Soaring High

by Marc Narducci | Dec 2, 2024

There doesn’t seem to be any obstacle that the Eagles can’t hurdle, which is why (as we have been mentioning more than a few times) they are a viable Super Bowl contender.

Sunday’s 24-19 win at Baltimore improved their record to 10-2 overall and 6-1 on the road. Their final five games are part of a very favorable closing schedule. Only one team in both the AFC and NFC will earn a first round bye and the Eagles could still win the Super Bowl even if they don’t earn that.

Yet their chances to earn a bye for the top record in the NFC have to be considered very positive.

There are at the most four teams in realistic contention for the top seed.

The contenders for that top seed are the Detroit Lions (11-1), Minnesota Vikings (10-2) and Green Bay Packers (9-3, who all compete in the NFC North. Remember, the Eagles would have the head-to-head edge over the Packers who they beat in the season opener for both teams.

Eagles fans also had to be heartened how Detroit struggled with a Chicago Bears team who fired head coach Matt Eberflus one day after the Lions escaped with a 23-20 Thanksgiving win over the Bears.

In addition, Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay all have to face each other down the stretch, which will certainly eliminate at least two if not all three of them from earning the top seed.

Here are the contenders and remaining schedule:

Detroit Lions (11-1)

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Thursday Dec. 5 vs. Green Bay (9-3)
Sunday Dec. 15 vs. Buffalo (10-2)
Sunday Dec. 22 at Chicago (4-8)
Monday Dec. 30 at San Francisco (5-7)
Jan 4/5: vs Minnesota (10-2)

The Lions face three teams with nine or more wins. In addition, Detroit has suffered some key injuries, especially on the defensive side of the ball. This is a brutal schedule.

Eagles (10-2)
Sunday Dec. 8 vs. Carolina (3-9)
Sunday Dec. 15 vs. Pittsburgh (9-3)
Sunday Dec. 22 at Washington (8-5)
Sunday Dec. 29 vs Dallas (5-7)
Jan 4/5 vs NY Giants (2-10)

The Eagles have four of their final five games at home, with three of the games against Carolina, Dallas and the NY Giants (who are a combined 10-26). A 4-1 finish seems very likely and 5-0 isn’t out of the realm of possibility. The Eagles are definitely set up to overtake Detroit.

Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
Sunday Dec. 8 vs Atlanta (6-6)
Monday Dec. 16 vs. Chicago (4-8)
Sunday Dec. 22 at Seattle (7-5)
Sunday Dec. 29 vs Green Bay (9-3)
Jan 4/5 at Detroit (11-1)

The last two games against Green Bay and Detroit will be like mini-playoff games, plus, traveling to Seattle won’t be easy. Remember, the Vikings struggled to a 30-27 win in their first game against Chicago. They also face a desperate Atlanta team this week, looking to snap a three-game skid. (It’s hard to believe that Atlanta beat the Eagles. That seemed like three years ago by now.)

Green Bay Packers
Thursday Dec. 5 at Detroit (11-1)
Sunday Dec. 15 at Seattle (7-5)
Monday Dec. 23 vs. New Orleans (4-8)
Sunday Dec. 29 at Minnesota (10-2)
Jan 4/5 vs. Chicago (4-8)
Back-to-back games at Detroit and Seattle will be challenging. In the first meeting with Chicago, Green Bay earned a 20-19 victory when the Packers blocked a 46-yard field goal as time expired. The only game that may seem easy is with New Orleans and the Saints have been playing much better since naming Darren Rizzi interim head coach.

Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles

Author: Marc Narducci

Soaring High

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