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Rams loss eliminates one Eagles wild-card opponent as playoffs approach

Thanks to the Rams loss, the Eagles won't face the Seahawks in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will likely face the Rams in the wild-card round, but could also land the Packers or 49ers.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will likely face the Rams in the wild-card round, but could also land the Packers or 49ers. Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    by Rob Tornoe
    Updated 
    Published 

The Eagles will host a playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field during the first round of the NFL playoffs, and got a clearer sense of who their opponent will be Monday night.

The Los Angeles Rams (11-5) lost to the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) Monday night, a surprising outcome that could have a big impact on the NFC playoff picture, not to mention which team the Birds (11-5) will face in their wild-card game.

» READ MORE: Eagles news: Updated playoff picture; Nick Sirianni taunts Bills fans; injury report

Here’s everything on the line and how it could impact the Eagles:

NFC playoff picture

NFC West playoff scenarios

The math is pretty easy here. The winner of Week 18’s matchup between the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) and the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) will end up deciding the NFC West champion and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Rams had an outside chance at claiming the division, but they were officially eliminated from contention by the 49ers’ win Sunday night. Now the best Los Angeles can do is the No. 5 seed.

Who will the Eagles play in the wild-card round?

Which team the Eagles face in the first round of the playoffs will ultimately be decided by what happens in Week 18. The Rams loss Monday night eliminates the possibility the Eagles will face the Seahawks first in the postseason.

It also makes it most likely the Eagles will face the Rams in the wild-card round.

Here is a breakdown of the Eagles’ potential wild-card opponents, excluding ties:

  1. No. 2 Eagles vs. No. 7 Packers: Eagles win vs. Commanders AND Bears loss to the Detroit Lions (8-8)

  2. No. 3 Eagles vs. No. 6 Rams: Eagles loss or Bears win

  3. No. 3 Eagles vs. No. 6 49ers: Rams win vs. Cardinals AND Seahawks win vs. 49ers

The Falcons can ruin the NFC South’s win-and-you’re-in game

With both teams losing Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) and Carolina Panthers (8-8) will face off in a Week 18 win-and-you’re-in game for the NFC South title.

The winner will claim the division crown and the NFC’s No. 4 seed, which means it will host a game against the No. 5 seed.

Unless the Falcons and Buccaneers win in Week 18, which would force a three-way tie at 8-9 atop the NFC South.

In that unlikely case, the first tiebreaker would be head-to-head among the three teams, which the Panthers would win.

Two AFC divisions will be decided in Week 18

  1. AFC North: The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) and Baltimore Ravens (8-8) will meet with a playoff berth on the line. The winner becomes the AFC’s No. 4 seed and claims the conference’s final postseason spot, while the loser watches the playoffs from the couch.

  2. AFC South: The Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) will claim their first division crown since 2022 with a win against the Tennessee Titans (3-13) or a Houston Texans (11-5) loss to the Indianapolis Colts (8-8). The Texans need a win and a Jaguars loss to win the AFC South.