On paper our schedule appears brutal to me.
Not sure what other people are seeing.
I don't think it's that bad at all. The first 9 games we play a lot of competitive teams, but I don't think it's going to be that bad, then the Packers and Dolphins later in the season. (I'm not counting the NFC South teams here, until they prove otherwise, that division is just not very competitive)
The Giants lost Beatty and they're going to have an OL shuffle Week 1. If Hardy's suspended they lucked out, but still they're going to have to find some way to get that OL together or they're going to be in trouble. They have a lot of weapons at WR, but if they can't run the ball or give Eli any time, it's going to be pretty moot. Losing Beatty was huge, especially since we have them opening night.
Not too worried about the Eagles. As long as we don't give them the ball repeatedly on TO's, and they find a miraculous way to play as a unit with all their offseason additions by Week 2. I think they're going to look pretty ugly. They won't win a shootout with us with those WR's.
Falcons/Saints? Meh. Neither one of these teams have done much in recent years. We completely embarrassed the Saints last season, and they lost Graham.
If Patriots have Brady, that'll be a tough matchup for sure.
We get the Seahawks at home this year, where they are a completely different team. They'll be a test most definitely, as they're NFC contenders without a doubt, but they don't play as well on the road. They just don't, it's weird.
The Bills/Jets have good defenses and amazing DL/front 7, those will be a lot of fun to watch against our OL, especially late in the season. It could give our guys on the line a real confidence boost since there isn't a DL in the NFC as good as them. The Bills game in Buffalo in late december with their DL and our OL is going to be a real slobberknocker, I'm really looking forward to that. Normally that game would concern me, but not with this OL. God it feels great to say that.
The Carolina game will also be fun to see with Hardy back. I would not want to be Cam Newton that game. And to anyone think there isn't some kind of rationale to the scheduling, Hardy was suspended for 10 games and who we play in Week 11? Carolina. You couldn't make this up.
I see 3 contenders on the schedule in the Patriots/Seahawks/Packers. Our divisional games against the Giants where they most likely won't have their starting LT in both matchups. At worst a split. The Eagles, who added so many pieces this season, I doubt they're ready by Game 2. At worst a split there. The Commanders had a fairly decent offseason, but I just don't think they're very good.
I think there's a good chance we start off 4-1. And after the Seahawks/Eagles game 6-2 is definitely doable. After that the schedule's pretty weak outside the Packer game, which might be some nice retribution in Week 14 if our pass rush continues to improve.
I try to look at things pretty objectively, and another 12-4 season isn't out of the question, 13-3 if you're a complete optimist since we're probably favored in just about every game but 2. The division just doesn't look very good this year which will help us. Also, getting Seattle at home was a big one.
All depends on health of course, but if we stay healthy, I think our schedule actually looks relatively good. Just my opinion and what I've observed of the other teams.
