2012 Philadelphia Eagles Schedule: Interconference Matchups Key to Success

The Philadelphia Eagles were the most disappointing team in the NFL in 2011.

Projected by many to make a deep playoff run with newcomers Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a healthy Michael Vick, they finished with an 8-8 record and missed the postseason.

A 1-4 record in the first five games proved too much to overcome, but strong seasons from LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and the four-game winning streak to end the campaign could prove to be exactly the building ground this team needs to be winners in 2012.

Throw in the offseason acquisition of DeMeco Ryans, and there is a lot for Eagles fans to be excited about with the NFL's release of the 2012 season schedule last night.

The Eagles finds themselves with the usual slate of six home-and-away NFC East games, paired with matchups with the NFC South and AFC North.

Coach Andy Reid and company will undoubtedly make starting strong one of the main focuses of what his team does in voluntary workouts, OTAs and training camp. They can't expect to start 1-4 and make any kind of noise, especially since the NFC East plays host to the current Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

After that, the four games against the AFC North could prove to be the tipping point for success.

The Eagles must travel to Ohio for the first game of the season to face the Cleveland Browns. They'll then turn around and head to Pittsburgh in Week 5 for a matchup with the Steelers in one of the toughest environments to win in, in professional sports.

Luckily, they'll face the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals at home.

Both teams are coming off postseason appearances, and are once again considered favorites to return. Young QBs Andy Dalton of the Bengals and Joe Flacco of the Ravens are considered two of the up-and-coming stars at their position. Therefore, to get a win against either would be a huge feather in the team's cap going forward.

Winning the majority of those contests would put Philadelphia in a favorable position for their late-season run-ins with their divisional foes, as well as tough road games at Tampa Bay and New Orleans.

It's likely going to take 10-12 wins just to make the playoffs in the NFC East. Washington will likely have Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III running the show, Dallas is always a wild card and New York isn't going to make anything easy since the road to the Lombardi Trophy runs through their city.

This schedule for the Eagles is no joke. NFL competition seems to get better and better each year, proving the old adage "Any given Sunday" still applies today.

If Philly can make a statement with big interconference wins, and stay competitive on the road, they can begin to put last season's mistakes behind them and focus on being a "dream team" once again.