The easiest is we win out and da Bears lose their final 2 games. However, there are 6 other (more complicated) paths to the 2 seed.

To be honest, at this point, I’m more interested in going in healthy. I don’t want to treat the games like preseason games, but any player who is iffy should sit. I believe this team with this defense can win anywhere, but not if not healthy.

The Eagles have virtually clinched the #3 seed. Either way they will host a game in first round by clinching the division. The difference between the #3 seed and #2 seed: 1) is the opponent. And 2) the #2 seed is guaranteed to be home in the 2nd round if they defeat the Wild Card opponent. Whereas the next highest seed to advance will host if the #2 seed is defeated.

The Packers are the likely #7 seed to play the #2 seed. The 49ers or Seahawks will likely be the #6 seed, going to play the #3 seed. I don't think the opponent matters. The Eagles should just play conservatively for 2 weeks to prepare for the playoffs run.

I’ve been convinced that you play the starters this week but personally I wouldn’t play Lane or Carter. If the game gets out of hand either way I would also consider sitting other players.

I don’t think there is any real difference between the #2 and #3 other then the scheduling of the games which I know nothing about. I don’t fear any of the teams or crowds… the loudest stadium is probably the Seahawks but I would suggest they might be the easiest win.

2 hours ago, EagleJoe8 said:

To be honest, at this point, I’m more interested in going in healthy. I don’t want to treat the games like preseason games, but any player who is iffy should sit. I believe this team with this defense can win anywhere, but not if not healthy.

Agreed 100%. I've been saying that once we clinched the division that they should rest all of the players that have been trying to play through nagging injuries like Dickerson, Jurgens, Johnson, Barkley, Dean, etc. And obviously you sit Hurts rather than play him behind the 2nd string OL and risk injury. And even though a legitimate argument can be made for continuing to build momentum, I think the benefit of getting these guys as healthy possible for the playoffs far outweighs the minimal chance we improve seeding.

2 hours ago, time2rock said:

Agreed 100%. I've been saying that once we clinched the division that they should rest all of the players that have been trying to play through nagging injuries like Dickerson, Jurgens, Johnson, Barkley, Dean, etc. And obviously you sit Hurts rather than play him behind the 2nd string OL and risk injury. And even though a legitimate argument can be made for continuing to build momentum, I think the benefit of getting these guys as healthy possible for the playoffs far outweighs the minimal chance we improve seeding.

I would definitely play healthy bodies on the line against Buffalo, but I wouldn't sit Hurts, at least not yet. I do however want to make the game plan very run centric. Run Tank and Shippley, and go conservative in the pass game. Get a feel for how they're pass blocking with easy and quick throws. If they're holding up well, open it up a bit. If not, bring McKee in. I just don't want Hurts rusty going into the playoffs.

I just hope that they get the 3 seed, and not find someway to fall to the 4 seed.

If they get locked into the 3 this week, then EVERYONE sits out the last week.

IMO, Dickerson and Jurgens should have sat quite a few more games this year. They were useless and just awful at times. I guess they didn't sit because of how horrible the OLine depth was/is.

This is a crazy year. Any one of the best 6 teams in the NFC could knock off any of the others (this excludes Tampa and Carolina).
I do feel like the Rams are the best right now slightly. But, the Eagles seem to match up well with them.

I think Seattle is overrated. But, at home they are really tough because of that crowd.

One game at a time. We’ve just beaten 2 pretty bad teams but in an impressive manner so that’s given us hope. But prior to that we lost 3 in a row to decent to good teams. Got to go and beat Buffalo to show we are back on the right track and can beat good teams still. Then we can truly start to think about the playoffs and what might be achievable.

17 hours ago, EagleJoe8 said:

I would definitely play healthy bodies on the line against Buffalo, but I wouldn't sit Hurts, at least not yet. I do however want to make the game plan very run centric. Run Tank and Shippley, and go conservative in the pass game. Get a feel for how they're pass blocking with easy and quick throws. If they're holding up well, open it up a bit. If not, bring McKee in. I just don't want Hurts rusty going into the playoffs.

I would give Hurts a quarter...perhaps a half until playoffs. To keep him active , but at the same time letting him rest and limiting possibilities of injuries.

We need our key players healthy in the playoffs more than worrying about which seed we will get. Also Lane, Carter, and a few other key players.

If anything I think it is more important to avoid dropping to the 4 seed than it is to move up to the 2 seed. The only chance of moving down is if Carolina wins out and we lose out. Carolina plays the Seahawks at 1:00 tomorrow ... we play at 4:25 so we'll know if we are locked in to the 3 seed (minimally) by kickoff.

