NFL playoff picture: Despite loss to Dolphins, Eagles can move to first place in the NFC East next week

I really didn't want to write this post. After losing the Miami Dolphins the way they did on Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles really don't deserve to be thinking about the 2016 NFL playoffs. But the fact remains that the NFC East is awful and the Birds are somehow still alive. In fact, they're so alive that they can actually finish next week with the lead in the division. Here's an updated looking at the standings:

NFC East

1) New York Giants - 5-5

2) Washington Redskins - 4-5

3) Philadelphia Eagles - 4-5

4) Dallas Cowboys - 2-7

The Eagles can thank the New England Patriots for (barely) managing to edge out the G-Men on Sunday. They have a bye this week, so they'll remain at .500. Washington, meanwhile, has to play the undefeated Panthers in North Carolina. The Cowboys are virtually buried all the way at the bottom of the NFC.

If the Eagles manage to beat the the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) and Washington loses, the Birds will actually be at the top of the division due to their head-to-head tiebreaker over the Giants.

The Eagles have opened as seven point favorites over the Buccaneers, which is pretty crazy considering how inept the Birds have looked recently. Tampa Bay isn't good either, but it's hard to have a lot of confidence in this Eagles team right now.

NFC Playoff Picture

Here's a look at the rest of the NFC. Keep in mind the top six teams qualify for the playoffs when the season is over:

1) Carolina Panthers (9-0)

2) Arizona Cardinals (7-2)

3) Minnesota Vikings (7-2)

4) New York Giants (5-5)

5) Green Bay Packers (6-3)

6) Atlanta Falcons (6-3)

7) Washington Redskins (4-5)

8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)

9) St. Louis Rams (4-5)

10) Seattle Seahawks (4-5)

11) Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)

12) Chicago Bears (4-5)

13) New Orleans Saints (4-6)

14) San Francisco 49ers (3-6)

15) Detroit Lions (2-7)

16) Dallas Cowboys (2-7)

Eagles remaining schedule

Week 11 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Nov. 22, 1:00 PM)

Week 12 - @ Detroit Lions (Nov. 26 ,12:30 PM, FOX) *Thanksgiving Game*

Week 13 - @ New England Patriots (Dec. 6, 4:25 PM, FOX)

Week 14 - Buffalo Bills (Dec. 13, 1:00 PM, CBS)

Week 15 - Arizona Cardinals (Dec. 20, 1:00 PM, FOX)

Week 16 - Washington Redskins (Dec. 26, 8:25 PM, NFL Network) *Saturday*

Week 17 - @ New York Giants (Jan. 3, 1:00 PM)