Zach Ertz

The NFL's Wild Card Weekend got off to a thrilling start Saturday. The Houston Texans outlasted the Buffalo Bills in a back-and-forth contest that ended in overtime. In the nightcap, the Tennessee Titans did the seemingly unthinkable and knocked off the New England Patriots.

Now, it's the NFC's turn to get in on the fun. Four teams are set to face off for the right to battle either the Green Bay Packers or the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. Here, we'll take a look at some of the latest storylines heading into Sunday along with the full schedule, predictions and the latest odds and over/unders from Caesars.

   

2020 NFL Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, January 4

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans: Houston 22-19

Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots: Tennessee 20-13

   

Sunday, January 5

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

When: 1:05 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports Go

Line and O/U: NO -7.5, 50.5

Prediction: New Orleans 33-24

        

Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles

When: 4:40 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: NBC, NBC Sports

Line and O/U: Even, 45

Prediction: Philadelphia 29-27

    

Vikings Not Expected to Make Significant Front-Office Changes

The Minnesota Vikings are already facing a ton of pressure going into Sunday. This franchise hasn't been to the Super Bowl since the 1976 season. The Vikings are facing a New Orleans Saints team loaded on both sides of the ball. This may be the last chance for quarterback Kirk Cousins to prove himself before the final year of his contract.

The challenge and the pressure of winning are very real.

Fortunately, head coach Mike Zimmer won't face the pressure of having his job on the line. His contract runs through 2020, and Zimmer will have the opportunity to coach until then, according to owner Mark Wilf.

"We value Mike and [general manager Rick Spielman's] leadership and we have every intent of Mike continuing as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Rick leading our football operations, next year and beyond," Wilf said, per NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman.

Wilf's intent could change if Minnesota suffers a crushing loss Sunday, but Zimmer shouldn't have that in the back of his head during the game.

Seahawks Looking to Continue Road Success

The Seattle Seahawks faded down the stretch during the regular season. Losing running backs Rashaad Penny, Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise definitely played a role, but dropping three of their last four games is why the Seahawks are playing in the wild-card round.

A couple of weeks ago, Seattle was the No. 1 seed.

While the late-season slide has robbed the Seahawks of momentum, their play on the road should give them a bit of a confidence boost. While Seattle went just 4-4 at home, it was 7-1 away from CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks are eager to make it 8-1 on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"No questions, we’ve been road warriors all year," head coach Pete Carroll said, via the team's official website. "Our guys have handled it well. I know why we’ve done well on the road… We’re not worried about going on the road, that’s for sure."

When the Seahawks and Eagles squared off back in Week 12, Seattle left Philadelphia with a 17-9 victory.

   

Ertz Set to Play

While the Seahawks stumbled into the postseason, the Eagles charged. They won their final four games, uncovering a new gritty, physical identity in the process. The Eagles have every right to be confident heading into Sunday's game.

Adding to that confidence is the fact that Philadelphia is set to have one of its top weapons back in the lineup. Standout tight end Zach Ertz, who suffered a rib fracture and a lacerated kidney in Week 16, is expected to play, per Derrick Gunn of NBC Sports Philadelphia:

Here’s some news eagles fans have been waiting to hear... looks like Zach Ertz has been cleared to play tomorrow .... per league source.

— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunn) January 4, 2020

Ertz's return is huge for the Eagles. While they managed to win without him in Week 17, the three-time Pro Bowler is the team's No. 1 receiver. Even if he isn't at 100 percent, the Seahawks will have to give him a fair amount of defensive attention. This, in turn, should open things up a bit for fellow pass-catchers like Dallas Goedert and Greg Ward.

It also means that Carson Wentz may have his favorite target on the field if faced with a critical late-game drive. Ertz finished the regular season with 88 catches, 916 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz was reportedly cleared to play in Sunday's NFC Wild Card Round playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, according to Derrick Gunn of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Ertz did not play in a must-win Week 17 game against the New York Giants because of a fractured rib and lacerated kidney.

The return of Ertz would provide Philly with a huge boost since he led the team in receptions (88), receiving yards (916) and receiving touchdowns (six) during the regular season.

Zach Ertz called game.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/50OvnlGtVf

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 10, 2019

The Eagles have been plagued by injuries on both sides of the ball, but that has been especially true of their pass-catching group. Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson are on injured reserve, while Nelson Agholor will not play Sunday because of a knee injury.

