Eagles rooting guide for Week 8 games

Now that the eighth Sunday of the 2021 NFL regular season is here, it’s time to run through a Philadelphia Eagles-focused rooting guide for all of the Week 8 games. This exercise will be especially interesting this year since the Birds have more things to care about than usual due to owning picks from the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts in the 2022 NFL Draft.

EAGLES GAME

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at DETROIT LIONS: In a perfect world, the Eagles beat the Lions and go on an unexpected run. In reality, a loss to the NFL’s only winless team might very well be what’s best for the team in the long-term. A wake-up call could be needed. Not to mention that Detroit winning gives the Eagles a better chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick from Miami.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM at DENVER BRONCOS: If you still have hope for the Eagles making the playoffs (as a wild card team since the division is likely already decided), you can root for Denver. But the Birds probably aren’t headed to the postseason and, thus, it’s better for Washington to win to damage their draft positioning as they seek a new franchise quarterback. Root for the Football Team.

DALLAS COWBOYS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS: The Cowboys are currently vying for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture. It would be nice to see them lose so their chances of getting that top spot are damaged. Root for the Vikings.

NEW YORK GIANTS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: The Giants winning only serves to delude themselves into keeping Joe Judge and/or Dave Gettleman around. It also damages their draft positioning. Root for the Giants.

DRAFT PICK WATCH

TENNESSEE TITANS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: The rooting interest here isn’t perfectly clear-cut. The Titans winning would be good from the standpoint it would move Tennessee to 6-2 and give them the head-to-head tiebreaker over Indy, who would drop to 3-5. But you can see how that gap might be a problem if the Titans start to run away with the division and the Colts eventually decide to bench Carson Wentz to prevent their 2022 first-round pick going to Philly. It might be better, then, for the Colts to win this game. Need them to stay in the hunt so they keep playing Wentz. But, of course, the Eagles don’t want to see the Colts win too much and actually make the playoffs and drop the pick to the 20s. Ultimately, I’m going to say the Titans winning is preferable because I think the Colts will be slower to bench Wentz than expected. Root for the Titans.

MIAMI DOLPHINS at BUFFALO BILLS: The more the Dolphins lose, the better it is for the Eagles. Miami is currently sending the No. 2 overall pick to Philly. Let’s see if it can get to No. 1. Root for the Bills.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at CHICAGO BEARS: The Bears are sending their 2022 first-round pick to the Giants. Better to see them win, then. Root for da Bears.

CINCINNATI BENGALS at NEW YORK JETS: The Jets are a threat to move ahead of Miami in the draft order. Gotta root for them to win some more. Also would be nice if Joe Flacco finds his way into the game and starts helping the Eagles earn a fifth-round pick instead of a sixth-round pick.

LOS ANGELES RAMS at HOUSTON TEXANS: The Texans are a threat to move ahead of Miami in the draft order. Root for the Texans.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at CLEVELAND BROWNS: The Browns winning is worse for the Colts when it comes to Indy seeking a wild card spot in the AFC playoff picture. Root for the Browns.

CAROLINA PANTHERS at ATLANTA FALCONS: The Panthers are currently closer to moving ahead of Philly’s own pick and Philly’s pick from the Colts in the draft order. Root for the Panthers.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: The Chargers winning is worse for the Colts when it comes to Indy seeking a wild card spot in the AFC playoff picture. Root for the Chargers.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: The Jags are bigger threats to move ahead of Miami in the draft order. The Seahawks don’t have much hope right now but they’ll win some more games when Russell Wilson returns. Root for the Jaguars.

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Gotta keep the Cowboys away from the No. 1 seed. A Saints loss is also what’s best for the Eagles’ unlikely wild card hopes. Root for the Buccaneers.