Path to Super Bowl LX: Eagles could be first up for 49ers in playoffs

Sometimes budding rivalries are squelched by the schedule The last two times the ers played the Philadelphia Eagles there was no shortage of drama A little more than two years ago the ers staked their claim as the NFL s best squad with a - win over the Eagles who were - at the time It didn t erase the pain of their previous matchup in the NFC Championship Challenge following the season when Brock Purdy has his right elbow shredded on a sack by Haason Reddick That loss ended the ers hopes of making the Super Bowl while the Eagles went on to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs So the regular-season encounter on Dec served as various feel-good therapy even if it didn t erase the sting of the playoff loss The ers came in - scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions and you d be hard-pressed to find a better unit in football at that moment It turned out to be the zenith of the season for the ers who made the Super Bowl but were never that good again And haven t been since Deebo Samuel Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle were at the height of their powers Purdy played errorless football The ers defense shut down Jalen Hurts and Co It also ruined the Eagles season as they lost five of their last six games and were embarrassed - against Tampa Bay in the wild-card round Philadelphia rebounded to win Super Bowl LIX and finish - last season while the ers were decimated by injury and staggered to a - record Now the ers are on the upswing and the Eagles look as if they re lost again They lead the NFC East but have gone from - to - giving up yards in the three losses Hurts is spewing turnovers and had two on one play an interception and a lost fumble on the same play in a - overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers It s not impossible for the ers to win the NFC West and even be the top seed It s more likely they ll be playing in the wild card round Philadelphia s remaining schedule is favorable enough to project they ll hold on in the NFC East It could well be the Eagles in the first championship as the ers attempt to play in Super Bowl LX at their home stadium on Feb A look at how the playoffs are looking heading into Week including Thursday night s aftermath NFC outlook Matchups based on current standings Bye No L A Rams - Rams final four vs Detroit - at Seattle - at Atlanta - vs Arizona - The next two weeks can cement the top seed for the Rams or put them in the wild-card picture at No or lower No Chicago - at No Green Bay - - Bears final four vs Cleveland - vs Green Bay - - at ers - vs Detroit - A loss to the Browns this week could be death knell considering what follows Packers final four at Denver - at Chicago - vs Baltimore - at Minnesota - Every remaining opponent except the last one could still have postseason aspirations No ers - at No Philadelphia - ers final four vs Tennessee - at Indianapolis - vs Chicago - vs Seattle - Pardon me for being greater part intrigued for the possibility of facing Philip Rivers and Indy on Monday night in Week Eagles final four vs Las Vegas - at Washington - at Buffalo - vs Washington - As poorly as they re playing it s still hard to imagine Philly not reaching wins against this slate No Seattle - at No Carolina - Seahawks final four vs Indianapolis - vs L A Rams - at Carolina - at ers - There seems to be a growing consensus that the Seahawks are the organization to beat Panthers final four at New Orleans - vs Tampa Bay - vs Seattle - at Tampa Bay - If you saw Carolina against the ers it s hard to believe Still alive No Detroit - With a strong finish it s not far-fetched that Lions will end up on top in the NFC North Lions final four at L A Rams - vs Pittsburgh - at Minnesota - at Chicago - No Tampa Bay - The Bucs suffered a major cave-in Thursday night against Atlanta blowing a -point lead against a penalty-prone opponent They have two games against the Panthers to get it right Bucs final three at Carolina - at Miami - vs Carolina - No Dallas - - Don t look now but Dallas could win all four of these games and the NFC East title Cowboys final four vs Minnesota - vs L A Chargers - at Washington - at N Y Giants - The Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes are in big trouble in the AFC in terms of advancing to Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium A P Photo AFC outlook Bye Denver - Broncos final four vs Green Bay - - vs Jacksonville - at Kansas City - vs L A Chargers - During training camp I set an unofficial over under on the combined number of games played by Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw as They re at and will break it at on Sunday No Houston - at No New England - Texans final four vs Arizona - vs Las Vegas - at L A Chargers - at Indianapolis - The Texans look destined for a playoff spot Whoever gets Houston in the wild card will be hurting the next week win or lose Patriots final four vs Buffalo - at Baltimore - at N Y Jets - vs Miami - Win the last two games and it keeps hopes of a first-round bye alive and cements Mike Vrabel as coach of the year No Buffalo - at No Jacksonville - Bills final four at New England - at Cleveland - vs Philadelphia - vs N Y Jets - With the Chiefs fading to black it may be the right time for the Bills to get back to the Super Bowl and maybe even win it Jaguars final four vs N Y Jets - at Denver - at Indianapolis - vs Tennessee - The Jaguars are winners of four straight against suspect opposition with another cupcake looming in the Jets No L A Chargers - at No Pittsburgh - Chargers final four at Kansas City - at Dallas - - vs Houston - at Denver - Justin Herbert ran for yards on carries against the Eagles just days after surgery on left hand Steelers final four vs Miami - at Detroit - at Cleveland - vs Baltimore - Ten wins is achievable but this gang has - and a wild card exit written all over it Still alive Indianapolis - Think the Colts wish they d signed Mac Jones as a backup Philip Rivers returns at age and four arduous games await Headed for - Colts final four at Seattle - at ers - vs Jacksonville - at Houston - Related Articles ers legend Patrick Willis promoting Super Bowl LX and Niners unexpected path there Kurtenbach The NFL world expects the ers to commerce Mac Jones this offseason I don t ers embrace best in the world motto heading into final playoff push ers Christian McCaffrey scoring touchdowns at a historic rate ers relate to Philip Rivers comeback because it almost happened here in Baltimore - The Ravens last head coach before John Harbaugh was Brian Billick in Time for a new approach Ravens final four at Cincinnati - vs New England - at Green Bay - - at Pittsburgh - Kansas City - The Chiefs were - in one-score games last season en journey to - Patrick Mahomes and Co are - this season Chiefs final four vs L A Chargers - at Tennessee - vs Denver - at Las Vegas - Miami - Anyone else think Mike McDaniel would still be around after a - loss to Cleveland for a - start Didn t think so Dolphins final four at Pittsburgh - vs Cincinnati - vs Tampa Bay - at New England -