That leaves former college quarterback Greg Ward and rookie second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside as Carson Wentz's top two wide receivers.

Given the lack of experience and production available at the position, Wentz will likely look to Ertz, fellow tight end Dallas Goedert and running backs Miles Sanders and Boston Scott often in the passing game against Seattle.

Ertz is a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion who is undoubtedly among the top three tight ends in the NFL along with Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers. Last season, Ertz set the single-season NFL record for receptions by a tight end with 116.

Wentz targeted Ertz 10 or more times in six games this season, including five of Ertz's last seven games. If Ertz plays a full allotment of snaps, that will likely be the case once again.

The Eagles have the benefit of playing at home, but they went just 9-7 during the regular season and will face a Russell Wilson-led team that beat them 17-9 in Week 12 and finished 11-5.

If Philadelphia is going to win, it will likely need Ertz to turn in a vintage performance.

The race for Super Bowl LIV is set to begin in earnest. Twelve teams remain alive for the NFL's biggest prize, and the playoff action kicks off Saturday with Wild Card Weekend. By Sunday evening, four teams will join the 20 already working toward next season.

To say that the stakes are high would be an understatement.

Here we'll dig into some of the latest buzz heading into Saturday's action. We'll also run down the full schedule for Wild Card Weekend, make predictions and examine the latest odds and over/unders from Caesars.

                  

2020 NFL Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, January 4

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans

When: 4:25 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: ESPN, ESPN Online

Line and O/U: HOU -3, 43.5

Prediction: Buffalo 23-20

             

Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots

When: 8:15 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: CBS, CBS All Access

Line and O/U: NE -5, 44.5

Prediction: New England 23-22

            

Sunday, January 5

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

When: 1:05 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports Go

Line and O/U: NO -7.5, 49.5

Prediction: New Orleans 33-24

        

Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles

When: 4:40 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: NBC, NBC Sports

Line and O/U: SEA -1.5, 45.5

Prediction: Philadelphia 29-27

          

Wet Weather Could Affect Titans-Patriots

Saturday's matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots was already likely to be a low-scoring affair. With league rushing leader Derrick Henry and the Titans' run-oriented attack on one side and New England's first-ranked scoring defense (14.1 points per game allowed), this should be a grinding, physical affair.

Weather is likely to only add to the physical nature of the game. Winter Storm Henry is expected to make its way to Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday and potentially add a little water to the equation:

You'll want your wet weather gear if you're heading to the Patriots game Saturday. Rain at times with temps in the upper 30°s by kickoff at 8:15pm #wcvb #GoPats pic.twitter.com/MvTaS8Cwlk

— Cindy Fitzgibbon (@Met_CindyFitz) January 3, 2020

While it doesn't appear likely that the Patriots and Titans will play in horrendous conditions, the rainy weather and near-freezing temperatures could lead to a more ground-oriented approach for both teams.

On the surface, this would appear to benefit the Titans. However, wet weather often leads to turnovers, something the Patriots defense has thrived on all season long.

                  

Ertz a Doubt for Sunday

The Philadelphia Eagles may be without one of their biggest weapons when they host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Tight end Zach Ertz, who suffered a rib fracture and a lacerated kidney in Week 16, has not been cleared to play. His status will be determined on Saturday, but it is very much in doubt.

"He is still not cleared for any contact," head coach Doug Pederson said, per Olivia Schaller of the team's official website. "He will work a little on the side, like he's done this week. We're waiting on a few doctor results [Saturday]. If things go favorable, he'll play and if they don't, he won't."

This is a significant issue for the Eagles, as Ertz serves as the team's de facto No. 1 receiver. In 15 games this season, he caught 88 passes for 918 yards and six touchdowns.

On a positive note, running back Miles Sanders is expected to play for Philadelphia. The rookie out of Penn State racked up 818 rushing yards, 509 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the regular season.

                  

Minnesota Will Be Down 2 Key Defenders

While the Minnesota Vikings should have all of their top pass-catchers against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, their defense may be missing a couple important players. 

According to Chris Tomasson of the St.Paul Pioneer Press, cornerback Mackensie Alexander (knee) has been ruled out, while fellow linebacker Mike Hughes (neck) has been placed on injured reserve. 

Hughes appeared in 14 games during the regular season, while Alexander appeared in 13. Their absence will be a significant blow to a Vikings defense tasked with slowing the Saints' seventh-ranked passing attack.

