Eagles in position for No. 2 seed after Vikes' loss
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Eagles in position for No. 2 seed after Vikes' loss
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
In what can only be described as one of the most wildly entertaining games of the season, the Bears handed the Vikings a 36-30 overtime loss Monday night at Soldier Field.
What does this mean for the Eagles?
With a win over the Cowboys next weekend, the Birds will be the No. 2 seed in the NFC, meaning a first-round bye and a game at the Linc in the divisional round. The Eagles now control their own fate.
After starting the season 10-1, the Vikings (11-4) have lost three of their last four. If the Eagles and Vikings win next weekend, both teams would finish 12-4, and the Birds own the tiebreaker. If the Eagles win and the Vikings lose, well, obviously the Birds would have the edge for the No. 2 seed.
The Vikings' loss also means that the Saints have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
As if Sunday's matchup in Dallas weren't already big enough, the stakes just got a little bit higher. As you'll see at the bottom, the Cowboys still have a shot at the No. 2 seed too.
There are now three different scenarios (barring ties) for the Eagles on wild-card weekend:
* The Eagles could have a bye as the No. 2 seed.
* The Eagles could travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
* The Eagles could travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
Here's an updated look:
How can the Eagles get the No. 2 seed?
A win in Dallas against the Cowboys. That's it.
How can the Eagles drop to the No. 5 seed and play the Cowboys?
If the Vikings beat the Giants AND the Cowboys beat the Eagles AND the Cardinals beat the Packers, the Birds would travel to Dallas in the first round as the No. 5 seed.
How can the Eagles drop to the No. 6 seed and play the Cowboys?
If the Vikings beat the Giants AND the Cowboys beat the Eagles AND the Packers beat the Cardinals, Dallas is the No. 3 seed and hosts the Birds in the wild-card round.
How can the Eagles drop to the No. 5 seed and play the Vikings?
If the Vikings lose to the Giants AND the Cowboys beat the Eagles AND the Cardinals beat the Packers, Arizona earns the No. 2 seed, and the Birds travel to Minnesota in the wild-card round.
How can the Eagles drop to the No. 6 seed and play the Vikings?
If the Vikings lose to the Giants AND the Cowboys beat the Eagles AND the Packers beat the Cardinals, Dallas earns the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. The Eagles would then travel to Minnesota in the wild-card round.
No way anyone rests in this one, this is BIG! I am looking forward to this one as I got tickets for Christmas. The last time I went to a game in Dallas was the Westbrook kneel down game...I would take the same result gladly.
himills... i don't know how you did it.. but i honestly believe you just became the least credible and most hated poster on this forum.. you surpass grandpa in fell swoop.. and here i thought he had a lock on that title... you should be banned from ever posting on here again...— JMick1215- If we can't get up and win this game then there is no shot for us winning a Superbowl. This team has shown the talent it has on both sides of the ball but all too often we fail to show up for a game here or a game there. I hope that the show up the way they did last year when they were fighting for a playoff spot. Fortunately there is still a first round bye to fight for and I fully expect them to have their best game of the year, but who knows. We will find out exactly what kind of team we will see in the playoffs this weekend.— southpaw26
Comment removed.- I know that we all have different thoughts on winning, when, why, how but as someone who sat in sect. 747 to watch the Eagles beat the Cowboys to get to the Super Bowl, yes I know everyone says they were there, there is nothing, I mean nothing as satisfying as standing in the parking lot, cold as it was after a BIG Eagles win over a hated opponent.— putmeincoach
- Mr. himills, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.— reggiedunlop
- I can't believe there is talk of tanking against the Cowgirls of all people here. Besides the rationing behind "have this week as our bye" is seriously flawed. A bye means you have no opponent that week, a few extra days off and longer to game plan for your next opponent. Sitting a few players is a long way from a bye, there's still a game to plan, trip to make etc etc. Play to win the game. Go down to Arlington and put a show on in Gerry's new stadium and enjoy a week off, job done. Anything else is not to be considered. Fly Eagles!! Oh and by the way, can someone please lay a hit on Miles Austin, I'm getting bored of him taking time out of Jackson's highlight reel.— UKEagle
- Just win baby! Just win!— nb08075
- himills, the Eagles beat the Giants twice in 2006. They beat them week 15 Dec. 17 2006 in Giants stadium and then beat them in the wildcard round that year. So we know the birds can do it against the cowgirls. You obviously haven't played football, because to purposely loose a game would destroy team moral. Now if they lost after trying thier hardest it is easier to swollow then not trying at all.— engineeringagr8tdrive
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- Himills- At least you were imaginative and put some thought into your post, which is more than too many of our colleagues do.— Harrylime
- ANYONE suggesting to hand Dallas a win and thus the NFC East crown is a coward and a traitor! GET REAL!! This is football....not tiddlywinks. Philly needs to win and then get the rest they fought hard to receive. And then....after the Saints lose and we win in the divisional round, we host yet another NFC title game, against Green Bay. THAT'S what you should be thinking, himills....not conceding.— philly449
- engineering....that's right....morale would be in the dumpster if we lost by design, especially with the cast of youngsters we have. The notion of losing intentionally is pure insanity.— philly449
- Bottom Line- you HAVE TO WIN BIG GAMES ALONG THE WAY- to win a Super Bowl- Big Games away-— Manny Trillo
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