Despite fielding the fourth-toughest schedule this year, the Philadelphia Eagles have reasons to be optimistic in 2025.
No, not just because they are the defending Super Bowl champions. That is just an added bonus.
As the schedule for the 2025 regular season became announced, an ugly truth set in about the Eagles. Not only will the team play 10 teams from last year's playoffs, but they also have been denied a chance to play at home for two straight weeks. Both of these facts are the first of their kind in NFL history.
But it's within that schedule that shows a key reason for Eagles fans to be optimistic for the Eagles.
While their road schedule consists of tough opponents like the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia will get many of those road contests on extended rest.
Officially, Philadelphia will get over eight days of rest before contests against the Chiefs, Vikings, Packers, Chargers, and Bills. Those are five of the team's nine road opponents this year, and all made the playoffs the year prior.
Extra rest means extra time to prepare. Especially for an experienced coaching staff like the one Nick Sirianni has on his team. Their road schedule is certainly tough, but that added time to prepare should help the organization tremendously.
And that kind of help may be the difference between a few more wins, and a top seed in the NFC Playoffs coming next year.