Reid must help Kolb grow in 2010 to compete in 2011.
Now that the draft has wrapped up and rosters are, for the most part, a reflection of what teams will field in September, it's appropriate to look at how the season could shape up for this brand new Eagles team.
Sean McDermott enters his second season as the full-time defensive coordinator, while Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg appear ready to shift away from a vertical passing attack to more of a traditional west coast style of offense.
The Eagles have combed through their roster and cut a lot of aging talent while replacing it with young potential, so gauging the success they're going to have will be incredibly difficult, but let's give it a shot anyway, shall we?
Week 1: vs. Green Bay Packers
The Eagles have the unfortunate task of opening the season against a team that could, with an improved offensive line, make a run to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLV.
The Packers appear to have too much firepower for a young Eagles' defense, while Kevin Kolb and an even younger Eagles' offense will have difficulties keeping up on the scoreboard.
It's a nasty repeat of 2007 as the Eagles drop an ugly game at home.
Result: Eagles lose, 38-21 | Record: 0-1
Week 2: @ Detroit Lions
After a difficult loss at the hands of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, the Eagles head north to take on one of the Packers' division rivals in Detroit.
The Lions are coming off a draft that should yield quite a bit of talent. Their two first-round picks, Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best, figure to see a lot of playing time early on in the season as there's not much talent in front of them that would keep them on the bench.
However, even with a young up-and-comer like Matthew Stafford at quarterback and a freak of nature in Calvin Johnson at receiver, the Lions' offensive line will not be enough to stand up to the Eagles' revamped defensive line and McDermott's blitz packages.
Result: Eagles win, 27-13 | Record: 1-1
Week 3: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars appeared to be a team on the rise only a few short seasons ago after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs, but they have fallen short of expectations and are now a team clearly in need of a different direction.
However, David Garrard and Jack Del Rio remain the guys in Jacksonville while the Jaguars continue to be treated like Florida's red-headed NFL stepchild. There's simply not enough talent on either side of the ball for the Jaguars to keep up with the Birds.
Result: Eagles win, 31-13 | Record: 2-1
Week 4: vs. Washington Redskins
Well, it's the game everyone has been waiting for. Donovan McNabb makes his return to Philadelphia to face the Eagles as a member of the Washington Redskins.
The Redskins look like a completely different team with McNabb and Mike Shanahan running the show, but they still have a lot of issues. Their defensive line doesn't get enough pressure on the quarterback and their secondary is shaky, leading to some openings for Kevin Kolb to possibly beat his former mentor.
But McNabb knows the Eagles' defense too well and won't allow the Redskins' offense to go out quietly, although they're clearly outclassed at the skill positions. The Eagles already have issues when playing the 'Skins, and they've done nothing but get better. This is a game the Eagles should win, but find a way to lose in the end.
Result: Eagles lose, 27-23 | Record: 2-2
Week 5: @ San Francisco 49ers
It's hard not to root for Mike Singletary to succeed in San Francisco, but that's put on the back-burner for a week as the Eagles travel to the west coast to take on a team that could wind up winning its division for the first time in a long time.
The Niners' offense has taken significant strides and looks like a much better unit, but their defense is probably still missing pieces in the secondary and will be overwhelmed by the plethora of weapons at Kolb's disposal.
Result: Eagles win, 26-17 | Record: 3-2
Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan, fresh out of his sophomore slump, and the Atlanta Falcons head to the Linc in a game that could turn into a dogfight. Mike Smith likes to play a smash-mouth style of football with Michael Turner carrying the ball, and it could give the Eagles fits.
The Falcons' receivers are bigger guys with impressive ball skills that make them very difficult to defend. Asante Samuel might get one or two off Ryan, but in the end the Ryan-to-Roddy connection, along with Turner on the ground, is too much for the Birds to withstand.
Result: Eagles lose, 17-13 | Record: 3-3
Week 7: @ Tennessee Titans
Chris Johnson has earned the dub "Every Coach's Dream," but that only applies to the guys getting to coach him. For McDermott and the Eagles' defense, he is going to be an absolute nightmare to try and contain. I still don't have faith that the linebacking corps is where it needs to be, and Johnson could have a big day as a result.
Add that to the fact that Vince Young could victimize a sometimes overly-aggressive defense and you've got a bad mix. The Titans are lacking on pass-rushers this season, but Jim Washburn seems able to make a star out of anyone, and former Eagle Jason Babin could be a guy to keep an eye on.
Result: Eagles lose, 28-17 | Record: 3-4
Week 9: vs. Indianapolis Colts
The defending AFC champions roll into town, probably looking to stay undefeated, after a Week 8 bye for the Eagles. Reid has never lost the game following a bye week, but it appears to be a long-shot that his streak continues.
