NFC Playoff Picture: Eagles get help in wild card race with Vikings losing to Seahawks

Still a long shot.

The Philadelphia Eagles received some help in the NFC playoff picture on Monday night. The Minnesota Vikings losing to the Seattle Seahawks increases the Eagles’ chances of earning a wild card spot. Let’s take an updated look at the standings.

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

PLAYOFF TEAMS

1 - New Orleans Saints: 11-2 overall, 8-2 conference

2 - Los Angeles Rams: 11-2 overall, 7-2 conference

3 - Chicago Bears: 9-4 overall, 7-2 conference

4 - Dallas Cowboys: 8-5 overall, 7-3 conference

5 - Seattle Seahawks: 8-5 overall, 7-3 conference

6 - Minnesota Vikings: 6-6-1 overall, 5-4-1 conference

IN THE HUNT

7 - Carolina Panthers: 6-7 overall, 4-5 conference

8 - Philadelphia Eagles: 6-7 overall, 4-6 conference

9 - Washington Redskins: 6-7 overall, 6-5 conference

DEAD

10- Green Bay Packers: 5-7-1 overall, 3-6-1 conference

11 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-8 overall, 4-6 conference

12 - New York Giants: 5-8 overall, 4-7 conference

14 - Detroit Lions: 5-8 overall, 3-7 conference

14 - Atlanta Falcons: 4-9 overall, 4-5 conference

15 - Arizona Cardinals: 3-10 overall, 3-6 conference

16 - San Francisco 49ers: 3-10 overall, 1-8 conference

...

As we noted following Philadelphia’s loss to the Cowboys, the Eagles must finish with a better overall record than both Minnesota and Carolina in order to secure a wild card spot. Remaining schedules for all three teams:

Eagles: at Rams, versus Texans, at Washington

Vikings: versus Dolphins, at Lions, versus Bears

Panthers: versus Saints, versus Falcons, at Saints

If the Eagles win out, which certainly isn’t likely, they’d need the Panthers and Vikings to each lose just one more game.

If the Eagles go 2-1, which is at least within the realm of possibility, they’ll need the Panthers and Vikings to each lose at least two games down the stretch. That’s not so crazy on Carolina’s end considering they’ve lost five in a row and play the Saints twice. As for Minnesota, their offense is really struggling. John DeFilippo’s group has only scored 17 points in their last two games combined (with seven of those coming in garbage time against Seattle).

Of course, the Eagles have their own offensive issues as well, which — among other reasons — is why it’s hard to have much faith in them down the stretch.

But hey, Philly’s unlikely wild card chances only got a little better on Monday night.

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