Philadelphia Eagles Playoff Scenarios: How 'Dream Team' Cracks Postseason

The Philadelphia Eagles checked out of this season long ago, but their flashes of brilliance have them still clinging to their postseason lives.

Despite underachieving and dragging their feet for the entire season, the Eagles can not only obtain a playoff spot with an 8-8 record, but secure a home game in the process.

With the Cowboys sitting at 8-6 and the Giants at 7-7, it's going to take some help from their skidding opponents.

Here are three things that have to happen for the Eagles to crack the postseason.

Eagles Win-Out

If the Eagles drop a single game, they're done. They have to take down the Cowboys in Dallas on Christmas Eve and then beat the Redskins at home on New Year's Day.

Though they'll need some help to get in, they have to take care of what's within their control first and foremost. Drop the ball again and they'll be mathematically eliminated.

Giants Lose to Jets

The Giants are in a must-win situation and they have the defense, quarterback and veteran presence in the locker room to get it done.

Then again, the Giants have a Jets team that is looking to secure the second wild card spot in the AFC. They've come dangerously close to the Super Bowl under Rex Ryan and the Jets would like nothing more than to show their in-state rivals who really runs New York.

Cowboys Lose to Giants

Even if the Giants can't make the postseason, they'd undoubtedly love to play spoiler to the Cowboys. Tony Romo's Cowboys lost to the Giants in Dallas earlier this season. They've got to win on the road in New York with everything on the line to make the playoffs, should they lose in Week 16.

That puts all the pressure on Romo and given his history, a loss isn't entirely out of the question.

Chances Eagles Make the Playoffs: 33 percent

The Eagles haven't won three games in a row this season. They've got to finish with a four-game win streak to pull this off.

The Giants have to win in Week 16 and lose in Week 17. If the Giants win both, lose both or win in Week 16 and lose in Week 17 and it's game over for the Eagles.

The Cowboys have to lose twice, which is perhaps the trickiest part of this string of scenarios. Four games dictate the Eagles' future and two of them involve the Cowboys. Essentially, the Cowboys dictate the Eagles' future as much as the Eagles do.

The Eagles aren't completely out of it, but they are hanging by a thin thread. If they are alive after this week, it's going to make for a very interesting Week 17.

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It's a long shot,