Get on the Bus: Plotting out the 2010 Eagles Schedule

First things first; there is nothing better, when it comes to watching an NFL game, then to be Road Fan. So long as you go incognito (assuming that your team isn't overwhelming the home crowd) or in a protective cocoon, it's not particularly hazardous to your health, and if you are fortunate enough to be from a high-priced market, it's a comparative bargain to get out of town and get your NFL tickets.

And if your laundry loses, it's really not that heartbreaking, since losing on the road is kind of expected, and if the home crowd isn't too obnoxious, seeing them celebrate isn't that terrible. This year for my laundry (the Philadelphia Eagles, naturally), here are your schedule options. Note also that, like last year, the schedule starts well after Labor Day, and that with the exception of the San Fran trip (a nice enough place to just get on a plane anyway), most of these are thoroughly in the range of an alcohol-fueled bus.

Week 2: Detroit, Sunday 1pm
Week 3: Jacksonville, Sunday, 4pm
Week 5: San Fran, Sunday, 8pm
Week 7: Nashville, Sunday, 1pm
Week 10: DC, Monday, 8:30pm
Week 12: Chicago, Sunday, 1pm
Week 14: Dallas, Sunday, 8:20pm
Week 15: NY Giants, Sunday, 1pm

Of these, Jacksonville should be the easiest ticket, seeing how there are no actual Jaguar fans, followed by San Fran or Nashville, depending on whether either team gets off to a slow start. The second half of the year is going to be harder, especially with the Cowboys and Giants likely to be in a playoff hunt and with new stadiums, but why should your plight as a road fan be any different than that of the team?

Of course, Road Fan cuts both ways: there is always the chance that the stadium gets overrun by hordes of out of towners, especially if the season goes south, as this one might. Here's the docket for that:

Week 1: Green Bay, Sunday, 4:15pm
Week 4: Washington, Sunday, 4:15pm
Week 6: Atlanta, Sunday, 1:00pm
Week 9: Indianapolis, Sunday, 4:15pm
Week 11: NY Giants, Sunday, 8:20pm
Week 13: Houston, Thursday, 8:20pm
Week 16: Minnesota, Sunday, 1:00pm
Week 17: Dallas, Sunday, 1:00pm

Realistically, this comes down to Dallas Fan possibly rubbing it in if the season is already decided. Neither the Texans nor the Vikings have very large or mobile fan bases. Note also that the club is in prime time five times in 2010, and not terribly likely to be flexed out by NBC, since the games are in Weeks 11 and 14.

Oh, and if you are asking for a won-loss prediction? 7-9. And I'm not sure that number would be any different if Donovan McNabb were still in town. Embrace rebuilding, Philly Fan. And that September road trip to Detroit or Jacksonville, when the team still has hope.