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The fourth Sunday of the 2020 NFL regular season is here and that means it’s time to run through a Philadelphia Eagles-focused rooting guide for all of the Week 4 games.
I’m actually going to do two different versions this week: 1) one for tanking to get a better first-round draft pick (smart) ... and ... 2) one for people still interested in the Eagles making the playoffs (God bless your soul).
1) TANKING GUIDE
EAGLES GAME
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: My greatest fear for the Eagles’ 2020 season is seeing them rebound from a poor start and having another false positive mediocre finish. This team needs a wake-up call; they can’t keep going with the status quo. Root for the 49ers.
NFC EAST GAMES
BALTIMORE RAVENS at WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: It’s obvious to me that the Football Team is going to need to draft another quarterback because Dwayne Haskins ain’t it. With that in mind, better to see them ruin their draft position. Root for the Football Team.
CLEVELAND BROWNS at DALLAS COWBOYS: As much as it sucks in the short-term, the Cowboys running away with the division could be what’s best for the Eagles in the long-term. Dallas continuing to struggle could convince the Eagles they have a chance to win the NFC East and prevent them from selling like they should ahead of this year’s trade deadline. Root for the Cowboys.
NEW YORK GIANTS at LOS ANGELES RAMS: The Giants are serious contenders for the No. 1 overall pick. Don’t want to see them get that. Root for the Giants.
THE REST
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Root for the 1-2 team to beat the 2-1 team. Especially since the Bucs have a higher ceiling. Root for the Chargers.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at MIAMI DOLPHINS: The Dolphins are obviously a much bigger threat to pick higher than the Eagles than the Seahawks. Root for the Dolphins.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at HOUSTON TEXANS: Two 0-3 teams. The Vikings are a strong contender to take a quarterback with a very high pick. If the Eagles also want to draft one, better for Minny to not be ahead of them in the draft order. Root for the Vikings.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at DETROIT LIONS: The Saints have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league. Root for the Lions here with the thought New Orleans won’t totally bottom out. Root for the Lions.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at CINCINNATI BENGALS: The Jags are obviously the bigger threat to take a quarterback early. Root for the Jaguars.
ARIZONA CARDINALS at CAROLINA PANTHERS: The Panthers are obviously the bigger threat to take a quarterback early. Root for the Panthers.
BUFFALO BILLS at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Root for the worse team. Root for the Raiders.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at CHICAGO BEARS: The Colts have the worse record and potentially the bigger need for a long-term quarterback so it’s better to see them win. Nick Foles losing on Sunday is also probably best for your sanity. Root for the Colts.
ATLANTA FALCONS at GREEN BAY PACKERS: The Falcons are in the mix for a high pick and could look to draft Matt Ryan’s successor with a high enough pick. Root for the Falcons.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Probably doesn’t matter but root for the worse team to win anyway. Root for the Patriots.
2) PLAYOFFS GUIDE
EAGLES GAME
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Sure, the Eagles are really injured and really awful. But they’re only half a game out of the division lead! Who’s excited!? Root for the Eagles.
NFC EAST GAMES
BALTIMORE RAVENS at WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: Washington currently has that tiebreaker over the Eagles so it’s best to see them lose for now. Root for the Ravens.
CLEVELAND BROWNS at DALLAS COWBOYS: The Cowboys are the biggest threat to win the division. Unless they keep struggling, that is. Their only win this season came on a lucky onside kick recovery. Root for the Browns.
NEW YORK GIANTS at LOS ANGELES RAMS: The Giants are too bad to be a serious threat to win the division. Might as well see them win to ruin their draft position and also to hurt the Rams’ standing in the NFC playoff picture. LA also has a tiebreaker over Philly. Root for the Giants.
(Note: I know that the tiebreakers aren’t super meaningful since the Eagles have a tie in their record. But who’s to say one of those teams might not tie! And this whole section is probably futile anyway.)
NFC GAMES
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Go with the AFC team over the NFC team. Root for the Chargers.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at MIAMI DOLPHINS: Go with the AFC team over the NFC team. Root for the Dolphins.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at HOUSTON TEXANS: Go with the AFC team over the NFC team. Root for the Texans.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at DETROIT LIONS: Despite their struggles, the Saints are the bigger threat in the NFC. Root the Lions.
ARIZONA CARDINALS at CAROLINA PANTHERS: The Cards are the bigger threat in the NFC. Root for the Panthers.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at CHICAGO BEARS: Go with the AFC team over the NFC team. Nick Foles losing on Sunday is also probably best for your sanity. Root for the Colts.
ATLANTA FALCONS at GREEN BAY PACKERS: The Packers are obviously the bigger threat in the NFC. Root for the Falcons.
WHAT’S LEFT
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at CINCINNATI BENGALS: The Eagles’ strength of schedule tiebreaker improves with the Bengals winning. Root for the Bengals.
BUFFALO BILLS at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Doesn’t really matter.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Doesn’t really matter.