For the fourth year in a row, Philadelphia qualified for the playoffs.
The Philadelphia Eagles are aiming higher than merely making the 2025 NFL playoffs but that much is now officially official.
The Eagles entered Week 14 with 10 potential clinching scenarios and the following combination came to pass:
Eagles win AND Falcons loss or tie AND Cardinals loss AND Lions win or tie
The Eagles really would’ve preferred to NOT clinch a playoff spot in this specific manner since they would’ve liked the Detroit Lions to lose to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Had that happened, the Eagles would have a much better chance at the No. 1 seed right now.
But, hey, here we are.
The Eagles have another clinching opportunity in Week 15. If the Eagles beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Philly AND the Washington Commanders lose a road game to the New Orleans Saints, the Birds will officially be NFC East champions. The division race might be over before the Eagles and Commanders play again in Week 16.
As far as the No. 1 seed goes, the Eagles need 1) to keep winning and 2) the aforementioned Lions to slip up a couple times down the stretch here.
Updated NFC 1 seed scenarios following DET’s win:
1) #Eagles cannot win 15-2 tiebreakers so need DET to lose 2x (for sure) + MIN to lose 1x (almost surely barring an SOV miracle).
2) Eagles can win 14-3 tiebreaker but only if only loss is to PIT and DET loses 2x to NFC teams. pic.twitter.com/epIUTnE9Nw— Deniz Selman (@denizselman33) December 6, 2024
Eagles’ remaining schedule
Remaining stretch of schedule: .490, 14th easiest in the NFL
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: .612, 5th most difficult in the NFL
Week 15 — vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 16 — at Chicago Bears
Week 17 — at San Francisco 49ers
Week 18 — vs. Minnesota Vikings
Here’s the entire current NFC playoff picture.
PROJECTED PLAYOFF TEAMS
DIVISION LEADERS
1) x – Detroit Lions: 12-1
2) x – Philadelphia Eagles: 11-2
3) Seattle Seahawks: 8-5
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-6
x = clinched playoff berth
WILD CARD TEAMS
5) Minnesota Vikings: 11-2
6) Green Bay Packers: 9-4
7) Washington Commanders: 8-5
…
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
IN THE HUNT
8) Los Angeles Rams: 7-6
9) Atlanta Falcons: 6-7
10) Arizona Cardinals: 6-7
11) San Francisco 49ers: 6-7
12) Dallas Cowboys: 5-7*
*The Cowboys play on Monday night.
UNSERIOUS TEAMS
13) New Orleans Saints: 5-8
14) Chicago Bears: 4-9
15) Carolina Panthers: 3-10
OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED
16) New York Giants: 2-11