Even though I would rest those that have been playing through injuries, I do think Sirianni will play everyone minus a couple that are unable to go (I have heard Johnson and Dean are the only players ruled out). If we drop the Buffalo game then the 2 seed (realistically) is no longer in play (the odds are super slim in any of those final 4 scenarios where a game ends in a tie) and I would rest up everyone in week 18 (wonder what Sirianni will do if it comes down to that).

23 hours ago, EagleJoe8 said:

To be honest, at this point, I’m more interested in going in healthy. I don’t want to treat the games like preseason games, but any player who is iffy should sit. I believe this team with this defense can win anywhere, but not if not healthy.

That's probably going to be the case.

On 12/26/2025 at 10:25 AM, LacesOut said:

I just hope that they get the 3 seed, and not find someway to fall to the 4 seed.

If they get locked into the 3 this week, then EVERYONE sits out the last week.

We could probably sit all the starters in week 18 and still beat the commanders. I would expect them to sit McKee too, though, and start Howell with McCord as the backup. They would probably dress McKee as the emergency QB. Dillon will probably be the featured offensive player.

If GB is the likely 7th seed, I would rather face them. And the Eagles match up well with them. I don't like facing any of the NFC West teams in the wild card round honestly. But there isn't a huge separation in talent among the NFC teams in my opinion outside of the one team coming from the NFC South.

47 minutes ago, Devaster said:

If GB is the likely 7th seed, I would rather face them. And the Eagles match up well with them. I don't like facing any of the NFC West teams in the wild card round honestly. But there isn't a huge separation in talent among the NFC teams in my opinion outside of the one team coming from the NFC South.

Well, it's a shame the kicker missed FGs vs Dallas and LA or they would be playing them. I don't see the Bears falling apart two weeks in a row.

On 12/26/2025 at 5:34 AM, EagleJoe8 said:

To be honest, at this point, I’m more interested in going in healthy. I don’t want to treat the games like preseason games, but any player who is iffy should sit. I believe this team with this defense can win anywhere, but not if not healthy.

not a horrible thought process, however the more games we can play at home the better off we might be

Correct if I'm wrong. If the playoffs started today, we'd host the Rams (6th seed) and the Niners (5th seed) would play whoever wins the NFCS (4th seed). Is that right?

On 12/26/2025 at 8:34 AM, EagleJoe8 said:

To be honest, at this point, I’m more interested in going in healthy. I don’t want to treat the games like preseason games, but any player who is iffy should sit. I believe this team with this defense can win anywhere, but not if not healthy.

Disagree. The Run defense isn't good enough.

7 hours ago, JohnB said:

Correct if I'm wrong. If the playoffs started today, we'd host the Rams (6th seed) and the Niners (5th seed) would play whoever wins the NFCS (4th seed). Is that right?

Correct. If seeding remains unchanged through the end of the season, these would be the NFC matchups in round 1:

Rams @ Eagles

Packers @ Bears

49ers @ winner of NFCS

The Packers are the only team officially locked in to a particular seed (they will be the 7th seed).

Birds need a win today for a shot at the 2 seed.

Bears at Niners tonite. Niners favored by 3.5pts at home. Then Bears play Detroit. Need lions to play spoilers.

I think Niners have a path to the 1 seed if they win out. Bears and then Seahawks in the last week.

6 minutes ago, CouchKing said:

Birds need a win today for a shot at the 2 seed.

Bears at Niners tonite. Niners favored by 3.5pts at home. Then Bears play Detroit. Need lions to play spoilers.

I think Niners have a path to the 1 seed if they win out. Bears and then Seahawks in the last week.

Niners would be the least intimidating 1 seed if we were to travel there for a championship game

7 hours ago, time2rock said:

Correct. If seeding remains unchanged through the end of the season, these would be the NFC matchups in round 1:

Rams @ Eagles

Ugh, the Rams AGAIN??!! I'm sick of playing them.

Bring me the Seahawks, on a silver platter, with pork and steak and small red potatoes and mini corn on the cob, and some seafood. THEN, I will be interested. Add some Asparagus to that also, please. I need some Greens if I want to keep this hot 54 year old body. 🙃🙃

1 hour ago, LacesOut said:

Ugh, the Rams AGAIN??!! I'm sick of playing them.

Bring me the Seahawks, on a silver platter, with pork and steak and small red potatoes and mini corn on the cob, and some seafood. THEN, I will be interested. Add some Asparagus to that also, please. I need some Greens if I want to keep this hot 54 year old body. 🙃🙃

But not sick of beating them though, right?😉

As of the time of this post, I'm not holding my breath on the number 2 seed. I'd be very surprised if Tanner McKee does not start the game next week. Either that, or the starters play a series or two. But next week needs to be a week of rest for the team. We saw last year how strange things can happen in the playoffs with that Washington win in Detroit. Even if Chicago snags the number 2 seed, there's no guarantee of a playoff win.