5 Potential Trap Games on Philadelphia Eagles' 2015 Schedule
On paper, the Philadelphia Eagles appear to have a very favorable schedule. They don't play any team coming off of a bye week, they travel the fewest amount of miles for any team in the National Football League, and they have the luxury of three straight home games in the month of December.
That's good for Chip Kelly and the Eagles, who missed the playoffs in 2014 despite winning 10 games. It was a late-season collapse by the Eagles, who dropped three in a row from Weeks 14 through Weeks 16, that did them in. Two of those games were against tough opponents in Seattle and Dallas, but it was the final game, against the 4-12 Washington Redskins, that really killed the season for the Eagles.
Trap games have proven to be an issue for Kelly's Eagles during each of his first two seasons, as they also dropped a late game against the Minnesota Vikings in December 2013. That season, however, the Eagles still reached the playoffs, thanks to wins in seven of their final eight games.
Heading into 2015, the following five games represent, on paper, what could serve as potential trap games.
Week 3: at New York Jets
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The Rex Ryan era is finished in New York, but likely sticking around for a third season as the team's starting quarterback will be Geno Smith, who has struggled, to put it nicely, during his two years at the helm.
Rookie head coach Todd Bowles may have been a disaster as the Eagles' fill-in defensive coordinator during the second half of the 2012 season, but he was a major success with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 and 2014. His debut as a head coach will come with some added pressure, as the Jets have never beaten the Eagles in the history of the franchise.
But the Jets boast arguably the most fearsome defensive line in the NFL, behind Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison and Leonard Williams. That could be trouble for veteran Sam Bradford, who may or may not be fully healed from his second straight ACL tear.
Week 7: at Carolina Panthers
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It's hard to know what to expect from the Carolina Panthers in 2015, as Ron Rivera and Cam Newton have led the Panthers to consecutive NFC South division titles. After a surprising 12-4 campaign in 2013, the Panthers dropped to just seven victories in 2014, but a historically weak division enabled them to sneak into the playoffs, where they actually managed to win a game too.
Don't be fooled, though. The Panthers weren't very good last season, as the Eagles showed when the two teams matched up in Mark Sanchez's first start with the team November 10. It was the Eagles who cruised to an easy 45-21 victory, a game they led 45-7, despite playing with their backup quarterback.
Whether it's Sam Bradford or Sanchez facing the Panthers this season, the Eagles certainly shouldn't think they have Newton's number. In 2012, the former No. 1 overall pick had his way with an underachieving Eagles defense en route to a 30-22 victory.
Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Lovie Smith, despite moderate success with the Chicago Bears over the previous decade, was a major disaster during his first season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach.
It was the Buccaneers who finished as the worst team in the NFL, winning just two games despite playing in easily the weakest division in football. The Bucs, who clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, selected former Heisman quarterback Jameis Winston to (hopefully) be the face of their franchise for the next 10-plus seasons.
Rookie quarterbacks have shown a knack for immediate success in recent years, however. Look no further than Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson in 2012, or even Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr in 2014. It's not unreasonable to think Winston could at least be an average quarterback, even as a rookie, and by the second half of the season, he could be hitting his groove with an offense that features playmakers like Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. That could be trouble for an Eagles secondary that will likely be overmatched, at least on paper.
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Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
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Who can forget the performance Matt Cassel turned in against an overmatched Eagles defense in Week 15 of the 2013 season? Playing for the Minnesota Vikings, Cassel torched the Eagles to the tune of almost 400 passing yards and three touchdowns despite playing without reigning league MVP Adrian Peterson. The Vikings cruised to an easy 48-30 victory, almost costing the Eagles a shot at the playoffs.
Now with the Bills, Cassel has a solid chance to earn the starting job in 2015, especially if EJ Manuel plays like he did in 2013 and 2014, when the former first-round pick was benched for his lackluster play. Unlike in Minnesota, Cassel is loaded with an arsenal that includes playmakers like LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin and Charles Clay, not to mention one of the league's most feared defenses.
Ignore the on-paper weakness the Bills will have at quarterback. Cassel is still a seasoned veteran who has shown that he's capable of lighting up unsuspecting teams. This game could easily have playoff implications for both squads too.
Week 16: vs. Washington Redskins
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Talk about deja vu. For the second straight season, the Eagles will take on the Washington Redskins in Week 16 on Saturday in a game that will likely have playoff implications for the Eagles. But for the Redskins, like in 2014, this is a game where they'll probably just be trying to play spoiler.
For the third straight season, the Redskins will likely finish last in the NFC East, largely because of the failed development of quarterback Robert Griffin III, the No. 2 overall pick in 2012. Just like in 2014, there's nothing they'd like to do more than end the season for their division rival, as they did last year.
Depending on what happens with the Redskins, this could also be a make-or-break game for the head coaching career of Jay Gruden. Quite simply, it could be a must-win game for both teams.
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