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Here’s a look at which teams Philadelphia Eagles fans should be rooting for during NFL Week 13 games.
EAGLES GAME
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles can move to first place in the division IF they beat Washington on Monday night and then the Cowboys next Sunday. Philadelphia then might need to win out down the stretch just to make the playoffs. No small task for a team that’s failed to win back-to-back games all year, but screw it: why can’t us? Root for the Eagles.
NFC EAST GAMES
Chicago Bears at New York Giants: If the season ended today, the Giants would be picking fifth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. It’d be nice to see them screw up their draft position with some more meaningless wins. Root for the Bears to lose.
NFC GAMES
Before I talk about these NFC games, let me note that the Eagles currently have a 0.6% chance of winning the wild card. If the Eagles are going to make the post-season, it’s likely going to have to be as NFC East champs. So instead of focusing on the very unlikely wild card chase here, I’ll be looking at these games through the lens of rooting for draft position in the probable event the Eagles do not make the playoffs.
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs losing allows the Giants to potentially pass them in the 2019 draft order. Carolina winning also keeps them ahead of the Eagles in the draft order. Easy call. Root for the Panthers.
Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions: The Lions losing would allow the Giants to potentially catch them. I don’t think Detroit will catch up to the Eagles. Root for the Rams.
Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers: The Packers might be able to make a push that puts the Eagles ahead of them in the draft order. I’d root for Green Bay here, though the Cardinals losing would ensure Arizona stays ahead of the Giants. Root for the Packers.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks winning keeps the Eagles ahead of Seattle in the draft order. It also keeps the 49ers ahead of the Giants. Root for the Seahawks.
Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots: Vikings win keeps them ahead of the Eagles in the draft order. Plus the Pats losing is always good. Root for the Vikings.
DRAFT PICK WATCH
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons: If the season ended today, the Ravens would make the playoffs as a wild card in the AFC. Not so good for the Eagles, who own Baltimore’s second-round pick. Philadelphia really could use a Falcons win here. Altanta’s victory would also give the Eagles a chance to be higher in the draft order. Root for the Falcons.
WHAT’S LEFT
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins winning could cause them to drop behind the Eagles in the draft order. The Bills losing could also allow the Giants to catch up to Buffalo. Root for the Dolphins.
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags and Giants have the same record. Jacksonville is an obvious threat to take a quarterback, so it’d be great to have them above the G-Men. Plus, how you can not root for Frank Reich? Root for the Colts.
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans: The Browns could potentially fall behind the Eagles in the draft order. Root for the Browns.
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals: Both of these teams are 5-6. You should root for the team that you feel can more strongly contend for a wild card spot in order to help keep Baltimore out of the playoffs. That might be Denver. Root for the Broncos.
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders: Have to hope the Raiders can continue to lose in order to stay ahead of the Giants in the draft order. Root for the Chiefs.
New York Jets at Tennessee Titans: The Titans might be able to pass the Eagles in the draft order and the Giants might be able to pass the Jets. Root for the Titans.
Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers: For the Eagles’ sake, Pittsburgh can’t let Baltimore take the AFC North lead. Root for the Steelers.