The Philadelphia Eagles have a giant determination to make in Week 18.
Should they play their starters towards the Washington Commanders? Or ought to they rest them?
Had the Chicago Bears defeated the San Francisco on Sunday evening, resting the starters would’ve been the straightforward name since the Birds would’ve been locked in to the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoff image.
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But the Bears’ loss leaves the door open to the Eagles transferring as much as the No. 2 seed if 1) Philly beats Washington AND 2) Chicago loses to the Detroit Lions in the ultimate week of the common season.
So, what ought to the Eagles do?
Here are some ideas on the matter with a conclusion to observe.
There is important worth in the No. 2 seed.
It’s not like the distinction between No. 2 and No. 3 is irrelevant. We simply noticed the Eagles win the Super Bowl as the No. 2 seed final season.
The No. 2 seed is assured to host a second residence playoff recreation if they will win their first residence recreation in the Wild Card spherical. If the Eagles are in a position to transfer as much as No. 2, they’d be assured a house recreation towards the Green Bay Packers … a crew they beforehand beat at Lambeau Field earlier this season. And a crew that’s now with out Micah Parsons and may enter the playoffs on a four-game shedding streak if Green Bay can’t beat the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18.
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If the Eagles can beat the Packers after which win in the Divisional Round, they’d have the ability to host the NFC Championship Game in Philly if the No. 1 seed loses their first playoff recreation. This clearly occurred final 12 months when the Detroit Lions misplaced to the Washington Commanders.
The Eagles won’t must play starters to beat the Commanders.
The Commanders are fairly dangerous. They is perhaps beginning 39-year-old Josh Johnson at quarterback.
The Eagles’ backups gained a Week 18 recreation over the New York Giants’ starters final 12 months. That end result doesn’t assure it’ll occur once more in this spot. But there’s some cause to really feel that Tanner McKee may play nicely sufficient to guide the Birds to a win.
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Dan Quinn is perhaps out to actually spoil the Eagles’ No. 2 seed hopes.
Commanders gamers didn’t appear to understand Nick Sirianni going for a two-point conversion late in the Eagles’ win over Washington in Week 17. After the recreation, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn talked robust about how they’ll see the Eagles once more in Week 18.
Seems like the Commanders may relish taking part in the Eagles robust. And possibly even taking part in soiled to attempt to sabotage their division rival.
The Lions’ motivation to beat the Bears is unclear.
The Lions had been formally eradicated from playoff competition by shedding to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas. They don’t have anything to play for however pleasure in Week 18.
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But do we actually anticipate a Dan Campbell crew to merely roll over? The Lions may end their season on a optimistic notice by beating the Bears to probably knock Chicago right down to the No. 3 seed.
The Lions notably have a rest benefit in this matchup since they final performed on the afternoon of December 25 whereas the Bears performed a highway recreation on the evening of December 28.
There are caveats to the Eagles resting gamers.
It doesn’t should be an all or nothing proposition. The Eagles can rest some gamers who aren’t essentially completely able to play in Week 18, reminiscent of Lane Johnson. Or Nakobe Dean, who missed Week 17 with a hamstring harm.
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The Eagles also can monitor how the Lions-Bears recreation goes. If Chicago takes a giant lead early on and it appears to be like like they’re going to win, the Eagles can pull their starters.
Making the name
If I’m the Eagles, I’m asking myself what I’d remorse extra in this situation.
If I rest the starters in a loss to Washington and the Bears occur to lose, it will be actually exhausting to dwell with not having tried to get the No. 2 seed.
If I play the starters and somebody will get damage and the Eagles don’t get the No. 2 seed, nicely, that sucks. But no less than I knew I attempted to get the No. 2 seed. I can dwell with that.
And so I’m of the perception that the Eagles ought to attempt to significantly pursue the No. 2 seed. Resting starters could be very best but it surely’s not like this crew has been so nice with further rest this season. They gained a six-point recreation towards Carson Wentz’s Minnesota Vikings coming off a mini-bye. They gained a three-point recreation towards the Green Bay Packers coming off their precise bye week. They misplaced to the Los Angeles Chargers coming off one other mini-bye.
Play the starters and really feel good realizing you no less than tried to get the No. 2 seed for those who don’t get it.
What say you?