News & Info/Headlines

The Eagles Still Have Ample Reason To Play Their Starters
Following up on a previous item. ... Earlier this week, head coach Chip Kelly said he’ll play his starters on Sunday night even if a Cowboys win transforms next Sunday’s Philadelphia-Dallas game into the Third Annual NFC East Championship game.

But as Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio points out, with the Panthers now seizing control of the NFC South, the Eagles have a clear reason to try to win tonight, despite the Dallas victory.

While Philly’s playoff hopes ride on beating the Cowboys next Sunday, the Eagles can capture the No. 3 seed by winning out. Lose tonight, and next week’s game could be for the No. 4 seed only.

"It’s suddenly a huge difference," Florio explained. "With the Saints squandering the No. 2 seed (barring a loss by Carolina next Sunday at Atlanta and a New Orleans win over the Bucs), a win by the third-seeded Eagles in the wild-card round would result in a trip to Carolina for the divisional round. If the Eagles win as the No. 4 seed, they’d have to go to Seattle instead."

Florio added: "And if the Seahawks would lose in the divisional round, the Eagles would then host the NFC title game, with a second-round win."

All of which is rather comforting to fantasy owners hoping to get full games out of Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and the rest of the Eagles.