Eagles Playoff-Clinching Scenarios - Week 14

Eagles fans may be focused on the Birds chasing down the Lions for the top NFC playoff seed. But first things first: the team needs to clinch a playoff berth before locking up its seed.

That could happen as early as this Sunday, if the Eagles win or tie their game against the Carolina Panthers.

What are the clinching scenarios if the Eagles win?

If the Eagles beat the Panthers, they'll clinch a spot in the playoffs if:

1) The Falcons lose or tie their game against the Vikings AND the Seahawks-Cardinals game ends in a tie;

2) The Falcons lose or tie their game against the Vikings AND the Cardinals lose to the Seahawks AND the Rams lose or tie their game against the Bills;

3) The Falcons lose or tie their game against the Vikings AND the Cardinals lose to the Seahawks AND the Packers lose or tie their game against the Lions;

4) The Bucs lose or tie their game against the Raiders AND the Seahawks-Cardinals game ends in a tie;

5) The Bucs lose or tie their game against the Raiders AND the Cardinals lose to the Seahawks AND the Rams lose or tie their game against the Bills; or

6) The Bucs lose or tie their game against the Raiders AND the Cardinals lose to the Seahawks AND the Packers lose or tie their game against the Lions.

That's confusing. Just tell me who to root for.

If you're an Eagles fan, you're rooting for these teams:

- Vikings (favored by 5.5 points against the Falcons)

- Seahawks (2.5 point underdogs against the Cardinals

- Bills (favored by 3.5 over the Rams)

- Bucs (favored by 6.5 over the Raiders)

- Technically, the Lions (favored by 3.5 over the Packers), if the Birds' goal were simply to reach the playoffs. Because of the race for the top NFC seed, however, Eagles fans should instead root for the Packers. For similar reasons, fans may want the Falcons to upset the Vikings (to help keep 10-2 Minnesota out of the top-seed mix).

Updated DVOA Playoff Odds here!

Odds for No. 1 seed:

AFC Bills 58%, Chiefs 35%, Steelers 6%, Chargers 1%
NFC Lions 73%, Eagles 21%, Vikings 6%https://t.co/zjO6nkUG3T

— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) December 3, 2024

Got it. Now hit me with some ridiculous scenarios that start with an Eagles-Panthers tie.

If the Eagles tie the Panthers, there will be rioting in the streets of Philadelphia. But the Birds could still clinch a playofff spot if:

1) The Falcons lose their game against the Vikings AND the Seahawks-Cardinals game ends in a tie;

2) The Falcons lose their game against the Vikings AND the Cardinals lose to the Seahawks AND the Rams lose or tie their game against the Bills;

3) The Bucs lose their game against the Raiders AND the Seahawks-Cardinals game ends in a tie; or

4) The Bucs lose their game against the Raiders AND the Cardinals lose to the Seahawks AND the Rams lose or tie their game against the Bills.