Eagles rooting guide for Week 16 games

The sixteenth Sunday of the 2019 NFL season is here. Here’s a Philadelphia Eagles focused rooting guide for all of the Week 16 games.

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

It’s the No. 4 seed or bust for the Eagles since they can only win the NFC East and not a wild card spot.

1 - San Francisco 49ers (12-3)
2 - Green Bay Packers (11-3)
3 - New Orleans Saints (11-3)
4 - Dallas Cowboys (7-7)
5 - Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
6 - Minnesota Vikings (10-4)
...
7 - Los Angeles Rams (8-7)
8 - Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)
9 - Chicago Bears (7-7)
10 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
11 - Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
12 - Carolina Panthers (5-9)
13 - Arizona Cardinals (4-9-1)
14 - Detroit Lions (3-10-1)
15 - New York Giants (3-11)
16 - Washington (3-11)

EAGLES GAME

DALLAS COWBOYS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: The Eagles will be officially eliminated from the playoff picture if they lose to the Cowboys. Beat Dallas.

NFC EAST DRAFT POSITION BATTLE

NEW YORK GIANTS at WASHINGTON: Both teams enter at 3-11 but the Giants (No. 2) have a higher pick than Washington (No. 4) in the 2020 NFL Draft right now based on the strength of schedule tiebreaker. I’d argue it’s preferable for Washington to have the higher pick since they’re probably ultimately more screwed as long as Dan Snyder owns the team. The Giants have the better chance of lucking into success. Root against Washington.

CINCINNATI BENGALS at MIAMI DOLPHINS: Eagles fans don’t want to see the Giants or Washington ending up with the No. 1 overall pick but a Miami loss here combined with a Giants win in Washington knocks NFC East teams out of the top two spots. Just need to make sure the Bengals lose in Week 17 to clinch the No. 1 pick. Root for the Bengals.

ARIZONA CARDINALS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: In theory, at least, the Cards could move ahead of Washington and/or New York in the draft order with a loss. Though it must be noted a Seahawks win puts the NFC East winner closer to hosting the San Francisco 49ers in the wild card round. Root for the Seahawks.

EAGLES DRAFT POSITION CONSIDERATIONS

The hope is that the Eagles make the playoffs. This part of the rooting guide is for in case they don’t beat Dallas and draft positioning suddenly becomes important. 2020 NFL Draft order via Tankathon:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at NEW YORK JETS: The Eagles could actually move ahead of the Jets in the draft order if the Birds lose out and the Jets win out. Depressing thought! Root for the Jets.

CAROLINA PANTHERS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: The Eagles have a better chance at passing the Colts in the draft order than the Panthers. Root for the Colts.

BALTIMORE RAVENS at CLEVELAND BROWNS: The Eagles have an opportunity to move ahead of the Browns in the draft order if they can upset Baltimore. Root for the Browns.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at ATLANTA FALCONS: Both teams are 5-9 but the Eagles own the Falcons’ 2020 sixth-round pick so it’s better to see them lose so that selection can be as high as possible. Root for the Jaguars.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at TENNESSEE TITANS: The Titans winning keeps them below the Eagles in the draft order. Plus, screw the Saints, let’s see them miss out on a first-round bye. Root for the Titans.

OAKLAND RAIDERS at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: The Eagles can more easily move ahead of the Raiders in the draft order. Root for the Raiders.

DETROIT LIONS at DENVER BRONCOS: The Eagles still have a chance to move ahead of Denver. The Lions can also potentially move ahead of New York and/or Washington. Root for the Broncos.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at CHICAGO BEARS: The Raiders own the Bears’ first-round pick and it’s currently behind where the Eagles select. Don’t want to see them move ahead of Philly. Root for the Bears.

PLAYOFF POSITIONING

GREEN BAY PACKERS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS: The Vikings officially clinched a playoff berth with the Los Angeles Rams losing on Saturday evening. The Packers winning here seems preferable for the Eagles because it prevents the Saints from jumping up to a top two seed and it keeps Minnesota down at the sixth seed. If the Eagles have to pick between playing at Lambeau or at U.S. Bank Stadium in the playoffs, the former is preferable. Root for the Packers.