Minnesota's secondary depth will be tested by quarterback Drew Brees and his precision passing. The Vikings are likely to double No. 1 receiver Michael Thomas for most of the game, but with Alexander and Hughes out, Brees could find several mismatches with his secondary receiving targets.

The Vikings may ensure that they aren't beaten by Thomas, but they may, in turn, struggle to contain the likes of Alvin Kamara, Jared Cook and Ted Ginn Jr.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz may play his team's home NFC wild-card matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday despite injuries that have kept him limited in practice all week, per John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia:

There is optimism Zach Ertz will be able to play Sunday, barring any surprises, according to sources

He has passed some very stringent tests, will need to pass some more to be cleared

I’m told he had a small cut on his kidney that is healing quickly. Eagles are being cautious pic.twitter.com/kz1cHsl03X

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 4, 2020

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson told reporters earlier Friday that Ertz had not yet been cleared for contact.

The tight end missed his team's Week 17 tilt with the New York Giants due to a fractured rib and lacerated kidney, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

At this point, Ertz and the Eagles may be in a race against the clock. It's certainly helpful that Philadelphia plays in the last wild-card time slot this weekend, with kickoff slated for 4:40 p.m. ET on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Ertz would be a welcome sight to a team that has been ravaged by injuries. Of note, the top three wideouts on the team's Week 1 depth chart—Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor—are all out.

The ex-Stanford Cardinal star leads the team with 88 catches, 916 yards and six receiving touchdowns on 135 targets in 15 games. He's been an instrumental part of the offense with Philadelphia shorthanded for most of the season.

If the seventh-year tight end can't go, then Dallas Goedert will be the top tight end on the depth chart.

Goedert has 58 catches for 607 yards and five touchdowns on the year. He's become more of an offensive focal point in each of the past seven weeks, amassing a minimum of six targets per game. The second-year tight end has been excellent over the last five games in particular thanks to a 27-318-1 stat line.

Joshua Perkins would be the second tight end in two-TE sets and back up Goedert. He caught four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown against the Giants in his first extended action of the year last Sunday.

Philadelphia is a 1.5-point underdog to Seattle, per Caesars Sportsbook.

The calendar may say that it's 2020, but for the 12 NFL teams heading into the postseason, the 2019 season is still alive and well.

Eight of those teams will be in action this weekend, while the four top seeds—the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers—await the results.

The action kicks off on Saturday with a pair of intriguing AFC matchups. Here, we'll dig into the full schedule for Wild Card Weekend and some of its top storylines, along with the latest odds and over/unders from Caesars.

       

2020 NFL Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, January 4

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans

When: 4:25 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: ESPN, WatchESPN

Line and O/U: HOU -3, 42.5

    

Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots

When: 8:15 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: CBS, CBS All Access

Line and O/U: NE -5, 44.5

    

Sunday, January 5

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

When: 1:-5 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports Go

Line and O/U: NO -7.5, 49

   

Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles

When: 4:40 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: NBC, NBC Sports

Line and O/U: SEA -1.5, 40

     

J.J. Watt Returning for Houston

The Houston Texans will be getting a bit of a defensive boost when they host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday afternoon. Star defensive end J.J. Watt is set to make his return from a torn pectoral that landed him on injured reserve earlier in the season.

As expected, #texans have officially activated J.J. Watt per source. He’ll play against the Bills. Deshaun Watson said today that Watt has been “all business” this week during practice.

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 31, 2019

Watt played in eight games before the injury, amassing 24 tackles and 4.0 sacks. In 2018, when he played all 16 games, he finished with 16.0 sacks and seven forced fumbles. His return should provide a noticeable jolt to the Texans pass rush.

"I think activating J.J. is huge, mentally, spiritually, for sure," cornerback Bradley Roby said, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

It's unclear just how big of a role Watt will play on Saturday, but his presence gives Bills quarterback Josh Allen one more thing to prepare for.

Unfortunately, Houston also placed safety Tashaun Gipson on injured reserve on Tuesday.

    

Eagles Add Elijah Holyfield

Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles may be without top pass-catcher Zach Ertz, as he is dealing with a fractured rib and a lacerated kidney.

