Who should the Philadelphia Eagles hope to face in the Wildcard round?

Somehow, someway the Philadelphia Eagles will be making a playoff appearance after a 2-5 start to the 2021 campaign. It’s been a rollercoaster of a season that is ending with an all-time high in momentum for the team as they finish out the regular season with a meaningless game against the Dallas Cowboys. While games against the Cowboys are never lacking buildup and excitement, the game will have no effect on either team’s playoff chances.

It seems very likely at this point that the Eagles will hold the seventh seed in the NFC Playoffs, given that the San Francisco 49ers hold the tiebreaker over them and currently have the same record. If a situation arises over the weekend where the New Orleans Saints win and the 49ers lose, the Eagles would jump to the sixth seed with a win over Dallas, given that they have the tiebreaker over the Saints.

Regardless of seeding and which of those two teams gets in, there are four teams the Eagles could possibly play next week, but statistically speaking, they have a far greater chance of playing two of them. Those teams are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and the Arizona Cardinals. What follows will be an explanation as to who matches up better with the Eagles and who gives the Birds the better chance to advance into the divisional round.

First, let’s talk about Dallas and Arizona. I’m grouping these two together because the Eagles are far less likely to play either of these teams next week, in fact, they will probably end up playing each other. Eagles fans should count themselves lucky that these teams will likely play each other, as they greatly outmatch the Eagles in most parts of the game.

Do the Philadelphia Eagles want to face the Bucs?

Both of these teams’ offensive firepower will undoubtedly be a mismatch for Jonathan Gannon’s defense. To the Eagles’ credit, the defense has come a long way and has mightily impressed over the course of the season, but these are two of the best offenses in football when they’re clicking, and we saw what happened when the Cowboys matched up with this defense earlier in the year. If Philadelphia ends up playing one of these teams next week, they would need everyone to play the best games of the season. Luckily for them, it doesn’t seem likely they face either of them

When you look at a team like the Bucs, they are certainly beatable, but probably not a team you want to run into during the playoffs, albeit the first round. Playing against Tom Brady in the playoffs is never an easy task, and while Eagles fans may have fond memories of the last time they matched up with Brady, the situations are vastly different. Brady and the Bucs were almost beaten by the Jets last week, showing weakness that could be exploited in a potential playoff matchup.

They have lost Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin, making their offense far less explosive, but they still have a top-10 defense and, of course, Tom Brady at quarterback, who seems to make all the right plays no matter who is catching the football. Their defense is touted as a certified run stopper in Vita Vea, which would throw a wrench into the Eagles’ number one offensive identity: running the football.

The Jets showed that running against them is doable, but you have to take that game with a grain of salt, as playoff preparation and game planning are much different. While the Eagles would rather see Tampa over teams like Dallas and Arizona, I don’t think going to Tampa to play Brady gives them the best chance to win.

The Philadelphia Eagles should want to face the Rams.

Now, let’s talk about the Rams. Out of all the teams discussed so far, the Rams definitely have the most star power. However, I view the Rams as the best chance the Eagles have of advancing past the first round. On the defensive side of the ball, Aaron Donald is a game-wrecker; we know this. Donald will have his fair share of pressures and perhaps sacks, no matter who he lines up against.

However, Jalen Hurts‘ elite talent of being able to escape the pocket may greatly help him when going up against an elite defensive line. Hurts has shown in the second half of the season that he has greatly improved his ability to throw on the run, and only when necessary, to take off and run. While counting on your quarterback to make plays under pressure all game is not a recipe for success, I wouldn’t count out the Eagles’ offensive line either, who have proved themselves as a borderline elite unit up front.

The Rams have a good-looking secondary too, and DeVonta Smith will undoubtedly have some trouble trying to escape Jalen Ramsey, but lining him up in the slot could help him break free. I don’t see anyone in the Rams secondary that will be able to cover Dallas Goedert, either. My confidence in Nick Sirianni to get creative against this Rams defense is maybe greater than it should be, but I like this matchup.

On the offensive side of the football, the Rams have a lot of options. Cooper Kupp is absolutely going to cause some problems, as he is frequently a slot receiver, which would discourage Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay from ever being near him. Avonte Maddox has been tremendous this season, and I could see him at least being able to impede Kupp a little bit.

The biggest takeaway I see here is Matthew Stafford being incredibly prone to mistakes, which the Eagles will have to take advantage of. Don’t get me wrong, I love Stafford, and I loved the move the Rams made to get him in the offseason. However, over the last couple of weeks, he has made some very poor decisions resulting in costly turnovers. This will be his first playoff game in a long, long time.

On top of LA being a historically strong gathering site for Eagles fans, probably the best traveling fanbase in the league, there will be pressure there, and I would be willing to bet that Stafford gives the Eagles room to attack from the defensive side. Slay will have Odell Beckham Jr. on lockdown, I can guarantee that. All the Eagles need to do is put pressure in Stafford’s face, and I wholeheartedly believe the opportunities will be there.

While it may not be a popular pick, I’d be ecstatic to see the Philadelphia Eagles play the Rams next week. The Birds have had the Rams’ number the past few years, and while situations are different, I can see that continuing.