Philadelphia Eagles: A checklist to make a playoff run

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Thanks to a subpar NFC East pool, the Philadelphia Eagles are right in the thick of a playoff hunt. What does Philly need to do to make the postseason?

Thankfully, the Philadelphia Eagles play in the NFC East. The NFC East is the only division in the NFL without a team with six wins, and it’s the lone division with two teams having eight or more losses.

Therefore, at 5-4, the Eagles still have a shot of winning their division and stamping a ticket to the postseason.

The Dallas Cowboys (5-4) fell at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings Sunday night, after running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed for a mere 47 yards on 20 carries. In the basement of the division, the New York Giants (2-8) and the Washington Redskins (1-8) are all but removed from the postseason conversation.

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What’s left is the ultimate dream of Philadelphia and Dallas fans; a two-horse race between the Eagles and Cowboys for the NFC East crown. The two rivals will square off in Philadelphia on December 22nd in a matchup that many have speculated will have the division on the line.

This is no surprise considering that five out of the last six seasons, the NFC East winner has been either the Eagles or Cowboys.

Still, the Eagles can’t rely on history as an avenue to a divisional crown and an impending home playoff game. Before the season, the Eagles were a popular Super Bowl pick, and thus their 5-4 record could be seen as a disappointment.

In the NFL, it’s all about getting into the tournament. If the Eagles can twist and turn their way to 10 wins this season, they have a shot of slipping in the playoff picture.

However, it won’t be easy. There’s a path that the Eagles must abide by in order to secure their third straight playoff berth for the first time since the 2008-10 seasons.