The Philadelphia Eagles used a franchise-record 10-game win streak to vault themselves into the conversation for the top seed in the NFC. However, a stunning Week 16 defeat narrowed the Birds’ path to home-field advantage without the lone bye.
After back-to-back wins to close the regular season, we analyze the Eagles’ playoff scenario.
What Is the Philadelphia Eagles’ Current Playoff Picture?
The Eagles were locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC entering Week 18. With both the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings sitting at 14-2, there’s no scenario in which the Eagles can finish ahead of the NFC North champion for the No. 1 seed.
The Eagles were the only NFC team that is definitively locked into a seed entering Week 18. While six of the seven spots had been clinched, no other team had a seed clinched.
That luxury allowed Philadelphia to treat Week 18 as a quasi-bye week. Notable players that were listed as out or doubtful for the Eagles’ regular season finale included Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Zack Baun, Jalen Carter, Nakobe Dean, and Darius Slay.
Despite that, the Eagles still defeated the New York Giants on Sunday, 20-13, behind backup quarterback Tanner McKee’s 269 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Who Are the Eagles’ Wild Card Round Opponent?
The Eagles entered the weekend expecting to play one of two teams in the Wild Card Round: the Green Bay Packers or Washington Commanders.
The Commanders’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday was enough to secure Washington the No. 6 seed. The Packers will be the NFC’s No. 7 seed and travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles on Wild Card Weekend. That game is scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
The Eagles beat the Packers in Week 1 in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Brazil. That game featured over 800 total yards of offense and 63 points in a high-scoring affair. It was Saquon Barkley’s Eagles debut as he began his MVP-caliber season with 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns.