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"Do you want the Eagles to beat the Giants?" is a question that Eagles fans should be able to answer before the person asking even finishes their sentence. But due to the context of the Week 17 season finale between Philadelphia and New York this weekend, it's a question worth asking.
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The Eagles and Giants are set to face off in a game with no immediate implications for either side. The Eagles were officially eliminated from playoff contention last week when the Dallas Cowboys clinched the NFC East title. The Giants, meanwhile, have long been eliminated from the postseason conversation after starting out the year at 3-9.
Both teams should be hungry for a win. The Eagles will want to finish out on a good note after falling from 9-3 to 9-6. The Giants, meanwhile, are 6-9 after winning three straight games. They will be playing for pride as well.
Some fans could care less about pride, however. They would argue that losing is better than winning when it comes to a meaningless game like this. A loss improves draft position while a win only makes it worse. The Eagles are currently picking at No. 20, which is arguably the worst spot. Depending on the results of other games, the Eagles could finish somewhere between picks 16-19 with a loss. A win would mean they would clinch spot No. 20. As an additional bonus, an Eagles loss could potentially push the Giants' first round pick down from No. 11 to somewhere between picks 12-14.
There's an argument to be made for both sides. On one hand, this isn't the NBA where draft positioning makes a HUGE difference. An Eagles loss won't make a huge difference in the draft order so the team might as well end the season on a high note.
On the other hand, a few spots can make a difference in the NFL. The Eagles reportedly had six targets they wanted at pick No. 22 in the 2014 NFL Draft. They knew those players might not last, so they tried to trade up, but the cost was too prohibitive. The Eagles ended up trading down to No. 26 and taking Marcus Smith II. Eagles don't need to be reminded that Smith II has only appeared in a very limited amount of snaps this season.
Which side of the argument are you on? Or do you not care?