Some Eagles might be playing final home game
Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans at Lincoln Financial Field could be the last time several key Philadelphia Eagles will play in front of the home crowd.
There is an outside chance the Eagles could still play one more game this season at Lincoln Financial Field, but a lot has to happen for that to be true, such as the Dallas Cowboys losing their final two games and the Eagles winning their final two games. That would give the Eagles a second straight NFC East title and a home game on the opening weekend of the postseason.
Or the Eagles could still surpass the Seattle Seahawks for the fifth seed, but even then they would have to root for the No. 6 seed to win a couple games to give the Eagles home field in the NFC Championship Game.
Both scenarios are highly unlikely.
So this could be the home sendoff for players such as left tackle Jason Peters, defensive ends Brandon Graham and Chris Long, running back Darren Sproles, and safety Corey Graham. Maybe even quarterback Nick Foles.
Every offseason there is roster churn in the NFL, but these departing Eagles – if they do, in fact, depart – were integral parts of the team’s Super Bowl LII championship team.
Brandon Graham and Long have expiring contracts, and Long considered retirement following last season. So, too, did Corey Graham.
Sproles said prior to the season that this year would be his last, but he has been injured for most of it, so maybe he reconsiders. Even if he does decide to go another year, he will be 36 and does not have a contract.
Peters is signed through next year, but counts $10.6 million against the salary cap and turns 37 in January. He has been with the team since the Eagles traded three draft picks, including a first-rounder, to Buffalo for him in 2009.
As for Foles, well, who knows?
He thought he had played his final game for the Eagles earlier this year, when he filled in for the still-recovering Carson Wentz in Weeks 1 and 2. His cap charge for next season is a ridiculous $20.6 million, and that is something the team simply cannot afford.
So it stands to reason that Foles, who will be 30 next year, will move on to a team that can afford him and will allow him to compete to be a starter.
That starting option does not exist in Philadelphia. Not with Carson Wentz.
Wentz’s inability to stay healthy, though, could impact what the Eagles and Foles do going forward.
As for now, this could be the final time for Eagles fans to say their goodbyes.
SERIES HISTORY: 5th regular-season meeting. Eagles lead series, 4-0. The last time the Eagles played the Texans was in Houston in 2014. Mark Sanchez came on in relief of Nick Foles to nail down a 31-21 win. The Texans are one of two teams that the Eagles have never lost to. The other is the New York Jets, who are 0-10 against the Eagles. The Eagles have done well against Houston-based teams. They were also 6-0 against the Houston Oilers before the Oilers left town to become the Tennessee Titans.
