For Eagles fans looking for some rooting opportunities in Week 18, there are a few matchups that could have an impact on the playoffs.
One crucial game is between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. If the Eagles win against Washington, a win by the Lions over the Bears would put Philadelphia at the top of the NFC playoff seeding. This means the Eagles would face the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round, rather than one of the more formidable teams like the 49ers or Rams.
On the other hand, if the Bears lose to the Lions, they'll drop to third place and play a tougher opponent, which could make things challenging for the Eagles. In this scenario, the Lions would be a significant threat in the playoffs, but facing them might give Philadelphia an opportunity to avoid some of the more top-seeded teams.
In other matchups that don't involve the Eagles directly, there are a few instances where certain outcomes would be beneficial for the team's playoff chances.
For example, if the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers, it could help the Eagles by forcing the Rams into the six seed. The same goes for the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams; a win for the Cardinals over the Rams would mean that Philadelphia avoids playing them in the Wild Card Round.
In terms of teams knocking off another team to secure a spot in the playoffs, a Panthers win over the Buccaneers would be ideal, given their current inconsistency. On the other hand, a Saints loss to the Falcons would ensure that they stay ahead of the Bucs in the division standings.
Meanwhile, for Eagles fans eager to see the Giants struggle, there's plenty of reason to root for them. A defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys could significantly improve the team's draft position for 2026, as it depends on where they fall in the overall order.
One crucial game is between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. If the Eagles win against Washington, a win by the Lions over the Bears would put Philadelphia at the top of the NFC playoff seeding. This means the Eagles would face the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round, rather than one of the more formidable teams like the 49ers or Rams.
On the other hand, if the Bears lose to the Lions, they'll drop to third place and play a tougher opponent, which could make things challenging for the Eagles. In this scenario, the Lions would be a significant threat in the playoffs, but facing them might give Philadelphia an opportunity to avoid some of the more top-seeded teams.
In other matchups that don't involve the Eagles directly, there are a few instances where certain outcomes would be beneficial for the team's playoff chances.
For example, if the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers, it could help the Eagles by forcing the Rams into the six seed. The same goes for the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams; a win for the Cardinals over the Rams would mean that Philadelphia avoids playing them in the Wild Card Round.
In terms of teams knocking off another team to secure a spot in the playoffs, a Panthers win over the Buccaneers would be ideal, given their current inconsistency. On the other hand, a Saints loss to the Falcons would ensure that they stay ahead of the Bucs in the division standings.
Meanwhile, for Eagles fans eager to see the Giants struggle, there's plenty of reason to root for them. A defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys could significantly improve the team's draft position for 2026, as it depends on where they fall in the overall order.
, this is so interesting! If the Eagles win against Washington, that would put all the pressure on the Lions to beat the Bears, which could actually work out for Philly... I mean, who wants a tough matchup with 49ers or Rams? 
Interesting how some wins by other teams can affect the Eagles' playoff seeding. 
The teams are setting themselves up to face each other again in the playoffs, and that's not even the main point - its about the draft position for 2026, where they really want to get their hands on those top picks 
The Giants' struggles against the Cowboys are just a way to make it look like they're trying to lose... meanwhile, if the Lions win over the Bears, they'll be sitting pretty in first place and getting a soft draw against the Packers... but let's be real, this is all just a setup for the real players to get their hands on those top picks 
! As a retiree, I've seen my fair share of ups and downs in sports, but this stuff always keeps me on the edge of my seat. You know, as an Eagles fan myself, it's hard to imagine not facing those 49ers or Rams in the playoffs 
. But if the Lions can take down the Bears, that'd be a huge boost for Philly! And what's up with all these teams knocking off each other? The Seahawks beating the 49ers would definitely help our boys get a shot at a better matchup... meanwhile, if the Giants lose to those Cowboys, they might just get themselves into a decent draft spot 
. It's always exciting this time of year!
. But at the same time, I kinda wanna see the Bears lose, just so they don't get that top spot and have to play one of those super tough teams 
... wait, nope! I was wrong about that, actually, I think a Lions loss would be bad for Philly 
. Oh man, my mind's all over the place now 
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. Meanwhile, Seahawks beating 49ers could bump Rams to 6th spot, and Cardinals taking down Rams would keep Eagles out of that tough matchup 
. Can't wait to see how it all plays out! 
. I'm rooting for the Seahawks to beat the 49ers too - that'd definitely help Philly out! 
this week! If that happens, it'd put Philly in a sweet spot with a chance to avoid some of those tough matchups. A Seahawks win over the 49ers would be awesome too 
a loss against the Cowboys would be perfect for their draft spot in 2026! 
. But seriously, if the Eagles are gonna make it to the playoffs at all they need some of these teams to mess up their own playoff hopes 
. Like, I know it's not like the Bears and Lions are exactly powerhouses or anything... but still. Maybe just try to beat one of those teams instead of relying on everyone else to mess up? 
. Seattle Seahawks beating 49ers would also b great for Eagles cuz Rams would get 6th seed 
and u know what's up with Giants? Defeating Cowboys would be HUGE for draft position in 2026 
. And think about the Seahawks and Cardinals, they're showing us that one win can change everything 
. So maybe we should try rooting for those underdog teams that are gonna make our favorite team's life a little easier 
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. And can we talk about how crazy it is that the Cardinals' win over the Rams could be so pivotal? It just goes to show that every game matters in the NFL, even if you're not directly involved