NFL Playoff Picture: How the Eagles can clinch the NFC East in Week 16

Week 15 could not have gone much better for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Birds snapped their three game losing streak in emphatic fashion with a 31-0 demolition of the Raiders at the Linc. Just as important, they got a massive assist Sunday night when the Dallas Cowboys, who were favored at home, lost to the Minnesota Vikings. The result tightened the division race in all the right ways for Philly.

Raiders to the Rescue: Eagles ‘get right’ with a 31-0 shutout at The Linc

With that, the Eagles magic number to clinch the NFC East is now one.

That means things are very simple heading into Week 16.

• If the Eagles beat the Washington Commanders on Saturday night in Maryland, the NFC East is officially theirs. No scoreboard watching required.

• If the Eagles lose to Washington, they can still clinch the division on Sunday if the Cowboys lose at home to the Los Angeles Chargers.

• If neither of those things happens, the door technically stays open for one more week, but the math is already heavily stacked in Philly’s favor.

The only path for Dallas to win the division at this point requires the Eagles to lose their final three games and the Cowboys to win their final three games. That scenario exists on paper, but it lives firmly in fantasy land.

After Sunday night’s loss to Minnesota, the Cowboys are not officially eliminated from postseason contention, but it is a near impossibility. This what they now would need to win the division:

🏈Eagles would need to lose their final three games.
🏈Cowboys would need to win their… pic.twitter.com/07bcx0j2ef

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2025

Remaining Schedules

Eagles

• Week 16 at Commanders
• Week 17 at Bills
• Week 18 vs Commanders

Cowboys

• Week 16 vs Chargers
• Week 17 at Commanders
• Week 18 at Giants

The Birds are on the doorstep of becoming the first team to repeat as NFC East champions since they did it themselves in 2004. Given how chaotic this season has felt at times, that would be a massive accomplishment.

Seeding Watch

The good news did not stop with Dallas. The Birds also benefited from losses by both the Buccaneers and Panthers in Week 15, helping protect Philly from sliding into the No. 4 seed. That matters because the four seed is likely staring down the second place team from the NFC West in the Wild Card round, which is not exactly a friendly draw.

Right now, the Eagles are tracking toward the No. 3 seed. If that holds, they would host the No. 6 seed at the Linc, currently projected to be the San Francisco 49ers.

There is still a path to the No. 2 seed, but it would likely require the Eagles to win out and get help from the Bears and Packers dropping games. The No. 1 seed is still mathematically possible, but extremely unlikely, with the Rams and Seahawks holding the strongest grip on that spot.

Updated NFC Playoff Picture After Week 15

LEADERS

1. Rams 11-3
2. Bears 10-4
3. Eagles 9-5
4. Buccaneers 7-7

WILDCARD

5. Seahawks 11-3
6. 49ers 10-4
7. Packers 9-4-1

STILL HUNTING

• Lions 8-6
• Panthers 7-7

DEAD MEN WALKING

• Cowboys 6-7-1

CANCUN

• Vikings
• Falcons
• Saints
• Commanders
• Cardinals
• Giants

The panic has cooled and now the path is much more clear. Win on Saturday night and the NFC East belongs to the Eagles again.

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