Schedule doesn’t seem to cut Eagles a break

The Eagles didn’t get much of a break from the schedule makers who did them no favors last year.

The Birds open the 2017 season with road games at Washington, Sept. 10, and Kansas City, Sept. 17, before returning for their home opener against the New York Giants the following Sunday. The Cardinals and Jets are the only other teams to kick off the campaign with backto-back road games.

The schedule gets trickier, not easier for the Eagles as they play five prime-time games, including a challenging December West Coast road trip sending them to play the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles have discussed staying on the coast to minimize jet lag to get ready for the Rams.

The good news for the Eagles is their rematch with Washington Oct. 23 starts a three-game home stand with dates against the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos. The Eagles’ bye is Nov. 12.

After the break the Eagles oppose the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday night, then host the Chicago Bears before beginning a rugged Decemeber.

Last year the Eagles were the only NFL team to play three straight opponents who were coming off bye weeks, with extra time to heal and prepare. They were 1-2 in those games as they beat the Vikings. lost to the Cowboys in overtime and were beaten on the road by the Giants.

The Eagles also had the earliest possible bye date last year as it arrived after a 3-0 start. The Birds lost four of their first five games after the break to finish 7-9 and out of the playoffs for the fifth time in the past six seasons.

The Eagles finished last in the NFC East in 2016 yet still play the 10th-most difficult schedule in the league this year. The combined record of their opposition is 134-188-1 (.531), the same as the defending division champion Cowboys.