It’s that time of the year again, when Eagles fans all over anxiously watch as their beloved team chokes away a playoff berth. If last year was indicative of anything, it is that expectation is the biggest downfall of supporting the Birds. If you expect anything from this team, you are bound to be wildly disappointed. While this may be the truth, fans will still do nothing but hope that this year is different from the previous season, and the Birds will sneak their way into the wildcard of the NFL playoffs. 

The Eagles have a history of not being able to close out a season, regardless of difficulty of schedule. We as fans caught a glimpse of this two weeks ago against the Giants. What should have been a gimme win turned into an absolute slaughter by the so-called inferior team. 

However, playoff hopes are not gone completely. With the mediocrity of the NFC East (aside from Dallas), the Eagles could seriously make an end-of-season push, especially because of newly instated rules.

In the past, six teams made the playoffs from each conference; however, that number has been bumped up to seven this year. With this extra spot, the Eagles could turn some heads and make an appearance.

Right now, the Eagles are neck and neck with the just as underwhelming Washington Football Team, who currently holds the seventh seed in the playoffs. 

When discussing the Eagles, a word that is so frequently used is “if,” and unfortunately it must be used again. “If” the Eagles win out to end the season, with notable games against both Washington and the Giants, they could very well see themselves steal away that seventh spot. Their placement is dependent upon either the success or failure of three other teams, all of whom are fighting for that final spot.

The teams that are challenging the Eagles are the Vikings, the Saints and the Falcons. Fortunately for the Birds, the schedules of the other teams are not favorable for their playoff chances, as NFL network ranks the Eagles as having the fifth easiest remaining schedule. If the Eagles can capitalize on their situation, they will see themselves back in the picture in a very turbulent NFC. 

All of these scenarios seem achievable, but historically the Eagles severely underperform when presented situations such as these. Will the birds fall victim to their own circumstance, or will they shock the NFL and go from a lottery team to a legitimate playoff threat? In an ideal world, the latter would be achieved, but we do not live in an ideal world. All we can do is wait and pray.