Up until last season, he also had never lost the first playoff game in which his team played. The Cowboys broke that streak, and Peyton Manning and the Colts appear set to take advantage of the Eagles' youth and break this streak, as well.
Unless McDermott can find a way for Samuel to grab a few picks from Manning and rattle him a little bit, this is going to be an absolute rout.
Result: Eagles lose, 31-9 | Record: 3-5
Week 10: @ Washington Redskins
This game is on national television (Monday Night Football), but a lot of the hype is gone as neither team is doing very well and this will be the second time they meet.
This is a sloppy and unspectacular game as the Eagles bumble their way to their first win in a month over a Redskins team having trouble sustaining offense and seeing a few holes on their defensive line begin to develop.
Result: Eagles win, 23-10 | Record: 4-5
Week 11: vs. New York Giants
After finishing off their season with the Washington Redskins, the Birds have their first matchup with the New York Giants. The Giants are probably doing okay at this point, but they're not the powerhouse team they were only a couple seasons ago.
Teams now have tape on their young receiving corps, the defense has taken a hit this offseason, and Brandon Jacobs is continuing his unproductive 2009 season as the Eagles take a close one at home.
Result: Eagles win, 24-23 | Record: 5-5
Week 12: @ Chicago Bears
For whatever reason, the Eagles also seem to struggle against the Bears. Their team is never superior in coaching or talent, but there's just something about them that gives the Birds fits.
The Eagles were able to get the best of Jay Cutler and the Bears last season, but they've improved far too much to let that happen again. Julius Peppers can cause trouble for any tackle, but it will be the extra attention he demands that will truly be the downfall.
The interior of the line will likely have to deal with blitzes and stunts that it won't be able to handle while the Bears' offense continuously chips away.
Result: Eagles lose, 27-17 | Record: 5-6
Week 13: vs. Houston Texans
The Texans are turning into the sexy pick for 2010, and have been the sexy pick for a couple years now. They're actually like the Arizona Cardinals were a few seasons ago, and as we've seen, that optimism appears to have been well-founded.
Houston already has one of the most explosive offenses in the game and, along with a few more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, could turn into a team that finally takes the next step it's been expected to take for a few years.
As long as Matt Schaub can stay healthy at this point, the Texans will continue their charge toward the playoffs with a win over a young Eagles team.
Result: Eagles lose, 34-16 | Record: 5-7
Week 14: @ Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles get the honor of playing the Cowboys twice in the final four weeks of the season, which will do nothing but help their slide continue. The Cowboys are clearly the class of the division at this point, and have had little trouble with the Giants or Redskins.
Miles Austin, Roy Williams, and young Dez Bryant create matchup issues with a small Eagles' secondary since all three receivers are taller than 6'2, and the Eagles don't have a corner over 5'11 on the field.
The Eagles offense will put some points on the board as it fights for its pride with the playoffs out of reach at this point, but it falls short to a superior Dallas team.
Result: Eagles lose, 41-33 | Record: 5-8
Week 15: @ New York Giants
The Eagles get a wonderful opportunity to play spoiler to a division rival in the final weeks of the season, and don't pass it up. The Eagles have had the Giants' number over the past couple of seasons whether or not they're the better team, and that doesn't look to change.
The maturation of Kolb and his young weapons appears to really begin as the offense has a showing they haven't been able to put together against even inferior teams earlier in the season.
Result: Eagles win, 38-27 | Record: 6-8
Week 16: vs. Minnesota Vikings
At this point, the Vikings will probably have the NFC North wrapped up, along with the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and nothing to play for. Tarvaris Jackson will likely play most of the game as Brett Favre is allowed to rest for a playoff push.
Kolb and the offense will have a field-day against a backup defense, while the Vikings' backups on offense struggle to put up any points.
Result: Eagles win, 34-16 | Record: 7-8
Week 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have probably locked up the NFC East at this point, but that doesn't mean they're going to lay down and give a win to their hated division rival. The Eagles are fighting for pride and will give the Cowboys everything they can handle.
McDermott probably unleashes every little wrinkle he could possibly conceive for this game as falling below .500 for the season would look very, very bad. Getting in Tony Romo's face is really the only thing a defense has to accomplish in order to throw off Dallas' offense, so points will be tough to come by for a Cowboys team giving a half-hearted effort.
Result: Eagles win, 24-10 | Record: 8-8
Barring a little bit of overachieving, the Eagles look destined to have a season similar to 2007 when they looked completely lost. At least in 2010 the obvious reasoning is a young team, as they lose a few close games that they could have won throughout the season.
The NFC will be very competitive, and the Eagles will have to use 2010 as a growing season before they come back as legitimate contenders in 2011.
