The eighteenth weekend of the 2025 NFL regular season is here! The playoffs are nigh.
Let’s run through a Philadelphia Eagles-focused rooting guide for all of the Week 18 games.
OVERVIEW
Here’s a look at the current NFC playoff picture, via ESPN:
And here’s a look at the Eagles’ playoff scenarios via the great Deniz Selman:
THE PURSUIT OF THE NO. 2 SEED
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: The Eagles are hoping to beat the Commanders while also resting their starters. Go Birds.
DETROIT LIONS at CHICAGO BEARS: If the Eagles win and the Bears lose, the Birds are the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture. Root for the Lions.
THE EAGLES’ FIRST ROUND OPPONENT AS THE NO. 3 SEED
Your preference might vary but the betting lines indicate that the 49ers are a more preferable first round opponent for the Eagles than the Rams. Here’s a look at the look ahead spreads for the Eagles’ potential Wild Card games:
Eagles -3 vs. Packers (can only happen if Philly is the No. 2 seed)
Eagles +1.5 vs. Rams
Eagles -2.5 vs. 49ers
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: If the 49ers win this game, they’ll be the No. 1 seed. The Eagles would rather see them in the Wild Card round. Root for the Seahawks.
ARIZONA CARDINALS at LOS ANGELES RAMS: If the 49ers lose and the Rams win, the Eagles will host the 49ers instead of the Rams. Root for the Rams.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
CAROLINA PANTHERS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: The Bucs are 1-7 in their last eight games but they’re favored in this game (speaking to how bad Carolina is) and they rank higher than the Panthers in point differential and DVOA. Baker Mayfield also has more playoff experience than Bryce Young, for what it’s worth. Could be argued, then, that the Bucs are the preferable team to win this game and potentially win the NFC South so they get into the playoffs and beat the No. 5 seed. Also worth noting that the Bucs have previously beat two of the potential No. 5 seeds, the 49ers and Seahawks. Maybe they can knock them off in the postseason?! Probably not. But you can hope for it anyway. Root for the Buccaneers.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at ATLANTA FALCONS: The Bucs can only make the playoffs if they beat the Panthers and the Falcons lose (otherwise, the Panthers make it over Tampa based on a three-way tie with Atlanta). Root for the Saints.
DRAFT PICK CONSIDERATIONS
Here’s the current 2026 NFL Draft order for non-playoff teams, via Tankathon:
DALLAS COWBOYS at NEW YORK GIANTS: The Giants could go from having the No. 1 pick to potentially dropping as low as No. 7 within two weeks. Would be great. Do the unselfish thing and lose, Dallas! Root for the Giants.
NEW YORK JETS at BUFFALO BILLS: Thanks to last year’s Haason Reddick trade, the Eagles own the Jets’ third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The more the Jets lose, the more favorable the pick will be for the Birds. Root for the Bills.
CLEVELAND BROWNS at CINCINNATI BENGALS: The Eagles want to see the Browns move ahead of the Giants in the draft order. Root for the Bengals.
TENNESSEE TITANS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: The Eagles want to see the Titans move ahead of the Giants in the draft order. Root for the Jaguars.
GREEN BAY PACKERS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS: The Packers are resting their starters, so, the Vikings probably won’t lose. But it would be good to see Minny move ahead of Dallas in the draft order. Root for the Packers.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at HOUSTON TEXANS: The Eagles want to see the Colts’ pick owed to the Jets move ahead of the Cowboys in the draft order. Root for the Texans.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: The Eagles really want the Raiders and not the Giants to get the No. 1 overall pick. Root for the Chiefs.
MIAMI DOLPHINS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: The Eagles want the Dolphins to stay ahead of the Cowboys in the draft order. Root for the Patriots.
WHAT’S LEFT
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS at DENVER BRONCOS: Doesn’t really matter outside of in the weeds strength of schedule tiebreaker implications for draft pick order.
BALTIMORE RAVENS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Which team do you want to win the AFC North? Take your pick.
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