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Patriots: Ranking the 2019 regular season opponents

By Patrick Morgan

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Nelson Agholor #13 of the Philadelphia Eagles breaks a tackle from Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots during the second half in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Nelson Agholor #13 of the Philadelphia Eagles breaks a tackle from Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots during the second half in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

3. Philadelphia Eagles (AWAY)

The last time the Eagles and the Patriots dueled on a football field, we all know what happened. Philadelphia fans may be passionate as all get-out, but they’re also borderline-insufferable, so Bostonians won’t soon forget the end result of Super Bowl LII.

New England travels to Philly at some point next fall, and when it does, it will likely face one of the stiffest tests of its 2019 season. The Eagles followed up their Super Bowl championship season with a 9-7 record, a playoff berth, and one playoff win (over the Chicago Bears) in 2018. There’s no reason to think the team won’t be just as good – if not better – in 2019 with a healthy Carson Wentz back in the fold.

The Patriots have yet to face Wentz on the field – in the Super Bowl and in the preseason last year, their adversary was Nick Foles (the man, the myth, the legend). Foles is almost surely gone – maybe to Jacksonville? – and with him hopefully goes some of the Eagles’ mystique as it pertains to the playoffs and the Patriots, specifically.

Even without St. Nick behind center, Philadelphia represents one of the more challenging obstacles in New England’s path next year to repeating as Super Bowl champs. Doug Pederson’s team is just too talented from top to bottom on both sides of the ball to be counted out against the Patriots, especially since they’ll be playing at home in front of those same raucous fans.

Here’s hoping the rematch of Super Bowl LII ends better for New England this time around.

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