PHILADELPHIA – It’s safe to say that the Philadelphia Eagles have a slim to non-existent chance of winning the NFC East. They find themselves in a position where a Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is more likely. However, before that happens, the Eagles have to play their final regular season game, where they will face the New York Giants on Sunday (4:25 p.m./FOX).
Head coach Nick Sirianni has made it clear that the Eagles will be playing with the intention of winning, even though winning this game might not make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things.
Earlier in December, it seemed almost certain that the Eagles would claim back-to-back titles in the NFC East. However, after suffering four losses in their last five games, it’s fair to say that the Cowboys have a stronger chance at clinching the division title.
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All the Cowboys need to do to secure the NFC East is to defeat the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Despite their weak road performance this season, last week’s win over the Arizona Cardinals and the controversial two-point conversion that went in their favor suggests that the Cowboys still have a strong chance to claim the division title.
As a result, the Eagles, with their 11-5 record, are most likely headed to Tampa for the opening round of the playoffs as the fifth seed. However, the Buccaneers also need to win their game against the Carolina Panthers to set up this matchup.
Despite the circumstances, there are several good reasons to watch the Eagles regular-season finale. Here are five of them:
Milestones. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has the opportunity to become just the second quarterback in franchise history to throw for at least 4,000 yards, while A.J. Brown can potentially reset his own team record for the most receiving yards in a season.
Hurts currently has 3,803 passing yards, so he only needs 197 more to reach this milestone. A.J. Brown, on the other hand, has 1,447 yards receiving, and he needs just 50 more yards to surpass his record of 1,496 yards set last year.
Julio Jones or Quez Watkins? With DeVonta Smith missing the game due to an ankle injury, the second receiver spot is up for grabs. Julio Jones is coming off his best game with the Eagles, having caught two touchdowns for the first time in three years. Alternatively, Quez Watkins and punt returner Britain Covey may also have significant contributions to make.
Related: Nick Sirianni Has Jalen Hurts’ Back; Is the Feeling Mutual?
Boston Scott. Dubbed “the Giant Killer,” Scott could potentially have a significant role, especially if D’Andre Swift is unable to play due to illness. Scott has scored 10 of his 16 career touchdowns against the Giants, so if given the opportunity, he could make an impact on the game.
Rashaad Penny. With Swift’s uncertain status and Kenny Gainwell potentially limited to conserve energy for the playoffs, maybe now is the time for the Eagles to give Penny some carries. It’s unclear why he has been kept on the roster all year without being used, so this could be a good opportunity to do so.
Defense. The defense has been a concern, particularly since Matt Patricia took over as the play-caller. Haason Reddick has mentioned that the unit is still adapting to Patricia’s style of play, which hasn’t been good enough. The Eagles have allowed 68 points in the second half of their last three games, despite leading at halftime, resulting in a 1-2 record in that stretch.