The #Eagles won’t have TE Zach Ertz today, but he has not been ruled out for next week if Philly advances. Ertz is not only dealing with a cracked rib, but sources say he suffered a lacerated kidney that had him in the hospital after the game. That explains the caution this week.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2019

However, the Eagles may have a new weapon in their backfield when they host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. On Tuesday, they signed former Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield after placing defensive end Daeshon Hall on injured reserve.

Holyfield, who is the son of boxing great Evander Holyfield, rushed for 1,018 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He went undrafted back in April and spent time on the Carolina Panthers practice squad.

Adding Holyfield gives the Eagles some needed depth in the backfield. Jordan Howard has been out since Week 9 with a stinger, while rookie Miles Sanders left last Sunday's game with an ankle injury and did not return.

According to Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia, the Eagles expect Sanders to be available against Seattle.

    

Seahawks Won't Have Mychal Kendricks

The Seahawks are dealing with their own injuries in the backfield. They already lost Rashaad Penny for the season, then lost C.J. Prosise (broken arm) and Chris Carson (hip) two weeks ago—likely for the postseason. To bolster its backfield, Seattle brought back Marshawn Lynch, who last played in Week 16 of 2018.

Lynch rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown during last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Unfortunately, the game wasn't the only thing Seattle lost last Sunday. They also lost linebacker Mychal Kendricks for the postseason to a torn ACL.

Kendricks started all 14 regular-season games in which he was healthy, missing a pair in early December. He finished with 71 tackles, 3.0 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. His injury is the latest blow to a defense that ranked just 26th overall in the regular season.

On a positive note, coach Pete Carrol said that injured safety Quandre Diggs has a "really good chance to play" against Philadelphia, via the team's official website.  

The NFL regular season is over, the postseason picture has been set, and the final race to the Super Bowl is set to begin. We've reached the point of elimination games, which is an exciting time for even the most casual of football fans.

This year's playoff field is an intriguing one, featuring just two teams with fewer than 10 wins. One of them, the 9-7 Philadelphia Eagles, will host the 11-win Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.

Here, we'll take a look at the full schedule for Wild Card Weekend along with some of the top playoff-related storylines and the odds and over/unders from Caesars.

     

2020 Wild Card Weekend, Lines, Over/Unders and Predictions

Saturday, January 4

Buffalo Bills (+3, 42.5) at Houston Texans: Buffalo 26-23

Tennessee Titans (+4.5, 43.5) at New England Patriots: New England 20-17

Sunday, January 5

Minnesota Vikings (+8.0, 48.5) at New Orleans Saints: New Orleans 33-24

Seattle Seahawks (-1.5, 46) at Philadelphia Eagles: Philadelphia 30-28

     

Patriots Struggling to Find Their Way

The New England Patriots are the last team most NFL fans would expect to be having an identity crisis heading into the postseason. After losing to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, though, New England is set to play in the wild-card round for the first time since 2009.

Really, it's hard to identify a team strength as the Patriots prepare to host the Tennessee Titans. The offense has been a disaster for most of the season, and the defense, while tremendous at times, has let the team down against contenders like the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens—and inexplicably, the Dolphins.

"We've got to do better next week," quarterback Tom Brady said, per Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald.

Unfortunately, Brady has been part of the problem. He completed just 55 percent of his passes against the Dolphins and threw a pick-six that eventually cost the Patriots a win. If Brady and the Patriots aren't better next week, they'll be going home early.

      

Vikings Likely to Have Cook Back

The Minnesota Vikings played their last two games without star running back Dalvin Cook because of a shoulder injury. Cook, who has 1,135 rushing yards, 519 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, has been one of the team's biggest offensive weapons.

Clearly, it would be a detriment to the offense if the Vikings are forced to visit the New Orleans Saints without Cook in the lineup. Facing the Saints at the Superdome is already a daunting challenge.

Fortunately, Cook does plan to play against New Orleans, according to The Athletic's Chad Graff:

Good sign for the Vikings: Dalvin Cook was warming up before today's game. Despite sitting the final two games of the regular season due to chest and shoulder injuries, he's planning to play in the team's playoff game, per a source.

— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) December 29, 2019

The Vikings are still viewed as a long shot—the Saints are the heaviest favorite of Wild Card Weekend—the potential return of Cook should at least give them a fighting chance.

    

Eagles May Be Without Ertz

While the Vikings are hopeful about a Cook return, the Eagles may be hopeless when it comes to star tight end Zach Ertz. Philadelphia's de facto No. 1 receiver missed Week 17 with a rib fracture—and potentially an even more serious injury.

