The Eagles First Round Playoff Matchup Is Set

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Once again, the Philadelphia Eagles have completed an improbable late season run to snatch a playoff berth from the jaws of a doomed season. They clinched the NFC East division title and a playoff berth with their 34-17 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday.

Now, the postseason schedule is set, and the Birds will host the Seattle Seahawks in Wild Card round in Philadelphia at 4:40 p.m. next Sunday, Jan. 5.

Even though the Eagles have the worst record of teams in the playoffs at 9-7, they are not the lowest seed, as winning their division seeds them above the two wild card teams, the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings.

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So the 11-5 Seahawks, who finished second in their division, will get an away game at Lincoln Financial Field next weekend.

This schedule was uncertain following the conclusion of the Eagles game Sunday because the Seahawks had a Sunday night game against the San Francisco 49ers, the winner of which would take home the division crown, and the loser of which would head to Philadelphia. It wound up being a huge game for the 49ers, who won 26-21, finished the season 13-3, gained a bye in the first round.

The Seahawks were last in Philadelphia on Nov. 24, and at the time the teams were trending in opposite directions. The Seahawks won that game 17-9, improving to 9-2. The Eagles would fall to the last place Miami Dolphins the next week, dropping to 5-7 and leaving many thinking that all hope had been lost before they stormed back to win the final four games of the season.

Most of those games the Eagles won thanks to strong performances from third, fourth, and even fifth string backup players. Injuries have felled key personnel left and right, and players like Boston Scott, Dallas Goedert, Greg Ward, and Cre'Von LeBlanc have shone.

The Seahawks are two point favorites in next Sunday's game, according to OddsShark. Like last season, and, of course, the season before, the Birds are in the familiar position of being the underdogs.