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Here’s a look at which teams Philadelphia Eagles fans should be rooting for during NFL Week 16 games.
EAGLES GAME
Houston Texans at Philadelphia Eagles: In addition to getting some help, the Eagles essentially need to win out to make the playoffs. Root for the Eagles.
NFC EAST PIPE DREAM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys: The Eagles can still win the division if they win out and the Cowboys lose out. Unfortunately, there’s just no way Dallas is possibly going to lose on Sunday. The Cowboys totally aren’t chokers. Root for the Buccaneers.
WILD CARD FEVER
Washington Redskins at Tennessee Titans: The Titans winning this game helps the Eagles in two ways. 1) A Titans win on Saturday combined with an Eagles win on Sunday officially eliminates Washington from the playoff picture. That means Washington won’t have something to play for when they face the Eagles in Week 17. 2) The Titans winning drops the Ravens’ playoff chances by 6%. The Eagles want Baltimore to miss the playoffs in order to get a better 2019 second-round pick from the Ravens. Root for the Titans.
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: The most simple way for the Eagles to get a wild card spot involves: 1) Philly winning out and 2) the Vikings losing at least one of their final two games (at DET, vs. CHI). Here’s to hoping Kirk Cousins chokes once again. Root for the Lions.
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals: The Rams can clinch a first-round bye if they win and Chicago loses this week. That’d be bad for the Eagles because that could mean the Bears might rest their starters against Minnesota in Week 17. The Eagles might need the Bears to beat the Vikings to get in to the playoffs. If the Rams lose to Arizona and Chicago beats San Fran, that gives the Bears reason to go all out for a first-round bye clinch in Week 17. Root for the Cardinals.
Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers: I just talked about how the Eagles need the Bears to win this week so that they’ll have something to play for next week. Root for the Bears.
Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks: For the sake of this scenario, let’s assume the Vikings are going to win both of their final two games. All hope is not lost for the Eagles in that case, IF Philly wins out and the Seahawks lose out. The Vikings would be the No. 5 seed and the Eagles would be the No. 6 seed, with Seattle missing the playoffs entirely. This situation doesn’t seem likely considering Seattle ends their season with a home game against Arizona. Not impossible, though. Root for the Chiefs.
RAVENS DRAFT PICK
Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers: A Ravens loss on Saturday drops Baltimore’s chances of making the playoffs from 41% to 18%. The Eagles need the Ravens to miss the playoffs so that 2019 second-round pick they’re owed is in the middle of the second round instead of later on. Root for the Chargers.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints: A Steelers win combined with a Ravens loss allows Pittsburgh to clinch the AFC North. The Eagles don’t want the Ravens making the playoffs, let alone getting a home game on wild card weekend. Root for the Steelers.
DRAFT POSITIONING
New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts: I look at this as a win-win for the Eagles. If the Giants win, they continue to screw up their draft position. If the Colts win, they decrease the Ravens’ chances of making the playoffs. You can’t really go wrong here. Root for your choice.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers: The Panthers’ playoff odds are less than 1% at this point. The Eagles don’t have to worry about them if they win out. While it would be nice to see Carolina get officially eliminated with a loss, the Falcons losing keeps them ahead of the Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft order. Root for the Panthers.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns: The Bengals losing allows Cincy to potentially get ahead of NYG in the draft order. And maybe the Bengals would draft a QB? Andy Dalton has no guaranteed money in his contract after this season. Root for the Browns.
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots: A Giants win and a Bills loss allows Buffalo to move ahead of NYG in the draft order. Root for the Bills to lose.
Green Bay Packers at New York Jets: A Giants win and a Packers loss allows Green Bay to move ahead of NYG in the draft order. Also, Sam Darnold outplaying Aaron Rodgers just makes the Giants look dumber for passing on the young quarterback. Root for the Jets.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are mathematically still alive for a wild card spot, so it’d be good to see them win. Plus a Jaguars loss helps to keep Jacksonville ahead of the Giants in the draft order. That’s significant with the Jags clearly needing a quarterback. Root for the Dolphins.
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders: Denver might be able to move ahead of the Giants in the draft order if they continue to lose. Or it could at least put them closer to trading up for a quarterback. Root for the Raiders.