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Ertz also suffered a lacerated kidney during Week 16:

The #Eagles won’t have TE Zach Ertz today, but he has not been ruled out for next week if Philly advances. Ertz is not only dealing with a cracked rib, but sources say he suffered a lacerated kidney that had him in the hospital after the game. That explains the caution this week.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2019

While the Eagles undoubtedly hope that Ertz can return against the Seahawks, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes it's unlikely.

While McLane admitted that Ertz's available "remains uncertain," he also stated that his season may be over.

Playing through a rib injury would be difficult enough, and no one would fault Ertz for being unavailable less than two weeks after a lacerated kidney was discovered. If Ertz cannot go, it will be a serious blow to an Eagles offense that has struggled to find healthy pass-catchers this season.

There's been a lot written over the past couple of months about the NFC (L)East. Potshots have been penned. Insults hurled. Sarcasm and snark galore. By me.

It was really rather mean. Completely deserved, but mean.

Well, somebody had to win the NFL's worst division in 2019, and by virtue of a decisive victory over the New York Giants in Week 17, the 9-7 Philadelphia Eagles are officially the least terrible team in the division.

The Eagles have been ravaged by injuries—especially to a pass-catching corps that's one injury away from holding open tryouts in the parking lot at the Linc. The secondary is OK on a good day and terrible on a bad one. Simply put, the Eagles are a flawed football team.

The Eagles are also on a roll, peeling off four straight wins to get into the playoffs. This is a team that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy as recently as February 2018. They are talented, composed and well-coached.

And the NFC West runner-up who looks at that so-so record and thinks the Eagles will be an easy out in the wild-card round is begging to be even more disappointed than they were about losing the division in the regular season's final contest.

Folks have been counting the Eagles out for quite a while. The Eagles pitched and lurched their way through most of the season, hovering around the .500 mark. After a Week 13 loss to a bad Miami Dolphins team dropped the Eagles to 5-7, most assumed Philly was toast.

But a funny thing happened. Despite injury after injury to the Eagles receiving corps, the team started stringing together wins. Carson Wentz guided the Eagles to a comeback over the New York Giants in Week 14. A 10-point victory at Washington in Week 15. And then a massive win over the rival Cowboys that put the Eagles in a position where a Week 17 victory would punch a ticket to the postseason.

After that critical win over the Cowboys, Wentz cautioned, per Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports, that the Eagles couldn't afford to overlook the Giants—that the job wasn't finished yet:

"[We have to] just get back on and prepare the same way we always do and have no letdowns. It's going to take the leaders to make sure we're emphasizing that point. But at the same time, even just talking to a lot of the guys in the locker room, I can already feel that. I can already feel that no one's complacent now or feels like we won anything. We have to go prove it again, and we're excited for it."

If Sunday's win was any indication, the Eagles heeded the words of their leader. And make no mistake, this team absolutely belongs to Wentz at this point.

All Wentz did in his first full 16-game season in three years was throw for 4,039 yards and 27 touchdowns against seven interceptions with a passer rating of 93.1. It's the first 4,000-yard passing season in franchise history, but in today's pass-wacky NFL, those aren't eye-popping stats.

Until, that is, you consider that no quarterback in NFL history had ever hit the 4,000-yard mark through the air without having at least one wide receiver who finished the season with 500-plus yards.

Alshon Jeffery paced the Philly wideouts in that regard in 2019 with 490.

That there was actually a time when people thought the Eagles should keep Nick Foles over Wentz is…something.

DeSean Jackson barely played for the Eagles in his reunion season with Philly. Jeffery missed six games and is done for the year. Nelson Agholor has been out for the past four games. Tight end Zach Ertz missed Week 17 with a fractured rib. Tailback Jordan Howard has been a ghost for over a month. Rookie running back Miles Sanders, who had exploded into prominence after Howard went down, limped off the field with a bad ankle in Week 17. Tackle Lane Johnson has been MIA since Week 14. Guard Brandon Brooks was carted off the field against the Giants on Sunday.

And yet the Eagles keep on winning.

