Eagles’ road to 17-0: Breaking down 8-0 Philly’s remaining nine games, with

The Philadelphia Eagles have been the last unbeaten team in the NFL for over a month, and have started 8-0 for the first time in franchise history. There have been 40 teams that have started 8-0 in NFL history — 29 since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger — 14 of which have won the Super Bowl or NFL championship. So the Eagles will certainly take the 35% odds of hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. 

Of those 40 teams that started 8-0, only four have completed a perfect regular season: the 1934 Chicago Bears, 1942 Chicago Bears, 1972 Miami Dolphins, and 2007 New England Patriots. The Dolphins were the only team to complete the perfect season — showing how the task to go undefeated is nearly impossible. 

The Eagles do have a golden opportunity to run the table for the remainder of the 2022 regular season. Philadelphia will be facing five teams that currently have losing records. The other four games are against the NFC East (where the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are a combined 12-4) and the lone team over .500 in the AFC South (Tennessee Titans). 

Of the Eagles’ remaining opponents, their combined record is 39-36-1 as the .510 win percentage is the 13th-hardest in the NFL. Per Power Rankings Guru, the Eagles have played the easiest schedule in the NFL to date — yet they have beaten two teams with six-plus wins on the schedule. 

Going 17-0 will be difficult, but the Eagles are talented enough to find their way into the history books. Let’s take a look at Philadelphia’s remaining schedule and predict the remaining set of games. 

The Eagles will have 11 days to prepare for Taylor Heinicke and the resurgent Commanders offense, as Carson Wentz will not be returning to face the team that drafted him (on injured reserve with a finger injury). Philadelphia’s defense sacked Wentz nine times in the first meeting as the Commanders didn’t score until 1:55 left in the game. 

The Commanders offensive line is better with Heinicke under center, and the pass rush has settled in (and Chase Young might be back). Philadelphia’s pass offense still has a major edge. 

Prediction: Eagles win (9-0)

Week 11: at Colts (3-5-1)

The Colts offensive line has struggled all season, and it’s affecting Jonathan Taylor. Indianapolis is 30th in rushing yards per game and yards per carry, while Taylor (who was inactive with an ankle injury in Week 9) is averaging only 4.3 yards per carry with just one rushing touchdown on the season. Sam Ehlinger is more mobile than Matt Ryan, but will be making just his third career start against an Eagles defense that leads the league in takeaways. 

Short week for the Eagles, but the defense has the advantage over a Colts offense trying to find its identity. 

Prediction: Eagles win (10-0)

Week 12: vs. Packers (3-6)

This game is such a wild card for the Eagles. Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback the Eagles will face all season, yet the Packers offense is incredibly inconsistent. Green Bay plays poor situational football, greatly missing Davante Adams as a go-to receiver for Rodgers. The current Packers pass catchers are a mismatch for the Eagles…