Know Thy Enemy - Week One thoughts with an Eagle

The full schedule has been released and right from the go we have an NFC East match up vs

Philadelphia.

For the Redskins, this provides an immediate opportunity to demonstrate they are not just here to make up the numbers in the division and the current NFC East Champions will be a stern Week 1 test for the new coaching team in Washington.

For Philadelphia it was a mixed bag in 2019. A four-game winning streak took the Eagles to the divisional title with a 9-7 record, but any 2018 Superbowl repeat success thoughts were quickly extinguished with a wild card round defeat at Lincoln Financial Field vs. Seattle.

With the schedule confirmed, it seemed the right time to open a new UKHTTR feature – Know Thy Enemy – where we tap into the thoughts of UK rival fans.

First up, Uncle Sam Sports contributor and Eagles Fan David Rigby:

UKHTTR: David, the Eagles at first glance seem to be a team that can legitimately claim to be contenders for another deep run in the play-offs with a nice balance of quality veterans and younger guys.

David: I agree.

It is fair to say that in recent years we fancy our chances to get to the playoffs at the start of

every season, with more of a belief rather than hope.

The squad has got a bit of everything you need to make the season go as far as it can and even though we were decimated with injuries at the end, we managed to get over the line.

We need some more consistent performances this season though, and I'd expect the NFC East to be a lot more competitive than it was last time out.

The Redskins are 0-6 vs Philadelphia for 2017, 2018 and 2019. And yet I felt optimistic for a Week 1 surprise win for the Skins at FedEx. I am guessing you do not share my feeling that Washington might sneak an upset.

I was not aware the run went back that long, actually! I think if the team is fit then I would fancy the Eagles chances. But I am an Eagles fan and you are a Washington fan, and we will back our boys for the first game of any season.

That opening day optimism is one of the best things about being a sports fan. Plus, a Dallas loss would ease any pain of an opening day defeat for either of our franchises.

In the second round of the draft, the Eagles sprung a surprise by taking a QB Jalen Hurts with the 53rd pick. Were you surprised by the pick and what does this mean for the highly rated Wentz?

This was a strange one.

Sometimes when you are a fan on this side of the pond, you feel a bit out of the loop when certain things happen at your team. When we took Hurts in the draft, I assumed that I had completely missed something that I should have picked up on.

A quick social media check reassured me that this was a baffling decision wherever you follow the Eagles.

On the face of it, he has been brought in as a backup for Wentz who, as good as he is, is injury prone. Which sort of makes sense.

How has the change in regime at Washington, with Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio bringing a wealth of experience and organisation, been viewed in Philadelphia?

Personally, I think it is a good move for you guys. Good solid defensive minds along with that

experience cannot do you any harm.

Rivera was a part of an Andy Reid Eagles coaching staff that got to three consecutive NFC Championship games (the less said about those games, the better) so he is very much part of some great memories for our organisation.

And finally, Washington have brought in former Eagle Ronald Darby at CB. Darby had a great early NFL career start in Buffalo, but never really lit the touch paper in Philadelphia. Has Washington picked up a potentially sneaky good free agent?

Darby came to the Eagles having a good spell in Buffalo, however he never really ‘lit it up’ for us. Two of his seasons he finished on the injured reserve list and only played 57% of the team's games since he came to Philadelphia.

We feel like he was targeted a lot by the opposition QB and on a recent Eagles fan poll 97% voted that it was time to go.

There is a good player in there though. In our Super Bowl winning season Darby started 11 games and had some great plays, helping us win the big one. There is no hate for Ronald over here and I think the defensive minded coaching from the top will only benefit.