Partly, it's because Wentz has been standing on his head, but he's had help. Every time one player has gone down, another has filled the void. Greg Ward Jr. has gone from the practice squad to the team's de facto No. 1 wide receiver, hauling in 17 passes for 175 yards and a score over the past three weeks. Second-year tight end Dallas Goedert has had a coming-out party, averaging six grabs for over 70 yards over that same span. With Sanders on the shelf Sunday, diminutive tailback Boston Scott piled up 138 total yards and scored three times.

It's been quite remarkable. A display of teamwork in its truest sense.

Of course, the Philadelphia defense hasn't been sitting on its hands. The Eagles entered Sunday's play ranked inside the top 10 in total defense. A front anchored by Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox remains one of the better defensive lines in the league. Veterans Nigel Bradham and Malcolm Jenkins have been steadying forces at linebacker and safety, respectively. And while the back end has been known to spring the occasional leak, Philly's defensive backs have also made some big plays in big moments.

Then there's head coach Doug Pederson. It's not just a matter of in-game adjustments and play-calling, although the 51-year-old is excellent in both areas. It's become clear that no matter whom the Eagles play or whom the team rolls out in a given week, Pederson's team believes it can win. Believes it will win.

That matters. It mattered in 2017, when the Eagles entered the playoffs with their backup quarterback and many believed that an excellent regular season had been all for naught. It mattered when the Eagles traveled to Minneapolis to face the greatest dynasty in NFL history with that backup quarterback.

And it matters now.

Maybe all the injuries are going to catch up to the Eagles on Wild Card Weekend, and they'll look like the "champions" of a bad division. Maybe the secondary will falter. Maybe it's one-and-done for Philadelphia in 2019.

But these Eagles are battle-tested. They are familiar with the stakes and pressure of the playoffs. They are as good as any team in the league at overcoming adversity. And they've been playing in what amounts to elimination games for a month.

Are the Eagles the weakest team in the NFC bracket in terms of record? Sure.

But underestimate them at your own peril.

And don't dare count them out.

The Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC East for the first time since 2017 with a 34-17 victory over the New York Giants.  

The Dallas Cowboys coasted to a win over the Washington Redskins to close out an 8-8 regular season, but it won't matter after the Eagles beat Dallas in Week 16 to go a game up in the standings. 

Eagles closed the door on the Cowboys' playoff hopes 💀 @brgridiron https://t.co/qLOU49YzKC

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 30, 2019

Philadelphia's division crown didn't come easily this season as the Eagles stumbled to a 5-7 record.

But Philly took advantage of a weak NFC East, going 5-1 in the division. The Cowboys also trudged through a sluggish year when they struggled on defense and special teams.

The Eagles have the offensive and defensive talent to do damage in the playoffs. Running back Miles Sanders is an exciting and explosive young talent, and tight end Zach Ertz is one of the best at his position. The same goes for defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.

Ertz was absent for Sunday's victory, however, with injuries to his ribs and back. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided additional info on the severity of the situation:

The #Eagles won’t have TE Zach Ertz today, but he has not been ruled out for next week if Philly advances. Ertz is not only dealing with a cracked rib, but sources say he suffered a lacerated kidney that had him in the hospital after the game. That explains the caution this week.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2019

Ultimately, Philadelphia is in after surviving the NFC East wreckage, and its previous struggles don't matter after clinching a playoff spot. The Eagles are in the postseason and can enjoy a clean slate.

Philadelphia will host the Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Round on either Saturday or Sunday. The Eagles will be the conference's No. 4 seed.

The Philadelphia Eagles announced they will be without tight end Zach Ertz for Sunday's game against the New York Giants because of rib and back injuries.

This comes after Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Ertz suffered a fractured rib during Philadelphia's 17-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. The Eagles can clinch the NFC East title with a win over New York thanks to the head-to-head victory over Dallas.

Philadelphia has persevered through a number of injuries in the aerial attack, including long-term ones to wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson.

It will have to do so again with a playoff spot hanging in the balance in the final regular-season game. Fortunately for the Eagles, tight end Dallas Goedert thrived in the win over the Cowboys with nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown and will be asked to play significant snaps again with Ertz sidelined.

This is still a significant blow for Philadelphia considering Ertz is one of the league's best tight ends.

The three-time Pro Bowler has 88 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns after posting 116 receptions for 1,163 yards and eight scores a season ago. He was also a key cog for the 2017 Eagles team that lifted the Lombardi Trophy, scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.

We have reached the final week of the 2019 NFL regular season. For many teams, it's already time to focus on the offseason. For the 15 teams still in the playoff hunt, however, this final week will be drenched in drama.

