As the Eagles gear up for the final stretch of the regular season, there’s a familiar question hanging over head coach Nick Sirianni’s decision-making: rest or ramp up?
It’s a conversation that Eagles fans remember well from last year. With Saquon Barkley within striking distance of Eric Dickerson’s 40-year-old rushing record, the team faced a choice in Week 18-chase history or prioritize health.
They chose the latter, sitting most starters in what turned out to be a pivotal move en route to their second Super Bowl title. In hindsight, it was the right call.
But at the time, it sparked plenty of debate.
Terrell Davis, the former Broncos great whose postseason rushing record Barkley broke in that Super Bowl run, weighed in on the dilemma. “I wanted them to take the pressure off him by just saying they are going for it,” Davis said.
“Who’s to say he can’t do both? And why is it we start thinking about injuries when a person has a chance to do something no one’s ever done before?
But he’s a team player.”
Fast forward to this season, and Sirianni is staring down a similar decision. The stakes are different-no personal records on the line-but the pressure might be even greater. With the playoffs looming and the NFC picture still unsettled, the Eagles have to weigh the benefits of momentum versus the value of rest.
“We’ll see what we do as we move forward,” Sirianni said after the Eagles clinched their second straight NFC East title with a 28-19 win over Washington. “We look at everything.
We’ll do what’s best for the football team as we continue on. But I think it’s important that we continue to improve on this performance.”
Right now, the Eagles sit as the No. 3 seed in the NFC. That spot would guarantee them a home game in the Wild Card round, but not much else. The possibilities are still wide open-they could rise as high as the No. 1 seed or fall to No. 4 depending on how the final two weeks shake out.
Dropping to the fourth seed is unlikely, but not impossible. It would take two Eagles losses combined with Carolina winning out against Seattle and Tampa Bay.
On the flip side, a climb to the No. 2 seed is within reach. If the Eagles win their final two games-on the road at Buffalo and at home against Washington-and the Bears stumble against San Francisco and Detroit, Philly would leapfrog into the two spot.
Now, the No. 1 seed? That’s a longer shot.
It would require the Eagles to win out and get help from Seattle and the Rams. Seattle would need to lose both of its remaining games (at Carolina and at San Francisco), and the Rams would have to drop at least one (either at Atlanta or at home against Arizona).
Not impossible, but certainly not probable.
So what’s the right move here? Push for seeding, or prioritize health?
That’s the balancing act Sirianni has to navigate. And it’s not just about hypotheticals-this team is banged up.
Lane Johnson has missed five straight games with a foot injury. Jalen Carter’s been sidelined with shoulder issues.
Landon Dickerson is managing a laundry list of ailments-calf, knee, back. Cam Jurgens is dealing with back and knee problems.
Barkley’s nursing a stinger. Zack Baun has a hand issue.
You get the picture-this roster is bruised.
Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata didn’t mince words when asked if a week off would help. “That’s just the nature of being an offensive lineman,” he said.
“You’re carrying injuries. Small ones.
No one is 100 percent going into the back of the year and going into the playoffs. Yeah, I think it would benefit us with the injuries we’re carrying up front … but I’m not the coach.”
And he’s right-he’s not. But his point resonates. The trenches take a toll, and sometimes the best way to win in January is to survive December.
Still, the Eagles can’t coast into these last two games. Sunday’s trip to Buffalo is no cakewalk.
The Bills are playing high-level football behind a former MVP in Josh Allen, and the Eagles won’t know the result of the crucial Bears-49ers matchup until later that night. That means Philly has to play to win, without the benefit of scoreboard watching.
Wins over the Raiders and Commanders have helped steady the ship, but that three-game skid against Dallas, Chicago, and the Chargers still lingers in the rearview. A strong finish would go a long way toward rebuilding confidence heading into the postseason.
Barkley, for his part, remains locked in on the task at hand. He was all-in on chasing the rushing record last year but understood the bigger picture. This season, he’s again putting the team first.
“I’m going to let what naturally happens happen,” Barkley said. “I know we have an opportunity to still get the one (seed).
Mathematically we’re still not out of it, but again I’m all about what’s best for the team. Whatever coach thinks is the best decision for us, I’m happy with that.
“But right now I’m focused on going to Buffalo in a tough environment against a hell of a team that’s playing at a high level with a (former) MVP. Best on best, see what they got. Those are the ones you want.”
And that’s the mindset this Eagles team is taking into the final stretch-eyes on the prize, but mindful of the grind. The road to the playoffs is never easy, and in Philly, it’s rarely without drama. But with seeding still up in the air and health hanging in the balance, the next two weeks could define how far this team goes in January.