Here's Where The Eagles Playoff Chances Stand After A Big Win

PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the second straight week, the Eagles played a division rival with a poor record, and for the second straight week, the Eagles were outplayed by that rival in the game's early stages.

But for the second straight week, the Birds rallied back in a big way, earning a clutch victory and keeping their playoff hopes alive for another week.

Now they'll turn their sights to the Dallas Cowboys, whom they'll host next Sunday afternoon with the fate of the season likely on the line.

The two teams stand tied at the top of the NFC East, both with 7-7 records. They're both eliminated from the Wild Card, so just one of the two will advance on to the postseason as the division winner.

If the Eagles lose that game, they're all but eliminated. If they win, they still have to beat the Giants in New York in the final game of the regular season, the week following. If they lose that game against the Giants but beat the Cowboys, the Birds have just a 28 percent chance of moving on, according to the New York Times' playoff probability tool.

The tie-breaker, in the case of the Eagles beating the Cowboys and losing to the Giants to finish 8-8 (and the Cowboys losing to the Eagles but beating the Redskins in Week 17 to finish 8-8) would be divisional record. And in that scenario, the Cowboys 5-1 divisional record would give them the nod over the Eagles 4-2 divisional record.

But all of that, perhaps, is getting too far ahead. For now, the Eagles need to focus on the major task of beating a very difficult Cowboys team that's probably a good bit better than their 7-7 record.

The Cowboys trounced the Eagles 37-10 during their first matchup of the season back in October. The Cowboys are 1-4 in their last five games, but they're also coming off a huge 44-21 win over an (at the time) 8-5 Rams team that was desperately fighting for a Wild Card playoff spot.

The Eagles, on the other hand, have won two in a row, but they're coming off three consecutive weeks against last-place teams in the Dolphins, the Giants, and the Redskins. Though they beat both the Redskins and the Giants, those games were close matchups, and it's fair to wonder how the Birds will respond against a high powered Cowboys offense that's second in the NFC in points scored.

Though it was against the Redksins, the Eagles offense showed signs of cohesion against the Redskins, and though they remain depleted by injuries, it might have been exactly the test they needed before taking on a more formidable opponent.

The Eagles vs. Cowboys game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. next Sunday, Dec. 22.