Northwest Stadium will play host to one of many NFL’s storied rivalries on Sunday, when the Washington Commanders host the Philadelphia Eagles within the day’s early slate of video games.
Past the pleasure of taking down a division rival, Sunday’s recreation between the Commanders and the Eagles has critical playoff implications for each groups.
Philadelphia is already assured a playoff spot, and is aiming for the highest seed within the convention. Whereas they can not clinch that this weekend, they’ll safe a division title.
As for the Commanders, whereas they nonetheless have desires of an NFC East title, this weekend they’ll lock up a playoff spot if a number of video games break their means.
Let’s dive into the assorted eventualities.
Eagles playoff image
Issues are fairly easy for Philadelphia. With a win or a tie in opposition to the Commanders, the Eagles are NFC East Champions.
Nonetheless, a win by the Commanders would maintain them alive within the title race for a minimum of yet one more week.
Concerning the first-overall seed within the NFC, the Eagles are tied with the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions at 12-2. None of these three groups can clinch the highest spot within the convention in Week 16.
Commanders playoff image
The playoff-clinching eventualities for Washington are far more difficult, and even with a win over their division rivals the Commanders will want a considerable quantity of assist to have a good time Sunday night time.
Listed here are Washington’s three completely different pathways to the playoffs this weekend.
Within the first situation, the Commanders beat the Eagles on Sunday. That, together with an Atlanta Falcons loss or tie in opposition to the New York Giants and a Los Angeles Rams loss or tie in opposition to the New York Jets, would clinch a playoff spot for Washington.
- Commanders win AND Falcons loss/tie AND Rams loss/tie
The second pathway? Once more, it begins with a win in opposition to the Eagles. Then if the Falcons lose or tie in opposition to the Giants, and the Seattle Seahawks lose or tie in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, the Commanders are within the dance.
- Commanders win AND Falcons loss/tie AND Seahawks loss/tie
And now, the third situation, which once more begins with a Washington win over Philadelphia. That, coupled with a Falcons loss, a Rams loss or tie, a Seahawks loss or tie, and an Arizona Cardinals loss or tie in opposition to the Carolina Panthers, and the Commanders are in.
There’s one catch to this third situation, nonetheless. If the Rams and Seahawks each tie, then the Commanders won’t clinch a playoff spot.
- Commanders tie AND Falcons loss AND Cardonals loss/tie AND Rams loss/tie AND Seahawks loss/tie (however not each the Rams and Seahawks ties)
Tiebreaker implications
If Philadelphia wins on Sunday, they’ll have swept the Commanders on the season, and clinched a division title.
Ought to Washington win, nonetheless, the 2 groups would see their season collection cut up at 1-1. That will imply any potential tie would advance to the second tiebreaker, which is division file as each groups are within the NFC East.
Heading into Week 16, the Commanders have a 2-2 file within the NFC East, whereas the Eagles have a 3-0 file. A Washington win would enhance their file to 3-2 within the division, whereas dropping Philadelphia to 3-1.
The Eagles have video games in opposition to each the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants remaining, whereas the Commanders have one closing division recreation left, in opposition to the Cowboys in Week 18.
