Your 2008 Eagles Schedule, Birds to Play on Thanksgiving Night

The NFL has released its 2008 schedule, and the Eagles are set to fly with some interesting prime-time and holiday matchups. Let the bird-related Thanksgiving clichés fly!

Week 1: Rams @ Eagles, 1PM
Week 2: Eagles @ Cowboys, Monday Night Football
Week 3: Steelers @ Eagles, 4:15PM
Week 4: Eagles @ Bears, Sunday Night Football
Week 5: Redskins @ Eagles, 1PM
Week 6: Eagles @ 49ers, 4:15PM
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: Falcons @ Eagles, 1PM
Week 9: Eagles @ Seahawks, 4:15PM
Week 10: Giants @ Eagles, Sunday Night Football
Week 11: Eagles @ Bengals, 1PM
Week 12: Eagles @ Ravens, 1PM
Week 13: Cardinals @ Eagles, 8PM Thanksgiving Night
Week 14: Eagles @ Giants, 1PM
Week 15: Browns @ Eagles, Monday Night Football
Week 16: Eagles @ Redskins, 1PM
Week 17: Cowboys @ Eagles, 1PM

The Eagles provide their commentary on each game of the schedule here and here, and we're sure you'll have plenty to say as well. I've already gotten an IM saying the Week 17 game could be huge, and another saying it could be meaningless. The December showdown with the 'Boys was more than memorable last year, so we're guessing it will be a huge game whether or not it has playoff implications.

No team in the NFC East will have an easy schedule, with each team looking to be fairly dangerous again this year. Anything better than a split with each team would be welcomed after finishing last in the division in 2007. The early showdown with the Cowboys could be a great way to get the season started with a defining win, but not if the Birds come out of the gate like they did last year. A few of the non-division games look to be easy, but we've seen the folly of making schedule judgments in April. The Rams, Falcons, and 49ers all had forgettable 2007 campaigns, as did the Ravens and to a lesser degree, the Cardinals. Those weeks should all have W's next to them when all is said and done, but don't the Eagles just love to make it interesting by losing a few easy ones?

The AFC North teams were hit or miss in 2007. The Bengals and Browns showed they could score in bunches, but gave up a ton of points and some wins in the process. The Steelers in Week 3 will be another test, and right on the heels of the early game against Dallas on MNF. 

Based on your schedule, what are your predictions for the Eagles record in 2008? Key wins and losses? Away game road trips?

Comments

[enrico]

I'm saying road trip to Chicago. Who's with me?

[Joe Manning]

I'm in.

[Bryan]

Let the "but I dont have NFL Network' bitching begin! I know where I'll be Thanksgiving night.

[Paul]

Well if you live in the Philadelphia area that game will be broadcast over regular network television, so all of us at home will be able to see the game no matter what. That's with the conclusion that the game will be sold out. Plus, if you don't live in the area, it is Thanksgiving night, just go to a bar it won't be like you'll be alone.

[Kulp]

As much as I loathe Jersey, Giants Stadium makes for a much more compelling road trip.

And by compelling, I mean the possibility of violence is much greater.

[Rico]

I love that there's only one set of back-to-back Away games!

[Chamomiles Davis]

I know where I'll be Thanksgiving night, too: Drooling in a tryptophan coma on my basement couch, with the DVR still paused.

[Tony]

Wow, another early bye week.

Bye weeks since 2001:
Year Week
2007 5
2006 9
2005 6
2004 5
2003 3
2002 6
2001 5

Almost always before the midpoint of the season. I've always considered an early bye week a disadvantage... Much better to have it in week 10 or 11 when someone important always seems to be hurt. Not trying to start a conspiracy theory or anything, but it does seem odd that they can't throw us a late season bye week every once in a while...

[Michael C]

I had thought there was a rule that no team could have more then 3 Prime Time games/season; this year, we seem to have 4, 5 counting Thanksgiving. not complaining, just wondering if i am delusional, or if other people thought something similar...

[Paul]

The eagles the last 8 or so years have had earlier bye weeks because I believe the NFL gives your bye week according to your finish the previous season. Thus, since the Eagles have been for the most part successful(sure as hell not the fucking gold standard) they end up with earlier bye weeks. Notice when they played like shit in 2005, they got a later bye week in 2006. With the prime time game comment, it might be referring to just monday night football games.

[johndewar]

Chicago is a smaller, cleaner, nicer New York. If you go, you'll have a blast.

I like the schedule....not overly difficult, but lots of good games. Love the early game against Pittsburgh. Every jackass Stiller fan in the area will come out of the woodwork for that one.

