The Eagles enter their season finale with a playoff spot locked up, but outside of that, not much to play for. As a result, you likely won't be seeing many starters lineup against the Dallas Cowboys.
In an alternate, not-so-crazy, universe, however, they could be playing for one of the top seeds in the NFC.
Next season there is a good chance they will be doing just that.
A recent tweet published by Bryan Knowles took a look at the one-score games this season in the NFL, and which team has benefited the most/been hurt the most by the outcome in the close contacts.
In a world where all one-score games are flipped — the one-score wins are losses, the one-score losses are wins — the Eagles end up as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Here is a look at how the Eagles' schedule played out:
One-score losses:
17-11 to 49ers
28-22 to Buccaneers
27-24 to Chargers
13-7 to Giants
One-score wins:
21-18 to Panthers
20-16 to Washington
Wins by more than one score:
Falcons
Lions
Broncos
Saints
Jets
Washington
Giants
Losses by more than one score:
Cowboys
Chiefs
Raiders
If you flip the 49ers, Buccaneers, Chargers and Giants' losses to wins, and the wins over Panthers and Washington to losses, the Eagles end up at 11-5.
Of course, the games can't be flipped. Lots of games in the NFL are decided by one score. The Eagles will need to learn to win these close games — especially against good opponents.
What this does show, however, is that the Eagles are not that far away from truly competing as one of the best teams in the NFC.
The Eagles being 11-5 might sound like a stretch, but it isn't. This season Pro Football Focus has them graded as the 8th best team in the NFL overall. They grade the Eagles in the top 10 of pass blocking, run blocking, pass rushing and overall on offense. Those are the units needed to win games and the Eagles have been close to dominant in all of them.
Outside of just grades, the Eagles are 12th in the NFL in points-per-game this season on offense and 8th in points allowed on defense. They are one of just seven teams with an offense and a defense in the top 12.
It stands out how many wins the Eagles have by more than one score. When they have played bad teams, they have dominated them. That is not something that should be overlooked, especially with how often bad teams (like the Jets against the Buccaneers this pasty weekend) keep games with good teams close.
That is especially noteworthy when looking at next year's schedule. The Eagles are currently set to play Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Jacksonville, in addition to their normal four games against Washington and New York. Those are eight very winnable games. Considering the way the Eagles handled business this season, it isn't a stretch to say they could win at least seven of those games.
Of the four one-score losses the Eagles had this season, they were competitive in three of them. The Buccaneers game wasn't that competitive despite what the score says. The losses to the Chargers, Giants and 49ers, however, were right there to be had as a win. The Eagles didn't get it done.
With some better luck next season against the playoff-level opponents they are currently set to face — Packers, Colts and Titans — the Eagles could easily work their way well above double-digit wins.
This offseason the Eagles will have three first-round picks and enough cap space to do whatever they want when trying to upgrade the roster. Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts will be entering their second season together, not their first.
Add everything up with a little but of luck they didn't get this season and the rebuild the Eagles underwent this season is likely going to take a big step forward next year.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com