Three of the league's first-round byes are up for grabs, as are two divisions and one wild-card spot.

Even the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings will be interested in this week's proceedings. While they're already locked into playoff positions, their postseason opponents have not been settled.

Here, we'll examine some of the top matchups with playoff implications, along with the latest lines and over/unders from Caesars.

            

Week 17 Lines, Over/Unders and Score Predictions

Atlanta Falcons (+1.5, 47.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Atlanta 30-27

Cleveland Browns (-3, 44.5) at Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati 24-20

Chicago Bears (+1, 36.5) at Minnesota Vikings: Chicago 20-17

Los Angeles Chargers (+9, 44.5) at Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City 31-21

Miami Dolphins (+15.5, 44.5) at New England Patriots: New England 27-14

Green Bay Packers (-12.5, 43) at Detroit Lions: Green Bay 33-20

New Orleans Saints (-13, 46) at Carolina Panthers: New Orleans 28-20

New York Jets (+1.5, 36) at Buffalo Bills: Buffalo 18-13

Indianapolis Colts (-4, 43) at Jacksonville Jaguars: Indianapolis 30-20

Oakland Raiders (+3.5, 41) at Denver Broncos: Oakland 26-24

Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5, 45) at New York Giants: Philadelphia 28-26

Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5, 37.5) at Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore 16-15

Tennessee Titans (-3.5, 45.5) at Houston Texans: Tennessee 27-17

Washington Redskins (+11, 44.5) at Dallas Cowboys: Dallas 30-18

Arizona Cardinals (no line) at Los Angeles Rams: Los Angeles 28-26

San Francisco 49ers (-3, 47) at Seattle Seahawks: San Francisco 26-23

           

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

While Week 17 means nothing for the Ravens, it's huge for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With a win and a Tennessee Titans loss, Pittsburgh can sneak into the playoffs.

However, the Steelers could have a hard time with their part of the equation, even against a Baltimore team expected to rest its starters. The Steelers offense hasn't exactly been humming along this season, and it could once again be without starting running back James Conner.

Conner didn't practice on Wednesday, and according to ProFootballTalk.com's Josh Alper, head coach Mike Tomlin has called his status "very much in question."

Pittsburgh will also be without center Maurkice Pouncey and will likely have to lean on Devlin Hodges, even if he plays poorly. Mason Rudolph was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week. Paxton Lynch will be the backup.

This means that while the Ravens will sit many of their star players, neither team will be at full strength. With home-field advantage and the chance to end a rival's season, the second-string Ravens could well pull off the upset.

           

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

This isn't the most important game in the NFC playoff race, but it will be a pivotal one. If the Green Bay Packers win, they'll be assured a first-round bye. They'll earn the No. 1 seed if the Seattle Seahawks win on Sunday night and the No. 2 seed if the San Francisco 49ers take the final game of the season.

However, if the Detroit Lions manage to pull off the upset, the New Orleans Saints will have a crack at the No. 1 or No. 2 seed—again, dependent on the outcome of the 49ers-Seahawks tilt.

"I think our guys understand what's at stake," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said, via the team's official website. "This game has huge implications. You get that bye you're automatically one round further in the playoffs, and certainly we'd love for every game to come through Lambeau."

Expect the Packers to give a maximum effort against the overmatched and undermanned Lions. Detroit is already without quarterback Matthew Stafford and has starting tackles Taylor Decker and Rick Wagner on the injury report.

Even with a large betting line, the Packers have a strong chance to cover.

           

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

If the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the New York Giants on Sunday, they'll be NFC East champions and in the playoffs. Philadelphia is also likely to be a dangerous postseason team, given the momentum it has generated during its three-game winning streak.

The Eagles have leaned on new playmakers, like wideout Greg Ward and tight end Dallas Goedert, to put themselves in playoff position. However, they are no lock to beat the Giants.

New York has weapons of its own, like quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. Both youngsters shined in Week 16—Barkley had 279 yards of offense by himself—and could carry that momentum into this matchup.

The Eagles are also on the road and could be without star tight end Zach Ertz, who is dealing with a rib fracture. According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Ertz is pushing to play. If he can't, though, Philadelphia will be missing its best pass-catcher.

Don't be shocked if the Giants keep this game close through to its conclusion—possibly even getting the surprise win.