Count us out, Eagles and Washington play each other late in the season!

I am certain you are correct about the NFL targeting ratings but it is not uncommon for the second divisional round games between both teams to fall in the 4th quarter of the regular season:

2024: Week 16
2023: Week 8
2022: Week 10
2021: Week 17
2020: Week 17
2019: Week 15
2018: Week 17
2017: Week 7
2016: Week 14
2015: Week 16
 
I am certain you are correct about the NFL targeting ratings but it is not uncommon for the second divisional round games between both teams to fall in the 4th quarter of the regular season:

2024: Week 16
2023: Week 8
2022: Week 10
2021: Week 17
2020: Week 17
2019: Week 15
2018: Week 17
2017: Week 7
2016: Week 14
2015: Week 16
Last year we played only 1 of our six division games prior to week ten.

Makes sense to backload the schedule with the all important divisional matchups.
 
They more than likely expect them to be where they were last season. If we were any good, would we be in one of those spots to play those teams at the end of the season like that??? It's strategic duh!!
 
One of them is going to burn out.

I know the Eagles always take a couple steps backwards the year after going to a Super Bowl.

After going to a Super Bowl, they lose an average of five more regular season games the following season.

And Washington's is, well.....Washington. What happened the last time they had a rookie quarterback....drafted 2nd overall.... with an amazing year?

Washington is not invulnerable to injury, the football gods giveth and taketh. I'm not predicting, just saying that the season could, and usually does, turn out completely different than expected.

When the Cowboys lost Tony Romo in 2016, after first losing his backup Kellen Moore, who predicted that their rookie 4th round draft pick would start at QB and the Cowboys would have an 11 game winning streak? Nobody!
 
I am certain you are correct about the NFL targeting ratings but it is not uncommon for the second divisional round games between both teams to fall in the 4th quarter of the regular season:

2024: Week 16
2023: Week 8
2022: Week 10
2021: Week 17
2020: Week 17
2019: Week 15
2018: Week 17
2017: Week 7
2016: Week 14
2015: Week 16
Maybe but it would seem the schedule makers here think the division is between those two teams. No reason to schedule two games between the two within a couple of weeks of each other at the end of the season.

Doesn't mean much beyond that.
 
One of them is going to burn out.

I know the Eagles always take a couple steps backwards the year after going to a Super Bowl.

After going to a Super Bowl, they lose an average of five more regular season games the following season.

And Washington's is, well.....Washington. What happened the last time they had a rookie quarterback....drafted 2nd overall.... with an amazing year?

Washington is not invulnerable to injury, the football gods giveth and taketh. I'm not predicting, just saying that the season could, and usually does, turn out completely different than expected.

When the Cowboys lost Tony Romo in 2016, after first losing his backup Kellen Moore, who predicted that their rookie 4th round draft pick would start at QB and the Cowboys would have an 11 game winning streak? Nobody!
How “always”? They haven’t been in many Super Bowls.
 
You were counted out a long tome ago. PSYT
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So that means open on the road and end on the road.

Can’t wait to see the final 3 of 4 on the road against 3 juggernauts
 
NFL has been backloading divisional games for a few years, which I don’t mind, but teams playing each other twice in 3-4 weeks should never happen in the regular season.
 
How “always”? They haven’t been in many Super Bowls.
Yeah, I know, a data pool that small isn't going to reveal any statistical trend. I was reaching.

However, my premise stands. There are many defending champions that underestimated the motivation of their opponents the season after winning a Super Bowl.

My main point is a year can be a long time in the NFL. Many things can change.
 
They were in 5. They did take a step back after 4 of them.
Their current head coach has been to two Super Bowls. The only one he “followed” was the first one and the team went 11-6 and went to the playoffs as a wild card where they lost to Tampa Bay in the wild card round. Not much of a “fall from grace”.

Losing in the wild card round is the high water mark for the Cowboys. The whole NFCE will be taking a “step back” this season. Perhaps not the Giants. Eleven wins will win the NFCE this year. It’s not going to be the Dallas Cowboys.
 

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