The Philadelphia Eagles were projected to have the most difficult strength of schedule in the NFL heading into the 2017 season. It has been the exact opposite to this point.
ESPN Stats & Information ran the numbers and, by opponents record, the Eagles have played the easiest schedule in the NFL (.400) through 11 weeks. Look no further than the NFC East for the change in forecast: a division that was expected to have some serious bite has been toothless outside of Philly. The Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and New York Giants are all under .500. With the Cowboys (5-6) now five games back with six to play, the Eagles can clinch the division as early as Week 13.
Steamrolling largely inferior competition, Carson Wentz and Co. have raced to the best record in football. They would improve to 10-1 with a home win over the 3-7 Chicago Bears on Sunday. It would be their fourth 10-1 start in team history and first since 2004 when they advanced to the Super Bowl. There have been 50 teams in the Super Bowl era to start 10-1 or better and 52 percent (26) of them reached the Super Bowl, while 26 percent (13) won it all.
The Eagles have set themselves up extremely well heading down the homestretch.
The biggest schedule challenge of the year is on the horizon in the form of back-to-back West Coast games at the Seattle Seahawks (6-4) and Los Angeles Rams (7-3) beginning Dec. 3. The Eagles have only played two teams that currently have a winning record (going 1-1 in those games). The trip will double that number.
A quick glance around the conference reveals there is not much margin for error in the competition for home-field advantage. The Minnesota Vikings improved to 9-2 with a win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgviving Day. The New Orleans Saints (8-2), Carolina Panthers (7-3) and Rams are not far behind.
None of the contenders have cakewalks the rest of the way, however. The Rams, with games against the Saints, Eagles and Seahawks still remaining, have one of the most difficult finishes in football. The Saints have to play the Rams, the Panthers and the Falcons twice. The Vikings still have road games in Atlanta, Carolina and Green Bay.
If the Eagles split out West, they'd be set up pretty well. The other opponents remaining on their schedule -- the Bears (3-7), Giants (2-9), Raiders (4-6) and Cowboys (4-6) -- have a combined record of 13-28. Taking care of business against those teams alone would give the Eagles 13 wins. Any combination of four wins the rest of the way could very well be enough to ensure that the NFC playoffs run through Philly.