unlucky bounces could easily get the team to 3-6 or worse. And if that happens\u2026 well, the odds of getting back to the playoffs are obviously not great.<\/p>\n
According to Burke, the Commanders have a plus-11 rest differential. (Hasan has it at 10.5). Either way, Dallas, Buffalo and Chicago round out the top four \u2014 and one of the highest totals since 2002. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis has nine, which would be tied for fourth with the Seahawks. That seems like an overall positive \u2013 more on that later \u2013 and is tied to facing teams coming off a bye and facing teams on their short weeks. Last year, the Commanders faced four teams coming off a bye. That\u2019s the highest total since 2002, but other teams have dealt with that number.<\/p>\n
Week 18: Eagles (TBD) \u2014 Win: 9-8 \u2026 I think the Giants are going to win only one of their final three games, and I go with this one. That gives the Giants one win against each NFC East team. FINAL THOUGHTS: As I said above, this is the most optimistic prediction I can credibly make. I believe the roster is marginally better, and the coaching is clearly better. I think, though, if you are expecting a turnaround like the New England Patriots<\/a> had last season you are setting yourself up for disappointment. This could easily be a six-win season, though I think that is the floor. Maybe this can be a 10-win season if some unexpctedly good things happen, but I can\u2019t in good conscience go there in a prediction. Most likely, I think Harbaugh\u2019s first year falls in the seven- to nine-win range.<\/p>\n