Philadelphia is breathing down Detroit’s neck.
It’s time for a look at the updated NFL playoff picture now that all NFC teams are done playing in Week 13.
The Philadelphia Eagles helped themselves by beating the Baltimore Ravens. They remain in contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
The Birds are still chasing the Detroit Lions, who managed to beat the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving in no small part due to incomprehensible game mismanagement from now-unemployed Matt Eberflus.
Eagles’ remaining schedule
Remaining stretch of schedule: .443, 10th easiest in the NFL
Week 14 — vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 15 — vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 16 — at Washington Commanders
Week 17 — vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 18 — vs. New York Giants
Lions’ remaining schedule
Remaining strength of schedule: .591, 3rd most difficult in the NFL
Week 14 — vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 15 — vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 16 — at Chicago Bears
Week 17 — at San Francisco 49ers
Week 18 — vs. Minnesota Vikings
This week’s Thursday Night Football game is HUGE for the Eagles. If the Packers can pull off an upset in Detroit, the Birds will control their destiny for the top seed (assuming the Minnesota Vikings don’t win out and up end atop the NFC North).
The great Deniz Selman explains more in detail:
NFC 1 seed tiebreaker scenarios! All 15-2 & 14-3 scenarios below. #Eagles…
1) only win 15-2 tiebreaker vs DET if DET’s loss is specifically to GB
2) win 14-3 tiebreaker vs DET if loss is to PIT & DET’s losses include GB *or* are both NFC
3) likely lose 15-2 tiebreaker vs MIN pic.twitter.com/hoa1hDZ0Kh— Deniz Selman (@denizselman33) December 2, 2024
Getting the No. 1 seed is a big deal for a number of reasons. Among them:
- Playing Jared Goff inside at Ford Field and playing Jared Goff outdoors at Lincoln Financial Field seems like a significant difference.
- A first-round bye for the Eagles seems especially ideal since their regular season bye came back in Week 5.
The Eagles must do their part to be in position to take advantage of a Lions stumble. They’re going to be favored in all of their remaining games. Time to take care of business.
Here’s the entire NFC playoff picture leaving Week 13.
PROJECTED PLAYOFF TEAMS
DIVISION LEADERS
1) Detroit Lions: 11-1
2) Philadelphia Eagles: 10-2
3) Seattle Seahawks: 7-5
4) Atlanta Falcons: 6-6
WILD CARD TEAMS
5) Minnesota Vikings: 10-2
6) Green Bay Packers: 9-3
7) Washington Commanders: 8-5
…
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
IN THE HUNT
8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-6
9) Arizona Cardinals: 6-6
10) Los Angeles Rams: 6-6
11) San Francisco 49ers: 5-7
12) Dallas Cowboys: 5-7
UNSERIOUS TEAMS
12) New Orleans Saints: 4-8
13) Chicago Bears: 4-8
15) Carolina Panthers: 3-9
OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED
16) New York Giants: 2-10
