WILD CARD FEVER: Eagles clinch playoff berth in Nick Sirianni’s first season as head coach

If you rewind the season to Week 7, Derek Carr had just completed 91% of his passes, Miles Sanders was carted off in the first quarter and the Eagles had lost five of their last six, falling to 2-5.

Rumors began to swirl of first-year head coach Nick Sirianni being “one-and-done” while the future of the QB position in Philadelphia looked murky.

Albeit against subpar opponents, the Eagles have since won seven of their last nine games. They’ve established themselves as the league’s best rushing team behind the playmaking of Jalen Hurts and their dominant offensive line.

Entering Sunday, the Eagles needed three things to occur for them to punch their ticket to the postseason:

• Eagles beat Washington
• 49ers beat Texans
• Packers beat Vikings

Philadelphia took care of Washington 20-16 thanks to Rodney McLeod’s game-sealing interception in the endzone. Rookie QB Trey Lance threw two TDs in his second career start, beating Houston 23-7. Green Bay was the final domino to fall, defeating Minnesota 37-10.

Rodney McLeod seals the W for the @Eagles! #FlyEaglesFly #PHIvsWAS pic.twitter.com/knAMbA4Gxh

— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2022

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This will be the Eagles’ fourth postseason appearance in five years — quite the turnaround from last year’s disastrous 4-11-1 season. After parting ways with once-franchise QB Carson Wentz and Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson, many predicted this team to be in disarray in 2021.

Securing themselves a winning season and playoff experience has made Nick Sirianni’s first season a successful one — and the Eagles may have found their long-term quarterback in the process.

HURTS MAGIC. pic.twitter.com/KLmDG2vXqG

— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) January 2, 2022

Mandatory Credit: NBC Sports Philadelphia