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Eagles Weigh Week 18 Plan for Starters With No. 2 Seed Still Possible

The staff is balancing injury risk against the value of a de facto bye before the playoffs.

Overview

  • Nick Sirianni said he has not decided whether to play or rest his starters against Washington, emphasizing the team will do what it believes is best.
  • The No. 2 seed remains attainable with an Eagles win over the Commanders and a Bears loss to the Lions, with both games kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET.
  • Philadelphia cannot drop below the No. 3 seed, but the No. 2 slot would likely mean a home Wild Card game against the Packers versus a tougher matchup with the Rams or 49ers as the No. 3.
  • Arguments to rest include recent injuries in season finales (A. J. Brown in 2023), heavy defensive snap counts, and lingering offensive line issues that could benefit from recovery.
  • Reasons to play include sharpening an inconsistent offense after a sputtering second half vs. Buffalo, though some analysts note a strong outing by backup Tanner McKee could stoke unnecessary chatter.