In 2018, the Eagles traveled to Los Angeles in Week 15 with a 15% chance of making the playoffs and a backup quarterback under center.
That journey ended a drop pass away from a trip to the NFC Championship game.
Are we about to witness a repeat performance?
The Eagles are right back in the playoff hunt following their win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Even at 4-8-1, the insertion of Jalen Hurts at quarterback has given them hope and a reason to believe a playoff run is possible.
Here is an updated look the NFC East standings following Sunday’s win:
Washington: 6-7
New York: 5-8
Eagles: 4-8-1
Dallas: 4-9
According to FiveThirtyEight.com, the Eagles currently have an 11% chance of making the playoffs — so 4% lower than the odds they overcame in 2018. Washington holds a 73% chance, with the Giants slightly above the Eagles at 15%.
Those odds, however, can change quickly — and the path to the playoffs isn’t as crazy as you might think.
To start, the Eagles really can’t lose another game. That might sound crazy, but their schedule is not terrible, and they just beat a 10-2 Saints team.
To start, the Eagles need a win at Arizona next week. That is the toughest game remaining on their schedule. If they can pull that off, they would then head to Dallas the following week — a very winnable game — and then finish at home with a win over Washington in Week 17.
Win all three and the Eagles would finish at 7-8-1. They could potentially get in with six wins if Washington loses all three, but that seems unlikely. They need to get to seven.
More realistically, the Eagles would need Washington to lose at least two of their next three games, as a 1-2 which would put them at 7-9. A 3-0 finish would put the Eagles ahead at 7-8-1.
Washington finishes the season with Seattle at home next week, followed by a home game vs. Carolina then a trip to Philadelphia. Seattle and Carolina are both tough matchups, which could set up a huge game in Philadelphia to end the season. The schedule is not impossible, but it certainly isn’t easy either, especially if an injury to quarterback Alex Smith ends up sidelining him.
As for the Giants, they have a game vs. Cleveland next week, followed by a trip to Baltimore and a final game against Dallas to end the season. A 1-2 finish feels very likely, which would put them at 6-10.
Sum it all up, and the Eagles’ best path the playoffs is pretty clear — they go 3-0, including a win over Washington. Washington then loses at least one to either Seattle or Carolina. New York loses to both Cleveland and Baltimore.
All that happens, and believe it or not, the once 3-8-1 Eagles would be in the playoffs and hosting a home playoff game,
And from there, as we saw in 2018, anything is possible.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
