Week 15 was a good one for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Not only did they snap their three-game losing streak by dominating the Las Vegas Raiders in a shutout win.
They also got some help in the form of the Dallas Cowboys, who were 5.5-point betting favorites at home, losing to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.
The Eagles’ magic number to win their division is now down to one.
This means the Birds can officially clinch the NFC East in Week 16 by beating the Washington Commanders in Maryland on Saturday evening.
If the Eagles lose that game, they can still clinch the NFC East on Sunday if the Cowboys lose at home to the Los Angeles Chargers.
If neither result works in the Eagles’ favor, they’ll have to try again in Week 17.
The only way Dallas can win the division at this point is if the Eagles lose their final three games AND the Cowboys win their final three games.
Pretty unlikely.
EAGLES’ REMAINING SCHEDULE
Week 16 at Washington Commanders
Week 17 at Buffalo Bills
Week 18 vs. Washington Commanders
COWBOYS’ REMAINING SCHEDULE
Week 16 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 17 at Washington Commanders
Week 18 at New York Giants
The Eagles are on the precipice of becoming the first team to repeat as NFC East champions since they last did it back in 2004.
Elsewhere in the NFC playoff picture, the Eagles got help with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers losing in Week 15. Those results work towards Philly not falling to the No. 4 seed, which is important since that team is likely going to have to host the second place finisher in the NFC West in the Wild Card round. Not an ideal first round matchup.
The Eagles are currently on track to be the No. 3 seed. If they end up in that position, they’ll host the No. 6 seed. The San Francisco 49ers reside in that position at this moment.
It’s possible the Eagles can climb up to the No. 2 seed, which is what they had last year. But they’d likely need to win out and also get some help with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers dropping games. Speaking of the Packers, their defense took a major hit on Sunday with Micah Parsons feared to have suffered an ACL injury.
The Eagles are mathematically alive for the No. 1 seed but just barely. The Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks are the strongest contenders for that spot. There’s a huge game between those two teams on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 16.
Here’s the entire updated NFC playoff picture after Week 15 (note that Monday night’s game is between two AFC teams).
PROJECTED PLAYOFF TEAMS
DIVISION LEADERS
1) Los Angeles Rams: 11-3*
2) Chicago Bears: 10-4
3) Philadelphia Eagles: 9-5
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-7
*officially clinched playoff berth
WILD CARD TEAMS
5) Seattle Seahawks: 11-3
6) San Francisco 49ers: 10-4
7) Green Bay Packers: 9-4-1
…
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
IN THE HUNT
8) Detroit Lions: 8-6
9) Carolina Panthers: 7-7
ON THE ROPES
10) Dallas Cowboys: 6-7-1
OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED
11) Minnesota Vikings: 6-8
12) Atlanta Falcons: 5-9
13) New Orleans Saints: 4-10
14) Washington Commanders: 4-10
15) Arizona Cardinals: 3-11
16) New York Giants: 2-12
See More:
