NFL Playoff Picture: Here’s How Eagles Can Get to Host a Second Round Playoff Game

The way the season has played out, it may seem like a lifetime has passed since the Philadelphia Eagles dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX. But it’s only been about 325 days, and the Birds are still the reigning champions, though their invincibility aura has diminished.

Even though their recent form has been uninspiring, there’s still a path toward the No. 2 seed for Nick Sirriani and co. Yes, even though the Eagles are 3-3 in their last six outings, their 8-2 start to the season is helping to keep them in the mix for a high playoff seeding.

They’ll need a little bit of help, of course. But given the current state of things, fans shouldn’t be shocked to see the Eagles return toward the top of the standings just as things begin to matter most.

Thanks to a one-point victory over the Buffalo Bills and a Chicago Bears loss in Week 17, the Eagles’ criteria to land the No. 2 seed are halfway complete. They still need to win against the Washington Commanders in Week 18, though.

That shouldn’t be difficult, seeing as the Commanders are one of the most depleted teams in the league right now. The Eagles will also be hoping for Chicago to lose one last time.

Chicago is set to take on their divisional rivals, the Detroit Lions, on Sunday afternoon. Many are speculating that the Bears will sit their starters for the matchup. However, the team’s head coach, Ben Johnson, has stated that “We’re playing to win this week,” so it doesn’t appear that they’ll be in the business of helping out Philadelphia.

However, oddsmakers are listing Detroit as just a +2.5 point underdog for their final match-up of the season, suggesting that there’s plenty of chances for a Lions victory. Throw in the facts that the Lions are 17-8 on the road since 2023 and haven’t lost at Soldier Field since December of 2023, and there’s certainly enough here to warrant some confidence for Philly.

We also know that there isn’t a single ounce of quit in Dan Campbell. So you can expect Detroit to fight for the Eagles’ money. All in all, this one is going to come down to whether or not Johnson’s statement was a tongue-in-cheek one. So if you’re looking to place a wager for Sunday afternoon, you may want to wait until there’s a little more clarity about the Bears’ intentions.

With all due respect to the Commanders, the majority of televisions in the city of Philadelphia will likely be tuned to the Lions’ broadcast. After all, the idea of hosting another playoff game is much more exciting than whatever Josh Johnson or Marcus Mariota might bring to the table.

It may be a bit ironic to see birds cheering for a wildcat. But this is the kind of chaos that comes with the NFL playoff picture, and we are most certainly here for that fun ride.