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Eagles playoff opponents come into focus after Cowboys game moved to Saturday night

Saturday's Cowboys game is largely meaningless for the Eagles, but Dallas could be playing for a better playoff position.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has led the Birds to the playoffs in his first year as a starter.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has led the Birds to the playoffs in his first year as a starter.Read moreMONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer
    by Rob Tornoe
    Updated 
    Published 

Fresh off clinching a playoff berth, the Eagles will get a largely meaningless prime-time game to finish the season.

The Eagles’ Week 18 game against the Dallas Cowboys was moved by the league to Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field, and will now air on both ESPN and ABC. Calling the game will be regular Monday Night Football announcers Steve Levy, Brian Griese, and Louis Riddick. King of Prussia native Lisa Salters will be reporting from the sidelines.

The Eagles-Cowboys game is mostly meaningless — both have secured spots in the playoffs and Dallas can no longer become the No. 1 seed, which the Green Bay Packers clinched Sunday night. But the Cowboys could still nab the No. 2 seed with a win, which is valuable because it would guarantee Dallas two home playoff games with a victory in the first round.

» READ MORE: Eagles announcer Merrill Reese didn’t travel to Washington because it’s a ‘dump’

So why did the NFL move a game without much playoff interest to Saturday night? Because the league didn’t want to diminish the interest in games with real playoff implications. For instance, if the NFL had moved 49ers-Rams to Saturday and San Francisco won, the Saints’ game against the Falcons on Sunday would suddenly become meaningless.

As for the Eagles, it looks likely they’ll face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first week of the playoffs, although there are scenarios where the Birds could face either the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams, or the Cowboys again.

Basically, the Eagles will face the Buccaneers if they beat the Cowboys on Saturday night, though these outcomes are also possible depending on how Week 18 shakes out:

  1. Eagles at Cardinals if the Eagles, Saints, Panthers, Cardinals, and 49ers win.

  2. Eagles at Rams if the Eagles, Panthers, Seahawks, and 49ers win.

If the Cowboys win Saturday, it becomes more likely the Eagles will face an opponent other than the Buccaneers. The following would still have to occur:

  1. Eagles at Cardinals if the Cowboys, Panthers, Cardinals, and 49ers win.

  2. Eagles at Cowboys if the Cowboys, Panthers, Seahawks, and 49ers win.

  3. Eagles at Rams if the Cowboys, Falcons, and Rams win.

» READ MORE: It’s OK to enjoy the Eagles’ present. Worry about their future later.

Here’s the revised schedule for Week 18, which will end with the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders duking it out for the final AFC playoff spot:

Date
Saturday, Jan. 8
Game
Chiefs at Broncos
Time
4:30 p.m.
Channel
ESPN/ABC
Date
Game
Cowboys at Eagles
Time
8:15 p.m.
Channel
ESPN/ABC
Date
Sunday, Jan. 9
Game
Steelers at Ravens
Time
1 p.m.
Channel
CBS
Date
Game
Bengals at Browns
Time
1 p.m.
Channel
Fox
Date
Game
Packers at Lions
Time
1 p.m.
Channel
Fox
Date
Game
Titans at Texans
Time
1 p.m.
Channel
CBS
Date
Game
Colts at Jaguars
Time
1 p.m.
Channel
CBS
Date
Game
Bears at Vikings
Time
1 p.m.
Channel
Fox
Date
Game
Washington at Giants
Time
1 p.m.
Channel
Fox
Date
Game
Seahawks at Cardinals
Time
4:25 p.m.
Channel
Fox
Date
Game
Saints at Falcons
Time
4:25 p.m.
Channel
Fox
Date
Game
Jets at Bills
Time
4:25 p.m.
Channel
CBS
Date
Game
49ers at Rams
Time
4:25 p.m.
Channel
Fox
Date
Game
Patriots at Dolphins
Time
4:25 p.m.
Channel
CBS
Date
Game
Panthers at Buccaneers
Time
4:25 p.m.
Channel
CBS
Date
Game
Chargers at Raiders
Time
8:20 p.m.
Channel
NBC

Playoff picture heading into Week 18

NFC

Seed
No. 1
Team
x-Green Bay Packers
Record
13-3
Seed
No. 2
Team
y-Los Angeles Rams
Record
12-4
Seed
No. 3
Team
x-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record
12-4
Seed
No. 4
Team
x-Dallas Cowboys
Record
11-5
Seed
Wild card
Team
y-Arizona Cardinals
Record
11-5
Seed
Wild card
Team
San Francisco 49ers
Record
9-7
Seed
Wild card
Team
y-Philadelphia Eagles
Record
9-7
Seed
In the hunt
Team
New Orleans Saints
Record
8-8
Seed
Team
x- Clinched division
Record
Seed
Team
y- Clinched playoff spot
Record

AFC

Seed
No. 1
Team
y-Tennessee Titans
Record
11-5
Seed
No. 2
Team
y-Kansas City Chiefs
Record
11-5
Seed
No. 3
Team
y-Cincinnati Bengals
Record
10-6
Seed
No. 4
Team
x-Buffalo Bills
Record
10-6
Seed
Wild card
Team
x-New England Patriots
Record
10-6
Seed
Wild card
Team
Indianapolis Colts
Record
9-7
Seed
Wild card
Team
Los Angeles Chargers
Record
9-7
Seed
In the hunt
Team
Las Vegas Raiders
Record
9-7
Seed
Team
Pittsburgh Steelers
Record
8-7-1
Seed
Team
Baltimore Ravens
Record
8-8
Seed
Team
x- Clinched division
Record
Seed
Team
y- Clinched playoff spot
Record

» READ MORE: 'Resilient' Nick Sirianni leads turnaround of playoff-bound Eagles