Saints are now in three-way tie for NFC South title
We’ll learn plenty about the various playoff contenders this week when the Eagles visit the Rams, the Vikings take on the Panthers, the Seahawks meet the Jaguars, the Raiders play at the Chiefs, and the Ravens head to Pittsburgh.
The Eagles, Rams, Jaguars, Vikings and Steelers all have ways of clinching postseason berths. So do the Patriots, who visit Miami.
Most intriguing might be Philadelphia (10-2) at Los Angeles (9-3).
The Eagles had their nine-game winning streak snapped at Seattle, then stayed out west trying to figure out why an offense that had been dominant was shut down. Now they take on the Rams, with an equally dangerous offense and, like Philly, a division leader.
«I think sometimes… winning can kind of cover up or mask some things, some deficiencies,» Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. «A little chink in your armor, if there is any. And coaches and players fall into the same boat sometimes. We need games where we get hit in the mouth and we have to fight and battle and scratch…. You just have to understand that there’s no substitute for the preparation and the hard work.»
The coolest of matchups has Rams QB Jared Goff, the top selection in the 2016 draft, against Eagles QB Carson Wentz, who went second overall that year. Both have matured rapidly, sparking turnarounds that could lead to, well, the Super Bowl.
A Philadelphia win gives it the NFC East title. So does a Dallas loss.
Should the Rams win, a complicated formula gives them a playoff spot.
The pivotal week began Thursday night with the Atlanta Falcons’ 20-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints that set up a three-way race for the NFC South title. Deion Jones made a leaping interception in the end zone with 1:25 remaining for the Falcons (8-5) after Drew Brees drove the Saints (9-4) to the Atlanta 11.
