The scenario plays out for the Eagles this way as they eye the highest possible seed in the NFC postseason: A Dallas win over Detroit on Saturday night would aid the Eagles, as would Washington defeating San Francisco on Sunday.
Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Detroit all have 11-4 records with the 49ers currently holding the advantage in the race for the No. 1 seed, a bye week entering the postseason, and home-field advantage throughout.
All of that is subject to change, of course, in this wild and woolly conference playoff picture.
"We're just worried about taking care of what we can control, and that means having a great day of practice and going out on Sunday and beating the Cardinals," safety Reed Blankenship said. "All that other stuff, I don't think anybody is thinking about that. That's for the fans and the media to talk about."
It sure is, and everyone sure is. And Blankenship is correct: The Eagles should only be focusing on this Sunday's game against the 3-12 Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field, and after that, a road game at the Giants to close out the regular season. If the Eagles take care of their business, they'll win the NFC East for a second straight season – there has been no repeat winner in the NFC East since the Eagles did it from 2001 through 2004 – and then, well, this is where it gets interesting.
A Dallas win over Detroit on Saturday night would give the Eagles the inside track on the No. 2 seed in the conference, and a Washington win on Sunday over San Francisco would put the Eagles one victory away from that coveted No. 1 seed.
For Eagles fans, then, that raises this question: Are you able to root for the Cowboys to, ahem, win on Saturday night? And then the Commanders to pull off the upset on Sunday?
"I'll do it this way," said Merrill Reese, in his 47th season as the radio voice of the Eagles. "I'm not rooting for the Cowboys to win. I can't do that. I will just root for the Lions to lose that game."
Makes perfect sense. Now, of course, the first course of action is for the Eagles to protect their turf and win the NFC East, and victories over the Cardinals and Giants will accomplish that. So, anyone who argues that it is more important that Dallas loses to give the Eagles a better chance in the NFC East, understood. But if you believe the Eagles should win their last two regular-season games, then the seeding goal has to be higher and point toward No. 2 and even No. 1 in the conference.
"All we can control is what we do, so that is what we are focused on," defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said. "It's always been about us and taking care of our own business and that means going out and winning.
"The rest of it, we can't control it and whatever happens, happens."
