NFC Playoff Picture: Cowboys lose, but Eagles fail to get help in wild card race

Here’s an updated look at the Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff hopes heading into their Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football.

The Eagles failed to get help in the NFC wild card race with the Minnesota Vikings defeating the Miami Dolphins. This result basically means the Eagles must win tonight. Losing to Los Angeles won’t officially eliminate the Eagles, but their odds of making the playoffs will be down to 1%, per FiveThirtyEight. Beating the Rams would increase the Eagles’ odds to around 35%. Beating the Rams and seeing the Carolina Panthers lose to the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football increases the Eagles’ chances to 39%.

Washington beating the Jacksonville Jaguars is more bad news for the Eagles. Washington moved up to the No. 7 spot in the NFC playoff picture with their win. The Eagles already have a win over Washington and they could beat them again in Week 17 to win the direct tie-breaker. But this result just gives Philly even less room for error.

The Eagles’ pipe dream hopes of winning the NFC East are still alive with the Cowboys losing to Frank Reich’s Indianapolis Colts. In order to win the division, the Eagles need to win out (at LAR, vs. HOU, at WAS) and Dallas needs to lose out (vs. TB, at NYG). Very much a long shot but Dak Prescott being bad helps the Eagles’ unlikely chances (currently 2%).

Although they’re still probably going to win the division, the Cowboys’ loss hurts their chances to get the No. 3 seed with the Chicago Bears also winning. This means the Cowboys will likely have to face the Seattle Seahawks on wild card weekend. Dallas already lost to Seattle earlier this year.

In other NFC East news, the New York Giants were officially eliminated from the playoff picture on Sunday.

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

PLAYOFF TEAMS

1 - New Orleans Saints: 11-2 overall, 8-2 conference

2 - Los Angeles Rams: 11-2 overall, 7-2 conference

3 - Chicago Bears: 10-4 overall, 8-2 conference

4 - Dallas Cowboys: 8-6 overall, 7-3 conference

5 - Seattle Seahawks: 8-5 overall, 7-3 conference

6 - Minnesota Vikings: 7-6-1 overall, 5-4-1 conference

IN THE HUNT

7 - Washington Redskins: 7-7 overall, 6-5 conference

8 - Carolina Panthers: 6-7 overall, 4-5 conference

9 - Philadelphia Eagles: 6-7 overall, 4-6 conference

DEAD

10- Green Bay Packers: 5-8-1 overall, 3-7-1 conference

11 - Atlanta Falcons: 5-9 overall, 5-5 conference

12 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-9 overall, 4-6 conference

13 - New York Giants: 5-9 overall, 4-7 conference

14 - Detroit Lions: 5-9 overall, 3-7 conference

15 - San Francisco 49ers: 3-10 overall, 1-8 conference

16 - Arizona Cardinals: 3-11 overall, 3-7 conference