The easiest way for Riley Cooper and the Eagles to get to the playoffs is to simply win out. Credit: Getty Images
Football fans with Math anxiety don’t entirely appreciate this time of year.
There are currently endless scenarios for the 19 NFL teams still jockeying for a playoff spot or a particular seed. The Eagles’ situation is a somewhat complicated one in that Sunday night’s game against the Bears could prove to be somewhat meaningless for them if Dallas beats the Redskins earlier in the afternoon. A Cowboys win would force a winner-take-all showdown against the Eagles in Week 17 no matter what happens Sunday night. A Cowboys loss in D.C. would give the Eagles a chance to wrap up the division with a win over Chicago and make Week 17 meaningless.
Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has already nixed the idea of resting his starters should Dallas win.
The Bears, meanwhile, will be looking to punish Kelly’s squad on Sunday night regardless. Chicago would clinch the NFC North with a win over the Eagles and losses by the Packers and Lions earlier in the day. The Bears play the Packers in Week 17.
As it stands right now, the Eagles are the No. 3 seed in the NFC and would host San Francisco in the wild card round. The Bears are the No. 4 seed and would host the Panthers in early January. But the chances of things staying pat are slim to none, and slim just got a migraine by looking at all of the possible scenarios.
