NFC Playoff Picture: Eagles are alive but barely breathing in the hunt for No. 1 seed

If you woke up after the Bears loss assuming the Eagles had torpedoed their season, no one would blame you. The offense looks broken, the defense just allowed a historic demolition on the ground, and the entire city is ready to pass out laminated “Fire Patullo” pamphlets on Broad Street.

Here’s the twist. Somehow, some way, the Eagles are still sitting in a great position in the NFC playoff race. It feels wrong, it feels confusing, and it feels like cheating, but it is the truth.

With five games left, the Eagles are very much alive for the No. 1 seed and still favored to win the NFC East. They are just doing everything in their power to make it look difficult.

The Eagles’ Remaining Schedule

• at Chargers
• vs Raiders
• at Washington
• at Buffalo
• vs Washington

Remaining strength of schedule: .400, tied for second easiest in the league.

It is a gift from the football gods. Whether the Eagles are capable of unwrapping it without dropping it on the floor is the part that concerns everyone.

The Bears and Rams Paths

The Bears and Rams hold the top two seeds, but both have tougher slates than Philadelphia.

Bears Schedule

• at Packers
• vs Browns
• vs Packers
• at 49ers
• vs Lions

Strength of schedule: .590.

Rams Schedule

• at Cardinals
• vs Lions
• at Seahawks
• at Falcons
• vs Cardinals

Strength of schedule: .433.

The Eagles own the head to head tiebreaker over the Rams, which matters. Chicago holds the one over Philly now, which hurts. But the Bears also have the kind of schedule that can rip a team apart.

The NFC East Situation

Two weeks ago, this race was over. Dallas was collapsing and Philadelphia looked steady. Then the Eagles blew a 21 point lead to the Cowboys, followed it with the Bears disaster, and now the division is a coin flip again.

Cowboys schedule

• at Lions
• vs Vikings
• vs Chargers
• at Washington
• vs Giants

Same strength of schedule as the Eagles. Same opportunities. Same ability to make a late run. Philly just needs four combinations of wins and Cowboys losses. It is still likely. It just feels a lot less safe than it did a month ago.

The Eagles are 8-4 and currently the No. 3 seed.

They could still finish anywhere from first to out of the division lead entirely. None of it matters if they cannot snap out of this funk. The schedule gets easier, but the product has not.

Monday night in Los Angeles is the pivot point. Win, and there is life. Lose, and you can officially start referencing December 2023 without anyone yelling at you for being dramatic.

Current NFC Playoff Standings

1. Bears 9-3
2. Rams 9-3
3. Eagles 8-4
4. Buccaneers 7-5
5. Seahawks 9-3
6. Packers 8-3-1
7. 49ers 9-4

In the hunt: Lions, Cowboys, Panthers
Eliminated: Giants, Saints, Cardinals

The Eagles still control their path. They just have to stop tripping over their own feet to walk it.

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