The NFC is the lesser of the two conferences right now. The Eagles have that working in their favor. But everything else indicates it will be difficult for them to make it back to the big game.

Personnel-wise, they won’t be as good. They’ve already lost both of their coordinators, and they’ve got 13 players who are headed for free agency. With Jalen Hurts now eligible for an extension that likely will average over $45 million per year, it won’t be possible to re-sign them all. The roster won’t be as deep or well-rounded.

And it’s looking like the schedule will be harder.

Using wins and losses, Philadelphia’s schedule projects to be the hardest in the league, with its 17 games against opponents who went a combined 161-123-4 last year. (Using points allowed rather than W-L records, Philadelphia’s schedule ranks 28th, harder than only four teams.)

On paper, the Eagles right now are the favorites to win the NFC in 2023, but I don’t think it’s likely they’ll be as good as they were in the just-completed season.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (2023)
TeamWLTPct
Atlanta1211653.424
New Orleans1221643.427
Houston1241622.434
Indianapolis1251612.438
Tennessee1281564.451
Cleveland1311542.460
Carolina1321552.460
Pittsburgh1341512.470
Green Bay1381501.479
Jacksonville1361474.481
Baltimore1381472.484
Tampa Bay1401462.490
Detroit1441450.498
Chicago1441441.500
Minnesota1441440.500
Cincinnati1461402.510
Kansas City1471400.512
San Francisco1471392.514
Denver1481382.517
LA Chargers1491390.517
Seattle1481382.517
Arizona1481373.519
Las Vegas1501362.524
Washington1531332.535
LA Rams1531323.536
Buffalo1551312.542
NY Jets1551293.545
Dallas1561284.549
NY Giants1581282.552
New England1571273.552
Miami1581272.554
Philadelphia1611234.566

Note: A version of this story originally ran yesterday, but there was a tabulation error that Casey Plain of Illinois quickly sniffed out (New England and New Orleans somehow got tangled up sometime during the process).

—Ian Allan