Breaking Down the Eagles’ 2013 Schedule

The 2013 schedule has been released, and it features just a pair of prime-time games for the Eagles.

The Birds will open the season with a Monday night matchup in D.C. against the Redskins on Sept.9. And Andy Reid comes to town in Week 3 for a Thursday night tilt against the Chiefs on Sept. 19.

Some other notes:

* The Eagles’ remaining 14 games are on Sunday, and 12 of those 14 are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts.

* The Birds start the season with three games in 11 days, and they don’t get the bye until Week 12.

* The Eagles only face one team coming off a bye (the Bucs).

Below is the breakdown (at signifies road games).

Week 1 (Sept. 9, 7:10): at the REDSKINS – The Eagles could get a bit of a break here. Will Robert Griffin III be ready to start coming off of last year’s injury?

Week 2 (Sept. 15, 1 p.m.): vs. the CHARGERS – The last four teams the Eagles have hosted in their home opener (the Ravens, Giants, Packers and Saints) have gone on to win the Super Bowl. Congrats, Chargers fans!

Week 3 (Sept. 19, 8:25): vs. the CHIEFS – Reid makes his return to the Linc. We promise you now that we won’t run any “Will you or won’t you boo?” stories on Birds 24/7 in the week leading up to this game. You’re welcome in advance.

Week 4 (Sept. 29, 4:25): at the BRONCOS –  The last time the Eagles faced Peyton Manning, Asante Samuel had two interceptions in a 26-24 Eagles victory. Manning is now in Denver. Samuel is in Atlanta. Sean McDermott is in Carolina. And Reid is in Kansas City.

Week 5 (Oct. 6, 1 p.m.): at the GIANTS – The Eagles traveled to MetLife Stadium for the regular-season finale in 2012. It didn’t take long for things to unravel as the Birds went down, 21-0, in the first quarter and 35-7 at halftime. Nnamdi Asomugha was benched, Michael Vick was critical of his teammates, and Reid was fired the next day.

Week 6 (Oct. 13, 1 p.m.): at the BUCS – Kelly was very close to becoming the Bucs’ coach before the 2012 season. Instead, he’ll square off against Greg Schiano, Doug Martin and company.

Week 7 (Oct. 20, 1 p.m.): vs. the COWBOYS – Asked about Kelly earlier this offseason, Jason Garrett said, “We are going to do a lot of studying of what he’s done to make sure we are ready for it, because I think it’s different. It’s different from what a lot of teams have seen. We are going to get a chance to face him twice and we know what the challenges are and we have to get ready to go.”

Week 8 (Oct. 27, 1 p.m.): vs. the GIANTS – When the Giants played at the Linc last year, I was watching on TV from a hospital room at HUP the day before my daughter was born. I don’t anticipate that being the case again this year.

Week 9 (Nov. 3, 4:05): at the RAIDERS – Do the Eagles face Geno Smith in this game? The Raiders acquired Matt Flynn, but I’m not ready to rule out the possibility of them taking the West Virginia quarterback with the No. 3 pick.

Week 10 (Nov. 10, 1 p.m.): at the PACKERS – After their only trip to the west coast, the Eagles head to Lambeau to face Aaron Rodgers and company.

Week 11 (Nov. 17, 1 p.m.): vs. the REDSKINS – This is the Eagles’ final game before the bye. No team in the NFL goes longer without a break. Will be interesting to see how Kelly  handles the off week.

Week 12 – BYE

Week 13 (Dec. 1, 1 p.m.): vs. the CARDINALS – The Eagles will try to avoid losing to the Cardinals for the third year in a row. But more importantly, it’s Todd Bowles’ homecoming!

Week 14 (Dec. 8, 1 p.m.): vs. the LIONS – Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson visit the Linc for the second year in a row. In 2012, the Eagles blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and went down, 26-23, in overtime. Asomugha publicly questioned Juan Castillo after the game, and Reid fired Castillo during the bye week.

Week 15 (Dec. 15, 1 p.m.): at the VIKINGS – Don’t worry. There are no wusses in Minnesota, and this game will not be moved to a Tuesday night. I’ll set the over/under on Adrian Peterson carries at 35.

Week 16 (Dec. 22, 1 p.m.): vs. the BEARS – Another team with a new head coach. Marc Trestman, Jay Cutler and company come to town in the home finale. Cutler has thrown seven touchdowns and one interception in three career meetings against the Birds.

Week 17 (Dec. 29, 1 p.m.): at the COWBOYS – The regular-season finale in Dallas. Question for the group: Will this game have playoff implications (on either end)?

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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