Eagles playoff opponents come into focus after Cowboys game moved to Saturday night

[time2rock]

Eagles playoff opponents come into focus after Cowboys game moved to Saturday night

Saturday's Cowboys game is largely meaningless for the Eagles, but Dallas could be playing for a better playoff position.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has led the Birds to the playoffs in his first year as a starter.  MONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer

by Rob Tornoe

Updated 

Jan 4, 2022

Fresh off clinching a playoff berth, the Eagles will get a largely meaningless prime-time game to finish the season.

The Eagles’ Week 18 game against the Dallas Cowboys was moved by the league to Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field, and will now air on both ESPN and ABC. Calling the game will be regular Monday Night Football announcers Steve Levy, Brian Griese, and Louis Riddick. King of Prussia native Lisa Salters will be reporting from the sidelines.

The Eagles-Cowboys game is mostly meaningless — both have secured spots in the playoffs and Dallas can no longer become the No. 1 seed, which the Green Bay Packers clinched Sunday night. But the Cowboys could still nab the No. 2 seed with a win, which is valuable because it would guarantee Dallas two home playoff games with a victory in the first round.

So why did the NFL move a game without much playoff interest to Saturday night? Because the league didn’t want to diminish the interest in games with real playoff implications. For instance, if the NFL had moved 49ers-Rams to Saturday and San Francisco won, the Saints’ game against the Falcons on Sunday would suddenly become meaningless.

As for the Eagles, it looks likely they’ll face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first week of the playoffs, although there are scenarios where the Birds could face either the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams, or the Cowboys again.

Basically, the Eagles will face the Buccaneers if they beat the Cowboys on Saturday night, though these outcomes are also possible depending on how Week 18 shakes out:

• Eagles at Cardinals if the Eagles, Saints, Panthers, Cardinals, and 49ers win.

• Eagles at Rams if the Eagles, Panthers, Seahawks, and 49ers win.

  If the Cowboys win Saturday, it becomes more likely the Eagles will face an opponent other than the Buccaneers. The following would still have to occur:

  • Eagles at Cardinals if the Cowboys, Panthers, Cardinals, and 49ers win.

  • Eagles at Cowboys if the Cowboys, Panthers, Seahawks, and 49ers win.

  • Eagles at Rams if the Cowboys, Falcons, and Rams win.

    Here’s the revised schedule for Week 18, which will end with the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders duking it out for the final AFC playoff spot:

    

    

    

    https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagles-playoff-opponents-cowboys-buccaneers-nfl-scenarios-20220103.html