The Eagles face the Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Sunday. We break down what the game means for the NFL playoff picture.
Northwest Stadium will play host to one of the NFL’s storied rivalries on Sunday, when the Washington Commanders host the Philadelphia Eagles in the day’s early slate of games.
Beyond the pride of taking down a division rival, Sunday’s game between the Commanders and the Eagles has serious playoff implications for both teams.
Philadelphia is already guaranteed a playoff spot, and is aiming for the top seed in the conference. While they cannot clinch that this weekend, they can secure a division title.
As for the Commanders, while they still have dreams of an NFC East title, this weekend they can lock up a playoff spot if several games break their way.
Let’s dive into the various scenarios.
Things are pretty simple for Philadelphia. With a win or a tie against the Commanders, the Eagles are NFC East Champions.
However, a win by the Commanders would keep them alive in the title race for at least one more week.
Regarding the first-overall seed in the NFC, the Eagles are tied with the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions at 12-2. None of those three teams can clinch the top spot in the conference in Week 16.
The playoff-clinching scenarios for Washington are much more complicated, and even with a win over their division rivals the Commanders will need a substantial amount of help to celebrate Sunday night.
Here are Washington’s three different pathways to the playoffs this weekend.
In the first scenario, the Commanders beat the Eagles on Sunday. That, along with an Atlanta Falcons loss or tie against the New York Giants and a Los Angeles Rams loss or tie against the New York Jets, would clinch a playoff spot for Washington.
The second pathway? Again, it begins with a win against the Eagles. Then if the Falcons lose or tie against the Giants, and the Seattle Seahawks lose or tie against the Minnesota Vikings, the Commanders are in the dance.
And now, the third scenario, which again 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 against the Carolina Panthers, and the Commanders are in.
There is one catch to this third scenario, however. If the Rams and Seahawks both tie, then the Commanders will not clinch a playoff spot.
If Philadelphia wins on Sunday, they will have swept the Commanders on the season, and clinched a division title.
Should Washington win, however, the two teams would see their season series split at 1-1. That would mean any potential tie would advance to the second tiebreaker, which is division record as both teams are in the NFC East.
Heading into Week 16, the Commanders have a 2-2 record in the NFC East, while the Eagles have a 3-0 record. A Washington win would improve their record to 3-2 in the division, while dropping Philadelphia to 3-1.
The Eagles have games against both the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants remaining, while the Commanders have one final division game left, against the Cowboys in Week 18.
