Highlighting the toughest games on the 2024 NFL schedule for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Philadelphia Eagles have quite the challenge ahead in their schedule for the 2024 NFL season. The Eagles are losing a home game as they find themselves in Brazil, taking on the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. The team is also learning a new offensive and defensive playbook. However, many believe it will be a successful season, and for good reason. Analysts deemed the offseason successful, with several key additions. With a solid core returning, the Eagles will look to go on a postseason run that evaded them this past season.
That is why the Eagles are the favorites to win the NFC East in Vegas. However, that isn’t to say it won’t be a tough road to get there. The division improved this offseason, save for Dallas. Even though the Cowboys did not drastically improve, that is not saying they won’t be contenders for the division. Along the way, the Eagles also have some tough out-of-division opponents. It wasn’t easy, but we narrowed it down to the three most challenging games on the Eagles’ schedule.
Three Toughest Games on the Philadelphia Eagles 2024 Schedule
Week 13 – Baltimore Ravens
It is hard to believe this game will not have playoff implications. At this point in the season, it would not surprise me if both teams were the top seeds in their respective conferences. Adding Derrick Henry will prove to be a difference-maker for this Ravens squad. To account for Lamar Jackson and Henry in the running game will be tough for any team. Add a healthy Mark Andrews and an improving Zay Flowers, and making a case for this team is easy. The Ravens also kept most of their defense, only losing safety Geno Stone. Marcus Willams, who was dealing with injuries for part of 2023, will start in place of Stone.
The odds are that this game will boil down to whoever is healthier and can get the run game going first. I would feel better if this game were at Lincoln Financial Field. However, that drive is not too far for Eagles fans to invade M&T Bank Stadium, which is common for the fans to travel well no matter where the team is playing.
The Ravens are currently fourth in Super Bowl odds, while the Eagles are sixth, so we can expect this to be a fantastic game. This matchup could also affect the MVP race, with Jalen Hurts and Jackson currently listed in the top ten odds. If I am a fan of either team, I would circle this game on the schedule.
Week 10 – Dallas Cowboys
Did my introduction make you think I would not include Dallas on this list? They are still an impressive football team despite a lackluster offseason. Their running back room could be better, with Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and Ezekiel Elliott back in the fold.
The Cowboys still have Ceedee Lamb, the second-best receiver in the league from a statistical perspective last season. He walked into Lincoln Financial Field and posted 191 yards on the way to a Cowboys win. That type of production will make any offense go, despite the lack of other talented pieces. Brandin Cooks and Jake Ferguson will look to be options behind Lamb once again. Based on the current depth chart, the team hopes that Jalen Tolbert will finally take the leap after Michael Gallup’s departure to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Cowboys also have a star-studded defense, which includes Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and Trevon Diggs, who is returning from an ACL tear. Dallas has some incredible pieces on their roster, but they should have used free agency to supplement their roster.
The team lost Tony Pollard to the Titans and never replaced him. He struggled last season at times, but was also injured. The Cowboys will likely ride this year out with the current room and draft a running back in 2025. That should work out, except the Cowboys are trying to compete in 2024.
However questionable their offseason was, they still will give the Eagles a challenging game every time out. The Eagles have not gone 2-0 against the Cowboys in a season since 2017. This game will be less critical than the showdown in Week 17. However, I rate this as one of the more challenging games on Philadelphia’s schedule, with the Eagles having to go into Dallas and then turn around on a short week for Thursday Night Football immediately after that. Both games will be difficult, but this one gets a slight edge.
Week 8 – Cincinnati Bengals
This selection came down to the Cincinnati Bengals and Packers. I decided to go with the Bengals here, as the Packers will have the same challenges as the Eagles in their Brazilian matchup – neither team gets home-field advantage. The game will also occur on a Friday during the season’s first week. The Packers will be a big challenge for the Eagles. However, I opted to go with the Bengals.
The Eagles better have the cornerback position sorted by the time they enter this matchup, because Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are one of the top duos in the NFL. We saw what happened last year when the Eagles faced top receivers – it didn’t go well. It helped lead the Eagles to a 30th overall finish in passing defense.
The Bengals had a decent offseason, adding Geno Stone from the Ravens to fill a significant hole in the secondary. Sheldon Rankins signed a two-year deal to replace D.J. Reader, who signed with the Lions. The Bengals’ defense was lackluster last year, but with Lou Anarumo running the show, they could quickly turn it around. It will be a challenge going into Cincinnati and securing a win. However, if the contract situations of Higgins or Trey Hendrickson change, that may be enough to swap the Bengals out for the Packers.
The Eagles will face many challenges in the 2024 season, but these three games will be the hardest on the schedule. Returning to the top of the mountain will be challenging, but their results against these three teams will go a long way toward determining whether they can or not.
