More Eagles' Season Predictions

My brother chimed in in response to the Hofman crystal ball article.

I’m not sure they aren’t better on paper. T.O. is the x-factor, but on “paper” he should be counted as good as last year. Lewis/Sheppard/Brown should be better. Andrews makes them better, Patterson and Brown vs. Simon and Fredex?? Downgrade w/out Simon. Trotter starting all year. More maturity w/ LJ, Westbrook.

We may not be better, but I would say we are NOT worse.

The schedule is tougher this year (AFC West vs. NFC Central).

5 road losses is a lot for a team that has the best road record over the past few years (assuming the Giants and Cowboys losses are on the road). I see AT KC being difficult as well as the Broncos. The Cards would be devastating assuming he’s right and we are 10-4 going to Arizona for Xmas. 12-4 probably gets HF. BTW – the falcons got the bye last year at 11-5. Who is going 11-5 this year. Tice alone is worth 3 defeats. The Falcons are probably an 11-5 team which makes the tiebreaker important (next week is pretty huge). Seattle, St. Louis, Cards, Packers are all about 9-7 at best, possibly 10-6. That leaves the dreaded Panthers. Great coach, great defense, ball control offense.

Panthers concern me, but only one of the falcons or panthers can win division.

I always think the Vikes scare me (big D upgrades w/ Sharper and Smoot among others), but they were frickin’ 8-8 last year and Culpeper had a Manning like season. They will lose some games they shouldn’t. It happens to poorly coached teams each year (see Redskins losing to Cards every year at least once around ‘99/’00 – when they has atrocious special teams and would lose to the Cards and then beat the greatest show on turf). The Vikings will do no better than 11-5.

Every team that might be good in NFC is from a dome (sans Panthers) also. Don’t discount that come ’06.

5 straight this year!!!