NOW WE KNOW the "when'' and "where'' of the Eagles' 2009 season.
The only problem with last night's official unveiling of the schedule "exclusively" on NFL.com is we still don't know "whom'' the Eagles' opponents will be.
For that matter, we don't even know whom the Eagles will be when they kick off at the Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. on Sept. 13.
It's fun to break down the NFL schedule, but honestly, the draft is still 1 1/2 weeks away and there is a good chance that some of the teams we are talking about today will look very different when they actually play in the fall.
This season, more than any recent one, the Eagles seem to fit into that category.
With two first-round draft picks, a revamping of the offensive line, speculation that a young, feature-caliber running back certainly will be added, and talk of a possible acquisition of a prime-time receiver or tight end, the only thing we know for sure about the offense is that Donovan McNabb will be the starting quarterback - we think.
Without having even a minicamp's worth of evidence to see how the Eagles might be shaping up, much less any knowledge of the 13 teams the Birds face, it's a little difficult to break down how the schedule might play out.
Besides, over the past few years, the Eagles have been notorious for turning what originally looked like the soft part of a schedule into a battlefield while successfully navigating a portion that was considered to be a minefield.
Still, at first glance, the NFL didn't do the Eagles any favors. The way this schedule breaks down, there is no identifiable string of games where you can say they definitely should get on a little roll.
Last night's unveiling, which was posted at exactly 7 p.m., was about how games lined up for tough spots, easier go-rounds and potential traps.
Opening at Carolina, which tied the New York Giants with an NFC-best record of 12-4, is tough, but if the Birds win there it sets up the potential for a fast start.
The Eagles' second game is the home opener against New Orleans, and then they are back in Lincoln Financial Field to play Kansas City before the bye in Week 4.
A home game with Tampa Bay precedes a road trip to Oakland.
The big games are the ones against Carolina and Tampa. The trap is New Orleans.
The Eagles might need a 4-1 start because a gauntlet of three consecutive NFC East games starts at Washington on Oct. 26 in the Birds' only appearance on "Monday Night Football.''
