Here’s How the Philadelphia Eagles Can Clinch NFC East in Week 17

The Philadelphia Eagles will clinch the NFC East title in Week 17 if these events transpire.

Tim Kelly | Dec 27, 2023

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Philadelphia Eagles

For however uninspiring the Philadelphia Eagles were in their Christmas Day victory over the New York Giants, quarterback Jalen Hurts and company snapped a three-game losing streak and set themselves up to have a chance to clinch the NFC East title in Week 17.

The Eagles have two clinching scenarios for Week 17:

- Eagles defeat Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys lose to Detroit Lions

- Eagles tie Cardinals and Cowboys lose to Lions

Coach Nick Sirianni and the Eagles have opened up as 9.5-point favorites against the Cardinals, who will visit Lincoln Financial Field for Philadelphia's final home game of the regular season. Former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has perhaps overachieved in his first season as Arizona's coach, but the Cardinals are still 3-12, a sign of how thin their roster is on talent. Quarterback Kyler Murray is a game-changer, but the Eagles shouldn't have a problem beating the Cardinals.

Despite losing consecutive games to the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, the Cowboys are still 4.5-point favorites over the NFC North Champion Lions in Week 17. While it would hardly be a shock if the Lions upset the Cowboys, there are legitimate concerns about Detroit's defense and Dallas is unbeaten at AT&T Stadium this season.

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Because the Cowboys and Lions play on Saturday evening, the Eagles will know before Sunday afternoon's game if a win or tie against the Cardinals Sunday afternoon will clinch them the NFC East title.

Regardless of what the Cowboys do over the final two games of the season, if the Eagles are victorious in their remaining contests against the Cardinals and Giants, they will win the NFC East. Philadelphia is looking to become the first team in a generation to win the NFC East in consecutive years, as Andy Reid's Eagles squads from 2001-2004 were the last to do so.

Published Dec 27, 2023

TIM KELLY

Tim Kelly is a contributor to SI's NFL team sites. Additionally, Kelly covers the Philadelphia Phillies as the Editorial Director for PhilliesNation.com. Previously, Kelly has been a producer at SportsRadio 94 WIP and a content producer for Audacy Sports, with written content syndicated to WIP, WFAN, WEEI and some of the biggest sports radio stations in the country. Kelly also has contributed to Bleacher Report, Just Baseball, Sports Talk Philly and Section 215, FanSided's Philadelphia affiliate. Kelly is a 2018 graduate of Bloomsburg University, with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in political science.