As the NFL regular season barrels toward the finish line and the College Football Playoff heats up, Saturday brings a double dose of football drama - though let’s be honest, we’re all hoping the quality on the field is a step up from the clunker served by Miami and Texas A&M.
Let’s start with the early action: the Philadelphia Eagles head to Washington to face the already-eliminated Commanders in a 2 p.m. PT kickoff on FOX.
On paper, this one’s lopsided - but the stakes are anything but low for Philly. A win locks up the NFC East and knocks the Dallas Cowboys out of the race before they even take the field on Sunday.
A loss, though, swings the door wide open for Dallas to stay alive - all they’d have to do is beat the Chargers.
There’s a twist under center for the Eagles. With Jayden Daniels sidelined for the remainder of the season, it’s Marcus Mariota who gets the nod.
Mariota hasn’t seen much meaningful action this year, but he’s a veteran who can still move the chains when called upon. The Eagles will be counting on his poise and mobility to keep their offense humming and avoid any late-season letdown.
As for the Seattle Seahawks, this game doesn’t move their needle much. Their playoff fate won’t be decided here, and with no direct implications, it’s a rare chance for them to watch the scoreboard without feeling the pressure.
But the real headliner comes later in the day.
At 5 p.m. PT, also on FOX, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears square off in a game with major NFC implications - especially for Seattle.
The Bears, sitting at 10-4, are still in the hunt for the conference’s top seed. But if Green Bay pulls off the win, Chicago’s No. 1 seed hopes go up in smoke.
A Bears victory, though, would keep them just one game behind the Seahawks, tightening the race in an already jam-packed NFC.
This one’s got layers. Green Bay is fighting to stay in the wild card mix, while Chicago’s trying to keep their lofty seeding dreams alive. It’s a classic December matchup with playoff energy - and a result that could ripple across the conference standings.
So while some games this weekend might not carry weight for every team, others - like Eagles-Commanders and especially Packers-Bears - could shift the entire NFC playoff picture. Buckle up.