The penultimate weekend of the 2022 NFL regular season is here! It’s time to walk a Philadelphia Eagles-focused rooting guide for all games in week 17.
This drill will be especially interesting this year since the Birds have more to worry about than usual due to owning a first-round pick from the New Orleans Saints in 2023 NFL Draft.
Via ESPN:
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2023 NFL ORDER DRAFT
Via Tankathon:
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GAME OF EAGLES
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: The Eagles can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture with a win. They can also help ensure that the Saints’ first-round pick due to Philly is at least a top-10 selection. You really have to win!
NFCEAST
DALLAS COWBOYS: Had the Cowboys lost or tied on Thursday Night Football, the Eagles would have officially won the division. This does not happen.
INDIANAPOLIS FOAL to NEW YORK GIANTS: There are two different schools of thought here. A Colts win helps the Eagles root for the Saints pick due to Philly moving ahead of Indy’s spot in the draft order. A Giants victory, meanwhile, clinches a playoff berth and gives New York less motivation to pull out all the stops to win against the Eagles in Week 18. If you’re worried about the Eagles losing to the Saints , then the latter scenario is your preferred path. . But if you support optimizing the Eagles’ draft pick, you’ll favor the Colts. It also couldn’t hurt that Nick Foles was leaving for Indy. Root for the Colts.
CLEVELAND CHESTNUT at WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: A Browns win is best for optimizing the Eagles’ draft pick since Cleveland is directly below the Saints’ pick due to Philly in the draft order. But a Commanders victory prevents Aaron Rodgers from sneaking into the playoffs. I know the Eagles have beaten him before, but you’re crazy if you’d rather see him in the playoffs than Carson Wentz. Root for commanders.
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS to LAS VEGAS ADVENTURERS: The Raiders are currently No. 9 in the draft, which is one spot ahead of the Saints’ pick due to Philly at No. 9. 10. A loss at San Fran also helps steer the 49ers away from the No. 1. 2 seed. , they may have to play a game on the road at Minny before a NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia. The loss to the 49ers also gives the Eagles more leeway in case Philly can’t clinch the No. 1 seed this week. Root for the Raiders.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS to GREEN BAY PACKAGES: The Vikings’ loss gives the Eagles more leeway in case Philly can’t clinch the No. 1 seed this week. If the 49ers AND the Vikings both lose, the Eagles could lose and still claim first place with a loss to Dallas in Week 18. Then again, it won’t be great to see Rodgers get closer to the playoffs with a Packers victory. But we approach this scenario with the attitude that other NFC wild card teams will win enough to keep it out. Root for the Packers.
CAROLINA PANTHERS to Tampa Bay Buccaneers: If the Saints beat the Eagles, New Orleans has a 24% chance of making the playoffs with a Panthers win and only a 4% chance of making the playoffs with a Bucs win. Plus, the Bucs’ victory means clinching the NFC South and likely welcoming Dallas into the wildcard round. Tom Brady has never lost to the Cowboys. Root for Buccaneers.
CHICAGO BEAR to DETROIT LIONS: The Eagles would probably rather face the Lions in the playoffs than the Packers. But they would probably rather face the Commanders than the Lions. Root for Lions.
NEW YORK JETS to SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: The Eagles would rather see Geno Smith over Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs if that happens. Root for the Seahawks.
WATCH THE DRAFT PICK
ARIZONA CARDINALS to Atlanta Falcons: The Saints’ pick due to Philly has a better chance of moving ahead of the Falcons in the draft order. Root for the Falcons.
DENVER BRONCOS to KANSAS CITY HEADS: Rooting for the Broncos is an exercise in futility, especially with them playing the Chiefs. But it’s best for the Eagles’ draft pick optimization hopes. Root for the Broncos.
Miami Dolphins to NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: The Saints likely won’t fall below the Pats in the draft order, but a Pats win would help secure that much. Root for the Patriots.
LOS ANGELES RAMS to CHARGERS LOS ANGELES: The Rams’ pick due to Detroit has a chance to drop below the Saints’ pick due to Philly in the draft order. Root for the Rams.
PITTSBURGH STEELS to BALTIMORE CROWS: The Saints likely won’t fall below the Steelers in the draft order, but a Steelers win would help secure that much. Root for the Steelers.
WHAT’S LEFT
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS to HOUSTON TEXANS: This game doesn’t really matter to the Jags since they still have to beat Tennessee in Week 18 to clinch the AFC South. But why not encourage Doug Pederson to win anyway. Root for the Jaguars.
BUFFALO BILLS to CINCINNATI BENGALS: Call me crazy but if I’m the Eagles I’d rather see the Bills than the Bengals in the superbowl. Something about Joe Burrow scares me as I believe Josh Allen, a great player, is more prone to making an erratic error or two. Root for invoices.
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