Breaking Down the Philadelphia Eagles’ Playoff Scenarios: Week 14 Edition
By Nick Wilder
@NickCWilder
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Eagles (9-3) are coming off a crucial Week 13 victory over the division-rival Dallas Cowboys (8-4) in Jerry World on Thanksgiving. The Eagles appear to be heading for the playoffs following the victory, but anything can happen in the NFL, especially with four games left on the schedule. Philadelphia’s remaining matchups include the Seattle Seahawks (home), Cowboys (home), Washington Redskins (away) and New York Giants (away).
First, let’s take a look at the race for the NFC East crown. It’s already down to the Cowboys and Eagles, with Philadelphia winning the first meeting and currently holding a one-game lead. The second matchup between the teams is set for Week 15, which will likely be the biggest game of the season for each team. If the Eagles were to win that critical game, they’ll own the tiebreaker over Dallas and only have to win one of their other three games to win the division.
If the Cowboys were to win the Week 15 matchup and the two teams finished with the same record, the Eagles would still own the tiebreaker due to having the better divisional record. This is assuming the Eagles take care of business and defeat the Redskins and Giants to end the year.
In terms of the Wild Card situation, if the Eagles come in second in the NFC East, they would still have an excellent chance at making the NFC Wild Card. Currently, the Wild Card teams are the Seahawks (8-4) and Detroit Lions (8-4). The matchup between Philadelphia and Seattle in Week 14 will also prove to be vital in terms of the Wild Card and eventual playoff seeding.
The Eagles are also tied with the Green Bay Packers (9-3) and Arizona Cardinals (9-3) for the best record in the NFC. However, Philadelphia lost to both of those teams, putting them at the No. 3 seed as of now. Nevertheless, Chip Kelly’s team is still alive for the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NFC, which would grant them a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
It’s all a bit confusing at this juncture with four weeks left in the 2014 season, but the bottom line is that the Eagles are in a great position to make the playoffs. Whether they win the NFC East or earn a Wild Card spot remains to be seen. For Philadelphia, the result of their next two games against Seattle and Dallas will offer much more playoff clarity.
Nick Wilderis a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickCWilder and add him to your network on Google.
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