Eagles 2021 NFL playoff outlook: Where they stand after 15 weeks, remaining games and postseason blueprint

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Eagles 2021 NFL playoff outlook: Where they stand after 15 weeks, remaining games and postseason blueprint

Philadelphia has a shot at the postseason with an opportunity to control its own destiny

 

By Jeff Kerr

 

The Philadelphia Eagles are 7-7 with three weeks remaining in the regular season, coming off a huge victory over the Washington Football Team which they rushed for 236 yards and garnered 519 yards of offense -- their highest total in three years. 

Philadelphia has rushed for 175-plus years in seven consecutive games, a franchise record and the most for any NFL team since the 1985 Chicago Bears. Since Week 8, the Eagles are averaging 214.4 rushing yards a game -- the highest in the league. They only trail the Indianapolis Colts in yards per carry (5.19) and rushing touchdowns (13), as Philadelphia is 5-2 in its last seven games and on the verge of a playoff spot. 

With three games remaining on their schedule  -- all against NFC East teams -- the Eagles control their own destiny in getting to 10 wins on the year and putting all the pressure on the Minnesota Vikings to win out and hold that final playoff spot. 

Current playoff position

The Eagles are eighth in the NFC playoff standings after their win over Washington, but their 7-7 record is tied with the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints for the final playoff spot in the conference. Philadelphia loses a common record tiebreaker to Minnesota (both teams have the same conference record) and a head-to-head tiebreaker over New Orleans. 

Philadelphia is one game behind the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 6 seed, but San Francisco holds the head-to-head tiebreaker -- meaning the Eagles will have to surpass the 49ers over the final three weeks. 

Remaining schedule

Here are the NFC playoff standings from No. 6 to No. 11 and the remaining schedules for each: 

• No. 6 seed: San Francisco 49ers (8-6) -- at Titans (9-5), vs. Texans (3-11), at Rams (10-4) 
• No. 7 seed: Minnesota Vikings (7-7): vs. Rams (10-4), at Packers (11-3), vs. Bears (4-10)
• No. 8 seed: Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) -- vs. Giants (4-10), at Washington (7-7), vs. Cowboys (10-4)
• No. 9 seed: New Orleans Saints (7-7) -- vs. Dolphins (7-7), vs. Panthers (5-9), at Falcons (6-8)
• No. 10 seed: Washington Football Team (6-8) -- at Cowboys (10-4), vs. Eagles (7-7), at Giants (4-10)
• No. 11 seed: Atlanta Falcons (6-8) -- vs. Lions (2-11-1), at Bills (8-6), vs. Saints (7-7)

Taking care of Washington was step one for the Eagles as the NFC wild card race has cut down to three teams with three weeks to play. The Eagles have the easiest schedule remaining of the 7-7 teams, set to face an injury-riddled Giants team that will start either Mike Glennon or Jake Fromm this week. Then Philadelphia faces Washington in Week 17, a team the Eagles just outgained by 282 yards. These are two wins the Eagles have to get if they wish to make the postseason. 

Minnesota has an excellent chance to slip up with the Vikings' next two games being the Rams and Packers, which is where the Eagles can jump them heading into their Week 18 finale with the Cowboys. The Saints have a tough game with the Dolphins before ending their season with the Falcons and Panthers. If new Orleans falls to Miami -- who has won six straight -- Philadelphia may be in the driver's seat for that final playoff spot. 

The blueprint is still simple for the Eagles -- win out. There's a slight margin of error if Philadelphia goes 2-1, but the Vikings will have to go 1-2 for the Eagles to surpass them. Philadelphia can't leave that up to chance. 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/eagles-2021-playoff-outlook-where-they-stand-after-15-weeks-remaining-games-and-postseason-blueprint/