With just three weeks left in the regular season, the NFL playoff picture is starting to take shape-and for the Philadelphia Eagles, the path is clear: win, and the NFC East crown is theirs. At 9-5, the Eagles are in the driver’s seat atop the division, and with two matchups still to come against a struggling Washington Commanders squad, there's a real opportunity not just to lock up the division, but to climb as high as the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Let’s break down what’s at stake for Philly in Week 16-and how the rest of the conference could shape their postseason road.
Eagles at Commanders: A Familiar December Matchup
Saturday afternoon brings a rematch of a divisional clash that’s becoming a bit of a holiday tradition-Philadelphia heads to Washington for the second straight year in Week 16. The Eagles are coming off a tough stretch but remain in control of their own destiny.
Win this one, and they clinch the NFC East. Simple as that.
Washington, meanwhile, enters at 4-10 but is coming off a 29-21 win over the New York Giants. It was a rare bright spot in a tough season, and they’ll be looking to play spoiler down the stretch. Still, the Commanders have been inconsistent at best, and the Eagles-if they play to their potential-should have the upper hand.
The key for Philly? Get back to basics.
Protect the football, lean on that offensive line, and let Jalen Hurts do what he does best: make smart decisions and extend plays when needed. Defensively, this is a chance to reset.
Washington’s offense can be opportunistic, but it’s not built to go toe-to-toe with top-tier units. The Eagles need to assert themselves early and take control.
NFC Playoff Picture: What Philly Needs, and Who to Root For
Right now, the Eagles sit as the No. 3 seed in the NFC. That’s a solid spot, but the door is still open for more. A jump to the No. 2 seed-or even higher-isn’t out of the question, depending on how the next few weeks shake out.
Here’s how things stand and what Eagles fans should be watching for in Week 16:
Rams vs. Seahawks (Thursday Night Football)
This one’s massive. Both the Rams and Seahawks are sitting at 11-3, and Thursday night’s showdown could determine who grabs the No. 1 seed in the NFC. For Philadelphia, the ideal scenario is a Seattle win.
Why root for the Seahawks? Because of the remaining schedules.
Seattle still has to face the Panthers and 49ers after this, and that Week 18 matchup against San Francisco could be a tough one. There's a real chance they drop at least one more.
The Rams, on the other hand, finish with the Falcons and Cardinals-two teams that haven’t exactly been world-beaters this season. If Los Angeles wins Thursday, they could easily run the table and make it tough for anyone to catch them.
So, if you’re an Eagles fan looking for the best path to a higher seed, you want Seattle to win and then stumble later. That opens the door for Philly to potentially leapfrog into the No. 2-or even No. 1-spot with a strong finish.
Packers at Bears
This one’s a little trickier from a tiebreaker perspective. The Eagles hold the head-to-head edge over the Packers, which is good news if Green Bay starts climbing.
But the Bears? They actually own the tiebreaker over Philly.
So, who should Eagles fans be pulling for? The Packers.
A Green Bay win helps keep Chicago at bay and maintains Philly’s tiebreaker advantage. It’s all about stacking the deck in your favor, and this is one of those under-the-radar matchups that could matter more than people realize a few weeks from now.
The Bottom Line
The Eagles are in a strong position-but they can’t afford to coast. With a winnable game against Washington up next and a favorable schedule to close out the regular season, Philly has a real shot to not only take the division but improve their playoff seeding. But they’ll need a little help along the way.
So yes, keep an eye on that Thursday night Rams-Seahawks clash. And don’t overlook what happens in Chicago. Every win, every loss, every tiebreaker-it all matters now.
Three weeks to go. The playoff push is here.