Each week during the NFL season we lay out a rooting guide for non-Eagles games on the schedule. And yes, I'm aware that most of the below is obvious. Ideal winners bolded.
NFC East
The standings:
| NFC East | Record | Division | GB |
| Eagles | 8-1 | 3-0 | - |
| Cowboys | 6-3 | 2-1 | 2 |
| Commanders | 4-6 | 0-3 | 4.5 |
| Giants | 2-8 | 1-2 | 6.5 |
The NFC East is a two-team race between the Eagles and Cowboys, as usual. As a reminder, the tiebreakers for the division are as follows:
- Head-to-head games
- Division record
- Record against common opponents
The Eagles have a 2-game lead in the NFC East with a head-to-head win over the Cowboys under their belt. They also have a 3-0 record in the division, and have already played three of their four most difficult divisional games. They also have a favorable outlook on common opponents so far, should the tiebreaking process get that far:
| Common Opponent | PHI | DAL | WAS | NYG |
| 49ers | Loss | |||
| Cardinals | ||||
| Rams | Win | Win | ||
| Seahawks | Loss | Loss | ||
| Bills | Loss | |||
| Dolphins | Win | Loss | ||
| Jets | Loss | Loss | ||
| Patriots | Win | Win | |
• Cowboys at Panthers: The Eagles' lead in the NFC East will likely dwindle from 2.5 games to 2 games to 1.5 games without the Birds having even set foot on a field, as the Cowboys are double-digit favorites in this game. Never completely rule out a Cowboys choke job against a clearly inferior opponent, like we saw Week 3 against the Cardinals, but it's unlikely.
• Giants at Commanders: Let's take a look at the NFL's draft positioning, via Tankathon:
As you can see, the Giants are currently in position for the No. 2 overall pick. The more games they win, thus messing up their draft position, the better.
Threats for the 1 seed
The NFC standings:
| Seed | NFC standings | Record | Conf record |
| 1 | Eagles | 8-1 | 6-0 |
| 2 | Lions | 7-2 | 4-1 |
| 3 | 49ers | 6-3 | 4-1 |
| 4 | Saints | 5-5 | 2-3 |
| 5 | Seahawks | 6-3 | 5-1 |
| 6 | Cowboys | 6-3 | 3-3 |
| 7 | Vikings | 6-4 | 6-2 |
| 8 | Buccaneers | 4-5 | 3-3 |
| 9 | Commanders | 4-6 | 2-5 |
| 10 | Falcons | 4-6 | 3-4 |
| 11 | Packers | 3-6 | 3-3 |
| 12 | Rams | 3-6 | 2-4 |
| 13 | Bears | 3-7 | 2-4 |
| 14 | Giants | 2-8 | 2-4 |
| 15 | Cardinals | 2-8 | 2-5 |
| 16 | Panthers | 1-8 | 0-6 |
As you can see, the Lions and 49ers are the Eagles' biggest threats for the 1 seed in the NFC.
• Bears at Lions: The Eagles currently have just a 1-game cushion over the Lions in the NFC after the Lions beat the Chargers on the road Week 10. The Lions have a very easy schedule the rest of this season. Here are their remaining games, with opponent records and point differentials in parenthesis:
Week 11: Bears (3-7, -51)
Week 12: Packers (3-6, -3)
Week 13: At Saints (5-5, +16)
Week 14: At Bears (3-7, -51)
Week 15: Broncos (4-5, -52)
Week 16: At Vikings (6-4, +24)
Week 17: At Cowboys (6-3, +104)
Week 18: Vikings (6-4, +24)
Their next five games are against teams with a combined record of 18-30 and a combined point differential of -141. The Eagles' chances of landing the 1 seed would increase with a Lions loss to the Bears.
The first three tiebreakers for the 1 seed would go as follows:
- Head-to-head ❌
- Conference record: Eagles currently hold the advantage 6-0 to 4-1 over both the Lions and the 49ers.
- Record against common opponents, minimum of four.
The Eagles' and Lions' common opponents:
| Common opponent | PHI | DET |
| Chiefs | Win | |
| Seahawks | Loss | |
| Buccaneers | Win | Win |
| Vikings | Win | |
| Cowboys | Win | |
| Vikings | N/A | |
| Cowboys | N/A |
So, again, the Eagles are in good position on the tiebreaker front.
• Buccaneers at 49ers: The 49ers are now 2 games behind the Eagles for the 1 seed after beating the Jaguars Week 10. An updated look at their schedule:
Week 11: Buccaneers (4-5, +5)
Week 12: At Seahawks (6-3, -1)
Week 13: At Eagles (8-1, +57)
Week 14: Seahawks (6-3, -1)
Week 15: At Cardinals (2-8, -87)
Week 16: Ravens (7-3, +113)
Week 17: At Commanders (4-6, -57)
Week 18: Rams (3-6, -26)
That's a combined record of 40-35 with a combined point differential of +3.
There's no need to show the Eagles' and 49ers' common opponents since they play each other this season. We'll only need to think about common opponents if they tie.
• Seahawks at Rams: It is better if the Seahawks win the NFC West, thus making the 49ers' trek through the playoffs more difficult.
• Vikings at Broncos: I think the Vikings are an ideal 7 seed. That's a team the Eagles could easily handle in the wildcard round should the Birds end up as the 2 seed, and yet, the Vikings have already proven they can beat the 49ers, which would be an ideal result should the Eagles land the 1 seed.
Draft pick watch
The Saints are on their bye. They have a 0.5-game lead over the Bucs. The Eagles own the Saints' second-round pick. Let's fire up the PFF mock draft simulator even if the Saints aren't playing this week.
• Round 1: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
• Round 2 (from Saints): Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
• Round 2: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
• Round 3: Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia
• Round 4: Kris Abrams-Draine, CB (slot), Missouri
• Round 5: Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State
• Round 5: Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
• Round 5: Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee
- MORE EAGLES
- Eagles-Chiefs: Staff picks, betting odds and more for Week 11
- Eagles mailbag: Why isn't Nick Sirianni getting more NFL Coach of the Year love?
- Eagles at Chiefs: Five matchups to watch
For future reference
It doesn't really matter who wins these games, but we'll bold the Eagles' future opponents:
- Jets at Bills
- Cardinals at Texans
The Eagles play the banged-up Bills on a short week next Sunday in Philly.
Also, I've seen some worry that the Cardinals might be better now with the return of Kyler Murray. Guys/gals... that team is still ass, and if the Eagles can't beat them they don't deserve the 1 seed.
Irrelevant to the Eagles
- Steelers at Browns
- Chargers at Packers
- Raiders at Dolphins
- Titans at Jaguars
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