The penultimate week of the 2025 NFL regular season is here and six of the seven qualifiers in the NFC playoff picture have already been determined.
The biggest question, then, isn’t about which teams will or won’t make the postseason as much as it’s about how the seeding will shake out.
Here’s a look at the Philadelphia Eagles’ updated playoff chances entering Week 17:
- No. 2 seed: 6%
- No. 3 seed: 92%
- No. 4 seed: 1%
The Birds were officially eliminated from No. 1 seed contention with the San Francisco 49ers’ Monday night win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16. The most likely outcome now is the No. 3 seed.
But it’s too early to give up on the No. 2 seed entirely. The great Deniz Selman has outlined the three paths to getting there and it’s not like they’re totally inconceivable outcomes:
There’s already been some debate about the Eagles potentially resting starters but it’s a no-brainer for them to try to win in Week 17.
At the very least, a win over the Buffalo Bills guarantees the Eagles won’t fall to the No. 4 seed. Of course, it’s possible they’ll already clinch a top three finish if the Carolina Panthers lose to the Seattle Seahawks in the 1:00 PM window on Sunday.
A win over the Bills keeps the Eagles alive for the No. 2 seed in Week 18 … unless both the Seahawks beat the Panthers AND the Chicago Bears pull off an upset over the San Francisco 49ers. That second game takes place on Sunday night, however, which is after the Eagles-Bills matchup.
In the event that the Eagles enter Week 18 locked into the No. 3 seed, they can easily opt to rest starters against the Washington Commanders in the regular season finale. The Eagles took this approach with their Week 18 game against the New York Giants last year.
Current NFC playoff picture
DIVISION LEADERS
1) Seattle Seahawks: 12-3*
2) Chicago Bears: 11-4*
3) Philadelphia Eagles: 10-5^
4) Carolina Panthers: 8-7
^officially clinched division
*officially clinched playoff berth
WILD CARD TEAMS
5) San Francisco 49ers: 11-4*
6) Los Angeles Rams: 11-4*
7) Green Bay Packers: 9-5-1*
*officially clinched playoff berth
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-8
The Bucs can win the NFC South, which will definitely be the No. 4 seed in their case, if they win their final two games: Week 17 at Miami Dolphins and Week 18 vs. Carolina Panthers. The Bucs can afford to lose in Week 17 if the Panthers also lose to the Seahawks. Then Tampa could beat Carolina in Week 18 to clinch the division.
NFC teams eliminated from playoff contention
- Minnesota Vikings
- Detroit Lions
- Dallas Cowboys
- Atlanta Falcons
- New Orleans Saints
- Washington Commanders
- Arizona Cardinals
- New York Giants
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