The Philadelphia Eagles are officially NFC East champions once again - but any dreams of snagging the top seed in the conference? Those were dashed the moment the 49ers steamrolled the Colts to wrap up Week 16.
San Francisco’s 48-27 win not only turned heads, it closed the door on the Eagles’ already slim shot at the No. 1 seed. That first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs?
Off the table. Still, Philly walks away with the most important thing: the division crown.
After taking down the Commanders 29-18, the Eagles improved to 10-5, locking up the NFC East for the second straight year and the third time in four seasons.
So, with Week 16 in the books, where does that leave the Eagles in the NFC playoff picture? Let’s break it down.
NFC Playoff Picture After Week 16
Here’s how the conference stacks up heading into the final two weeks:
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
With the top seed out of reach, the Eagles’ ceiling is now the No. 2 spot - but even that’s going to take some help. The Bears hold the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to their Black Friday win over Philly, so a tie in the standings won’t cut it. If the Eagles want to leapfrog Chicago, they’ll need to win out and hope the Bears drop both of their remaining games.
That’s not entirely far-fetched. The Bears close the season with matchups against the 49ers and the Lions - two teams with plenty to play for.
San Francisco is still chasing the No. 1 seed, and Detroit is battling to solidify its playoff position. If either of those teams trips up the Bears, it opens the door for Philly - as long as the Eagles take care of business against the Bills and Commanders.
Best-Case Playoff Matchup?
If the Eagles can sneak into that No. 2 seed, it’s a game-changer. Not only would it mean a more favorable first-round opponent, but it would also guarantee at least two home games if they advance. And right now, the most favorable matchup on the board might be the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay’s playoff hopes are still alive, but their situation is murky - especially with quarterback Jordan Love dealing with a concussion suffered in Week 16 against the Bears. The Eagles already beat the Packers 10-7 earlier this season, and with Love’s status uncertain, that rematch could tilt heavily in Philly’s favor.
But if the Eagles stay locked into the No. 3 seed, things get trickier. That likely means a date with one of the NFC West teams - and none of those are easy outs.
The Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers are all playoff-tested squads with high ceilings and dangerous playmakers. Those matchups would be far from ideal for a Philly team still trying to find consistency on both sides of the ball.
What’s Next for the Eagles?
The mission is clear: win the final two games and hope the Bears stumble. Head coach Nick Sirianni and his staff have to keep the foot on the gas. There’s no luxury of coasting into the postseason - not when the difference between the 2 and 3 seed could be the difference between a deep playoff run and a quick exit.
The Eagles have the talent. They’ve got the experience.
Now it’s about execution down the stretch. The division title is locked up, but if Philly wants to make real noise in January, they’ll need to finish strong - and maybe get a little help along the way.