If the Eagles don’t make the 2018 NFL Playoffs, it will be a shock, but one writer believes Philly will be one of the hosts in the Wildcard Round.
No one’s expecting any kind of Super Bowl Hangover from the Philadelphia Eagles. Last season’s longest winning streak and a 13-3 regular season record assured that, if The Birds’ were going to make it to Minneapolis for Super Bowl LII, they’d get to play every game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philly rode home field advantage and the ‘underdog’ rallying cry all the way to the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. Now, there are talks of ‘The New Norm’ as the Eagles ‘Embrace the Target’. With the regular season approaching, the prognosticator in all of us has awakened.
Everyone has their opinion on whether or not the champs can repeat.
So, are the Eagles the class of the NFC or simply one of eight division winners?
One NFL writer, Vinnie Iyer of SportingNews.com, recently shared his thoughts on how he sees the playoff picture shaping up in the NFC. The New Orleans Saints finish with a 13-3 record, making them the number-one seed. The Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams and Eagles all round out the remaining division winners and all have a record of 12-4.
The Vikings hold some sort of tie-breaker over Philly, possibly due to them losing their head to head matchup or maybe the Vikes have a better division record. Who knows? Whatever the case, Iyer gives Minnesota the nod as the number-two seed, making the Eagles third in the standings.
That means Philly hosts the Wildcard Round and would have to win three games if they’re going to have a chance to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.
Here’s what Iyer’s take is on Philly:
"The Eagles have the luxury of being good at quarterback no matter what, and the team did not develop any true weaknesses despite some post-championship personnel departures. Coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will bring the players together to keep Philly special."
According to Iyer, Philly beats the San Francisco 49ers in the Wildcard Round before traveling to the site of their first Super Bowl win and losing to the Vikings. Minnesota, then, loses to the Saints, making them the NFC’s representative in Super Bowl LIII.
It’s interesting, but we’re a long way from the playoffs. First, Philly has to get through the preseason and put a roster together. Have patience boys and girls. Let’s enjoy the journey.