Despite a 6-8 record, the Eagles still control their own destiny in the NFC East and the push for the division crown begins tonight at Lincoln Financial Field.
The 7-7 Washington Redskins come to the Linc in a do-or-die game for the Eagles. If the Eagles best the 'Skins this week and the New York Giants next week at the Meadowlands, they'll make the playoffs.
A loss either tonight or next week would more than likely put an end to the Birds' playoff hopes, but then again, it's the NFC East we're talking about.
So with the playoffs essentially starting at 8:25 p.m. in South Philadelphia, which Eagles team will show up against a red-hot Washington squad? The one that beat the mighty New England Patriots in Foxboro? Or the one that was steamrolled last week by the Arizona Cardinals?
Our experts offer their predictions:
Reuben Frank (7-7)
The Eagles are favored. The Redskins are 1-5 on the road this year and 2-18 in their last 20 games away from FedEx Field. No division team has swept the Eagles since Chip Kelly took over. Over the last three years, the 'Skins are 4-12 in the division and the Eagles are 10-6. Everything points to the Eagles Saturday night, but I just don't see it.
The Redskins are trending upward, the Eagles are trending downward, and since DeSean Jackson returned healthy, the 'Skins have been playing pretty good football on offense. Kirk Cousins has 16 touchdowns and three interceptions in his last eight games and when he faces the Eagles' dilapidated secondary, he'll be shooting for his fifth straight game with a passer rating over 100 — something only RG3 has done in Redskins history.
NFL
Cousins and DeSean have connected on a TD pass of 50 yards or more in three of their last five games. I wish I could find a reason to believe in the Eagles, but I can't think of one thing this team is really good at. Special teams, yeah, but you can't go out there and try to out-special teams the other guys. So I've got the Redskins and for the seventh straight year, an Eagles season ends without a playoff win.
Redskins 27, Eagles 23
Derrick Gunn (6-8)
It's hard to tell which Eagles team will show up Saturday. The run defense has fallen apart, and the Birds' offense hasn't scored more than 17 points in five of the last six games — the lone exception was the 23 points they scored against Buffalo. Here comes a Washington team that's been on an upswing lately, winners of three of its last four games.
Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has found his groove with 16 touchdown passes and three interceptions in his last eight games. The 'Skins run game has been lethargic, ranked 20th and averaging 96.6 yards per game, which should help a generous Eagles run defense that's dropped to 30th.
Washington held the Eagles to 20 points back in Week 4, but DeSean Jackson missed that game and he's back tonight. He'll be looking to do some damage against his former team. This one is too close to call, but since I have to pick one of them …
Redskins 27, Eagles 24
Ray Didinger (6-8)
There was a time when December showdowns in the NFC East were 15-round fights between true heavyweights: Reggie White, the Hogs, Lawrence Taylor, John Riggins, Parcells and Gibbs. Hall of Famers going head to head for first place in the NFL's most competitive division. Now it is more like a bantamweight undercard for the real postseason.
The Redskins and Eagles are mediocre teams and that's being kind. The Redskins have the better record at 7-7, but they have not beaten a single team with a winning record. The Eagles have beaten the 9-5 Jets and 12-2 Patriots, but they have also been blown out in three of their last five games. Frankly, neither of these teams deserves to go to the playoffs, but the rules say someone has to win this sorry division so we'll go with the team that played the best the last two weeks.
Redskins 28, Eagles 21
John Gonzalez (7-7)
How is this season still happening? Didn't the Eagles lose to Detroit and Tampa Bay and Miami and Neumann-Goretti? The madness must stop. This holiday season, join hands with your loved ones and pray for mercy. It will all be over soon enough.
Redskins 28, Eagles 24
Corey Seidman (6-8)
As big as this game is, I can't pick an Eagles win, even at home. Just don't see it. Washington is clicking offensively, and unless the Eagles' run defense collapses on Alfred Morris and Matt Jones to create some 2nd-and-12 or 3rd-and-7 situations, Kirk Cousins should be able to pick the Birds apart with DeSean Jackson, Jordan Reed and Pierre Garcon.
I see the Eagles' offense playing well, but I think this defense is just about spent.
Redskins 34, Eagles 27
Andrew Kulp (7-7)
Which Eagles team is going to show up Saturday? I have a lot more confidence in the offense than I do the defense, that's for sure, which is funny because they haven't been responsible for more than 20 points in a game since Week 9 against the Cowboys. That being said, I think they're going to have to put points on the board to hang with Washington.
I'm pushing my chips all-in on Sam Bradford. Up until things started to unravel against the Cardinals on Sunday, he was playing as well as we've seen. The progress as been evident all season long, and I think he's ready to lead the Eagles to a clutch victory and keep their season alive.
Eagles 35, Redskins 31
Andy Schwartz (7-7)
This is familiar.
A Week 16 against the Redskins with the season on the line.
The Redskins' offense is healthy. The Eagles' defense is not.
Same result as last season.
Redskins 27, Eagles 24
Dave Zangaro (7-3)
I'm in the Festivus spirit, so I'm kind of going George Costanza in my prediction this week.
Really, there aren't many reasons to pick the Eagles. The Redskins have just been a better team recently.
The Eagles are banged up. They'll be without Bennie Logan and even if Byron Maxwell can play, there's no telling how effective he'll be.
Kirk Cousins has been playing great over the last couple of months. Really great. In his last eight games, he's thrown for over 2,200 yards, with 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. And, he has a healthy DeSean Jackson added to his list of weapons.
So those are all the reasons I should pick the Redskins in this game.
Here's the reason I'm not: The Eagles have done the opposite of everything we've expected them to do this season. So I'm going opposite too. I think they pull it out and we have something to watch next week in the last game of the regular season.
Eagles 31, Redskins 29