NFC Playoff Picture: What the Eagles need to happen after beating the Texans

The Philadelphia Eagles are STILL ALIVE in the NFL playoff picture thanks to a dramatic 32-30 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Nick Foles gave the Eagles his Big Nick Energy once again. Let’s take a look at the updated NFC playoff picture and where the Eagles can go from here!

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

PLAYOFF TEAMS

1 - New Orleans Saints: 12-2 overall, 9-2 conference

2 - Los Angeles Rams: 11-3 overall, 7-3 conference

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

4 - Dallas Cowboys: 9-6 overall, 8-3 conference

5 - Seattle Seahawks: 8-6 overall, 7-4 conference

6 - Minnesota Vikings: 8-6-1 overall, 6-4-1 conference

IN THE HUNT

7 - Philadelphia Eagles: 8-7 overall, 5-6 conference

DEAD

8 - Washington Redskins: 7-8 overall, 6-5 conference

9 - Atlanta Falcons: 6-9 overall, 6-5 conference

10 - Carolina Panthers: 6-9 overall, 4-6 conference

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

12 - New York Giants: 5-10 overall, 4-7 conference

13 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-10 overall, 4-7 conference

14 - Detroit Lions: 5-10 overall, 3-8 conference

15 - San Francisco 49ers: 4-10 overall, 2-8 conference

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

...

With the Cowboys beating the Bucs on Sunday, the Eagles can no longer win the NFC East. Dallas officially clinched the division on Sunday. That’s the bad news.

The good news is the Eagles are still in the hunt for a wild card spot. How can they get that, you ask? Well, in addition to beating Washington at FedEx Field in Week 17, the Eagles need at least one of these two things to happen:

1 - Vikings lose to the Bears in Minnesota in Week 17

2 - Seahawks lose to the Chiefs tonight in Seattle AND the Cardinals in Week 17 in Seattle

If BOTH of those two outcomes happen, the Eagles will enter the 2019 NFL playoffs as the No. 5 seed. They’d likely face the Cowboys in Dallas for a third time this season. Oh baby.

If only one of those two outcomes happens, the Eagles will enter the 2019 NFL playoffs as the No. 6 seed. They’d likely face the Bears in Chicago on wild card weekend.

The No. 6 seed is obviously the more likely option for the Eagles. It’s hard to count on the Seahawks losing to Arizona at home with the playoffs on the line.

The Eagles’ playoff hopes realistically rest in the hands of the Bears. Philadelphia really needs Chicago to not rest their starters and just give the Vikings a free win in Week 17.

Of course, the Eagles must take care of business themselves. Beating a Josh Johnson-led Washington team next Sunday shouldn’t be too hard, especially since Jay Gruden’s team has nothing left to play for at this point. But a trap game letdown must be avoided.

Playoffs or not, it’s really nice to see the Eagles finishing the 2018 season strong. But also: screw that, let’s make the playoffs! Hopes of a Super Bowl repeat still alive!