* UPDATE * NFC Playoff Picture: Why Eagles’ dramatic win, Bears’ loss leaves Nick Sirianni with difficult decision in Week 18

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The Eagles’ quest for the NFC’s second seed remained alive on a rain-drenched Sunday night in upstate New York, but it’s still cloudy as to who they will play in the Wild Card round after they beat the Buffalo Bills 13-12 in a defensive battle at Highmark Stadium.


At 11-5, the Eagles closed to within a half-game of the NFC North champion Bears and by the end of the night the two teams had identical records after Chicago fell to the San Francisco 49ers, 42-38, in the final game of the day.


While the Eagles are tied with the Bears, they still need Chicago to lose in its season finale against the Detroit Lions at home in order to be the second seed. The Eagles also must win their final game against the Washington Commanders. The league announced that the Eagles and Bears will both play at 4:25 p.m. in Week 18.


The Week 17 events leave Eagles coach Nick Sirianni with a decision about whether to play his starters or let them rest ahead of their first playoff game. A season ago, the majority of the Eagles’ starters sat out Week 18 ahead of the team’s run to the Super Bowl title, but they had the second seed wrapped up. They did decide against letting running back Saquon Barkley chase the single-season NFL rushing record in that game.


The Eagles started Sunday as the third seed with the possibility of falling to the four seed if they lost their final two games and the Carolina Panthers won their final two games. The Panthers, however, lost to Seattle at home and will play Tampa Bay for the NFC South title and the fourth seed on Sunday. The Seahawks (13-3) remained the top seed in the NFC and can clinch that spot with a win on the road against San Francisco next Sunday.


The Eagles’ possible playoff opponents following their victory over the Bills remain the three NFC West teams (the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams) and the Packers, who are locked into the No. 7 seed.


Here’s a complete look at how the NFC seedings looked following the Eagles’ win over the Bills.


1. Seahawks (13-3): Clinch the top seed if they win at San Francisco in Week 18.


2. Bears (11-5): Clinch the second seed with a win in Week 18 at Detroit. The Bears were eliminated from being the top seed.


3. Eagles (11-5): Need a home win over the Commanders and a Bears’ loss against Detroit to move up to the second seed.


4. Panthers (8-8) or Buccaneers (7-9): The Panthers can win the NFC South with a victory over the Buccaneers at Tampa Bay in Week 18 or if Atlanta beats both the Rams Monday night and the Saints in Week 18. The Bucs win the title with a win over Carolina and one Falcons loss.


5. 49ers (12-4): Can win the NFC West and climb to the No. 1 seed if they beat the Seahawks at home in Week 18. The loser of the 49ers-Seahawks game Saturday night will likely fall to the sixth seed unless the Rams lose their season finale against the Cardinals.


6. Rams (11-4): The Rams can still climb to the No. 5 seed by winning their final two games — Monday night on the road against the Falcons and in Week 18 at home against the Cardinals.


7. Packers (10-6-1): The Packers are locked into the seventh seed for the second straight season.

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