You would like to think the powers that be at NFL Central would be the kind of booking agents that would want a high-profile team like the Philly Eagles to have an “off-Broadway opening” schedule in 2012 that would allow the show time to adjust…and to encourage new and older parts to gel together before subjecting the show to further national scrutiny…
Such is not the case.
The NFL threw the 2012 Eagles into the show-biz fire…
The Eagles will appear on Sunday Night and Monday Night Football a total of four times in 2012. They will also meet Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football on Dec. 13.
“It looks to be another competitive slate of games this year and we’re hard at work now going through the process of getting ready for training camp,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “The draft is right around the corner, our offseason conditioning program for the players is now in full swing, and the minicamps are coming up soon. We’re excited about the energy around our football team.”
Philadelphia opens at Cleveland on Sept. 9.
The Eagles opened last season to the tune of 1-4 and “improved” to 4-8 before rallying with four consecutive wins to end the year. They did not make the postseason. Yet the Eagles will appear on Sunday Night and Monday Night Football a total of four times in 2012. They will also meet Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football on Dec. 13.
Their schedule, released by the NFL late on Tuesday, features Sunday prime time games against the New York Giants on Sept. 30, and against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 2. The Eagles also will play Monday prime-time contests at New Orleans (Nov. 5) and against Carolina (Nov. 26).
Like the main cast of “Peter and the Star Catchers” above (SonButt’s favorite off-Broadway production that got just enough time to perfect itself and develop into a Great White Way attraction), the Eagles will at least have a weekend in Cleveland to iron out some details before bringing the show to Philly.
Two Sunday night games, two Monday night games, a Thursday night telecast and a multitude of stars coming to Philadelphia highlight the Eagles’ 2012 schedule…The Eagles have one of the league’s toughest schedules based on last season’s performances, with eight games against playoff teams and only five against teams with losing records.
Their opponents’ cumulative record from last season is 132-124.
Although they are visiting venues in which they haven’t had much recent success, such as the Louisiana SuperDome (1-2 since 2001), Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field (0-1) and Glendale, Arizona’s University of Phoenix Stadium (0-1), they also are 2-0 at MetLife Stadium, the relatively new home of the Giants, with dramatic comeback wins in each game…
Because of the league’s flex-scheduling policy in weeks 11 through 17, the possibility exists for more prime-time contests..
| PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 2012 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE | ||
| DATE | TEAM | TIME/NETWORK |
| Sunday, Sept. 9 | at Cleveland | 1 pm (FOX) |
| Sunday, Sept. 16 | vs. Baltimore | 1 pm (CBS) |
| Sunday, Sept. 23 | at Arizona | 4:05 pm (FOX) |
| Sunday, Sept. 30 | vs. New York Giants | 8:20 pm (NBC)* |
| Sunday, Oct. 7 | at Pittsburgh | 1 pm (FOX) |
| Sunday, Oct. 14 | vs. Detroit | 1 pm (FOX) |
| Sunday, Oct. 21 | BYE WEEK | |
| Sunday, Oct. 28 | vs. Atlanta | 1 pm (FOX) |
| Monday, Nov. 5 | at New Orleans | 8:30 pm (ESPN)* |
| Sunday, Nov. 11 | vs. Dallas | 4:15 pm (FOX)* |
| Sunday, Nov. 18 | at Washington | 1 pm (FOX) |
| Monday, Nov. 26 | vs. Carolina | 8:30 pm (ESPN)* |
| Sunday, Dec. 2 | at Dallas | 8:20 pm (NBC)* |
| Sunday, Dec. 9 | at Tampa Bay | 1 pm (FOX) |
| Thursday, Dec. 13 | vs. Cincinnati | 8:20 pm (NFL Network)* |
| Sunday, Dec. 23 | vs. Washington | 1 pm (FOX) |
| Sunday, Dec. 30 | at New York Giants | 1 pm (FOX) |
| *Nationally Televised; Subject To Flex Scheduling | ||
Meanwhile, the great Dutch Rubb has submitted his MACH 10 ballot:
“And I had to personalize it with car names, since that is my specialty….”
1) Luke “Land Cruiser” Kuechly (Covers a lot of ground)
2) Michael “4WD Bronco” Brockers (Hope he hits like a truck)
3) Chase “Infiniti” Minnifield (Thanks for the spelling help,Moonbeam)
4) Markelle “Chevelle” Martin (My personal favorite)
5) Kirk “Countach” Cousins ( Hope he plays as well as a Lamborghini runs)
6) Cam “Camaro” Johnson (Big Block 4 spd positraction)
7) Bobby “Wagoneer” Wagner ( Hope we get him Jeep……I mean Cheap)
8) Bernard “Pierce Arrow” (Style and Grace)
9) Audie “Audi” Cole (They are known to handle pretty well)
10) David “Daytona” Molk (Ready to go for 10 years or 100,000 snaps…
Thanks, Dutchie… And we have a great fan from down under, Australia’s own Beanstalk, who actually graced us with his MACH 10 entry on this past Monday’s blurgger when nobody else was around…SO for the record:
Beanstalk’s Mach 10:
1. Fletcher Cox
2. Allen (OT)
3. B. Wagner
4. Boykin
5. (QB) Wilson
6. Turbin
7. Richardson (SS)
8. Charles (TE)
9. Oglesby (OT)
10. Brian Quick
And now I hear that train a-comin’…
Freight Train’s Mach 10:
1. Mark Barron
2. Michael Brockers
3. Devon Still
4. Amini Silatolu
5. Orson Charles
6. Cam Johnson
7. Demario Davis
8. Ron Brooks
9. Bernard Pierce
10. James Brown
Meanwhile, we ponder…
Former Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, coming off a sensational rookie season as quarterback of the Carolina Panthers, heads a list of exciting players who will play in Philadelphia this season.
Also among them: Atlanta Falcons quarterback and Philadelphia native Matt Ryan returns to his home turf on Oct. 28, former Rutgers star and running back Ray Rice comes in with his Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 16, two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning will once again quarterback the Giants on Sept. 30, and explosive Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson will test the Eagles’ talented cornerbacks on Oct. 14.
No time for losers in this schedule…
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