NFC Playoff Picture: Eagles' Dominance Continues with 7 Games to Go
The Philadelphia Eagles have solidified their position as the top seed in the NFC playoff race after a convincing win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. With seven games remaining, the Eagles are in a strong position to secure a first-round bye.
While an undefeated streak is unlikely, the Eagles' top spot is still within reach. The main competition for the No. 1 seed comes from the Los Angeles Rams, who are also 8-2 after a significant victory over the Seattle Seahawks. However, the Eagles have a crucial advantage in the head-to-head tiebreaker, having beaten the Rams in Week 3.
Let's delve into the remaining schedules of these two teams.
Eagles' Remaining Schedule
- Week 12: At Dallas Cowboys
- Week 13: vs. Chicago Bears
- Week 14: At Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 15: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 16: At Washington Commanders
- Week 17: At Buffalo Bills
- Week 18: vs. Washington Commanders
If the Eagles go 5-2 in this stretch, with losses to the Cowboys (a common occurrence) and the Bills, they will finish with a 13-4 record.
Rams' Remaining Schedule
- Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 13: At Carolina Panthers
- Week 14: At Arizona Cardinals
- Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions
- Week 16: At Seattle Seahawks
- Week 17: At Atlanta Falcons
- Week 18: vs. Arizona Cardinals
For the Rams to maintain their position, they would need to go 6-1 or better in this stretch, which is a challenging but not impossible feat.
Other teams could also challenge the Eagles for the top spot, but the Buccaneers are already at a disadvantage in the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Eagles have a favorable chance to beat the Bears, who have a negative point differential, at Lincoln Financial Field. Additionally, the Eagles won't face the Seahawks in the regular season, but Seattle is 4-3 in conference games, while the Eagles are 7-1.
In the NFC East, the Eagles' magic number (Eagles' wins + Cowboys' losses) to win the division is four. This outcome seems inevitable, and it could happen soon if the Eagles secure a victory over the Cowboys in Dallas next weekend.
With many games left to play, the Eagles' playoff positioning looks promising. The current NFC playoff picture is as follows:
Projected Playoff Teams
Division Leaders
- Philadelphia Eagles: 8-2
- Los Angeles Rams: 8-2
- Chicago Bears: 7-3
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-4
Wild Card Teams
- Seattle Seahawks: 7-3
- Green Bay Packers: 6-3-1
- San Francisco 49ers: 7-4
Teams on the Outside Looking In
In the Hunt
- Detroit Lions: 6-4
- Carolina Panthers: 6-5
- Minnesota Vikings: 4-6
- Dallas Cowboys: 3-5-1*
*Cowboys play the Raiders in Las Vegas on Monday night.
Unsure Teams
- Arizona Cardinals: 3-7
- Atlanta Falcons: 3-7
- Washington Commanders: 3-8
- New Orleans Saints: 2-8
- New York Giants: 2-9
