Scheduling plays a huge role in the outcome of every NFL season. So the Athlon NFL editors will spend the next month dissecting each and every week of the 2012 slate for all 32 teams in the league.

Philadelphia Eagles 2012 Schedule:

Week 1: at Cleveland

Week 2: Baltimore

Week 3: at Arizona

Week 4: New York Giants

Week 5: at Pittsburgh

Week 6: Detroit

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Atlanta

Week 9: at New Orleans (Mon.)

Week 10: Dallas

Week 11: at Washington

Week 12: Carolina (Mon.)

Week 13: at Dallas

Week 14: at Tampa Bay

Week 15: Cincinnati (Thur.)

Week 16: Washington

Week 17: at New York Giants

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- It is a good thing the bye week comes when it does for the Eagles. Philadelphia will face a six-game run that will rival any in the NFL in 2012: NY Giants, at Pittsburgh, Detroit, Atlanta, at New Orleans and Dallas. If you are counting at home, that stretch features five playoff teams from a year ago not to mention three of the last four Super Bowl champions. And the Cowboys were one game away from winning the NFC East a year ago. Thankfully, the bye falls directly in the middle of that brutal run for the Eagles. They are going to need it.

- The Eagles will play three non-Sunday games this season with a pair of showcase games. A Monday nighter at New Orleans could carry wild card implications. A Week 15 Thursday nighter against Cincinnati should also feature two teams fighting for a playoff bid. But the one to circle is the Week 12 Monday night contest against Carolina. Anytime Michael Vick and Cam Newton are on the field together, itâs must-see TV.

- Two of those non-Sunday contests are against the NFC South â the division the NFC East has to face in round-robin competition this fall. Carolina provides a primetime QB showcase while Phily could be fighting with the Saints and/or Falcons for a wild card playoff berth. The Bucs should also be improved this fall as well.

- In AFC play, the East will have the unenviable task of facing the AFC North this fall. It might be the deepest and toughest division in the AFC, so having to face three playoff teams from a year ago wonât be easy for Vick and company. The season gets started with a road trip to Cleveland. Getting Baltimore and Cincinnati at home is a nice break, but traveling to Pittsburgh isnât. Some small comfort can be taken from facing the Browns and Steelers within the first five weeks â when the weather in Ohio and Pennsylvania shouldn't be too terrible.

- Within the NFC East, a division that could be completely wide open in 2012, Philadelphia will face only the NY Giants before Week 10. This means the Eagles will face five divisional opponents in the last eight games of the season. It starts with three divisional games in four weeks, including both games against the rival Cowboys. If Andy Reid wants to challenge for a division title, he likely needs to go 2-1 in that span. Additionally, the season will end with back-to-back NFC East games, including a season finale road test in the Meadowlands to battle the Super Bowl champs. This is a cannibalistic division that tends to beat on itself. This season should be no different.

- Home-road splits are negligible in 2012 for the Eagles. They will play consecutive road games only once (Week 13-14) and will play consecutive home games twice (Week 15-16 and Week 6-8).

- The two floating games on the Eagles' schedule this fall will be Arizona (road) and Detroit (home). Former Eagle Kevin Kolb could still be the Cardinals' starting quarterback in Week 3 when Phily visits the desert. Both are winnable contests.

Fantasy Focus: The fantasy playoffs looks pretty comfortable for any owners with Eagles players. The postseason opponents will be some combination of Tampa Bay, Cincinnati and Washington. This adds some value to the LeSean McCoys and Jeremy Maclins of the world. If your league uses Week 17, knock them down a peg since Phily visits the Giants in the season finale.

-by Braden Gall

Follow @bradengall

2012 Athlon Sports NFL team-by-team schedule analysis:

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers



AFC South

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

AFC West

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

NFC North

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings



NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers