Philadelphia Eagles: Should Fans Hope for Playoffs or Draft Position?

The last few weeks, the Philadelphia Eagles have been a headache to fans. They win big and reignite playoff hopes, only to be written off the next week following a punch-in-the-gut loss.

Until the Eagles are mathematically eliminated, this cycle will not stop. The NFC East doesn't have an elite team to take over the division, and Philly isn't good enough to win every game.

So what do you hope for as a fan? Do you hope that somehow, your Eagles can put together a remarkable run for to the playoffs even though you know they won't be able to do much when they get there? Or do you silently root against them, hoping for high enough draft position to draft a good linebacker?

If you're a fan of any team other than the Colts this year, it is a football sin to root against your team. It is also incredibly difficult to watch your team lose, even if it's what you want.

But if the Eagles don't start losing more consistently, these are the possible scenarios:

1. They finish at 8-8, maybe even 9-7 and are a game or two away from the playoffs. With linebackers Luke Kuechly, Manti Te'o, and Vontaze Burfict projected to go in the top 15 of the draft, the Eagles will have to settle for a offensive lineman or reach for another linebacker.
2. They win the NFC East and make the playoffs, but lose in the first round to either the Falcons, Bears or Lions. It's unlikely, but still possible. Good defense will be needed for games against the Patriots and Cowboys, so wins there could save Juan Castillo's job—something no Eagles fan wants.
3. They win the NFC East, everybody puts their egos aside and the Eagles start playing as a team. It gets them a win in the Wild Card round and maybe more. Castillo stays, the team looks fine as they are and everybody in Philly is happy until 2012, when they realize that the Eagles just Tim Tebowed their way through the season (as in they started out awful and willed themselves to a win at the last possible opportunity). They start out 2012 awful again and essentially replace the Chargers as the team everybody expects to choke early only to come through in the end.

Or, they could lose the rest of their games (except for a win over the Redskins and maybe the Cowboys—nobody in Philly wants to see losses to them, no matter the reward) and be in great position to draft one of the aforementioned linebackers. Following that, this is what happens in 2012:

1. The first-round pick linebacker turns into the defensive leader that Philly needs so desperately and becomes a huge contributor to the run defense. The stars align and the holes are plugged.
2. Andy Reid's history of winning prevents him from being fired, but the same can't be said for Castillo. The former offensive line coach is fired and replaced with somebody who has actually coached defense before. Eagles fans wonder why this didn't happen after week five of the 2011 season but are thankful nonetheless.
3. DeSean Jackson gets paid the money he deserves. It's not as much as he wants because guys in the front office are worried about a disappointing 2011 and still concerned with his antics. Despite that, Jackson gets the millions he has so greatly desired and returns to Pro Bowl form.

As an Eagles fan, which scenario looks better to you? Narrowly missing or barely making the playoffs, only to falter and miss out on building for the future? Or tanking the rest of season and cleaning up the messes only to return as more legitimate favorites in 2012?

There are a lot of people to blame this season's failure on. The high expectations to start the year may have been unreasonable, as Philly did not have the organization it needed to get all the parts working together correctly.

The best option now is to plan for the future, even if that means tanking a few games to close out the year.