Vikings' loss opens window for Eagles
After today's win over the 49ers, Donovan McNabb talked about the Eagles' goal being to win the NFC East and get a first-round bye in the postseason.
Vikings' loss opens window for Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
After today's win over the 49ers, Donovan McNabb talked about the Eagles' goal being to win the NFC East and get a first-round bye in the postseason.
At the time, I thought he was crazy - about the second part that is.
But that was before Matt Freakin' Moore lit up the Vikings for 299 yards and three touchdowns.
I'll admit I saw very little of the Panthers' 26-7 win over Minnesota, but as I got home from the Linc for the fouth quarter, I immediately began to wonder what it would take for the Eagles to sneak in to that No. 2 seed.
Let's just say the Eagles' window to earn a first-round bye opened a bit around 11:20 p.m.
Reader Andrew sent along this terrific playoff scenario generator from Yahoo. It's tremendous, and is a great way to waste time at work or in class Monday morning (as if you need another distraction).
Anyway, if the Eagles win out and finish 12-4, and the Vikings lose one of their final two games (at the Bears or home against the Giants), the Birds win the tiebreak and get the No. 2 seed.
The Cardinals and Cowboys each already have five losses so they are irrelevant in the above scenario.
It might seem unlikely, but think about how the final Sunday of the regular season turned out last year.
As crazy as it may seem, you could easily be rooting for the New York Giants in Week 17. Imagine if I would have told you that a month ago? The Giants cannot win the division anymore, and a win over the Vikings in Week 17 could mean the Birds getting a first-round bye and hosting a playoff game in the divisional round.
This season is just starting to get fun, huh?
Earlier we posted some Eagles-49ers observations and also some initial thoughts on Brian Dawkins' return.
Brett Fraud is collapsing like he always does this time of year. It's become a Holiday tradition.— phink- Consider yourself lucky you didn't watch the game. Other than some Steve Smith catches, and some nice runs by Stewart, it was an awful game bordering on unwatchable. The only good thing that does come out of it is the window opening for the Eagles to get the 2nd seed. But long way to go before that happens. One more thing. Once again, Favre starts throwing picks once his team gets behind.— cnova000
- thats kind of a big deal other than executing plays the browns are a playoff team— Dawks4Prez
- Actually, Sheil, the Eagles are 10-4 while the Vikes are 11-3. If the Eagles win out, all the Vikes need to do is lose one game, not both, in order for the Eagles win get the second seed. Start rooting for those Bears (wk 16) and Giants (wk 17)!— trungy
- Good analysis. I would rather play Peterson at home than in his dome. Our D-line just needs to pickup the QB pressure little more. We will be all set for SB.— Seed
- .... and Reid nees to stop his illogical play call of onside kick and 4th down from own 30. Reid and Marty still does not grasp the fact that they can score against any team under 60 seconds. All they need to do is force the opposition offense to march 80 yards and kill time with run offense.— Seed
- The Vikings looked awful last night. Favre is finally coming back to Earth and playing his age...knew he couldn't go all season without throwing his normal picks.— JimG
Hopefully it's freakin freezing in Chicago next Monday night. Farve doesn't like the cold hence why he struggles late in the season.- Favre doesn't like the cold? The guy played in Green Bay for 16 seasons. I think he's able to handle it more than most.— djack10
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