Also thought the Eagles caught a bit of a break with playing Baltimore on the road before the T-Giving game, somewhat minimizing their travel on a short week.

[DLo34]

Along with the home games, I'm headed to the Chicago, Cinci, and Baltimore road games this year. We should have a good showing in those places this season.

Give us a premier wide-receiver (still keeping fingers crossed for a draft day trade) and we're back at 12-4 with this schedule.

P.S. What is Thanksgiving Day etiquette on leaving to tailgate for an 8 PM Eagles game?

[GreggyD]

As a fan living at Millersville University, I cannot express how much it disgusts me when the Eagles are pulled off of TV in favor of the Steelers or Ravens when they are put on CBS because they are hosting an AFC opponent at the Linc. However, this year they host the Steelers (which is going to be ridiculous on this campus because it is so split) and the other game has them hosting the Browns on MNF which obviously we will get too. I'm glad the football gods have smiled on me this year and won't force me to go 2 weeks in the season with no Eagles football. Merrill's the man, but it's just not the same.

If the Browns keep up their success of last year (which I think they will now that Anderson knows he is there for the long haul and they brought in Stallworth) the last 4 weeks of the season are going to be VERY tough. Who knows, the division might come down to that last game in week 17 versus Dallas.

Seeing as I'll be 21 in July (finally), I can see myself getting a bit wasted during some of these games out of pure joy or pure disgust.

[GreggyD]

Oh and by the way, it's awesome that you guys can all go to these games especially the away games. If you would like to donate to the "die-hard Eagles fan who has never been to a meaningful regular season game and can't afford tickets because he's in college" fund please let me know. I would be thankful for a lifetime.

[NAILS]

Nice! We get a couple of extra days before the week 14 Giants game due to Thanksgiving!

[gootman]

On the other hand there are no back-to-back home games.

I'll break it down like i did lat year in sets of 4(I was way off last year).

I think Steven Jackson has a huge game and we lose game 1, everyone freaks out as we head to Dallas for MNF. Kornheiser makes too many Jessica Simpson jokes and we beat Dallas; anow everyone is talking Superbowl. The Steelers come to town and every Philly fan at Penn State gets to talk trash for the week as the Eagles line beats up on Big Ben for the W. The Bears still have no quaterback, Asante Samuel makes them pay for that.

3-1

The Skins are still going to be learning the new coaches system and lose. Next up is a road trip out to San Fran, gotta keep Mike Patterson from 'visiting' Haigt-Ashbury, The Niners still suck, another win. Good time for a bye after traveling cross country. Falcons still don't have anything going for them, that's a win. Then we head back out west to visit Seattle, AJ Feeley doesn't play but still manages to throw an interception to Tatupu, and the Eagles take there 2 loss of the season.

6-2

Eagles come back home to play the Defending Sup... can't do it, the effing Giants on SNF. Tough game, but I see a W. Off to Cincinnati, Carson Palmer has one of his 400yd days and the Birds lose. @Baltimore for another loss. Back home for some Thanksgiving Tailgating, the Cards get stuffed (cliche!).

8-4

Eagles go into the Meadowlands and sweep the Giants. Back home to face the Browns on MNF, Derek Anderson will be benched by this game and the Eagles beat Brady Quinn. I have no respect for the Redskins, they'll lose again. The Eagles have the division wrapped up as Dallas comes to town, but the game will still be meaningful for home field advantage and we take it to Dallas to sweep the division.

12-4

McNabb, Westbrook and Dawk march through the playoffs and we finally win a Superbowl!

[GreggyD]

Wow Goot...if that's not optimism at it's finest I don't know what is.

[Rick]

The most important part- we play all the bird teams this year.

[Zach M.]

To Michael C: I belive the rule is that you can only have 3 primetime games of the same variey such as the Eagles could only play on MNF 3 times and SNF 3 times. Since we have 2 of each we are in good shape plus the Thanksgiving day night game is new in the past couple of years. I am also not sure on this rule anymore because NBC does the FLEX games halfway through the season but that is my take on it.

Side note: Bummer we couldn't play the girls on Thanksgiving day.

[Dubs]

It's so hard to say this far away from the season (especially for the later games), but the schedule seems fair.

Two years ago we went to San Fran for the Eagles game and I really recommend that as the trip for everyone. It's a fun city, and at the last Birds game there, it was probably 20% Eagles fans. Makes for a fun trip. There were a few bars that had Eagles parties the night before the game.