The Philadelphia Eagles will enter Week 18 alive for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
The Birds helped themselves in Week 17 by narrowly beating the Buffalo Bills. Then they got some help with the San Francisco 49ers beating the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.
The Eagles can now clinch the No. 2 seed in the final week of the regular season if BOTH of the following two results come to pass:
- Eagles beat the Washington Commanders in Philly
- Bears lose to the Detroit Lions in Chicago
It remains to be seen if the Eagles will play their starters against the Commanders. There’s a strong case to be made that they should since the No. 2 seed guarantees a second home game in the playoffs if they win their Wild
Card matchup. It also allows for the Eagles to host the NFC Championship Game if the No. 1 seed gets knocked out, which is exactly what happened last year.
It’s possible the Eagles could beat Washington with their backups. Then again, Dan Quinn seemed pretty hellbent on avenging Washington’s Week 16 loss to Philly.
As for the Bears losing to the Lions? Well, that’s tough to count on. Detroit was eliminated from playoff contention on Christmas, so, it’s not like they have motivation to go all out to win. But Dan Campbell could still have his guys fired up to finish the regular season on a high note by worsening a division rival’s playoff seeding.
For what it’s worth, the Lions will have a rest advantage in that game. They last played on Thursday afternoon while the Bears played in California on Sunday night and will have to travel back to Chicago.
If the Eagles do get the No. 2 seed, they’ll host the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field in the Wild Card round … just like they did last year. If they finish with the No. 3 seed, they’ll host either the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, or San Francisco 49ers.
All potential scenarios outlined by the great Deniz Selman below:
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
DIVISION LEADERS
1) Seattle Seahawks: 13-3*
2) Chicago Bears: 11-5*
3) Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5^
4) Carolina Panthers: 8-8
^officially clinched division
*officially clinched playoff berth
WILD CARD TEAMS
5) San Francisco 49ers: 12-4*
6) Los Angeles Rams: 11-4*
7) Green Bay Packers: 9-6-1*
*officially clinched playoff berth
Note: the Rams are being hosted by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night to wrap up Week 17.
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-9
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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