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The Philadelphia Eagles could’ve taken the NFC East lead by beating the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Instead, they lost, and now their playoff hopes are on life support.
Winning the division is obviously not happening at this point. The Eagles would need to win out (at Rams, versus Texans, at Washington) and the Cowboys would need to lose out (at Colts, versus Buccaneers, at Giants). In that incredibly unlikely scenario, the Eagles would be 9-7 and the Cowboys would be 8-8.
So, how about the wild card? While it’s possible, it’s still not likely. We broke down what it’d take for Philadelphia to make the playoffs as a wild card team last week. The Eagles had one of the key games in that scenario go in their favor on Sunday with the Panthers losing to the Browns. The Eagles can get more help with Seattle beating Minnesota on Monday Night Football.
For the Eagles to secure a wild card spot, they’ll need to have a better record than both Minnesota and Carolina. Let’s compare remaining schedules.
Eagles: at Rams, versus Texans, at Washington
Vikings: at Seattle, versus Dolphins, at Lions, versus Bears
Let’s say the Eagles go 2-1 with wins over Houston and Washington. That seems within the realm of possibility, though certainly not a foregone conclusion. That’d put the Eagles at 8-8.
That could be good another to move ahead of the Panthers, who still have to play the Saints twice and could go 7-9. (Though New Orleans might be resting starting in Week 17.)
Getting ahead of the Vikings is trickier. Minnesota probably has to lose three out of their last four so they end up 7-8-1.
The Eagles would make the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in that scenario. A Philadelphia team that has only won one true road game (against the Giants in Week 6) would then need to win three away playoff games just to MAKE the Super Bowl. In other words, making the playoffs as a wild card is probably a waste of time.
Here’s the entire NFL playoff picture. Keep reading on for more information on the 2019 NFL Draft order.
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: 9-4 overall, 7-2 conference
4 - Dallas Cowboys: 8-5 overall, 7-3 conference
5 - Seattle Seahawks: 7-5 overall, 6-3 conference
6 - Minnesota Vikings: 6-5-1 overall, 5-3-1 conference
IN THE HUNT
7 - Carolina Panthers: 6-7 overall, 4-5 conference
8 - Philadelphia Eagles: 6-7 overall, 4-6 conference
9 - Washington Redskins: 6-7 overall, 6-5 conference
DEAD
10- Green Bay Packers: 5-7-1 overall, 3-6-1 conference
11 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-8 overall, 4-6 conference
12 - New York Giants: 5-8 overall, 4-7 conference
14 - Detroit Lions: 5-8 overall, 3-7 conference
14 - Atlanta Falcons: 4-9 overall, 4-5 conference
15 - Arizona Cardinals: 3-10 overall, 3-6 conference
16 - San Francisco 49ers: 3-10 overall, 1-8 conference
...
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
PLAYOFF TEAMS
1 - Kansas City Chiefs: 11-2 overall, 9-1 conference
2 - New England Patriots: 9-4 overall, 6-3 conference
3 - Houston Texans: 9-4 overall, 7-3 conference
4 - Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-5-1 overall, 4-5-1 conference
5 - Los Angeles Chargers: 10-3 overall, 7-2 conference
6 - Baltimore Ravens: 7-6 overall, 6-4 conference
IN THE HUNT
7 - Indianapolis Colts: 7-6 overall, 6-5 conference
8 - Miami Dolphins: 7-6 overall, 6-4 conference
9 - Tennessee Titans: 7-6 overall, 5-6 conference
10 - Denver Broncos: 6-7 overall, 4-5 conference
DEAD
11 - Cleveland Browns: 5-7-1 overall, 3-5-1 conference
12 - Cincinnati Bengals: 5-8 overall, 3-6 conference
13 - Buffalo Bills: 4-9 overall, 3-7 conference
14 - Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-9 overall, 3-7 conference
15 - New York Jets: 4-9 overall, 3-7 conference
16 - Oakland Raiders: 3-10 overall, 2-7 conference
Since the Eagles are likely not making the playoffs, we might as well turn some attention to the 2019 NFL Draft. If the season ended today, the Eagles would be picking at No. 16 overall in the first round, according to Tankathon. Full order for non-playoff teams, with strength of schedule in parentheses used as the tie-breaker:
1 - San Francisco 49ers: 3-10 (.530)
2 - Arizona Cardinals: 3-10 (.530)
3 - Oakland Raiders: 3-10 (.568)
4 - Atlanta Falcons: 4-9 (.493)
5 - New York Jets: 4-9 (.502)
6 - Buffalo Bills: 4-9 (.529)
7 - Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-9 (.546)
8 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-8 (.498)
9 - New York Giants: 5-8 (.502)
10 - Detroit Lions: 5-8 (.505)
11 - Cincinnati Bengals: 5-8 (.529)
12 - Green Bay Packers: 5-7-1 (.480)
13 - Cleveland Browns: 5-7-1 (.519)
14 - Washington Redskins: 6-7 (.478)
15 - Carolina Panthers: 6-7 (.493)
16 - Philadelphia Eagles: 6-7 (.527)
17 - Denver Broncos: 6-7 (.534)
18 - Miami Dolphins: 7-6 (.456)
19 - Indianapolis Colts: 7-6 (.466)
20 - Tennessee Titans: 7-6 (.510)