The Eagles are going to the playoffs. Now it is just a matter of who they play.
Here is where things stand in the NFC heading into Week 18 after a wild week of Week 17 games:
NFC Playoff Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (13-3)
2 Los Angeles Rams (12-4)
3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4)
4 Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
5 Arizona Cardinals (11-5)
6 San Francisco 49ers (9-7)
7 Eagles (9-7)
The only team locked into a spot is the Green Bay Packers, who have clinched the No. 1 seed. All roads to the Super Bowl will go through Green Bay.
Outside of that, plenty is up in the air.
The Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals have the most to play for next week. All three could move spots, with the Cardinals and Rams moving potentially from the No. 2 seed to the No. 5 seed depending on their results. The 49ers also have something to play for as they could be on the outside looking in if they lose to the Rams and the New Orleans Saints win.
The Eagles will be scoreboard watching next Sunday to find out how it all plays out.
The games they will be watching closely:
Tampa Bay vs. Carolina
Arizona vs. Seattle
San Francisco at Los Angeles Rams
Of the three games, one result seem pretty locked in — Tampa Bay over Carolina. Yes, anything can happen, but for now let's assume Tampa Bay wins.
And if that happens, there seems to be a pretty good chance the Eagles playoff game will be against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
Here are four different scenarios that would lead to the Eagles going to Tampa Bay:
Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Scenario 1:
Results Needed: Eagles win, Rams win, Cardinals win, Tampa Bay win
Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
2 Los Angeles Rams (13-4)
3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
4 Dallas Cowboys (11-6)
5 Arizona Cardinals (12-5)
6 Eagles (10-7)
7 San Francisco 49ers (9-8) ** Note: If Saints beat Falcons and Rams beat 49ers, 7 seed would be Saints, not 49ers **
Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Scenario 2:
Results Needed: Eagles lose, 49ers win, Cardinals win, Tampa Bay win
Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
3 Arizona Cardinals (12-5)
4 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
5 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
6 San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
7 Eagles (9-8)
Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Scenario 3:
Results Needed: Eagles lose, Rams win, Seattle win, Tampa Bay win
Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
2 Los Angeles Rams (13-4)
3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
4 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
5 Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
6 Eagles (9-8)
7 New Orleans or San Francisco (9-8)
Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Scenario 4:
Results Needed: Eagles win, 49ers win, Cardinals win, Tampa Bay win
Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
3 Arizona Cardinals (12-5)
4 Dallas Cowboys (11-6)
5 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
6 San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
7 Eagles (10-7)
Of course, it is isn't a lock the Eagles play Tampa Bay. Of the other three teams, the second-most likely opponent is the Los Angeles Rams. Here are two scenarios that lead to the Rams:
Eagles at Los Angeles Rams, Scenario 1
Results Needed: Eagles win, Panthers win, Seahawks win, 49ers win
Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
2 Los Angeles Rams (13-4)
3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
4 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
5 Arizona Cardinals (12-5)
6 San Francisco 49ers (9-8)
7 Eagles (9-8)
Eagles at Los Angeles Rams, Scenario 2
Results Needed: Eagles lose, Buccaneers win, Rams win, Falcons win
Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
2 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5)
4 Dallas Cowboys (11-6)
5 Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
6 San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
7 Eagles (10-7)
A third game against the Cowboys and a trip to Dallas is unlikely, but here is one scenario where it could happen:
Eagles at Dallas Cowboys:
Results Needed: Cowboys win, Panthers win, Seattle win, San Francisco win
Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
2 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
3 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5)
5 Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
6 San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
For fun, here is one where the Buccaneers lose to the Panthers and the Eagles head to Arizona to face the Cardinals:
Eagles at Arizona Cardinals:
Results Needed: Eagles lose/win, 49ers win, Cardinals win, Tampa Bay lose
Standings:
1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
2 Arizona Cardinals (12-5)
3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5)
4 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
5 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
6 San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
7 Eagles (9-8)
A matchup with Tampa Bay would certainly be a spicy one. The Eagles lost to Tampa Bay earlier this season in a game they weren't very competitive in, even though they only lost by six, 28-22. This Eagles team is a much different one, however, as they ran the ball only nine times with their running backs that night. They are now one of, if not the best, running team in the NFL.
Add in the dysfunction Tampa Bay is dealing with — and the injuries at the receiver position — and the Eagles seem to have a much better chance this time around than they did last time.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com
