Predicting An NFC Standings Shift by New Year’s Day 2024

The Eagles have been in a very rough schedule stretch that the local media labeled “the gauntlet.” It started out well with wins against the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Buffalo Bills. The last two contests have been a disaster, and the Eagles have slipped in the NFC standings.

They got punked by the 49ers in their worst loss since the 2021 season. They also fumbled away any chance to win at Dallas. The final game is against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. It feels like a must-win situation. I decided to reflect on what things will look like for them as 2024 dawns. I’ve got a feeling a lot of narratives are going to change.

Dallas loses a shootout at Buffalo 34-31, and they drop a half-game behind the Eagles. The 49ers don’t cooperate. They win a hard-fought battle in Arizona to retain a grip on the top seed in the NFC.

The Eagles look better but still can’t get the defense up to the standard. They survive the Seahawks with a late score and escape with a 27-20 victory. They are a full game ahead of the Cowboys.

The Cowboys losing streak extends to two games with a loss to the Miami Dolphins. They fall 1.5 games behind the Eagles in the NFC East.

The Eagles trounce the Giants in their best performance in months. They pull two games ahead of the Cowboys.

The Ravens fall short of upsetting the 49ers, who continue their hold on the NFC top seed.

The Cowboys throttle the Lions at home to break their losing streak.

The Eagles have a tougher time than expected defeating the Cardinals, but they prevail and clinch the NFC East. The 49ers sleepwalk through a win at Washington.

My guess is that as you toast the year 2024, the Eagles will have secured no worse than the #2 seed in the NFC.

We should all ask Santa Claus to help the Ravens on Christmas. I don’t see them beating the 49ers.

The second seed would currently mean a matchup with the Green Bay Packers in Philadelphia on Wild Card Weekend. If a lower seed doesn't pull off an upset, it could mean a home game against Detroit in the Divisional Round. If Dallas upsets San Francisco, the Eagles could host the NFC Championship Game. However, if San Francisco wins out, they will host the Eagles.

How do you see this all playing out?

The Philadelphia Eagles now face the heaviest adversity of the 2023 NFL season. The San Francisco 49ers dominated in a 42-19 blowout on Dec. 3. The Dallas Cowboys followed it up with a 33-13 blowout on Sunday Night Football on Dec. 10. The Eagles have been more worried about how to rest starters than win games in the fourth quarter of their past two, and they desperately need to rebound in Week 15.

The two-game losing streak has sent shockwaves of panic throughout the fan base, and the defense can't seem to stop anyone. How will the Eagles respond against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football?

It looked bad at Lincoln Financial Field against the 49ers. However, it got a lot worse in Dallas.

The Eagles have struggled with the same weaknesses throughout the 2023 season, and their last two opponents have exposed their flaws brutally. There will be no rest in this brutal stretch of strong opponents.

Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia offense finished with three turnovers in Dallas. Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith were all guilty of costly fumbles that helped sink the Eagles to 10-3.

Nick Sirianni has begun his NFL head coaching career with a 33-14 record in regular-season games. However, he now faces the greatest challenge of his tenure with the Eagles.

Dallas Goedert and Zach Cunnigham returned to the starting lineup against the Cowboys. The reinforcements came at a much-needed time.

Shaq Leonard played his first game with the Eagles. He didn't immediately jump into the starting lineup, but he could get the call in Seattle. Nicholas Morrow played 78% of the defensive snaps at linebacker in Dallas while Leonard only played 17%.

Reed Blankenship left the game early, and he will have to clear concussion protocol to dress against the Seahawks. Sydney Brown filled in at safety after the injury, and he figures to get the start if Blankenship can't go.

With the need for a bounce-back effort, Sirianni hopes to have his roster at full strength. 

Quarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020

Running Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)

Wide Receiver, #11
Ole Miss
5th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Tennessee Titans (April 2022)

Wide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021

Wide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020

Tight End, #88
South Dakota St.
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018

Left Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018

Left Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021

Center, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011

Right Guard, #78
Weber State University
4th NFL Season, Signed Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (November 2019)

Left Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013

Defensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018

Defensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012

Defensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022

Edge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)

Linebacker, #41
Greensville University
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (March 2023)

Linebacker, #50
South Carolina St.
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (December 2023)

Cornerback, #22
University of Georgia
1st NFL Season, Drafted in 4th Round (105th Overall) in 2023

Cornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)

Cornerback, #33
Ohio State University
10th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)

Safety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)

Safety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)

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